Open Letter: State of the Borough Debate

Dear Sirs,

I was concerned to read that the Ashford Borough Council Executive have decided that the “State of the Borough Debate” is no longer needed (Kentish Express, 22nd July 2010).

At a time when residents are so concerned about potential planning developments that additional seating needs to be provided at council meetings, the comments that not enough people attend seems invalid.

While only 40 people were able to attend last year, Ashford Borough Council cannot deny that they received so many submissions for questions, they were forced to limit the number heard to 25.

In spite of the decision to remove the debate, it is still currently listed on the council website. I find it saddening that the local government do not have the same faith in democracy that their national counterparts hold, and as a result they are not prepared to listen to genuine concerns and encourage debate and community engagement.

Planning is not the only issue that residents in Ashford are concerned about, but the decision to delay Ashford Futures proposed development plans until September would ensure a good attendance at the November debate, not to mention the ongoing dispute with antisocial behaviour, fly tipping and inadequate waste collection and appropriate allocation of public funded resources.

I hope that the Kentish Express will campaign to return this debate to Ashford Borough Council as my local party will be.

Yours faithfully

Kelly-Marie Blundell
Ashford Liberal Democrats