CAMPAIGNERS opposing the council’s controversial Central 6 Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) schemes in Orford and Westy have now organised two more protest events after launching an online petition of no confidence in the council.
More than 1,200 people have signed the petition so far, with two more protests lined up later this month, one outside the next Cabinet meeting, taking place in the new Youth Zone, on July 11, followed by a protest march from Orford Park to Victoria Park on Saturday, July 23.
Campaign spokesperson Rachael Harper said: “Currently, from our online petition and paper copies we have over 1200 signatures and that figure is continuing to grow. While our petition for a ‘Public Vote of No Confidence in the Council over the Central Six Street Plan Process’ is not seeing the rapid response our first petition did, it is nothing less than we expected.
“Many people will see this as a drastic next step, given the fact that the Orford scheme was paused. However, once they realise the reason we are doing it, then we are expecting an increasingly greater response. This public vote of no confidence is only in relation to the central 6 street plan. We understand that the council has done some excellent work in other areas. However, we cannot allow what has happened with the street plan to stand, not when it comes to democracy and fairness on an issue that has and will affect many residents in a big way.
“At this stage we are currently unaware if the council has any further plans for the other four areas in the central 6 street and what the revised plan will look like for Orford. We also do not know how they are monitoring feedback for the scheme or how they are assessing if it’s going to work. Until our council can offer transparency over these issues with a commitment to effective engagement then we still have work to do in holding them accountable.
“It brings me and my campaign team absolutely no pleasure to have to do this, but in the lack of transparency, engagement, or communication, we feel like there is no other option. In the event the council offers us something concrete in terms of engagement, communication, or transparency we are fully prepared to cease the vote of no confidence. We want to make it clear we think they do great work in some areas, but on this they have got it wrong and they need to address that.
Details of upcoming events are as follows:-
Monday 11th July at 5:30pm- Protest Demonstration outside the new Youth Zone where the full cabinet meeting is being held (over 200 people have already registered their attendance)
Saturday 23rd July at 2pm- Protest March from Orford Park to Victoria Park to highlight opposition to the central 6 street plan and the fact that campaigners currently have no confidence in the council to do anything about it.
A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “We will continue to listen to feedback on the Westy scheme and we are ensuring there will be further opportunities to offer feedback on this scheme in the coming days and weeks.
“With regards to Orford, we are reviewing feedback received to date and as we have previously stated, we are committed to re-consulting with our communities on the approach for this LTN. We plan to start a further, more detailed consultation in the coming weeks, which will inform an ongoing review of the plans previously put forward. We remain committed to the objectives of LTNs and to reviewing the Orford scheme, and will work to identify alternative options that we believe will still bring positive outcomes and benefits for local residents and neighbourhoods, whilst taking on board feedback we have received so far, alongside feedback we hope to continue receiving in the coming weeks.”
The online petition can be viewed by CLICKING HERE
2 Comments
Done excellent work . What about the Together energy fiasco, what about the Financial mess this council has left our kids to pay off , what about the total dis regard the councilors have for ignoring the electorate wishes. The reply I received from my Orford Councillors was that the residents are at best ill informed, that they know better. well if thats the case resign and let the people decide. Lets have independents that live in the ward, that shop in the ward That their kids go to the local schools. Bet none of the councillors have the guts to take me up on this.
I do hope the council are willing to engage constructively. People need to be encouraged to get involved with local and National matters so we have a better society where everyone can be heard.