Who Decides?

By Alan Doyle By Alan Doyle

For the most part we are content to leave the administration of the Borough to councillors and Council officials. But every so often an issue arises which commands local attention, usually because a decision has been taken, unilaterally, which leaves those directly affected decidedly not content. Think back over recent years, just in Lower Sunbury. The development plans for the Environment Agency and old Police College sites, the plans for Kempton Park, and the incinerator at the Eco Park. All raised significant and sustained public objection. And now we have the Lendy Memorial in the Walled Garden. It has taken eight months to get the hoardings around the Memorial removed, and not before time. The Memorial was first boarded up “for its own protection” on 17 June last year. But was it really necessary to keep it boarded up for so long? Thankfully, the Spelthorne Cabinet voted unanimously on 27 January to immediately remove the hoardings. They came down, if not immediately, then quite soon afterwards, on 11 Feb. Exactly in line with public opinion. Public opinion is abundantly clear. The comments supportive of the Memorial on the Council’s own FaceBook page and Twitter account outweighed the negative comments by 139/2 and 14/0 respectively. Just over 2100 people signed the petition in support of the Memorial. And NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON wrote directly to the Council complaining about the Memorial. These numbers are from the Council’s own analysis of the public mood. The same overwhelming support for the Memorial could be found on other local social media sites. Yet in the face of this clear evidence, and before we got to the decision as Cabinet, it was astonishing how some councillors (by no means all) were so dismissive of - even openly embarrassed by – the opinions and capabilities of the residents they represent. To the point that they voted to contract-out the deciFor the most part we are content to leave the administration of the Borough to councillors and Council officials. But every so often an issue arises which commands local attention, usually because a decision has been taken, unilaterally, which leaves those directly affected decidedly not content. Think back over recent years, just in Lower Sunbury. The development plans for the Environment Agency and old Police College sites, the plans for Kempton Park, and the incinerator at the Eco Park. All raised significant and sustained public objection. And now we have the Lendy Memorial in the Walled Garden. It has taken eight months to get the hoardings around the Memorial removed, and not before time. The Memorial was first boarded up “for its own protection” on 17 June last year. But was it really necessary to keep it boarded up for so long? Thankfully, the Spelthorne Cabinet voted unanimously on 27 January to immediately remove the hoardings. They came down, if not immediately, then quite soon afterwards, on 11 Feb. Exactly in line with public opinion. Public opinion is abundantly clear. The comments supportive of the Memorial on the Council’s own FaceBook page and Twitter account outweighed the negative comments by 139/2 and 14/0 respectively. Just over 2100 people signed the petition in support of the Memorial. And NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON wrote directly to the Council complaining about the Memorial. These numbers are from the Council’s own analysis of the public mood. The same overwhelming support for the Memorial could be found on other local social media sites. Yet in the face of this clear evidence, and before we got to the decision as Cabinet, it was astonishing how some councillors (by no means all) were so dismissive of - even openly embarrassed by – the opinions and capabilities of the residents they represent. To the point that they voted to contract-out the decision on the future of the Memorial to two external academics. Again, thankfully, that option was unanimously over-ruled by Cabinet. When councillors make decisions against the legitimate opinions of residents, the result is an open wound that won’t heal. By way of example, just look at the festering sore that is that monstrous construction at the Eco Park. It doesn’t need to be like that. Whatever the intricacies and difficulties of planning law, dealing with the Council Planning Department is now an absolute joy compared with how things were just a few years ago. So, we got there in the end. The boards around the Memorial have gone. Work will start shortly on providing the historical background to the Memorial, which will be easily available to anyone who is interested. That work will be done locally, and to the high standard required. That probably does not mean that the issue is over. There will probably be someone who wishes to pick at this particular issue in future. But, it is important to remember, it is OUR Memorial. in OUR sion on the future of the Memorial to two external academics. Again, thankfully, that option was unanimously over-ruled by Cabinet. When councillors make decisions against the legitimate opinions of residents, the result is an open wound that won’t heal. By way of example, just look at the festering sore that is that monstrous construction at the Eco Park. It doesn’t need to be like that. Whatever the intricacies and difficulties of planning law, dealing with the Council Planning Department is now an absolute joy compared with how things were just a few years ago. So, we got there in the end. The boards around the Memorial have gone. Work will start shortly on providing the historical background to the Memorial, which will be easily available to anyone who is interested. That work will be done locally, and to the high standard required. That probably does not mean that the issue is over. There will probably be someone who wishes to pick at this particular issue in future. But, it is important to remember, it is OUR Memorial. in OUR

Lendy Lion unpacked. Photo Jude Browne Lendy Lion unpacked. Photo Jude Browne