for those who think for us all

My town is menaced by a superstore. ...

George Monbiot has a superstore issue...

read it here

HT: The Guardian

Sarah Wollaston selected to fight Totnes for Tories after open ballot

About 16,639 took part, meaning the selection known as an “open primary” recorded an impressive turnout of 24.6 per cent, higher than some council elections. Some key Tory marginal seats in recent months have been selected at meetings with 40 people, while the response rate for direct postal marketing is usually around 0.5 to 1 per cent.

Dr Wallaston, who has been a member of the Tory party for only three years, was the winner with 7,914 votes. Sara Randall Johnson, chair of East Devon District Council, came second with 5,495 and Mr Bye received 3,088.

Roger Freeman, a member of the local Tory association, said that Dr Wallaston won because of her “bedside manner” which put her in front at a public meeting hosted by Times columnist Matthew Parris ten days ago.

Mr Bye said that his rival was the rightful victor, but added that Mr Parris’s account of the meeting in The Spectator, which portrayed her in a glowing light, may also have been a factor.

The three contenders were given just 20 days to campaign between selection and close of voting, and were restricted to a budget of £200. While Ms Randall Johnson spent £200 on a website and Mr Bye spent £150 on leaflets, Dr Wollaston spent nothing.

HT: Timesonline

UPDATE: The £200 website is at www.srjonline.com Can't do the leaflet, but a Google refers to Mr Bye as "much reviled" in one entry, can't say, don't live in Totnes, never met him.

EDDC Executive Board press release re Tesco/Sainsbury

This is the press release issued today after EDDC debated last night the issue of whether to enter into an exclusive relationship with Tesco, an item which had been deferred from January 2008:

On the advice of the District Valuer, East Devon District Council is obliged
to gain best value from the assets that it owns. In the case of the
Council's land-holding at Seaton, this means we must ensure that we obtain
the best possible value either in monetary terms or in equivalent benefit
for the community.

Based on this advice, members of the Executive Board agreed that the council
will continue to negotiate with both Tesco and Sainsburys until such time as
a clearer picture emerges as to which of the commercial proposals represents
best value for the community.

Both companies are already aware that EDDC, in its capacity as a land-owner,
is obliged to act in this way and they will therefore continue to work up
their ideas with a view to presenting these to the Council in due course.

The Monday conundrum - (or how we got to live with the marsh project)

Is purchase of more acres of marshes in Seaton dependent on money to be
received from the major developers of the Seaton Regeneration area?

Can we get one thing clear? East Devon District Council [EDDC] is saying
that the Seaton Wetlands project is NOT linked to the planning
application for the Seaton Regeneration Area.
However, on EDDC’s own website, they have a copy of their own press
release dated 9 November 2006 which can be found
here


It states (amongst other things):

“In his report to EDDC’s Executive Board, Mr Karime Hassan, Corporate
Director Environment,suggests how this contribution could take shape by:
……… Agreeing with the developers that they will part-fund the
acquisition of land between Seaton Marshes and Colyford Common to create
a high quality wetlands wildlife reserve of regional significance.
Whilst each of these proposals would be linked to TDP’s [Liatris –
Seaton Regeneration area] development proposals, they are dependent on
two key events – a series of successful land deals [with EDDC] and,
subsequently, permission being granted by EDDC’s independent Development
Control Committee."
[after they have been guided by EDDC officers who act as a major
landowner on the site, a major developer on the site and the planning
authority for the site AND who have already agreed that the day that
planning permission is granted on the site EDDC will sell its land to
Liatris].

Can someone explain to me how the Wetlands project ISN’T linked to the
Seaton Regeneration area planning application having read the above?

There is one simple way to prove it, of course – don't use the
developer's money to buy more wetlands acreage. Section 106 money is
"dirty money" if used to purchase the Wetlands rather than giving the
people of Seaton what THEY want and need - community facilities which
are being lost and not replaced and the overnight accommodation for
350-400 tourists per night which are being lost and not replaced. The
Wetlands is an excellent concept – so excellent it will have no problems
attracting other funders.

Please explain to us: why have we not been consulted about this? Who
decided how the money should be spent? How can the "independent
Development Control Committee" make an informed decision if they are not
in possession of all the facts and if they are unaware of how the people
of Seaton feel about this betrayal?