Loughton slams irresponsible and misleading action group on Beach Green problem
East Worthing & Shoreham MP Tim Loughton has this week written to hundreds of Lancing residents warning them against the misleading and irresponsible activities of the so-called Beach Green Action Group. In his update to residents about progress being made on the search for a solution to deal with the problem of the war time tank trap concrete blocks buried beneath the Green he has urged constituents to wait on the results of the professional survey about to be undertaken. Tim has also defended the action taken by Lancing Parish Council since he brokered a meeting between councillors, residents and others on April 1st this year.
ENDS
Note to Editor:
1) See below for a copy of the letter Tim Loughton MP has sent to all Beach Green residents.
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Lancing Beach Green
You will recall that I wrote to you after organising a meeting with councillors, residents, the Environment Agency and others at the Parish Hall on April 1st to find a way ahead to deal with the problems caused by the war time tank trap blocks buried under Beach Green. I am now writing to update you on the work to date.
I regret to say however, that the timing of my letter has been made necessary by the highly irresponsible actions of the self-appointed members of the so-called 'Beach Green Action Group' who have distributed a leaflet which makes a number of highly misleading allegations. It may be helpful to reiterate the actual facts at this stage:
- Lancing Parish Council are obliged to take action to deal with the danger caused by the concrete blocks sticking through the surface because of potential liabilities to council taxpayers by health and safety and insurance claims. Doing nothing at all is unfortunately not an option.
- The policy of Lancing Council (I am sure shared by nearly all the residents) is to protect and maintain Beach Green as a park area for the enjoyment of all residents and visitors. Even if anybody did have any crazy notions of developing it that would not be permitted because of the covenant restrictions on use of the land and flooding threats highlighted by the Environment Agency. There has never been any prospect of returning Beach Green to the 'lake' it once was.
- Lancing Council's priority therefore is to find a long term solution to the problem at the lowest cost to the council taxpayers and with the least disturbance to residents.
- At the meeting on April 1st the Council agreed to suspend the original proposals which had been put forward to dig up and remove the blocks, and which could be done at zero cost to council taxpayers. Instead they agreed to commission an independent survey to determine exactly how extensive the problem is and look at all the alternatives for dealing with it. No work is to take place until all this research has been done and all the recommendations published so that Lancing residents can see what is being proposed and why, and question councillors accordingly.
- A liaison group was set up between 2 senior councillors and 2 members of the "Action Group" and in return the Action Group offered to stop distributing their misleading literature. (In fact the leaflet distribution was stepped up!)
Since all the above was agreed Lancing Parish Council have been working hard to deliver what it promised. Everything has been discussed in public at parish council meetings, which are open for everyone to attend, as I have myself on numerous occasions, to follow the progress. The work has been necessarily slow to make sure that a thorough job is done and with the likelihood that nothing will start until next year all residents will have plenty of opportunity to have their say.
The very latest news is that the Council are in negotiations with the firm Stratoscan to carry out a geo-physical survey of the site. They will determine where the blocks are, how deep they are buried, what they are made of and what water courses may run underneath etc. This firm will be well known to people who watch Channel Four's 'Time Team' programme and are real experts in this field. I have suggested that when they begin their work the press should be brought in to report on it and local schoolchildren invited to come and see what history is going on, literally under their feet.
The Council have appointed a local, independent retired civil engineer to oversee the project and draw up the specifications for possible contractors to make sure the right work is done and local council taxpayers get the best deal.
When all the results from the above have been collected a full report will be published for all local residents to see and decisions can only be made by councillors in open meeting and subject to full public scrutiny. I have also offered to chair another public meeting for local residents if that would be helpful.
The Liaison Group has met several times and been kept fully appraised of all developments. Each time 'Action Group' members have raised neither objections to the professionals being used, nor put forward any alternatives of their own. A major reason for their not having met earlier is that one of the residents was in hospital and the 'Action Group' refused to appoint a substitute.
I hope that you have got to know me well enough over my 8 years as your MP to agree that my approach is always to be as open and accountable with as much information to my constituents as possible. I try to resolve problems by getting all the interested parties around a table. The Beach Green problem is no exception and I have written to approaching 500 people who have contacted me to keep them in touch. The Parish Council will of course want to make its own response to residents. However, given my close involvement in this issue and my determination to see it through to a satisfactory conclusion, I have decided to write to you directly setting out the facts in the face of very disruptive activities by a small group of misguided but vociferous residents. I am sure they do not represent the responsible attitude of the vast majority of constituents.
As far as I am concerned Lancing Parish councillors (of all parties) are delivering their side of the bargain in dealing with an important and very difficult problem. My job is to make sure they do their job properly and I have no reason to doubt their integrity.
However, the 'Beach Green Action Group' who appear to have an agenda of their own are badly letting down the residents they purport to represent I fear. Councillors are elected by, and are accountable to, local residents. In contrast the 'Beach Green Action Group' have been elected by no one and claim to represent local people whilst not being accountable to anybody
I greatly regret having to write in such terms because as you know I have always worked very closely with a wide range of resident and community groups across the constituency who give such sterling service. I am at a loss to know why this group have chosen to act in such an irresponsible manner. However, in this case I find it particularly unacceptable that 'Action Group' members have regularly resorted to writing personally offensive letters and e-mails to councillors who are only trying to do their job, as well as me (but that's water off a duck's back!). In addition they have regularly attempted to disrupt council meetings and undermine the work of the parish clerk who has many other important issues across the whole of Lancing to look after.
The 'Action Group' have also failed to reveal that their only suggestion, which is to topsoil the area, could not be a long term solution; would render the Green unusable for many months whilst the grass grew back with the resulting loss of revenue; and estimates have put the cost to council taxpayers in excess of £100,000. That would require a near doubling of the Lancing council tax bill to pay for it. At an earlier public meeting they named a firm who had offered to do the work for free. When I subsequently checked with that firm they in fact estimated the cost at over £100,000.
At this stage I have no idea what proposals will ultimately be adopted by the Council. It may be that the blocks will still have to be removed completely or in part. It may be that topsoiling will be sufficient. It may be a combination of both or a completely different solution which has not been suggested. Whatever solution is eventually found to deal with the Beach Green concrete blocks however must be on the basis of sound professional advice, practical, affordable and open to scrutiny by local residents.
That is the course of action which I have supported all along. That is the course of action that Lancing Parish Council are now pursuing. I hope therefore you will wait for further factual reports of the above before being misled by the actions of a small group of individuals who are doing incalculable harm to finding a solution which will result in the continued enjoyment of an enhanced Beach Green, which is what all of us want to see.
As always I am available to discuss any details of the above with constituents. Again I am sorry for the length of this letter but I believe it is important to lay out the facts as clearly and as exhaustively as possible in this issue which is of great concern to all Lancing residents and beyond.
Yours sincerely
Tim Loughton MP
©, Tim Loughton MP , 2005
