Tories and Labour refuse to debate future of Coate (Swindon Liberal Democrats)

Swindon Liberal Democrats <info@swindonlibdems.org>

Tories and Labour refuse to debate future of Coate

April 21, 2005 9:39 PM

Tories and Labour members of Swindon Borough Council refused to debate one of the key issues facing the town at its final Council Meeting before the General Election.

Labour & Tories refuse to debate future of Coate Water

The motion to Council said:

· That this Council notes the tremendous opposition by Swindon residents exemplified by the STOP march on Saturday 9th April 2005 against excessive land and road development in our town.

· Council also notes the Public Inquiry into the Borough Plan Revised Deposit Draft has been in session since January and is to conclude in late April of this year.

· This Council therefore believes the outcome of that Inquiry should be published before a decision is made on the development at Coate.

Shadow Member for the Environment, Cllr Stan Pajak (Lib Dem Eastcott) said:

"I find it quite astonishing and undemocratic that Tories and Labour ganged up to deny a debate on the future development at Coate Water.

"My proposal was to ask Council to delay consideration of the Coate development until the government's own inspection of The Local Plan strategy had been reviewed."

Government Inspectors have been studying the Borough Local Plan document up to the year 2011 since January of this year. Their study is due to conclude shortly and a report will be published in late August.

Cllr Stan Pajak concluded:

"Only last week hundreds of Swindon residents marched through the streets in protest against over-development of Swindon. But the Councillors who are charged with making a decision on that development have turned round this evening and said 'We don't want to listen to you. We will build where we want to'."

Following a protest by the Tory Leader of the Council, the Mayor ruled that he would not allow debate of this motion.

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STOP PRESS

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local newspaper, The Evening Advertiser reported this story on April 22nd:

COUNCIL leaders refused to enter into discussions over the proposed development of Coate last night.

The town's Liberal Democrats put forward a motion calling for leaders to formally recognise opposition. But council leader, Mike Bawden had the motion blocked, arguing that it would prejudice the forthcoming planning committee meeting.

Several members also raised concerns and said their ability to be impartial would be compromised.

Afterwards, Coun Stan Pajak (Lib Dem, Eastcott) said he was disappointed: "We wanted this council to recognise there is tremendous opposition by residents to this scheme."

"We can only assume that they are embarrassed over the thing. Coate Water is the lifeblood of Swindon - the fact that 16,000 people have signed a petition demonstrates that."