Eco-Town '“ public consultation first

THE announcement by the Secretary of State for Housing on the possibility of Ford being chosen as a site for an Eco-Town should stimulate an informed and interesting debate in which we are sure your newspaper will play a pivotal role.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Apr 2008, 13:43 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 00:57 BST

It is important, therefore, that any statements that express a position on the proposal from those in authority should arise from this debate, not prior to it.

It is public consultation that should inform the response to the Secretary of State.

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And surely the duty of any local authority involved in the consideration of any proposal of this kind is to approach it with an open mind and encourage any such debate.

The statement from Arun District Council appears to be a "knee-jerk" reaction based on its own already formulated objections, certainly not based on a public consultation which hasn't been given a chance to take place yet.

And as for approaching the proposal with an open mind, well, the leader of the council, Gill Brown, seems to have rejected that little notion along with the idea of freedom of speech.

Mrs Brown has indicated the closing of her mind and the negation of any public consultation by signalling "the start of a community campaign against the proposal".

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There has to be a democratic process where the local population and other interested parties can participate.

It is far too important an issue for a small elite from Arun District Council to be exercising their influence above that of the public.

Littlehampton Labour

councillors Mark Butler, Mike Northeast, George O'Neill, Tony Squires

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Related topics:Arun District CouncilHousingFordMark Butler