Local Government – Page 8 – dannyhowell.net

Warminster Conservative councillors plumbed new depths of arrogance and bad manners at a planning meeting this evening when the Home Farm planning application was considered by the planning advisory committee.

It is customary at council meetings for the local ward members to be given the courtesy of speaking first and moving motions – BUT NO, NOT HERE.

Independent Cllr. Steve Dancey said: “What a shower they are. It was easy to see how everything was fixed and stitched up in advance as when the matter was opened for debate the Tory chairman George Jolley looked straight across at Rob Fryer without even glancing at the local ward member.

“Over the past 30 years I’ve reported on councils across Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset, and I don’t think I’ve seen such arrogance and bad manners on the part of any committee chairman at any level during that time.”

“They clearly were not in the least interested in hearing the views of local members or the roomful of local people who had braved the cold and wet to register their opposition.”

“If you would like to put an end to the sort of backward backwoods shenanigans we have put up with in Warminster please contact us.”

Appalling Immature Planning
Independent Cllr. Paul Macdonald agreed: “Another appalling planning consultation response from the town council. It is wrong on so many counts but there is a more important issue and that is that the town council is being brought into disrepute by the councillors who control it.”

“The ink has barely dried on the Warminster Neighbourhood Plan. It was supposed to deliver what the residents want for the town but four councillors last night backed those that argued that it supports what developers want.”

“The Warminster Neighbourhood Plan is immediately not worth the paper it is written on. Three years work down the drain.”

“Those same councillors nodded their heads to the immature, no . . . , childish, argument that because someone has had something unpleasant dumped in their back yard then so should someone else.”

“There was not one planning policy put forward to justify supporting building houses at Home Farm.”

“They even rejected my reasonable request that we ask Wiltshire Council to ensure that all the residents many concerns are fully addressed before it reaches a decision.”

“Another backward and awful step for the future of Warminster if successful. It continues to leave planning in our town hidden behind smoke and mirrors to the ordinary Joe Public. Thankfully not the final say in a long way.”

Spurt Mead Is A Flood Effected Area On Warminster Town Council’s Flood Plan

Friday 17th June 2016

Al Wright writes:

Are Warminster Town Council going to add their opposition to the Spurt Mead development (at Boreham) or are they only concerned with opposing flooding in the West Ward of Warminster? This question is aimed at those who voted for development on Spurt Mead, not those who opposed it but the Town Council position must now be stated as oppose as this area is marked on their flood plan as a flood effected area and as such avoid developments.

Warminster Town Councillors

Summer 2016

Warminster Broadway

Paul Batchelor
Mobile: 07887 947925
email: paulbatchelor@globalnet.co.uk

Jamie Cullen
6 The Green, Crockerton, BA12 8AZ
Home: 01985 215271
email: jamie_1908@hotmail.com

Keith Humphries
22 St. George’s Close, Warminster, BA12 9ES
Home: 01985 218255
email: humphriesk@virginmedia.com

George Jolley
5 Old Were Court, Warminster, BA12 8FG.
Home: 01985 216242
email: jolly.wets@btinternet.com

Warminster Copheap (vacant, no councillor)

Warminster East

Steve Dancey
1b The Bungalow, East Street, Warminster, BA12 9BY
Mobile: 07472 291648
email: s.j.dancey@hotmail.co.uk

Andrew Davis
13 The Ridgeway, Warminster, BA12 9NG
Home: 01985 217431
Mobile: 07703 163716
email: andrew.davis@wiltshire.gov.uk

Nick Dombkowski
27 Queensway, Warminster, BA12 9DW
Mobile: 07881 235245
email: nick.dom@hotmail.com

Paul Macdonald
144 Boreham Field, Warminster, BA12 9EF
Home: 01985 847663
email: paulianmac@hotmail.co.uk

Warminster West

Sue Fraser
6 Masefield Road, Warminster, BA12 8HN
Home: 01985 215596
Mobile: 07813 930808
email: s.fraser2@btconnect.com

