Latest Moan From You and Me 2025

Interesting, but, if it's anything like the local council consultations we have around here then it's just a box ticking exercise and any results will be skewed in order to get a mandate to do exactly what they want to do.

I will have a proper look later.

 

Thank you for this @cactus_girl
I'll certainly look into it.
I demonstrated outside our council offices during one planning meeting, where the decision was stalled. Then they held a meeting quietly, and passed the proposal. I will certainly be writing a stern letter - for all the good that'll do!!

 

There’s no “may” about it, I’m afraid. Gov consultations are an exercise in gathering opinions, not in taking these into account. I don’t believe any consultation is started before the decisions are taken.

 

I don't suppose it has a final comment box, has it.

 

Try to get your MP and neighbours involved. We started a residents campaign against the proposed development of the playing field behind our house in UK. Obviously, we were never going to win, but you'd be surprised what concessions were made, which in the long run did help to mitigate the effects quite a bit.

 

I don't think 'may' is the correct word. 'Will' is likely to be much more accurate. The Government has already said they are going to scrap local councils because they get in the way of 'progress'.

 

As most MPs are now Labour anyway, the MP isn't going to rock the boat and damage any prospect they may have of self advancement.

 

In our case he was also a Labour MP with high hopes of an election win and a possible Cabinet post. He was invited to support us, which he appeared to do, all the while snuggling up to the developers and telling us to accept the inevitable. It didn't do him much good, because when the residents found out, they were so furious that the anger spread town-wide and he lost his seat, his deposit and his political career was in tatters. We still got concessions from the developers and it was proof enough for us that there is strength in numbers (and solidarity).

 

Tap all round the edge of a jam jar lid on a work top, that's usually enough to release it.