An Open Letter To The Residents Of Battle
| Published: 14th May 2008 08:49 |
"An Inconvenient Truth"
On Tuesday, at Battle Town Council's AGM was witnessed the suppression of a "democratic inconvenient truth".
BTC Mayor waffled on for 30 minutes, because his power-point had failed - which could be considered somewhat symbolic; - but 30 seconds of a 'democratic inconvenient truth' is not tolerated by Battle Town Council !
1066 Battle has been 'stuffed' by Rother and East Sussex Councils, through the imposition of Blackfriars 245 homes, upon an already overwhelmed historic Town. Unfortunately, due to suppression by BTC, I was not able to question the RDC planner as to how many more thousands of homes RDC were planning to foist upon Battle.
There is much evidence to show how overwhelmed Battle has already become, with no NHS spaces available locally, minimal and inconvenient car and bus parking, crowded 1066 roads bringing the Town to halt, not only every morning and afternoon, but also during the day on numerous occasions - which as a consequence encourages more to shop away from Battle.
In my opinion, many half truths were tendered at the AGM, as with the supposed plan for the Bexhill Link road and remodel A21 junction to take lorry traffic away from Battle; this is not the case. It will not happen for ten years and won't divert lorries away - thus an an ongoing and increasing traffic hassle for Battle. And what about the misleading statements about Battle schools not being overcrowded! The truth is that B&L classes were built 20 years ago for 20 pupils/class not +30, as is the case now; + it is a nightmare journey for thousands of parents and children making their way to and from school along narrow roads and pavements; which will only get worse as more local houses are built ! And please correct me if am wrong but I don't believe our County Councillor is in favour of a Junior school at Blackfriars, so is it no wonder that ESCC do not feel obliged to allocate funding for it! - but in stead continue to foist children upon B&L, and CCC, in increasing numbers!
Battlonians - you are friends, relations and neighbours of those in power, but your thoughts surely has to be towards 1066 Battles historic future and especially our future generations. Such that sentimental feelings must be put one side and due consideration given to the unpalatable truth. Councillors representing 1066 Battle are good people and deserve your support, but quite honestly they do not have the authority to challenge Rother and East Sussex Councils.
Look at the Machiavellian politics of what is happening [ and will continue if not stopped ], where in RDC's case they will be making millions of pounds as Blackfriars landowner through selling it onto the property company / home buyers ! RDC have allowed the £40M Blackfriars development to go ahead and thereby exacerbate Battle's infrastructure problems! Don't be fooled by the RDC claim that they are providing supposedly 'subsidised' housing, since they will still be making a tidy profit from the land sale! Whereas BTC have negotiated minimal funding, if any {?] from RDC, or the property company, towards 1066 Battle - quite simply our Town is being swamped without compensation; whereas RDC has achieved £Ms on behalf of the DeLa Warr Pavilion!
Battlonians - 1300 signed petition and highlighted your wishes and concernsfor 2007, but this has been ignored. In fact, worse still, your views have been trampled underfoot by your Councils - the people who represent you!
You care, but more is required of you to achieve some sanity on behalf of historic 1066 Battle and our future generations - are you up for the 21stC fight ! ?
Russell Calderwood 13 May 2008
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