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One of the constant cries amongst residents is that the Council never listen to them and the Council will only do what Councillors want to do. Last night in Yeovil that was overturned.
The South Somerset Lib Dems have been trying to steam roll through a plan to turn the last piece of open land in Yeovil into a concrete Sports Zone. As I have made clear I am not personally against the building of a Sports Zone. What has always concerned me is that this was the wrong place to build a facility that was of regional importance.
The Save the Yeovil Rec campaign was a local campaign by local people who found the idea of the destruction of this open space as abhorrent.
After five hours of questions and debate the Lib Dem leadership, who were committed to this project, lost the vote when a few brave Lib Dems dared to defy their colleagues and vote with the Conservatives against the proposal.
So what now? Will the Lib Dems defy the people and try and find another scheme to put on the Yeovil Rec site? What they should do is take what is a good idea and try and work with the local landowner who has already offered a free piece of land which would be ideally suited for this type of much-needed facility.
But that is not the end of the story. Because what this shows more than anything else is how out of touch and detached from reality the Lib Dems who lead Somerset have become. The fact they believed they had the right to railroad through this decision against the wishes of thousands of local residents clearly shows the time has come for change. There were some tremendous speeches from the public gallery last night and I am really hopeful that some of them might be inspired to put themselves forward for the Council and replace the discredited and doomed Lib Dems.
- How the Councillors voted
- A dramatic night
- Protestors win their battle
- Planning move fails
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5 Comments
January 13, 2009 at 11:40 am
I see that the District Council’s leader, Tim Carroll (LibDem), has “assured residents that it is not the end of the road for the proposed Sports Zone.” I wonder if that is more of a threat than a promise?
January 16, 2009 at 7:22 pm
I read that you commented on the fact that most people didn’t want the proposals to go ahead. I have spoken to a lot of people that wanted it to go ahead and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t.
I fear on this occasion that the majority have not had what they wanted, I think the minority just spoke louder.
I think the town needs this, I know people who use these facilities and hear how appalling it is for dogs muck, children use this area, and it is also in much need of a face lift.
Where else could the town have this sort of area? Going out of town defeats the object of people easily getting there, plus the pollution aspects of travelling.
The Mudford Rec is there as a recreational/sports area, it is still going to be this but with better facilities. Hopefully attracting people to the area.
January 17, 2009 at 10:23 am
It may be fine there for the people of Yeovil but what about the rest of South Somerset? We have to pay our share towards the facility. We have
already had to pay towards the swimming pool & can’t get there without a car.
How about building it on the western side of Yeovil to at least give people from Ilminster, Crewkerne & Chard areas a chance to use the facility?
Even better, how about improving public transport?
January 17, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I agree, public transports does need a serious improvement, as does it nationally.
Haven’t Chard got semi decent sporting facilites already?
And I am sure there are facilities else where in the district that council tax payers of Yeovil have to bare the cost despite not having the use of.
Also looking at the cost aspect, the longer this project gets delayed the cost will increase.
January 18, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I think you may be misunderstanding my position. I am all for more sports facilities – the fact is the record of what the Lib Dems have done so far on this front is pretty poor; Goldenstones being a poor facility and a lost opportunity.
The probem is the Council said the Sports Zone was to be of regional importance, and therefore being built for ALL South Somerset, not just Yeovil. To use one of the last open green spaces in the centre of town for this purpose just appears daft. There was some very dubious consultany being done to prove that the roads around Yeovil could cope with the massive influx of visitors the Sports Zone would attract.
A local farmer has proposed – and had plans drawn up – for the facility to be built on the A37 just outside Yeovil. This would be far better placed and was also going to provide a park and ride. The land was being donated to the town. However, the Council refused to look at the scheme and I hope they now change their very strange position.
I am afraid that the proposal as it stood appeared to be a blend of bogus statistics, obvious local need mixed with personal vanity – as Cllr Seal was quoted as saying that she wanted to see this as her legacy.