Is democracy dead when councils do what they want anyway?

Bournemouth council seems to be regularly criticised.

Does East Dorset council listen? Colehill are now fighting against their community being split asunder, with half being given to Wimborne.

Last year, despite tourism generating millions of pounds to their economy and 5,200 angry residents signing a petition, Neil Farmer made its tourism officer and Wimborne Tourist Information Centre staff redundant.

Recent letters about a Parkstone toilet seem so petty.

If 2,000 electors sign a petition to keep it open, why does Poole Council not listen, instead of voting like cardboard cutouts along party lines to demolish it? In Merley, last October, Councillor Peter Maiden said adamantly to 250 concerned bus users at the Lantern: “All you have to do is sign a petition, we will do the rest.”

Really? There is still no Wimborne Flyer or Yellow Bus 4D along Sopwith Crescent.

The 32 service has since been reduced from only four to three a day, and this could be cut further.

This was after 1,000 residents signed a petition, a protest outside the civic centre and presentation to their Transport Advisory Group on July 6, 2006.

“We need a cheaper, less fast and less direct bus service that serves all our community fairly and does not isolate so many that need to use a bus,” said resident David Wells.

An assurance was then given by the Conservative leader of Poole council, Brian Leverett, that everything possible was being done to fight for residents cut off from bus services (Echo July 12, 2006).

On May 3, 2007, Peter was elected as our councillor, with a mandate to fight for the Wimborne Flyer along Sopwith Crescent to be reinstated. Three days later he attended a Sunday strategy meeting with very supportive MP Annette Brooke, Michael Brooke and myself. I plead with fellow accountant, Poole council leader Elaine Atkinson, to fulfil the pledge of Brian Leverett and persuade Morebus to drive for three minutes longer and serve all of Merley frequently, as it did for decades previously.

David H Wells
Sopwith Crescent
Merley