At a recent Place Committee meeting, LibDem-run Kingston Council took a decision on a permanent road closure in Berrylands, much to the frustration of thousands of local residents. The main frustration was not the final decision, but how the decision was taken, and how LibDem councillors sought to limit the input of local residents by switching the decision from the Neighbourhood Committee.
The decision was required after a petition of over 2,000 signatures was received seeking to remove the road closure (Road Modal Traffic Filter/LTN) at King Charles, close to the junction with Alexandra Drive. Despite some localised benefits, many other residents in and around Berrylands say they had suffered increased traffic and rat-running since the road was closed. The petition was rejected by the LibDem councillors on the Place Committee, and the road closure will remain.
However, it was not necessarily the decision, but the way that the LibDem councillors switched committees to prevent local residents having a say in Neighbourhood Committee, that angered many.
Conservative councillor Ian George said: “The LTN that is being discussed here today at Place Committee, bypasses the input of local councillors at the Neighbourhood Committee and prevents local residents from having full and proper input into the ‘discussion’ that should be taking place in order to make the best decision. Local residents have the best local knowledge.
Yes, it should come to Place Committee, but after Surbiton Neighbourhood has gone through it in detail, and given all of the residents plenty of opportunity to talk it through – and discuss it.
Residents will rightly be wondering why their ward councillors have sought to wash their hands of the decision, and prevent residents from having a long and detailed discussion on the issue. Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee has not discussed it with all of this additional information that has now been made available. How would your ward councillors have voted? You’ll presumably never know.”
Cllr George continued, with a warning for residents on future important decisions that the LibDems might force through with restricted resident input:
“Resident voices are being gagged. Ward councillors are washing their hands of the issue. It is cowardly – and a decision mired in LibDem politics. Whatever the outcome today, whether you like the outcome or not, as a resident you should be very concerned about how this has bypassed the Neighbourhood committee at this precise and important point. There will be other important issues coming up in future years – that directly affect all of you. Don’t be surprised if yet again, the Surbiton councillors wash their hands , and give you less of a say in the outcome.”
