Project sparks ‘hypocrisy’ row
Conservative and SNP Stirling Council members were engaged in a “hypocrisy” row this week over the controversial Viewforth Link Road project.
It follows comments made by Stirling MP Stephen Kerr earlier this month which branded the road – aimed at diverting traffic away from the city centre – as ‘a vanity project.’
The SNP convener of Stirling Council’s environment and housing committee Jim Thomson pointed to last week’s Conservative backing for a Green amendment to remove the road from next year’s budget. He added that councillors Neil Benny and Martin Earl, who are also members of Mr Kerr’s staff, had backed the Viewforth Link Road at a meeting of the environment and housing committee in June, 2013, when they were part of the then Labour-Tory administration.
But the Tory councillors rejected charges of hypocrisy, pointing out that councillor Thomson had in fact opposed the June 2013 motion in favour of the link road but was now backing the project. “We have legal advice and I’m told that planning panel members need to be very careful about expressing any merits or otherwise of the VLR proposal but instead should stick to the issue of funding.”
Legal officials advised that councillors could debate and vote on the funding aspect of the road as the funding and planning were “two distinct issues”.
They warned them, however, that they would have to be careful not to stray into planning matters surrounding the road, particularly if they were members of the council’s planning panel, which is expected to decide on the application.
Council leader Scott Farmer added: “In terms of the councillors’ code of conduct and determining a planning application we have to be seen as impartial and therefore there should be no inference that we are making a decision on the application prior to the panel date.”
Councillor Tollemache’s amendment was voted down and the general service
Mr Thomson told the Observer: “When the Tories were part of the 2012-2017 administration this was a scheme they fully supported. They are now against the road.
“It wasn’t a vanity project back in 2013. It was the best thing since sliced bread. Surely Martin Earl and Neil Benny would have told Stephen Kerr that was the view they had – and a different approach taken.
“The Tories cannot have it both ways. When in opposition they vote against it. It’s hypocrisy.”
Stirling Conservative group leader councillor Benny responded: “(June 2013) was a decision in principle taken before any costings or details were known. It was right to allow officers to do the work needed to ensure such a major project was thoroughly researched. If you accept councillor Thomson’s warped logic then the accusation of hypocrisy is bizarre as he voted against the project in 2013 and now supports it – the biter has been bitten I think.”
Councillor Earl added: “We supported (Green) councillor Alasdair Tollemache’s amendment as it is completely inappropriate to agree to spend money on a project that is subject to a live planning application. Those supporting that vote could be seen as predetermining the decision of the planning panel. One has to act very carefully in such matters and the sloppy approach of this administration is extremely concerning. Rather than raking around old environment and housing committee minutes, I wish councillor Thomson would spend as much time trying to sort out our roads or finding out why Stirling’s taxpayers are being asked to fork out £1.6m on new bins.”
Residents in Kings Park have said the Viewforth route will cause thousands more cars to go through their Conservation Area every day and increase pollution there.
Mr Kerr, in his letter to objectors earlier this month, said: ‘Firstly, I believe the large increase in traffic would have a detrimental effect to Kings Park as it is a residential area. Secondly, I understand the increase in traffic will also lead to a decline in air quality in the area which would be to the detriment of residents and visitors alike. Finally, I believe the council’s money could be better spent elsewhere in Stirling.’’