Well done to the people of Bewdley and congratulations to John Campion on his change for the better. A week ago they were “Doomsday Sayers”, according to their County Councillor and today , he has successfully negotiated the agreement of Severn Trent, e-on, National Grid, Balfour Beatty and, amazingly, Worcestershire County Council to postpone the water works until next January. Hopefully, in future, Bewdley’s County Councillor might try being a little more in touch with his constituents.
February 6, 2009
February 6, 2009 at 4:10 pm
I am more than intouch with my residents and traders in the Division I represent.
A fact that will never trouble Neville (as he is has a much chance of being the next Wyre Forest MP as the Monster Raving Loony Party candidate!) is that elected represenatives have to be responsible in the discharge of their duties. More often gentle negociation behind the scenes, as in this case, rather than blowing everything up publically can get to where we all want to be.
It would appear that your “Positive Politics for Wyre Forest” never really got of the ground. If all our prospective Lib Dem Candidate has to say about the challenges facing our District is about a set of road works, then I dont hold much hope for them helping to change the country. Thank God he, or his party, will never run this Country.
February 6, 2009 at 5:36 pm
An erudite and reasoned response, as ever, John. That “set of road works” could have wrecked businesses in Bewdley if you hadn’t changed your stance of a week ago. I’m glad you did and commend you for doing so. What I wonder is why you didn’t nip Balfour Beatty’s plan in the bud when the proposed Easter date came up at County? Or were you not there? It would have saved all that gentle “negociation” (sic) and a heck of a lot of grief from the local authorities and businesses if you had.
Neville Farmer
February 6, 2009 at 5:47 pm
I have was present at negociations from the begining. Reasoned decision makers gather all the information before making a decision.
I havent changed my stance, I have been consistent throughout – the works have to be done at some point, and as there is three jobs to be done by three different contractors, then they have to be done together.
I still believe that it would not have been as bad a some politically motivated individuals were making it out to be, but now we will never know as I was sucessful in defering the works.
And no I have never been able to spell much to the concern of my parents who paid for an expensive education
February 6, 2009 at 6:03 pm
The “politically motivated individuals” you talk about included the entire Town Council, Bewdley Development Trust, the Chamber of Trade and many of the business owners themselves. I believe you’ll find there was total cross-party support for their cause. At the meeting this week they voted unanimously for the statement that the April plan threatened local businesses. They weren’t politically motivated, at all. They just wanted their say over their town.
All of them must be wondering why it was so simple for you to defer the works single-handed in the last 24 hours when it was not possible over the last few weeks? They and I agree with you that the work has to be done but a year ago Severn Trent agreed to avoid the tourist season, so what has changed this year? Balfour Beatty, it appears, cared nothing for local opinion and shifted this january’s promised date in the face of massive local opposition. Had that opposition been successfully expressed by you at County, we might never have come to this point.
Neville Farmer
February 7, 2009 at 12:11 am
Thats right Neville, you keep slugging away and Im sure you will score some political points, what are we aiming for, Tory not listening to electorate??? Tory not doing his job as he is busy elsewhere????
This is Wyre Forest, not Westminster. We actually probably all want the same thing, the only difference is that the electorate trust me to deliver it, and you not so much
February 7, 2009 at 10:49 am
I hope I’m not so arrogant as to assume I’ve any automatic right to election, unlike yourself, John? However, I do retain my right to open debate. It’s one of the great things about the free democracy some of us are still clinging to. Far from the “political points scoring” accusation you always use against your critics, and which you have demonstrated admirably throughout this thread, I see these discussions as part of the democratic process of holding elected representatives to account.
It is not Westminster, as you say, but the rules remain the same; every politician’s actions should be open to question. And the question remains; as a self-proclaimed “reasoned decision maker” who “gathers all the information before making a decision,” why didn’t you discuss the timing of the roadworks with the people of Bewdley (town council, chamber of trade, traders) before you agreed to the April start date?
Neville Farmer
February 7, 2009 at 1:59 pm
I am a democrat, I dont assume an automatic right to election – I work very hard to communicate with the people I represent, and it will be for the ballot box to decide. Out on the patch in Bewdley, you dont see many Lib dem leaflets telling them what you are doing??? We did have one from your brief predecessor, but thats it in the last four years – so I will take no lectures from you about keeping intouch with residents.
I have had many conversations with residents about the works, both last years and this years program. They are not County Council works, they are utility works, it is for the utility for formally consult on THEIR proposals.
The Town Council were invited to meetings at County Last year, which they didnt send anybody too. You can draw a horse to water but you can make it drink.
Its funny, I have a huge amount of respect for the two Lib Dems on the District Council, who are both able to perform their duties to a high standard without seeming to dive headlong into party politics at every turn – mayby we should have Helen as the next Lib Dem PPC, we muct be due for a change soon anyway?
February 7, 2009 at 7:22 pm
And still you don’t answer the question, John. Do understand that there are many things I respect you for in your running of WFDC, much of which is passed on to me by the Dykes. I just think you made a big mistake here as County Councillor and as a politician you must expect that to be picked up upon. Let’s leave it there, eh, John. I think this thread is descending into sniping and has run its course.