Public consultation on plan is already a farce (From Daily Echo)

Public consultation on plan is already a farce

4:18pm Monday 30th January 2012 in Readers' Letters

HAVING read the recent correspondence from Fiona Mapleson, Mr and Mrs Ford and the replies submitted by Cllr Haulwen Broadhurst, ‘In My View’, Wednesday January 4 and Tuesday 17, she is attempting to climb out of the hole she dug for herself in the exhibition discussion with Fiona Mapleson.

This is yet another public consultation already a farce. I, like many others, believe the leader Cllr Keith House and his cabinet have already decided their development will take place and all this survey is about is to be seen to comply with development guidelines.

This is Lib Dem politicians past and present singing from the cabinet’s song sheet.

I agree with protesters that to contemplate building on such a scale off Chestnut Avenue and Stoneham Lane will be a disaster. I can accept there is a crisis for housing. My view would be the MDA proposed off Allington Lane should be reinstated, with the missing junction 6 on to the M27 for one large site where the infrastructure could be built from scratch.

I would also take issue with her final paragraph, the only views of the majority will be those 39 Lib Dem councillors against the five councillors in opposition. Democracy can’t work in such a scenario.

I refer to Bill Pepper’s letter, also of January 17, where he asks “Will our council leader listen to objections?” The simple answer is a resounding no.

I also agree with this observation, “The decision to proceed will not be taken until the summer, after the May local elections. I wonder why?”

My advice to the voters: think long and hard where you put your X in May.

KEN WELLSTOOD, Eastleigh.