Proper scrutiny is much needed

Peter Simpson (Opinion, April 22) is right to call for an inquiry.

The handling of Rookwood has shown contempt for the town’s organisations which all say No to Rookwood.

A backbench Conservative MP, Peter Holmes, on April 20 presented a private member’s bill in the Commons to stop local authorities giving planning approval to their own applications for housing development when residents object or it is over a certain size.

He said: “We must ask ourselves: Is there any realistic proposition that this application would be refused when the council is so heavily invested in a project both financially and politically?”

He could have been talking about Rookwood. For the past year residents have objected with every means at their disposal during a pandemic.

In a properly functioning democracy residents expect to be heard, to have their elected representatives consulted, not sidelined; to have their petitions signed by thousands discussed, not blocked.

Why are they so scared of a debate?

It is crucial that the full council is given the chance to discuss and vote on the disposal of a £40million community asset, with £20million given away to the previous owner, rather than hiding this decision in the local plan.

The cabinet has been getting away with marking its own homework for too long. Let’s have some proper scrutiny please.