The Whole World Cannot Be Wrong

As discussed on

www.telfordcouncilwatch.org.uk


Telford and Wrekin Council are now trying to back track on the issue of and as they put in writing,

“Staff approach adults that are not associated with any children in the Town Park and request the reason for them being there”

They have also accused the Shropshire Star of exaggerating the story, I and others firmly believe that the Shropshire Star have covered this crazy issue very thoroughly and fairly, including video evidence of the councils attempt to enforce a police state.

And now on Radio 5 live Ron Odunaiya says this policy has been in force for 9 years and he then went on to lie further saying a man on his own will not be approached, yet the video evidence filmed by The Shropshire Star clearly displayed this happening. I will record this radio interview and place it in a podcast for all to listen to.

This denial shows just how “cover ups” and a constant stream of “denial” is flooding through the Council and the likes of Ron Odunaiya have been allowed to get away with it for far too long.

Telford and Wrekin Council constantly flounder from one disaster to the next and the issue of the Town Park goes beyond the Penguin Scenario. I am sure those who attended the initial Town Park meeting in 2007 when invited parties were given the choice of three options to discuss and Cllr Steve Bentley said

“Doing nothing is not an option”

Removing one of the Choices we were given.

The same people will also recall the vote that happened, Officers, Cllr’s, Groups and residents conducted a vote about the future of the Arena, which came out about even, but when residents and groups left the room,

Officers and Councillors then conducted a second vote tipping the outcome in their favour.

Another example of the devious tricks the Council will play in order to get their way.

The same residents will also recall that the minutes of this meeting were taken, when requested, the Council failed to release them, Council Leader Andrew Eade ignored my request for a copy of minutes to a meeting I and others attended, but only released them when,

I submitted a Freedom of Information request to get access to a set of minutes for a public meeting.

Telford and Wrekin Council have been condemned by
Kidscape and The home Office,

They have been covered in the national news and through a great many websites and blogs throughout the internet and condemned by people as far away as the USA.

Yet, the ONLY people who believe they are doing the right thing are Telford and Wrekin Council, surely the whole world cannot be wrong.

When the Conservative Party were running their election Campaign prior to the May elections they included in their leaflet and I quote directly,

An Open and Honest Council that Responds to the Community – saying

The Conservative group will bring to an end a Labour Administration that has become tired, defensive, dictatorial and out of touch with the needs and expectations of a community that it supposedly represents.

We will open up council thinking and decision making to work hand in glove with the Community and ensure a transparent debate on key issues that affect us all at the present time and in the future. Social and Health Care, the level and type of Housing Development across the borough, the Town Centre and Town Park Developments, the Green Network, and the ‘City regions’ represent huge challenges and changes for us all.

They go on further to say

We will be honest, open and ‘up front’ on problems and difficult issues

Just like Council Leader Cllr Andrew Eade promised to give residents a voice at Full Council and the ability to talk at planning meetings,

Cllr Andrew Eade and the Conservative Administration have failed to maintain and deliver the most basic of promises they made prior to the 2007 elections and started to fall at the very first hurdle.

Are Telford and Wrekin Council and the Conservative Administration now going to deny they,

*Messed up the issue of Telford Town Park
*Messed up Asset Sales seeing businesses sold out
*Removed monies from libraries - £18k
*Removed monies from local help groups - £5k
*Removed Monies from Homelessness Storage -£5k
*Increased the cost of Carers Support
*Increased the cost of meals on wheels
*Joined the City Region
*Still have Transforming Telford after condemning them
*Looking at setting up another quango
*Messed up the EP A442
*Put up the Bridge School for Sale
*Introduced a charge for bulk waste collections
*Remain with 2 weekly household waste collections
*Struck a £22.3 million deal with housing developers
*Increased the amount of top earners in the Council
*Filled a budget gap by selling a Car Park in Donnington

Telford and Wrekin Council continue to flounder from one mess to the next and stumble from cover up to the next.

Telford and Wrekin Council, write letters, write Policy, place various articles in various media publications, but when a resident refers to it

“The resident is accused of misleading the public”

I am pleased to note that Cllr Kuldip Sahota has had the courage to say,

“this Council policy has gone too far and is perverse and even grotesque”

I for one will not let this issue go, I will still openly but peacefully protest in Telford Town Park on Saturday 13th September 2008 from 1030 am starting at the Arena.

And I for one will continue to campaign on multi issues that affect our Community on a daily basis, that is often as a direct result of Telford and Wrekin Councils failure to maintain the most basic of promises they continue to make whilst continuing to break.