Councillors have voted to approve plans to relocate the Visions Childrens Centre to a new extension at Oakham Library.
After around three very long hours of what was described as debate, my understanding of debate
is it is a group of people who discussed a topic. Not a group of people who can only express their
opinion once or to use it as a slot to attempt to entertain those present. No one laughs with or at Cllr
Cross anymore. The days when Ken Dodd was considered funny arre no more.
A motion to approve the council’s own planning application was carried by 13 votes to 11.
Around 50 members of the public attended.
The planning application was referred to full council after it was found there had been a procedual error. Cllr Edward Baines who is as old as the council said he was sorry for the error, I think rather like Oakham Town Council there are too many on RCC who do things the way it used to.
There were 4 public deputations. local residents and Oakham Town Council which I read as best I could the grammar was dififcult and it contained two assumptions relating to planning that were incorrect.
Oakham Town Councillor Joyce Lucas gave a personal deputation expressing her passion or anger said the plan was “another dreadful example of the destruction by this authority of space in a conservation area.”
Stuart Williams, executive principal of the Rutland and District Schools’ Federation, spoke in favour of the proposal saying new housing developments were putting pressure on Catmose College. He said: “In the past two years we have increased our intake from 180 to 210 pupils per year by relocating adult learning services. “But without this space, we’d have to go back to 180 – meaning local children living just a few miles away from college would have to go elsewhere. “They would be split up from their friends and the council would have to pay to transport them somewhere else. “I value the conservation area, but a new building could be designed to fit in.”
A member of the public told him he was a disgrace.
Most councillors agreed the library itself, built in the 1970s, was an ugly building
Speaking after the meeting to the local press. Catmose Street resident Nick Woodley, who had presented a deputation on behalf of a group of local residents, said: “I think the procedural error shows the incompetence demonstrated throughout by the council. “We were told there had only been three accidents near the library in the past 10 years, but I’ve seen four this year alone. “The wrong decision has been made. The council is going to spend around £400,000 on a centre which will be used by 15 people at a time – where is the benefit for all? “I’m saddened and angry. It’s made me determined to stand for election at the next opportunity.” Nick’s wife Pippy added: “When there is an accident, it will be on their heads.”
Read more at: http://www.stamfordmercury.co.uk/news/controversial-proposal-to-move-visions-children-s-centre-to-oakham-library-site-is-approved-by-councillors-1-7679956
Good luck luck to Nick when he stands for election. Of course there is already a Nick on the
Council. Conservative Nick Begy who arrived earlier this year unopposed accompanied by
a large fanfare of promises. which seemed to have been silenced as he sit in most meetings
just raising his hand when Terry King and Mrs Brigg require him to do so.
I was pleased to fond Rutland County Council has fitted a new hearing system to assist those
who have impaired hearing. Now all they have to do is sort out the public address system
so we can all hear.
And as for the roaming microphone, short and stubby with wires and a battery pack attached
with a roll of black plastic. I am surprised East Midlands Tactical support or the Bomb squad
were not called in. No wonder the Anti Hunt representative asking a question did not
want to hold it to close to his face.
