Delighted to be a new member of Civic Society

I WAS puzzled to read Mr Andrew Booton’s highly defensive letter (Letters February 1) in response to my letter about the Civic Society’s Uncivic Awards.

I wholeheartedly support the mission of the Civic Society and applaud much of what it does.

For the most part, the Civic Society plays a very valuable role as an advocate for great planning and architecture and challenger of both Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) and Gloucestershire County Council (GCC).

At the same time though, I am deeply concerned about the Uncivic Awards.

I think they demean the organization and are a grossly unfair intrusion on individuals’ lives.

It is possible to be supportive of an organisation and concerned about it at the same time.

Indeed, I often find that causes that are closest to my heart, also cause me the most concern.

The campaigning work that I have done for heritage sites in Pittville has been well-documented in this newspaper and on Cheltenham Live.

As a liberal, I passionately believe that powerful organisations and individuals should be subject to open scrutiny, challenges and, when necessary, criticism.

As an individual councillor, I find that I can learn from others’ perspectives.

I welcome debates about CBC, GCC and our national government.

The Civic Society is very vocal and public about its views. This is as it should be.

By the same logic though, I see no reason why The Civic Society, a major local lobbying organisation, should not be open to challenge and welcoming of debate, when it, in the opinion of many Cheltenham residents, makes a serious misjudgement.

Mr Booton would better serve his organisation by listening and understanding others’ concerns rather than by making unsubstantiated inferences about my beliefs and motivations.

Today, I became a member of The Civic Society.

I love great architecture: it was one of the reasons I chose to move to this beautiful town.

I hope that Mr Booton will make me feel welcome and realise that, sometimes, your critics can turn out to be your greatest allies.