Greatstone Council consultation halted after Loseby questions process

New Romney Coast Lib Dem Councillor Val Loseby has welcomed Shepway District Council's halting of the public consultation of a separate parish for Greatstone. Val Loseby had questioned the consultation process with Shepway Council when it became clear that only selected households were being asked their views and not all electors even in those areas.

Shepway Council now say that everyone on the electoral roll in the parishes of New Romney and Lydd will be given a chance to have their say about the creation of a separate parish for Greatstone, and will be looking at ways of ensuring every elector has a chance to make their views known.

The council had sent questionnaires to homes likely be affected by the creation of a new parish council in September but has decided instead to look at giving all electors a say across New Romney and Lydd.

Val commented:

"I contacted the Council 12th November after being contacted by several people about the process. In particular, I was worried by the lack of information for people in New Romney and Lydd as to why there was a need for a separate Parish Council at Greatstone, and also that only one questionnaire per household had been delivered by SDC instead of to everyone on the electoral role who was eligible.

"Quite a few people were threatening to just throw the questionnaire in the bin as they didn't know what they were being asked to comment on and couldn't make an informed decision.

"I hope that my expressed concerns contributed in some small way to SDC calling a halt to this flawed consultation and having another look at the processes."

Shepway Council Chief Executive, Alistair Stewart, said:

"I acknowledge that the original method we chose to gauge public opinion was not robust enough. A few people had told us they were unhappy about the process and I decided to call a halt to it. The council will now be looking at ways it can give everyone on the electoral roll a chance to have a say."