Time for an Independent Whitby?
This post is probably only going to be of interest to those of you living in or around Whitby, but I would like to draw your attention to the following opportunity to ‘Have Your Say’ in the Whitby Gazette straw poll on the question:
“Do you think there should be a vote on whether Whitby becomes independent from Scarborough Borough Council?”
You might also like to read Nigel Ward’s comments in reply to ‘Sensibleman’, lower down on the same page, which I copy here for the benefit of those who would like to print it out to show to friends.
“There is indeed a very coherent Plan B, Sensibleman. A referendum result in favour of an independent Whitby carries no legal force, that is true, but the message it sends is just the first step in a well co-ordinated strategy to place Whitby firmly back in charge of her own destiny. That will take time. By stating clearly that we have had enough of watching our infrastructure falling into disrepair, we carry a powerful argument, supported by a mountain of evidence, all the way to Westminster.
The Mayor has stated that he will not settle for a bodge-job repair of our magnificent piers, but he is powerless to influence the outcome. We should settle for nothing less than full restoration of the piers – and never mind ‘sticking-plaster’ rock-armour repairs. Whitby should be dealing directly with DEFRA about the funding for this. Cut out the middleman. We have some very capable Councillors, and more waiting in the wings. Time to cut away the dead wood. We need strongly contested seats and every Councillor with a full electoral mandate. It’s called democracy. That is the kind of Council that will have the moral authority to regain our autonomy. It starts with a reasoned and lawful statement of intent. We are dissatisfied with SBC. It is our duty to stand up and say so. The Whitby worm has turned.”
The Mayor has stated that he will not settle for a bodge-job repair of our magnificent piers, but he is powerless to influence the outcome. We should settle for nothing less than full restoration of the piers – and never mind ‘sticking-plaster’ rock-armour repairs. Whitby should be dealing directly with DEFRA about the funding for this. Cut out the middleman. We have some very capable Councillors, and more waiting in the wings. Time to cut away the dead wood. We need strongly contested seats and every Councillor with a full electoral mandate. It’s called democracy. That is the kind of Council that will have the moral authority to regain our autonomy. It starts with a reasoned and lawful statement of intent. We are dissatisfied with SBC. It is our duty to stand up and say so. The Whitby worm has turned.”
Please take the trouble to register your opinion.
Alan
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