Ian, a regular on the STFC Messageboard
attended last night's Council Cabinet Meeting (Wednesday 10
September) and has provided an update on the discussions. It
should be noted that the following are the opinions and
recollections of Ian and are not necessarily the views or opinions
of RebelsOnline:
The
meeting was chaired by Rob Anderson (left), Leader of the
Council. He invited Chris Spencer, Director of Leartning
& Cultural Services to outline the proposals. He
referred to the regeneration and specifically the potential
of a site in Kennedy Park (KP) for Slough Town FC. He then
handed over to Christine Howe, Project Manager for the 'Britwell
Scheme' to add further detail.
Christine stated almost immediately that the regeneration of
the Britwell area could take place much earlier than planned
due to this opportunity, effectively referring to the
football club. She also went to great lengths to explain
that nothing had been agreed and that any specific plans
would only be included if there was "added value for
Britwell".
Rob
said that of the initial response they have had, 60% of
residents are in favour stating that better transport links,
recreational areas and social facilities were high on
people's agenda's. He then invited questions which is where
the fun started! Cllr George Davidson (Labour Chalvey,
right) asked how much of the work had already been done and
a sense of how much impact on traffic etc. Jon Davies, Head
of Leisure stated that "definitely no deal had been
done" but they want to take it forward. Christine
stated that questions re traffic etc. would form part of
public consultation process.
James
Swindlehurst (Labour Cippenham, left) commented that the
STFC involvement levered the regeneration forward but asked
how the council's financial interests would be protected as
a private individual (Martyn Deaner) was funding feasibility
study. Chris Spencer responded saying that "robust
legal agreements" would be in place regarding the
feasibility study. George Davidson asked whether "we
can all benefit" to which Christine responded saying
that there is a requirement that community usage of
facilities is embedded in the proposal. Jon Davies added
that this could included, for example, a gymnasium attached
to the football site that would be accessible by all.
Rob Anderson asked how much of KP would potentially be
allocated to the football club and it's commercial venture
to which the answer was 13 of the 33 acres that KP and the
adjoining wasteland currently covers. Jon Davies went to
great lengths to stress "let's get this into context,
we're not building another Wembley here". He also added
that it was potentially planned to use the wasteland for the
football club and the remainder of KP for the recreational
purposes.
Pat
Shine (Independent Britwellian, right) then handed out a two
page document which he started to read which listed all the
things he wanted to see as part of the development. Rob
Anderson stopped him very quickly stating that this type of
information should form part of the consultation process and
the meeting was not the right forum to go through a wish
list. He then commented that if the development included
retail outlets it would cause the shops on Wentworth to
close which is effectively "the heart of Britwell".
Rob stressed that we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves as we
are only currently talking about a feasibility study and
nothing had been agreed. He also commented that the
Wentworth area was the one in most need of regeneration that
this project could then support. Pat Shine responded with a
flippant comment suggesting that if he was getting ahead
that Rob "should try and keep up". This brought a
cheer from the Britwell residents in the Public Gallery
although I felt it made Shine look very immature and
unprofessional.
Cllr
Rajinder Sandhu (Labour Bayliss, left) commented that he was
disappointed that the outline proposals were being met with
such a negative response saying that it was "the heart
of Britwell" which was most in need to regeneration.
Pat Shine asked why money could not be allocated to Britwell
for regeneration without the football club. Cheryl Coppell,
SBC Chief Executive, responded with a very detailed answer
explaining the complex process by which you can get
Government funds for such a scheme. She commented that of
the 119 wards highlighted as deprived (not sure what area
that covered) Britwell was not included in those in the
Slough area. Stoke and Chalvey were the highest priorities
in that respect. Rob Anderson then commented that it is
exactly this type of innovative scheme that would
potentially get funding rather than just "mending a
street light and filling in a couple of pot holes".
Without being able to recall the specific dialogue that took
place Pat Shine then continued to argue what should and
shouldn't be included and Rob, again, stressed that they
hadn't even agreed a feasibility stage yet and that was the
purpose of the meeting. James Swindlehurst then pointed out
that earlier this year Shine had produced a similar list for
Britwell which included floodlit sports facilities,
precisely the thing he was now complaining about!
Paul Janik (Independent Britwellian) then held up a Labour
leaflet asking why this had been the first he had heard of
plans to regenerate the area and commented that the
Britwellians were being deliberatley excluded. It was
pointed out that upto now it has been a Council Cabinet
Committee process and that Britwellians were notified at the
same time as everyone else who was not part of the Cabinet.
George Anderson pointed out that Janik had failed to attend
the first meeting so would have seen the leaflets which were
posted afterwards as they had taken the time to talk to
people regarding their views on the subject. Janik then
suggested it was unfair process as "there are 19 of you
and only 6 of us" so any proposal would be just pushed
through. He also questioned why this potential development
was not being offered to anyone other than Deaner. Rob
Anderson commented that having financially supported the
club for the past five years it was only fair that he was
given first refusal. He then bemused everyone by asking
"Can you tell me what football club Martyn Deaner has
financially supported for the last five years". Rob
gave a perplexed look and replied, "err, Slough Town
Football Club"! He then started to talk about hotels
and specifics of what would be included to which Rob
replied, "have I been talking Swahili for the last
hour?"! "Nothing has been agreed, we are here to
agree whether to conduct a feasibility study".
Tony
Haines (left) took his turn (having arrived late) then
asking why the club could not develop Wexham Park. Rob
commented that this had previously been explored and he
(Haines) had been instrumental in blocking it! Eventually,
it was agreed by the Cabinet that a feasibility study would
be undertaken.
What was very clear is that the Britwellian candidates
refuse to accept that there are any positives to this scheme
if it involves the football club yet they are totally blind
to the fact that it is the only way they will get
regeneration on anything approaching this scale. What is
also clear is who is pro the football club and this proposal
and who is not.
James Swindleshurst, George Davidson, Rob Anderson, Rajinder
Sandhu and Cheryl Coppell were all very pro. Pat Shine, Paul
Janik and Tony Haines were all anti and not prepared to
accept any argument to the contrary. Jean Stockton (Liberal
Haymill), Sean Wright (Independent Britwellian) and David
Monkley (Liberal Haymill) I felt were all anti but at least
willing to listen and follow the process in the correct
fashion. |
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