The worm turns..........

After many years of refusing any comment on IQW, saying "The Law prevents me", whilst conveniently forgetting that he would have been party to any early discussions, Cllr Evans ( & Sue Murray) now seem to be positioning themselves to lead the opposition against IQW .... 

Cllr Evans could have quietly tipped us of about what TMBC and Hanson were planning, letting us run the opposition whilst he yet again kept his hands clean, just as he did when Tim & I ran the election campaign against Valerie Dagger in 2005. I leave you to decide who masterminded that one!!!

But...."Cllr Evans' IQW CONCERNS ????" (Sevenoaks Chronicle  6Aug09)

David Evans is reported in the Chronicle (6 Aug 09) expressing his concerns about the impact of IQW. Now I know that Isles Quarry Housing is a foregone conclusion, and that our efforts should now be aimed at persuading Simon Wright to minimise the impact of his development on our community.

Now is probably not the time to rake over the coals of the past in a "who said and did what" squabble.

But I was incensed by Cllr David Evans' comments in the Chronicle, and Cllr Sue Murray's at the PC meeting, expressing concerns about the Isles Quarry Housing development.

There is fairly conclusive evidence that these two councillors and their allies were the ones who worked with Hanson and TMBC planners to both push this development through, and to ensure that we didn't find out what they were doing until it was far too late.

Questions still remain unanswered: What were the contents of the Hanson policy document seen by some of the PC in 2004? Why were Freedom of Information requests for that document denied? Why wasn't TMBC's "Here and Now" magazine's IQW issue delivered in Borough Green? Why was our Parish Plan altered to support IQW after the public exhibition? Why was the "LDF Public Exhibition" planned for the same day as the Grand Skatepark Opening? Why is BGPC quoted as "strongly supporting" IQW housing when most didn't even know about it?

As BGPC Chairman, Cllr Charles Willsher stated categorically, emphasised with table thumping, that " Not one brick will be laid until the Bypass is built"........ still patiently waiting............

I have sent the below letter to the Sevenoaks Chronicle : I wonder if Ian will print it:...........

Dear Sir,

It was interesting to read Cllr David Evans voicing his concerns about the damage that the IQW development will visit on our community. But I am afraid he and Cllr Sue Murray are a little late mustering opposition.

Our elected representatives should have alerted us to what was being cooked up by TMBC Planners and Hanson long before it became an approved development. Had we been warned, we would have stood a fighting chance of mounting an early campaign before a final plan was offered to a house hungry Government.

We are not naïve enough to believe that Cllr Evans' protests are anything more than a cynical attempt to position himself as our protector ready for the next elections.

We were told that IQW, if it ever went ahead, would pay for a new school, a new medical centre, a Bypass, even a new cemetery, but when we opened our gaily wrapped parcel, what did we find : nothing. They sold our heritage, and didn't even secure the proverbial mess of pottage.

Simon Wright may well be an honourable man for a developer, but it is simply wrong that the future of our community should depend on the generosity and forbearance of a property developer.

Mike Taylor