BRATS Calls Once More for a Parish Poll!
Brixham Residents Against Tesco Stuperstore (BRATS) has decided to begin again the procedure which will allow the people of Brixham the chance to express a view one way or the other on the proposed Tesco development in the town centre.
Since the Brixham Council decision to cancel the original Parish Poll, BRATS has received many requests to call a vote, has continued to collect signatures against this development and has continued to talk to local traders in order to understand the impact of Tesco’s development on our town.
Many Local Businesses Support the BRATS Campaign
Contrary to what has been said in some quarters the original Parish Poll was not cancelled by BRATS. Indeed BRATS complied fully with the requirement of the law. The Parish Poll was cancelled by the Town Council because of shortcomings in their handling of the process.
This is the most important issue which has arisen in Brixham for many years. Local people want to have their say. BRATS is not a small protest group – 2,000 people have already signed the BRATS petition. Many businesses support our campaign. Indeed our work with existing businesses in Brixham suggests that as many jobs will be lost in our town as a result of the Tesco development, as will be created.
Frankly we are surprised at the quoted cost of the Parish Poll. We know that Dorchester, with a similar population, held a Parish Poll last year for £5,000 and Scarborough for less than that.
But the issue for Brixham is really about effective governance and democracy in the town.
None of our Town Councillors have been elected so we would hope that they would want to consult and listen to people on the big issues facing the town. Far from it, at the last Council meeting those supporting a poll on the future of Shoalstone pool were in a small minority.
Brixham taxpayers paid £190,000 last year to support the Town Council. In that time we have had the fiasco of the cancelled child care centre, total indecision over the running of the Town Hall and prevarication on Shoalstone pool.
In short the Town Council is an organisation racked with indecision and lacking vision.
Rather than question the cost of a Parish Poll, more and more residents now are questioning the much greater costs of the Town Council.
It has also been suggested that BRATS should put up an alternative vision for Brixham. We would be delighted to participate in such a process and investing the taxpayers money in this seems an ideal way for the Council to regain people’s confidence and find out what people want.
It is time to accept that the process by which Tesco would become the preferred developers in our town has now been totally discredited by Parliament. Introducing the Localism Act, Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State, said “There are some significant flaws in the planning system. Planning does not give members of the public enough influence over decisions that make a big difference to their lives. Too often, power is exercised by people who are not directly affected by the decision they make”.
To further strengthen the role of local communities in planning, the Localism Act provides a new requirement for developers to consult local communities before submitting planning applications for very large developments. Surely Tesco’s derisory exhibition in Brixham for a few hours on a dull day in December falls far short of the requirement.
Pickles went onto say “the ability to trigger a referendum can enliven local democratic debate and give people a chance to have their voice heard. Local Councils and others will be required to take the outcome into account!”
Equally, BRATS is sure that Brixham voters will be interested to know that the Conservative /Liberal Democrat coalition says they will give residents the power to instigate referendums on any local issue. Politically therefore, what BRATS wants sits fully in line with the Government.
BRATS is more than happy to work with the Town Council to minimise the cost of a Parish Poll and to set in motion proposals for a democratic vision for our Town centre. In the short term, however, Brixham residents will be given a chance to vote on the Tesco development and we will be talking to the Town Council soon to arrange the required Parish meeting.