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Issue:- 29 November  2012

Housing Development Concerns continue in Sefton, Merseyside

AT Sefton Council’s meeting in Southport Town Hall on Thursday, 22 November 2012, representatives of F.R.A.G.O.F.F (Formby Residents Action Group... Opposition From Formby) presented a petition signed by over 4000 local people. At this meeting Sefton Council was castigated for its failure to have a Local Plan ready to protect residents from unwarranted development and erosion of Green Belt land. There is very great anxiety in the area over this issue, as developers, once again, seek to exploit arable land in the area. And this is reflected right across the country, especially as current flooding highlights the foolishness of overdevelopment on flood plains. The general public is aware of the need for affordable houses but is increasing suspicious of the motives of would be providers and those with planning powers; of construction companies, government and of cash strapped local authorities in particular. Are the builders really committed to their mantra of Affordable Housing, or will this be tokenism whilst they build yet more high priced homes in places that jeopardise the environment for others, seeing a quick buck in grabbing erstwhile protected green belt land under relaxed planning rules? We are reminded that whatever transpires in Formby will have repercussions well beyond its boundaries! Are national and local politicians to be trusted or are they grasping, too desperately, for any way to gain revenue regardless of longer term consequences? The damage to the environment resulting from the wrong decisions is likely to be irreversible and our descendants would have many reasons to resent us. Our short term solutions must not be at their expense.

The presentation of the petition was highly confrontational. The petitioners were allowed only a mere 5 minutes to present this at an otherwise wordy meeting, and only a few supporters were able to gain access to the public gallery. The rest engaged in a peaceful but vigorous protest outside the hall. Matters were made worse inside the hall, for few in the public gallery, which was crowded, could properly hear the proceedings on the floor, because speakers did not use their microphones effectively. Calls for information on the procedures were somewhat curtly dismissed and this not unnaturally fuelled the feeling of being ignored.

Many seemed convinced that they were not being given a fair hearing and that Sefton Council had already made its mind up. A minority seemed to equate being consulted with automatically getting their own way but the majority simply feared that no one was really paying attention to residents’ views. On the other side members of all political persuasions denied that this was the case and one senior politician pointed out that some people did not understand the need for due process. There may well have been more sympathy for the views of protesters than they realised, but this was not the 1st clash and dialogue proved difficult.

The issues involved in this protest are serious enough, but it appears symptomatic of the frustrations of the general public and their lack of belief that their voices are genuinely considered despite the plethora of public consultations over a wide range of issues. Many feel marginalised, and even that free speech is being eroded. Examples of big businesses, banks and privileged individuals apparently thriving whilst lesser mortals struggle on unheard, only serves to inflame the situation and discontent with representatives and authorities is evident across the board. There is lack of trust, and apathy with regard to elections, all of which leaves us open to possible manipulation by those with a far more malign agenda, as world history painfully illustrates. Let us hope that Sefton can find the sort of leadership to resolve this crisis effectively. Who knows it could even be catching!

F.R.A.G.O.F.F. held a further meeting in Formby on 28 November 2012, and a debate involving F.R.A.G.O.F.F’s Chair, Maria Bennet was scheduled on TV, on the same date.

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