Smokeys and mirrors plus all sorts of waste

It is important to speak out for truth and democracy, something that has been lacking for many years in both the current, and previous Tory administrations.

It was incredulous to read the letter from the leader of the council Andrew Johnson to Michael Gove, about the BLP and its housing provision, since much of the letter is somewhat economical with the truth.

As the leaders of the opposition have pointed out, this was blatant electioneering coming only two months before the local elections, and is reminiscent of the previous leader Simon Dudley’s speech to the Mosque, where he promised them land for an extension, in exchange for votes.

This is a complete U-turn in the council’s approach to housing, which they have maintained throughout their time in office.

The housing figure in the BLP has been carefully manipulated using out of date and inaccurate predictions, and even includes almost 2,000 new homes to meet Slough’s unmet housing need, without engaging in any consultation with Slough.

This figure is now nearly three times higher than the Government’s more recent and accurate predictions in 2018/19.

To claim that there was no room for negotiation on the housing need is simply untrue.

There was provision for councils to reduce the numbers specified by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), if particular circumstances existed such as flood risk, Crown Estate Land, and greenbelt land.

All of these conditions are abundant within the RBWM, however our council made no attempt whatsoever to negotiate with the DLUHC in order to reduce these numbers.

The well-respected Cllr Leo Walters has stated that the housing need has already been met, or has been granted planning approval, and that there is no need or justification to build any new homes at all on the golf course.

Cllr Johnson was scornful and dismissive about the Maidenhead Great Park (MGP) legal challenge against the BLP, claiming that it was a waste of taxpayers’ money.

Nearly all of the money raised for that campaign came from private donations from members of the public, in addition to a donation from CPRE.

This clearly shows the depth of feeling amongst residents, and their strong opposition to the proposed development of the golf course.

Then there is the fiasco about the council’s lack of inclusion of Smokey’s nightclub in their development plans for the Nicholson Centre, and as a result, the plans were rejected by the Planning Inspector.

Incredibly, the council are now proposing to undertake a legal challenge against the inspector’s decision.

Wouldn’t that be a huge waste of taxpayer’s money, Cllr Johnson?

There is currently the ground floor area of the prison block alongside York Stream which is unoccupied.

Couldn’t this be offered to Smokey’s to avoid a very costly and wasteful legal challenge?

The residents of Maidenhead deserve a better, more honest, open and democratic council than we have at present.

The opportunity to achieve this is in the local elections on May 4.

JOHN HUDSON Rushington Avenue

Maidenhead