Southwell Town Council Planning Meeting, Wednesday 4th September
Many people were dismayed when they saw “coming shortly”, the nine new 4/5 bedroomed houses planned for the former Minster School site on Church Street. The giant sign went up immediately after of 23rd July floods, and for some this was simply too insensitive.
The Civic Society had proposed that there should be no further development in Southwell until the infrastructure was made fit for purpose, since in many cases, even in moderate rain, the drains and gullies don’t cope. The proposal was given full support by the community when 60 people filled the Council Chamber in the Old Court House to support the motion. Some were unable to get in.
However, the Planning Meeting was postponed when Chairman, Andy Gregory addressed the crowd assuming, quite rightly, that people had come because of the flood.
There was anger from some, who thought the Town Council should have called an extraordinary meeting to address the flooding issues and not left it to ordinary folk to set to and try to sort the problem.
Order was maintained and Mark Bertolini, Chairman of the Forum explained that he was disappointed that there was a “no-can-do” attitude when councillors said that they did not have any powers. Cllr Julian Hamilton vociferously affirmed that the Town Council did have the power to act.
People related their flood experiences to highlight the huge impact of the disaster on 23rd July and that ‘no action’ is not an option.
It was all very confusing and not very satisfactory. But the message was received that many of the good residents of Southwell are not content with their elected representatives. After an hour, the crowd dispersed allowing the Committee to resume their ‘powerless’ meeting.
Cllr Peter Harris urged people to support their Forum and attend the public meeting on 10th September.
Resident’s Comment:
“I would like to comment on the Town Council “Planning ” Meeting last evening.
Once we had got the Council to focus on the major issue concerning the people of Southwell some headway was made. It is quite clear that a massive amount of work has been done by the Forum to date and my wife and l would like to thank you for those efforts. The work done contrasts vividly with the almost total inertia displayed by our elected Council representatives. The issues raised and points made by Mark and his co-chairman were firmly, eloquently and fairly made; l myself and l know others who attended the meeting were hugely encouraged by what has been done by the Forum.
There is still much to be done with or without the support, l hesitate to say leadership of the council. I look forward to the meeting on Tuesday when hopefully Town Council representatives will have grasped the seriousness of what the people of Southwell have suffered and will continue to suffer in the months and yes years ahead.
Best wishes”
– Geoff Tinker
