Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re::Mogden update | |
Posted by: | Phil Andrews | |
Date/Time: | 06/12/10 21:36:00 |
Adam One needs to consider why these decisions are placed in the hands of elected representatives as opposed to professional planners in the first place. It is clear from the fact that they are that some degree of political (although not party political) perspective is expected from the process. However in this instance residents (who councillors are elected to represent) were treated with thinly disguised disdain - heard but not listened to, based upon a default assumption that as mere residents the objectors could not possibly have known what they were talking about. As has already been pointed out, at least two of the residents comprising MRAG's managing committee are environmental experts in their own right. But the default view of the politicians, as was plainly evident from the SDC meeting, is that they are simply an irritant to be tolerated, humoured and then ulitmately ignored. It is nearly two years since this shameful episode occurred and I am still furious that officers of the council felt they had a right to try to bully elected members into reversing a decision they had all but taken, and even more angry that they succeeded. It was on this very night that I realised the ICG was very much on its own. |