Chris Wells writes on the China Gateway decision on Thursday
Chris Wells, district councillor for Viking Ward Broadstairs, ponders a difficult week ahead for Thanet councillors.
Here he writes his thoughts on the subject:
"In just two days time, on the evening of Thursday October 9, Thanet council will be called upon to make a planning decision about the China Gateway application.
"If you are not aware of this, then one must presume you have been living under a stone with ear defenders on for the last few weeks. The airwaves, the letterboxes, inboxes, and newsprint pages have been filled with, largely uninformed, though very concerned, comment.
"Uninformed because whatever concerns people may have, we all have to remember this is a planning decision, and the boundaries of what can and can't be done are to be found in planning law and regulation.
"This makes the considerations by councillors, and the potential debate, probably rather more stilted than many opponents of the scheme might expect, and it is vital that people monitoring and observing the debate understand this point.
"If the application is to be approved, it must be within the frameworks and guidelines that come from planning regulation; if it is to overturned, or altered, again the decisions must be based on planning requirements.
"There can be no pressure, or party political whipping applied to such a decision, and councillors are at liberty to come to their own conclusions about their individual decision, based on what they see as the merits of the application in front of them. Those who have already declared their view will have to leave the room and take no part in the decision.
"This is a serious moment for the council, and for all the people they represent. Any decision could be subject to review by higher authority, such as the Secretary of State, and the reasons for any decision must be clear, and linked solely to planning considerations.
"This is clearly the biggest decision of this type the council has taken since the inception of the Westwood Cross development. All of Thanet's residents live with the consequences of that decision, both good and bad, every day, and similar mixed consequences will inevitably stem from any decision taken this week.
"It is a good moment for councillors to avoid the noise and confusion of recent weeks, and take a few moments of calm to weigh up the pros and cons of their coming decision personally and carefully. It is a decision that must be made not in our usual ward representative roles, but as representatives of the Isle of Thanet as a whole, because this is something that surely touches all our lives in one way or another.
"It will be a decision that will surely cut across party lines, as many planning decisions do, as all struggle to declare a position they will have to defend on the streets when talking to residents.
"Personally, at school and university, I always found the best way to prepare for exams and tests was to get away from the fevered concerns of other entrants, and spend the days before an exam with people not involved. Coincidentally, I have managed to achieve that this week, in London, Salford, and Rochdale until the day of the debate on Thursday.
"It will give me time to reflect and be ready to listen openly to all the arguments prior to casting my vote. It will be a fascinating evening; having called for live webcasting of the event, I understand we may be limited to a recorded version available soon after, but that will at least enable all who wish to hear the full rationales for councillors views and positions for themselves, not through the eyes and ears of others.
"I am tempted to finish with those famous words from the end of every Dave Allen show... and may your God go with you… but perhaps the words of the Serenity Prayer are even more apt: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
"Often, in our Council Chamber wisdom seems in short supply...none of us can afford it to be like that this week."
5 Comments
by Carole Russell, Thanet
Sunday, October 12 2008, 11:22AM
“Cllr Wells, I must say thank you for your input at the meeting, you have now gained my respect, unfortunately I can not say that to the rest of the tory Cllrs. This was such an important decision to be made by everyone and months of thought and investigations had been institgated by all of our Campaign members who I might add are so passionate concerning the future survival of Thanet unlike most of the selfish members of the Council. Either they were instructed how and which way to vote or went along with the pack.
No thought for the people of Acol was given, no challenge given to Cllr Jo Gideon with her inaccurate statement of all the 16% of unemployed in Thanet, if Cllr Giddeon had paid any attention to previous challenges of this statement she would have been aware this was completely untrue. We have only 3.6% actually looking for work. If Cllr Gideon had done any research into this subject she would have found there are more jobs available at Job Centre's and Agencies then actual people seeking. This proves the point IF this China project goes through and DOES create 2-3000 jobs who is going to work them? Oh perhaps Cllr Gideon is going to ask for yet more European workers to came to Thanet, then this will cayuse yet another problem, where will we house them all. I know! how about knocking down all the houses in the area and build flats higher than the warehouses perhaps on stilts so they have some views and get above the flood lights.
Perhaps Cllr Wise would like to sell his house and go to live in Acol! Didn't think so! Cllr Wise has absolutely no thought or feeling for anyone other than himself, call himself a Councillors he is a disgrace to his position, his retorts about the Acol community were completely unforgiveable and I wouldn't be at all surprised if he and many other Tory Councillors find themselves out voted at the next election. What was this! Cllr Broadhurst came back from Panama just for the meeting didn't want to have his income of £4000+ stopped. It didn't matter to him what he wished for, he will be long gone to his new home in Panama, what does he care what happens to Thanet?
As for Cllr Kirby, he made the whole meeting as though it was a Circus with an audience of children, is he reallt that unexperienced he couldn't chair an Open Coucil Meeting?
None of the Cllr's seemed to know what they were asked to vote for, all their faces were shown as complete confusion, in fact I honestly think the votes which were countered were not correct and the whole meeting should be reheard as this meeting was an absolute farce.
along with Ezekiel and Latchford, How can they possibly hold a place of office with their reputation of agressive behaviour, verbal abuse and accusations of Racism, they are both a disgrace.
Thank God we have a handful of really good Clls, without them Thanet would fall apart.”
by J G, Palm Bay
Saturday, October 11 2008, 11:44AM
“I would be pleased to hear Cllr. Wells views of the fiasco we witnessed in the Chamber on Thursday 9th, especially as I believe he voted against it. I would also like to ask why, when members of the public were turned away and not allowed to enter the Chamber until 5.30, 8 seats were taken by Commercial Group Properties who were already seated when we came in. Also why were the press asked to move to public seats to give a table to two Council employees who were taking taking notes. If a anyone is still fooled into thinking we live in a democracy, I am afraid they are wrong.
JG”
by Antony Palourti, Tunbridge Wells/Broadstairs
Friday, October 10 2008, 11:50AM
“It wasn't a difficult decision, or ones that merited serious thought.
There was only one sensible outcome. One that didn't involve listening to both sides or having a reasoned debate. Anyone with an ounce of humanity, civic pride and decency would see that this development should not go ahead.
I assume that Mr Wells was one of the 10 councilors who voted against it and if so, respect to him. As for the 41 who voted for it, you should be ashamed of yourselves and live to regret this decision.
Antony”
by J G, Palm Bay
Monday, October 06 2008, 9:39PM
“I am totally opposed to the China Gateway Proposal for all of the reasons we all know off by heart by now. However, reading Chris Wells comments I am a little more optimistic that common sense will prevail on the 9th. As Cllr. Wells has said, this is not mundane Council business, it is possibly the largest single decision that most councillors will ever make. If they commit to a Chinese European sized business hub operation, there will be no turning back and Thanet as we know it will be lost forever.”
by bertie, Thanet
Friday, October 03 2008, 11:57PM
“This is one of the most sensible comments on this issue I have heard. Chris Wells has summed up the seriousness of this application and its potential effect to change Thanet forever. Quiet reflection by all Councillors is needed here to consider the issues and listen to all the arguments on Thursday. I do not envy Chris or his fellow Councillors in the onerous responsibility facing them. The basic question they must answer i s whether Thanet is the right place or large enough to be 'The Home of China Globalisation' and an HGV traffic flow into and out of this overcrowded Isle that matches Dover Docks. the short term 'offer' of some extra jobs for locals has to be balanced against changing Thanet forever and perhaps for the worse. As our elected representatives,Councillors have an awfully difficult decision to make on 9th October and I hope that all of us in Thanet will not live to regret their decision.”