Apart from one or two moments, one hot moment was my fault, the public meeting at Sutton Hill Community Centre went well.

 

I would say 50+ turned up to air concerns, forward questions to the Chair of the meeting Eric Carter.

 

Overall, Eric Carter did well and I think he has certainly started to win people round quickly with much of what he said coming from the heart and the genuine want, desire to effect positive change.

 

I got feedback that people thought he was the right man for the job, do I think that, I have to honestly say yes.

 

Officers performed well although it sounded like their were more reasons for not doing the job rather than doing it, but in all honesty it was often down to legislation allowing little room for manoeuvre.

 

I would ask residents and all parties to now view this as a chance for being positive.

 

Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES was this campaign designed to run down the area, but it certainly had to draw attention to the worst points in the most dramatic way possible to get the assistance needed.

 

There is someway to go, but the journey has started going in the right direction.

 

The next meeting is scheduled for 9^th April when answers to some questions will be provided on a wide variety of issues.

 

One common theme that I have noticed throughout the last four weeks and was again echoed tonight, was the fear of reprisals should people report any issue to the authorities, I wonder if there is any mileage in a Confidential Whistleblowers Hotline – on a temporary basis to facilitate the reporting of issues until confidence is raised.

 

It was interesting to listen to the issues of litter, waste and fly tipping, the discussion eventually led to a vote about return to weekly waste collections, every person in the room raised their hands in support of the return of weekly waste collections and it is certainly needed at Sutton Hill.

 

As for my involvement with regards Sutton Hill, apart from tidying up a few loose ends and awaiting a response from the Prime Minister which I will share when it arrives,

 

“I feel that I have taken this issue as far as I can and must now hand it over to residents, Councillors, Officers and partners to their expertise and drive it forward”   

 

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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