A Statement From our District Council Conservative Group Leader, Cllr Heather Williams:
"Today I, like many residents learned about the Thakeham proposals on twitter, despite the Liberal Democrat administration clearly having prior knowledge and secret backroom meetings on the subject. I consider the South Cambs Liberal Democrat’s decision to keep this information to themselves until forced into the public domain by the developers to show clear contempt towards residents served by those of a different party. The administration has obstructed the democratic process by not sharing with all members their knowledge of the proposals. It is clear they are using this situation to protect their own political careers as opposed to what is best for residents, they are diverting the attention away from the fact it will be South Cambs District Council where they have an overwhelming majority, as the planning authority, that will make the decision via the local plan process.
This proposal must have no special treatment during its planning consideration, despite any secret meetings which may have taken place between Lib Dem members and the developers to date. Residents' voices must be taken into account and all District Councillors should be able to have the information we need to represent our residents, not have the administration withhold for their own political advantage as has happened in this case, made clear by the fact that a Facebook action group was set up by Liberal Democratic District and County Councillors, including the Deputy Leader of the Council on the 1st December and yet some Councillors are finding out from the press today, 8 days later. This shows the lack of openness and transparency we have come to experience at the hands of the Liberal Democrat administration with time after time public meetings resulting in the exclusion of the press and public.
The South Cambs Conservative group will not support developments which are unsustainable and inappropriate. We will not support proposals which destroy the rural nature of our district or result in the concreating over of South Cambs. We will fight to represent our residents in the best possible way despite the Liberal Democrat administration’s lack of openness and transparency."
