Old Posts

11 July 2006 - Jasper Neely

The residents' consultation process was obvious and unsubtle in its attempt to lead respondents to a foregone conclusion. Despite this the results haven't been published - perhaps because resident's weren't fooled and didn't give the answers the developers wanted to hear?

Councillor Barker and his cabinet need to be aware of the strength of feeling amongst ordinary people not normally politically active, not against development per se but against being railroaded into a development that on the face of it looks inappropriate, unsustainable and plain wrong for the city.  It's outrageous that 10 men and women, albeit elected, can commit the city - us - to a partnership with these people without proper independent consultation, traffic studies, environmental impacts, in other word the exercise of due diligence. It's the sort of behaviour that makes people cynical about politics and politicians. Their job is to represent our wishes and best interests, not to decide what those best interests are.
It's to be hoped that the council haven't forgotten their dalliance with Noel Edmonds and Mr Blobby. Their naivety cost the ratepayers dear on that occasion and I doubt much has changed in the interim: the suits will always have deeper pockets and smarter lawyers than our trusty councillors and won't have our best interests at heart either. With that in mind the council cabinet would do well to put a hold on proceedings and consider a proper,genuine, independent consultation with all interested parties.