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Saturday 13 August 2016

THE GREAT UNTRUTH ON BBC RADIO KENT.

Dear Residents,

We have been copied in with an email from one of our local Parish Councillors in Monks Horton, sent to Councillor and Leader of Shepway District Council, David Monk. 

It appears that Councillor Monk has done his very best to put a brave face on the Parish Councillor Meeting at the Civic Centre on the 7th June by telling a great untruth. And by telling that great untruth, he inferred that David Plumstead was telling porkies when he pointed out that there is total opposition to the building of a 12,000 dwelling housing estate, thereby obliterating local villages. 

Councillor Monk is no stranger to controversy, but this time has he really come unstuck?  The evidence is solid and damning with witnesses to boot. From our position, this looks like a very serious allegation to make against a Leader of a District Council. 


S&DRA.



12th August 2106.

 

Dear Councillor Monk,

 

My name is Leslie Barratt. I am Vice Chairman of Monks Horton Parish Meeting and reflect the views of  Monks Horton residents on all issues. The issue in question here is the Shepway District Councils' proposal to build a new town of 12,000 dwellings in and around the villages of Westenhanger, Lympne, Newingreen and Sellindge. 

 

You will recall that you invited me along with our Parish Chairman to attend a 'Parish Councillors meeting' on the 7th June 2016. You will also recall the general negative response that you received from all 27 Parish Councillors in attendance towards the development of a New Town which you are calling 'Otterpool Park'.


At that meeting I listened intently to all comments from across the chamber and finally raised my hand to speak. I politely asked if, through the chair, we could have a show of hands of how many Parish Councillors thought it would be a good idea to build a Garden Town as proposed by your Council. You flatly refused. I asked again. You flatly refused. You then raised your voice as if to dismiss my request. My initial thought was 'where is the democracy here'? I then raised my voice and put the question to the 27 Parish Councillors in the chamber: 'Can we have a show of hands please:  Who here, thinks it's a good idea to build a New Town in Otterpool'. Not one hand was raised. I recall you remained vocal after the vote was taken. You certainly appeared disgruntled.

 

I now refer to your recent interview on the 8th August alongside David Plumstead on Radio Kent.

 

I was astonished to hear you refer to me as an 'anti campaigner' whatever that is? To be honest, you sounded somewhat muddled: I believe you meant to say that I was a campaigner. If that is what you meant, then you are quite correct; I do campaign for the people of Monks Horton. As a democratically elected Parish Councillor, I campaign on their behalf, as do the other democratically elected Parish Councillors that were present.

 

You then stated, on BBC radio, that I asked the 27 Parish Councillors at the 7th June meeting 'Who is against the proposal' (to build a new town).

 

I believe that when you said 'Who is against the proposal' on Radio Kent, you knew it to be untrue. You deliberately misled the people of Shepway, using a BBC radio station to broadcast that across Kent.

 

In an effort to deceive the electorate into thinking that there is a high level support for the proposed Otterpool Town you have only confirmed to the listeners that you are not fit to hold any position of public office. Moreover, your plea for residents to contact you is disingenuous. We have evidence that you never returned your calls or emails to those that have tried to contact you.

 

Mr. Monk; from conversations I have had with residents over the years, it is clear that your standing in the district could at best be described as 'waning'. From the conversations I have had with residents in the past four days I am sure that there would be thousands of Shepway residents requesting that you now consider your position.

 

I look forward to your reply at your earliest convenience.

 

 

Leslie Barratt.

Vice Chair, Monks Horton Parish Meeting.

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