Rob Fryer
39 Portway, Warminster, BA12 8QQ
Home: 01985 847168
Mobile: 07733 191395
email: wildswim@yahoo.com

Paul Macfarlane
49 Highbury Park, Warminster, BA12 9JE
Mobile: 07767 897938
emailL admin@warminster-tc.gov.uk

Pip Ridout
17 Savernake Close, Warminster, BA12 8RF
Home: 01985 214971
email: pipridout@virginmedia.com

Warminster Town Council Still Do Not Have A Clue Of The Impact That Their Decisions And The Lack Of Attention To Local Knowledge Are Having On Our Community

Tuesday 21st April 2015

Paul Macdonald writes:

Despite all your attempts and mine Warminster Town Council still do not have a clue of the impact that their decisions and the lack of attention to local knowledge are having on our community. I took scant notes of what happened at the open forum that is the annual town parish meeting held tonight to hold the town council accountable for their actions as I was too busy concentrating on what was said and responding. The lowest point was the ‘opening of the sluice gates’ Spurt Mead disgrace.

Controversial Neighbourhood Plan Goes Through To Next Stage Of Public Consultation Without Any Debate Of Its Contents

Monday 16th March 2015

Paul Macdonald writes:

Warminster Town council has sent the controversial Neighbourhood Plan through to its next stages of public consultation without any debate of its contents. It could not have been changed in time for the first public consultation meeting on Thursday this week which tied my hands so I did not try to untie them and abstained in the vote. Over to the public to turn up in large enough numbers and then comment on what they see.

Warminster Town Council To Rubber-Stamp A Fundamentally Flawed Neighbourhood Plan?

Wednesday 11th March 2015

Paul Macdonald writes:

I am currently reading and reading again the draft report from the Warminster Neighbourhood Plan Working Group which they want the full council meeting of Warminster Town Council to officially ratify (rubber stamp) on Monday night. This means they intend to rubber-stamp something that is fundamentally flawed (and was withheld from the public seats at an extraordinary open meeting on Wednesday). This is the view of at least three of your town councillors. Please let everyone know. This affects the whole town. Thanks.

Warminster Council’s Town Development Committee Discussions About The Controversial Work Of The Neighbourhood Plan Group Cannot Be Seen By The Public Until After The Next Full Council Meeting

Wednesday 4th March 2015

Paul Macdonald writes:

Warminster Town Council had an extraordinary meeting of its ‘Town Development Committee’ chaired by Independent Cllr. Jamie Cullen to discuss the now controversial work of the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group tonight. You will not be allowed to look at what it was discussing until ‘a day after the next meeting of the full council’ at the recommendation of the chairman of the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group supported by Mayor Andrew Davis, even though details made headline news in the local press. As an Independent councillor I argued that all papers provided to councillors at that meeting must be made available to the public.

Former Warminster Town Councillor Ultan Ryan Has Passed Away

Monday 2nd March 2015

Warminster Town Council have issued the following press release:

“It is with sadness that Warminster Town Council has heard the news that retired Councillor, Ultan Ryan, passed away on Saturday 28th February 2015.”

“Ultan became Mayor in the Millennium year and was voted into office on 15th May 2000. In his thank you speech at the time, he said he had made Warminster his home since 1967 and it was a place both he and his wife loved. “My clear aim is to make the town a safer place for everyone.” With a vision for the town and his leadership qualities, he and the then Town Clerk, Alan Richardson, prepared bids to the Home Office for funding to provide a fully operation CCTV system that is still in use today. The town continues to benefit from the legacy of his work with CCTV and little has changed, apart from the updating of the system that now runs in a digital format, upgraded from the original analogue. As a result of his efforts Warminster is considered one of the safest towns within the county.”

“During his time as a Councillor, due to his military links he also cultivated working relationships with the Land Warfare Centre and visiting regiments which continue to be upheld.”

“Following his retirement from local government, he regularly paid visits to Dewey House to support the work of the council and offer advice when called upon. Our condolences go to his wife Elizabeth and their family.”