YOUR VIEWS
Phillip and Jenny Golding - 07 Feb, 2008
Subject:: RE: Dalkeith Councillor News - response to Cr Negus
Subject: RE: Dalkeith Councillor News
Dear Councillor Negus,
There are several points in your email yesterday on which we take issue:
1. You acknowledge that you were aware of the Council’s long term planning process when you were elected. Did you, as part of your election platform, tell ratepayers what your position would be on a major development program for Dalkeith? We note that the paper that was circulated by you in December substantially supported the present proposal, specifically 5 story development. We are concerned that you circulated a paper containing your opinion well before the end of consultation period for ratepayer submissions, in other words before you could determine the views of the ratepayers you were elected to represent.
2. You say that “this concept is nothing new.” Although we are aware that there have been previous suggestions of redevelopment in Dalkeith there has been nothing of this scale and magnitude made known to ratepayers.
3. You can hardly take credit for raising awareness of the proposal in either Council or the community. It was a group of concerned and vigilant ratepayers who organised a pamphlet drop to all Dalkeith residents and pushed for an extension to the consultation period that can take most of the credit for raising awareness in the wider Dalkeith community. Property owners in the immediate area seem to have been in the privileged position of having their views heard during the period leading up to the proposal being circulated to the wider Dalkeith community.
4. A great majority of Dalkeith ratepayers are opposed to the proposal as evidenced by the support being shown for PADD. We should have our views represented, not left to Councillors of wards outside Dalkeith. If you are unable to represent your ratepayers on such a crucial issue you should consider resigning. “Working for us in the future” is not going to be of much use if the long term character and amenity of Dalkeith (which is the reason people choose to live here) is destroyed. We need a Councillor who is prepared to work for us now, on this critical issue that will impact on the future of Dalkeith forever.
As you say, the community has come closer together – in wanting to preserve Dalkeith.
Yours sincerely,
Phillip and Jenny Golding