What a disgrace. I guess someone left the door open in the council chamber and democracy slowly escaped.
I try not to get too party political but my Conservative colleagues have all made their views known in the chamber and in public that we do not want to appeal over the District Councils planning refusal to allow 100 homes or so to be built on Pages Field.
Having hoped to gain the support of our Labour colleague at a meeting a few weeks previously and finishing the matter once and for all we were then presented with the option of a referendum at yesterday’s Policy and Finance meeting.
With 4 Conservative Councillors voting against a referendum, and 4 Liberal Democrats voting for it, Cllr Steve Owen had the final say pushing the vote in favour of a referendum.
My issue is not in giving people that chance to speak, anyone that knows me knows I want to see more public opinion coming forward but how many times we will ask the question until we get a different answer?
It is said by a few on the council that Pages Park Community Association (PPCA), the others who signed the 1,000 strong petition against seeking planning permission, the 200 plus people who came out to the demonstration, oh and the 50 or so who stood outside the SBDC offices are just a few locals living on the edge of the field protecting their own back garden trying to get in Steve Owen’s way as he creates his “legacy” for the town.
This is incorrect. PPCA had already formed and had to fight to protect the land that whole town benefits from as one of their first tasks. Of those who signed the petition and demonstrated, a good deal came from outside of Grovebury ward.
People in the town do not normally come out in such numbers to protest. I believe public opinion has already been demonstrated legally, correctly and adequately.
Will we keep re-asking the question until people eventually give in? We will keep asking the question to the whole town while promising them greater riches if just one little group of our town suffer?
Grovebury residents are being portrayed as a thorn in Cllr Steve Owen's side, unfairly stopping him from creating his vision of Leighton Buzzard and making the rest of the town suffer.
This is utter nonsense, if it was not for the hard work and dedication of people mainly in Grovebury, but all of you who have shown support for us here, this town would be a different place and not for the better.
The fight goes on. It might be Grovebury today but it can be your ward and your back garden next.
About Me
- Cllr Adam Fahn
- I am a Town and Unitary Councillor in the Grovebury ward of Leighton Buzzard.
I first became a Town Councillor in 2005 and a District Councillor in 2007. In 2009 I was elected to Central Bedfordshire Unitary Authority.
This blog is not intended to replace official Council media or independent news sources and will usually contain my own views which unless specifically stated as such, should not be taken as Council policy.
2 comments:
Glad to see you back.
We are keeping up the fight, writing to the local papers every week and hoping the residents of Leighton Linslade do the right thing.
Clive and I were at the meeting when the vote was held about the referendum - it was totally appalling - it took every ounce of self control I have not to attack Cllr Owen.
When he first went to print he said he would accept the voice of the majority - I see not that he has said it has to be a minimum of 20% of the voters from each ward and then and only then will he accept the majority. Can he do this?
June Walker
I don't think the council knows the meaning of the word.
The way they complained in the papers to people who took the time to right in is not right.
I live outside your ward and am pleased on behalf of your homeowners.
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