Questionnaire is no substitute for discussion on controversial plans for Battle's Almonry

Full marks to Battle Town Council for the sterling work it is doing to support vulnerable residents during the current health crisis but none whatsoever for attempting to push through its controversial plans for The Almonry by means of a questionnaire, as reported in last week’s paper.
By Peter Mills, Kingsdale Close, Battle
Published 24th Apr 2020, 08:56 BST
Updated 24th Apr 2020, 08:58 BST
The Almonry in BattleThe Almonry in Battle
The Almonry in Battle

(Proposals put forward for future of Battle’s historic Almonry building)

Twelve months ago the council announced plans to borrow £600,000 to enable it to carry out work described at that stage as a refurbishment project. Investigation established it was a great deal more than just repairs. This concern is reinforced in the questionnaire which now offers the prospect of creating a civic centre at a cost of nearly £900,000.

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Throughout the last 12 months the council has failed to deliver on various commitments. Firstly, to review the project. Secondly, to regularly report publicly on progress with that review. Thirdly, to produce a business case to support its plans and, most recently, to hold a public meeting in order to respond to residents’ concerns. None of these promises has been delivered.

For good reason the public meeting cannot go ahead in present circumstances but replacing it with the questionnaire circulated with the council’s annual report is completely unsatisfactory.

Moreover, this is a time when our overwhelming concern is focused on the health and wellbeing of family and friends and fears about the impact of what is happening on their livelihoods in the years ahead.

To imagine that completing a questionnaire about such a controversial topic is going to engage much interest at this time is wishful thinking and totally insensitive.

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Related topics:Proposals