What have we lost? (From York Press)

I suspect that the extension of time (renewal) of the planning consent did not include the reductions/relaxatio
ns of the S106 obligations. If it had, then the Press would have confirmed this, but, they did not. Hopefully, when these matters are agreed, the Press will report them.

I would imagine that the obligations of the Hungate management company, are entirely separate to the S106 agreement.

Does anyone else think that the removal of the comments from Coun Dave Merrett's letter of yesterday, was an over-reaction ?

I suspect the Councillor complained because there were lots of irrefuteable facts that exposed the Council's mismanagement and failure of housing policy.

Where is our freedom of speech ?

Could have been the reference to his doppleganger Leon Trotsky, but who knows.

However it was an observation and not as the peddling p***t stated an attack.

It might have been the reference to the Russian fella who he looks like.

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:
Does anyone else think that the removal of the comments from Coun Dave Merrett's letter of yesterday, was an over-reaction ? I suspect the Councillor complained because there were lots of irrefuteable facts that exposed the Council's mismanagement and failure of housing policy. Where is our freedom of speech ?

Yes, definitely.
It was an over-reaction.

There was nothing in any of the comments worthy of individual deletion, and none of the discussion deserved a total shut-down.

I would prefer the record to stand.

The Press take those measures by default usually as a reaction to complaint. Member of public or councillor objects, Press capitulates. Standard self-preservation procedure probably.

If I was a councillor featured in a local news story (or even more so if I offered my opinion on the letters page) and subject to ridicule or praise in free comments facilities I would let stand the comments for good or ill.
I would have the courage to know myself and my policy and let readers judge for themselves the truth or lies, skill or idiocy in general opinion.


PS It's very likely it wasn't your "facts" that tipped the scale, Pimp, most people have probably learnt to filter you out to a degree by now.

No It has to be because i commented upon his resemblance to Leon Trotsky.
But he does !

Buzz,

Thanks for your opinion on the deletion of the comments on the Merrett letter.

I have to agree with you - it was clearly a cowardly move by the council, probably Merrett, to gag me. They/he doesn't like the truth coming out, and they will do all they can to spin it. His letter was all spin, with no facts to substantiate his claim that they are 'dedicated to helping developers'.

It is not the first time they have done this, and won't be the last. Rest assurred, I will continue to expose their lies and cheating.

Feel free to filter out stuff you have heard umpteen times before, but, I repeat the facts, for the benefit of newcomers, and to remind Alexander, Merrett and Simpson-Laing of their monumental failure with housing in York !!!

Matthew, usually when the Press pulls the plug on an exchange it has because someone has said something illegal or actionable, eg unfounded accusation that someone is a liar etc.
You are getting very close to the same thing again in your most recent Scarlet Pimp posting above. Engage brain before operating send button.

You are right about people wanting to gag you though.

Jezreel wrote:
Matthew, usually when the Press pulls the plug on an exchange it has because someone has said something illegal or actionable, eg unfounded accusation that someone is a liar etc.
You are getting very close to the same thing again in your most recent Scarlet Pimp posting above. Engage brain before operating send button.

You are right about people wanting to gag you though.

Coun Merrett lied to my face.

In October last year, he denied the existence of a housing trajectory within the SHLAA which predicted that for the next seven years York would achieve an average of over 1,000 new homes per year. This was true, and there were several witnesses who heard his denial, including Coun Alexander and Coun Simpson-Laing. I subsequently emailed Coun Merrett and those who witnessed his denial, quoting the document and page the trajectory appeared on, along with a link to the document on the council's website. I never received a reply from any of the councillors, and no apology from Merrett for his denial.

No doubt, this comment will be complained about, by Merrett, if he reads it, but, it is true and there were three witnesses in addition to the councillors !

Pimp wrote:
I have to agree with you - it was clearly a cowardly move by the council, probably Merrett, to gag me. They/he doesn't like the truth coming out, and they will do all they can to spin it

To be clear, all I said was "Censorship is bad" and "Know thyself"

When you say you agree with me Pimp, you are agreeing with those two things only.
Cowardly moves, gagging you, not liking the truth coming out or spin - those are all your things, please don't try to write my posts for me or put opinions in my, um, fingertips.

For all we know, you had the thread shut down because you didn't want the Pimp = Crabtree = Thorn = Duck banfest connection exposed?

Buzz Light-year wrote:

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:
Does anyone else think that the removal of the comments from Coun Dave Merrett's letter of yesterday, was an over-reaction ? I suspect the Councillor complained because there were lots of irrefuteable facts that exposed the Council's mismanagement and failure of housing policy. Where is our freedom of speech ?

Yes, definitely.
It was an over-reaction.

There was nothing in any of the comments worthy of individual deletion, and none of the discussion deserved a total shut-down.

I would prefer the record to stand.

The Press take those measures by default usually as a reaction to complaint. Member of public or councillor objects, Press capitulates. Standard self-preservation procedure probably.

If I was a councillor featured in a local news story (or even more so if I offered my opinion on the letters page) and subject to ridicule or praise in free comments facilities I would let stand the comments for good or ill.
I would have the courage to know myself and my policy and let readers judge for themselves the truth or lies, skill or idiocy in general opinion.


PS It's very likely it wasn't your "facts" that tipped the scale, Pimp, most people have probably learnt to filter you out to a degree by now.

Agree with this. I was sorry to see the thread pulled as some of the comments revealed quite a lot on both sides of the argument.