A review of recent events

 

Telford Town Park has achieved national notoriety, but unfortunately, it has been for all the wrong reasons, but where did it all start.

 

The initial problems with the Town Park started when the Labour administration carried a strategic move of introducing new boundaries to the Town Park.

 

In essence, this gives the Town Park two Boundaries, a political boundary and the real external boundary, unfortunately, this now means that developers are crawling all over the place to build in the area of the political boundary and the real boundary.

 

Although, a group named ‘Friends of The Town Park’ was developed, this gave the impression of community involvement, but realistically, they are merely an extension of the Council.

 

The real credit for raising the needs of the Town Park goes to HOOP, who raised the profile of the Town Park to new heights. HOOP are the real knowledge and drive behind the Town Park.

 

The issues of Telford Town Park have been hidden behind technicalities, political jargon, lies and closed doors.

 

The fortune of the ‘Jewel in the crown’ appeared to have changed, with the change of administration.

 

The original lottery application was stopped and we entered into the promised open and honest council and consultation.

 

This proved to be nothing more than a hoax.

 

The initial consultation was a complete let down and involved the much discussed and much desired ‘Arena’.

 

A meeting was held with Councillors, Officers and interested parties, the hoax came to light when the meeting was split into two, and the option of leaving the arena as it is was removed.

 

The meeting was finalised with a vote, it came out about even, but the consensus was, leave the Arena as it is.

 

Unfortunately, when residents and interested parties left, Officers and Councillors then carried out a second vote, bringing the vote in their favour and subsequent press release gave the clear impression that a true democratic process had been followed, these were lies.

 

When residents requested a copy of the minutes from this meeting, they were ignored, even by the Leader. The minutes were only released after a Freedom of Information request was submitted.

 

The saga continued.

 

Leaflets were distributed in The Town Park, no one said anything, made contact with anyone, until opportunists saw a Senior member of our community by himself, they then ejected him from the Town Park, again stating things like ‘We are the Land Owners’.

 

At this point, we can see that no true democratic process has been followed.

 

The recent events with regard the Councils policy of approaching lone adults in the Town Park are by now well documented, have been and continue to be discussed on blogs around the world.

 

It is even being said the Criminal Records Bureau are to take action against Telford and Wrekin Council for misuse of relevant legislation.

 

This recent move of Telford and Wrekin Council has been condemned by The Home Office, National Children’s Charities, Residents and the media.

 

But who is going to be held responsible for this debacle.

 

An apology was issued, but it was made in time with the announcement of a £4.5 million Lottery Application, this in itself seems, at best convenient.

 

The Lottery application continues to be discussed, but again behind closed doors.

 

 

 

Civic Offices and the 14acre site are now up for sale, partners have been talked to, then we are going to enter into ‘Consultation’, this alone gives a clear impression that the decision has already been made and consultation is merely a box ticking exercise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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3.20 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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Telford Council Watch