Ridlands Farm and Canterbury City Football - This is not a party issue (Canterbury & Whitstable Liberal Democrats)

Canterbury & Whitstable Liberal Democrats <info@cantlibdem.org.uk>

Ridlands Farm and Canterbury City Football - This is not a party issue

January 20, 2012 11:30 AM

'Cllr Ellis really does need to get his facts right before he makes a statement to your newspaper (cllrs squabble over plans for football ground).

First, these are not 'Lib Dem attacks'. This is not a party issue. But they are arguments from cllrs representing residents who are likely to be affected by a process that has been secretive, biased and fundamentally undemocratic from the outset.

Second, local residents were blocked from making any representations to the consultants engaged in 2009 at a cost of £80,000 and they were blocked from making any representations to the working party that sat last year. So for him to say he has 'done everything possible to involve residents' is patently untrue.

Third, the working party did not visit any sites. He said they could not do so because they sat in the evening. Every other working party I have sat on has met during the day and this group could easily have had a series of site meetings in the day too. This was the most ridiculous excuse I've ever heard.

Fourth, he says the sites had been kept secret for commercial reasons. Rubbish. They were published 2 years ago in the consultants report.

It is Cllr Ellis and Canterbury City Council who are ridiculous having spent 5 years and nearly £150,000 mucking about on this issue. They have not consulted residents whilst pursuing their own favoured site but nor have they actually managed to make a decision or talk to residents about exactly what they plan to do.

I really want to see a proper home for Canterbury Football Club but it needs to be in the right place with proper access, parking, and facilities for all. The Club and its supporters deserve nothing less.

If that means 'Lib Dem attacks' so be it. But sensible consultation and some honest answers would be a much better idea.

Cllr Nick Eden-Green
Lib Dem - Wincheap Ward'

Letters to the Editor, Kentish Gazette 19/01/2011