RESIDENTS and local councils will be fully consulted on any development proposals in their area, BCP Council’s deputy leader has promised.
Councillor Philip Broadhead spoke at an extraordinary meeting of Christchurch Town Council, called after concerns were expressed over ‘opportunities’ put forward in a private email, including the demolition and rebuilding of Saxon Square car park.
He blamed ‘miscommunication and misunderstanding’ for the confusion, and said: “There are lots of opportunities and we want to get regeneration right.
“But there are also lots of rumours that we are more further advanced than we are, that is 100 per cent not true.
“There are no plans to rebuild Saxon Square and there are no projects in train at the moment. I am grateful to be able to come here and put everyone’s minds at rest.”
Mayor Cllr Sue Bungey said there had been an outcry in the town because councillors had not been made aware of, nor consulted on the ideas, contained in a confidential email from Cllr Nigel Brooks to Cllr Broadhead and the council leader Drew Mellor.
The email written in November was recently leaked.
Cllr Broadhead, also cabinet member for economy, said independent Cllr Brooks had come up with some ‘high level ideas’.
He added: “I will consider any ideas if they are good ones. I would rather have a lot of ideas, even some that might be bonkers, than no ideas at all.”
Cllr Lesley Dedman wanted a commitment on consultation. “Let us know what is going on before it is going on,” she said. “Some residents have been beside themselves with worry.”
Cllr Broadhead responded: “I will commit that as soon as we begin to develop any proposals we will consult everyone.”
Cllr Peter Hall said some of the ideas in the Brooks email had been discussed and rejected by Christchurch more than two decades ago.
And Cllr Mike Cox pointed out the email only went to three Conservatives and was not shared cross-party.
“If this happened in your ward, you would go through the roof,” he told Cllr Broadhead.
Cllr Broadhead said of the idea of a bypass or relief road: “Maybe we haven’t tried hard enough to get it done, it’s got to be worth another look.”
He also said work was set to start soon on redevelopment proposals for the civic offices site through the authority's new Urban Regeneration Company.
“We will only achieve things if we work together. If you are up for it, we are up for it,” he added.
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