Is it democracy? (From York Press)
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Is it democracy?
9:40am Thursday 7th February 2013 in Letters By Reader's letter
READING letters about the Get York Building fiasco, why does the council choose yet again to hold mystical consultations, then go on to ignore the advice of grassroots experts such as Matthew Laverack?
I am a cab driver travelling many miles a day on York’s streets, but I have been ignored in any of my “chats” with Highways, who never take any notice of bus, ambulance or fire appliance drivers or indeed anyone who doesn’t come under the banner of an official consultation.
This attitude continues all the way to the top, for example regarding the second Gulf War.
According to ITV daily phone-ins from hundreds of thousands of viewers on whether Britain should invade, 82 per cent said no, 17 per cent didn’t know and three per cent said yes – so we invaded, with the subsequent debacle.
Are we living in a democracy? I don’t think so, unless that word means to elect someone who, when elected, ignores the opinion of the electorate.
D McTernan, Fossway, York.
Comments(5)
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
1:13pm Thu 7 Feb 13
READING letters about the Get York Building fiasco, why does the council choose yet again to hold mystical consultations, then go on to ignore the advice of grassroots experts such as Matthew Laverack?
The consultations were stitched-up.
The findings of the survey of 43 developers/agents/la
ndowners of sites with planning consent for 3 or more dwellings which have not proceeded, has not been disclosed by the council.
The Get York Building workshop and Housing Summit events last November were flooded with Council cronies instead of housebuilders. Out of a total of 130 who attended these events, less than 10 housebuilders were invited, but there were between 40 - 50 council officers, plus representatives of housing associations, parish councils, the two Uni's, student letting agents, and other non-housebuilding. The council's report said that there were 50 from the housebuilding industry, which is a lie.
On this mornings Radio York programme, Adam Tomlinson said the Council's communications department told RY that were not allowed to talk to councillors about the report. Why ? What are they scared of ?
The report is toxic, it's full of spin and lies, and they know it !
capt spaulding
says...
4:45pm Thu 7 Feb 13
Wonder why that is then.
akaroa
says...
11:35pm Thu 7 Feb 13
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
2:18am Fri 8 Feb 13
akaroa wrote:Agreed.
As soon as a politician is elected, all manifestos, promises, pledges etc, are dumped in the bin. From that day forward all that matters are their own personal opinions.The opinion of the electorate is secondary. CYC has an abundance of such people
The follow the party line to the detriment of York and it's residents.
Simpson-Laing and Merrett have proved this by crippling housebuilding to make the coalition look bad.
They cannot be trusted.
The Great Buda says...
10:29am Thu 7 Feb 13