Not my choice for man of the people

So Canterbury City Council chief executive Colin Carmichael considers himself a man of the people (‘No, I’m Not The Most Powerful Man In Canterbury – I’m A Man Of The People, Kentish Gazette, November 10). If only he was.

Unfortunately Colin has a reputation for ignoring the wishes of the people and that reputation goes before him. For example:

The massive housebuilding project in the deeply unpopular local plan Trying to sell off Kingsmead Field The state of affairs concerning access to and parking at Canterbury West station Selling off city car parks The shockingly secret sale of the Oval Chalet site in Whitstable The rising beach hut rents in Tankerton Not doing more to speak up for the people denied a decent bus service to St Peter’s and other places due to Stagecoach’s intransigence

And the cherry on the cake, the horrendous Westgate Towers traffic trial which was forced onto the people of Canterbury causing complete chaos.

Colin says in the article: “We should have debated it. We have learnt a lot from this, it did not generate enough support.”

If Colin’s statement is genuine, why was there a last-minute attempt to reinstate it in the local plan, buried deep within a 125-page document without any public consultation, but fortunately rejected by the inspector in September?

Whose idea was it to try and reinstate it? Did councillors know? If not why not? What was the real agenda of officers in doing so?

Around 4,000 people signed a petition begging for the Westgate Towers traffic trial to end and eventually Kent County Council listened and brought it to an end saying there would never be another one.

We will need KCC’S protection if the city council attempts to bring this back but that protection will be diminished if the city council merges with other councils.

Given that scenario Canterbury and district will certainly need a chief executive who is a man of the people.

As things stand at the moment Colin, that man isn’t you. Lynette Coleman Pinetree Avenue, Canterbury

Good to see Colin Carmichael is rueful about the Westgate Towers traffic Simon Pettman of Market Way, Canterbury, thought this picture he took was appropriate for Armistice Day. trial and admits Canterbury City Council ‘’could have done things better”. So far so good.

He goes on: “We should have debated it and listened to people.”

It’s pretty bad when a council, elected by the people, admits that it doesn’t debate things and doesn’t listen to people.

But so it was, time and time again – the sale of Kingsmead Field; the rent increases for Tankerton beach huts; the failed Westgate Towers trial, the cramped Canterbury West forecourt; the vast scale of housebuilding in the local planand the sell-off of car parks .

Colin Carmichael then says: “We have learnt a lot from this.”

But the Canterbury Independent Traders Alliance begs to differ.

In September of this year, the city council suddenly slipped out a document with new wording about another Westgate Towers traffic trial which it wanted to add to the local plan.

This was buried in an obscure 125-page document that was never consulted on or drawn to anyone’s attention – just one of several hundred documents.

The new wording was noticed by accident and exposed at the inspector’s hearings in September.

The city council was questioned by the inspector about it and promptly agreed to withdraw that new wording.

Readers should be very cautious about any suggestion of enhancing the powers of the city council through merging it with other councils in east Kent.

Such a move would diminish KCC’S ability to protect residents and traders in Canterbury from Canterbury City Council. Debbie Barwick Canterbury Independent Traders Alliance, Revivals, St Peter’s Street, Canterbury

It would be wrong if the public is left in any way with the impression that Canterbury City Council officers, including the head of paid staff Colin Carmichael, are in any way responsible for policy decisions.

Our hardworking officers carry out the work necessary for the day-to-day running of the council.

The responsibility for the smoothrunning of the council and all policy decisions rest with your councillors. Cllr David Hirst (Ukip) Palm Tree Farm, Rectory Lane, Upper Hardres

Canterbury chief executive Colin Charmichael