WHERE WAS CONSULTATION?

AM I the only one to see the irony in the front page headline of the Observer of November 17th?

Surely the question that must be put to Mr Miles Parkinson and all those involved in the planning and spending of public monies on these town centre schemes is ‘what level of consultation did the council first undertake in regard to the private financial contribution expected of retail business?’

In the interests of good governance and transparency, perhaps Mr Parkinson can supply those details.

I suspect however, that very little was done in this regard and I seem to recall – for instance – that there was much opposition among local traders to the adverse economic impact in the relocation of the bus station.

The simple truth is that not only is there an abject failure among this council to think through the consequences of their policy decisions, there is an attitude of blatant, ‘holier-than-thou’ arrogance in the council’s attitude towards its own populace.

The people of Church Kirk now know this only too well following the planning committee decision for the Cross Guns takeaway, irrespective of the failure to meet the basic criteria for such an establishment.

Now Mr Parkinson wants retailers to ‘do their bit’ and fork out money to restore historic shop frontage and heritage features. Is he for real?

Blackburn Road – from the railway arch to the town hall – is now ruined by a parade of fast food joints. Church Street is little better. Barrie Jordon via email