According to a TDC press release, one of the reasons for the raid was to clear the skatepark so that the Council owned open land, on which the
Skatepark was based, could be sold or rented to commercial organisations who have expressed an interest
in the site. But it has now been revealed that plans to dispose of the open land conflict with
the policy of the Council’s ruling Labour Group and also with TDCs Corporate
Plan.
During the 2011 Council elections Thanet Labour published
a Manifesto which said that they were “opposed to the Tories’ every
move to sell off open spaces where it affects recreation and well-being”; that “Labour will resist attempts to build on
well-used community open green spaces” and “Building on green field (undeveloped) sites
will be resisted wherever possible”.
After taking control from the Tories in late 2011, Clive Hart became Labour Leader of
Thanet Council. His first job as Leader was to produce a Corporate Plan setting
out the Council’s priorities. One of
those priorities was entitled “Preserving our Public Spaces”, which said that
open land “enriches the quality of lives
for our communities and visitors alike” and which the Council promised it was “committed to preserving.”
It didn’t end there. The Plan said that the Council would involve “the community in
the planning, design and management of open spaces”; that it would consult “with
the public on enhancement of public open spaces” and “increase the number of
local residents and groups involved in the planning, design and management of
public open spaces”.
But despite these clear, unequivocal, undertakings, when
it came to dealing with the Little Oasis SkatePark, TDC Leader Hart tore up his promises to the people. Instead of
supporting a popular community use for public open space, he sent in the bulldozers.
Instead of protecting public well used open space for the benefit of local
people he decided to sell it off.
Instead of consulting and engaging with local residents about the use of public
open space, he ignored the Little Oasis skaters and their incredible achievements
and ordered a top-secret dawn raid on a
hugely successful recreational facility built and designed for the community by
the community.
Said Driver “The Good Book teaches us that by their works
ye shall know them. We now know Councillor Leader Clive Hart to be a hypocrite
who has broken his promises not just in relation to Little Oasis SkatePark, but also the East Kent Opportunities Planning
Application at New Haine Road, Westwood Cross. Did he seek the permission of
the Labour Councillors he leads to renege on these promises? Or did he simply
go behind their backs? Like most reasonable
people I believe politicians should be truthful and honest with the public not
duplicitous, deceitful and hypocritical. Its time for a change.
No comments:
Post a Comment