Power to the people (part 2)
Click picture below to see the protesters:
When local people heard that the end of their terrace on Medomsley Road was to be turned into an accountant’s office they were horrified. It would snarl up the parking and make getting out of their back street even more difficult. But what could they do? Wasn’t it all decided already?
They approached me as their Liberal Democrat councillor to help them organise their protest. Twenty six letters of complaint hit the council offices. At the planning committee, armed with their arguments, I put their case so forcefully that even though council officers had recommended the plan to go ahead the committee rejected it unanimously.
So far so good, but spirits sagged when the accountants hired a planning consultant to appeal the decision. Defeat loomed as residents read the professionally put together appeal. Could ordinary people really persuade the Inspector to back their protests against the so-called experts?
Working together with me again they showered the inspectorate with well argued letters explaining why he should reject the appeal.
On March 18th residents got the good news that they had won. It’s a small victory but a big political lesson. Teamwork and persistence pay. Liberal Democrats specialise in both.
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