COUNCIL RIDING ROUGHSHOD OVER RESIDENTS - WOODS

6.01.00pm GMT Tue 8th Dec 2009

Lib Dem County Councillor Carol Woods has criticised Council plans to demolish garages in Pittington without consulting the garage owners.

Under plans to build six new houses in Pittington, six garages will be knocked down and relocated. However, the initial consultation process did not include the owners of the garage. Despite numerous calls from Cllr Woods to the council's Housing Manager, it's still not clear whether the garage owners have been contacted. Had Cllr Woods not intervened it seems clear that the Council would have happily proceeded without speaking to the people most directly affected.

Carol, who is County Councillor for Pittington said at today's planning meeting, "I welcome the building of these new houses, they will add to the 1000 affordable homes the Lib Dem Council built before its abolition. However I am concerned that these plans are being pushed through without proper consultation. How can you consult on plans that include the demolition of garages without including the owners of those garages in the consultation?

"It is indicative of the arrogant attitude of this Council. It shows no awareness of the local communities which are affected by its decisions. At present, on issue after issue, the feelings of local residents are being ignored or not even sought. Riding roughshod over residents in this manner is unacceptable and the Council must quickly mend its ways."