‘Remember that saving HRI is the important issue’

“I know this is a nice seated venue, it’s a posh venue, but we are going to treat it like a scummy pub and get dancing” I THINK all of us are dismayed with what has happened to the Hands Off HRI campaign.

The split into two different factions does not look good from the outside.

I believe even if they do continue as two groups there is a need to co-operate on making sure the initial legal fees can be paid.

There are a number of events happening soon that ought to be supported by all, even though they are organised by separate committees.

The big crunch may come when the Hands Off HRI group hold their AGM next month.

There is only room for 100 sitting at the proposed venue. If enough people decide to turn up there is a potential for bad feelings to arise.

I believe peace talks have been arranged between the main players in this argument.

I wish them well and hope that some things can be settled before the AGM so any problems regarding finance can be sorted out.

I know people are taking sides on this issue.

Karl Deitch is a very popular leader. I was impressed with him when he came to speak to the Conservative group of councillors, before the split, a few weeks ago.

I hasten to add that Mike Forster was invited to come but could not make it.

As far as I can tell Karl was in a minority when it came to the direction the Hands Off campaign was taking.

I happen to believe he was correct but, and this is the important point, the majority wanted to take a different tack.

I went to a meeting of the Almondbury/Lepton group of the Hands Off campaign and did not get the impression they were Marxist extremists.

I had met a few of them in my political campaigning. There was a sadness that the campaign had split, but that the important