| Topic: | Re:'no existing plans to build anything on Gunnersbury Park' | |
| Posted by: | Phil Andrews | |
| Date/Time: | 03/11/08 09:51:00 |
| Victor/Justin Please allow me to try to respond to both of you with this one post. My view of Gunnersbury Park, or any substantial open space for that matter, is that it is an amenity owned by the public for the enjoyment of the public and under no circumstances should its use be negatively impacted or curtailed in the pursuance of private interests or for profit. Nevertheless I do recognise that when an amenity has been negleted to the point that there are no means available to restore it to its proper condition, other means of bringing in funds should in some circumstances be explored in preference to allowing further deterioration leading to eventual closure. The caveat here, of course, has to be that whatever end result is agreed upon (after, and in response to, extensive consultation) must represent a clear improvement, from the public's perspective rather than that of any partner or other agency, upon the previous situation. Thus it could be said that I have no dogmatic interest in the public/private debate, but my concern ultimate is with the interests of the public. Doubtless somebody will now accuse me of having been ambiguous on the matter. As this matter was brought into the public domain by a grinning Ann Keen accompanied by an entourage of local press photographers, I think it is rather rich for anybody to accuse me of trying to turn it into a party political issue and well below the standard of integrity that one would usually expect of you Justin. In the final analysis the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. But when the scare stories have failed to become reality, don't anybody be expecting an apology from these people because it just won't happen. |