Newcastle Borough Council Cannot be Allowed to Get Away with Playing Fast and Loose with Democracy Over Green Spaces Consultation.

 North Staffs Green Party have joined other community groups in expressing serious concerns to Newcastle-under-Lyme council over plans for the public consultation on its Strategic Options document regarding the potential development of green spaces in the borough.

It has been suggested that the consultation will take place between 1^st November and 16^th December and will be held online with only a small number of face-to-face events.

At the time of writing the borough council had not made a public announcement regarding the consultation, further adding to concerns that the public will not be able to fully engage with decision making this critical issue.

A spokesperson for North Staffs Green Party said: “the future of green spaces in Newcastle borough is a critical issue and the council cannot be allowed to get away with playing fast and loose with the public’s right to make their feelings known and to hold their accountable for their decisions”

Other groups who have expressed concerns about the consultation plans include Save Our Green Spaces, who are campaigning the protect the former Keele Golf Course and other sites from development.

In a Facebook post published on Friday afternoon they said: “Given that there are just a few days left before the start date and with no public announcement and no documentation available, how is this a credible and open process.”

Save Newcastle’s Green Sites, also on Facebook, made a statement on Saturday morning expressing concerns about the consultation and previous behaviour by Newcastle Borough Council around engaging with the public.

They said: “Along with other campaign groups, we have experienced extremely poor conduct from our appointed officials.

This includes failure to provide details regarding council meetings, not making the compulsory paperwork available, as well as not facilitating a functioning e-petition platform, among many other concerning undertakings”.

They went on to say: “NULBC have failed the public and their community, selling off our green spaces and deliberately shutting us out is inexcusable as these decisions will affect every single of us”.

In a letter to council leader Simon Tagg North Staffs Green Party highlight the failings on the part of the council to behave in the spirit of the Nolan Principles for ethical behaviour in public life. Particularly those relating to objectivity, openness, and accountability.

They are joining other campaign groups in urging the public to make the borough council aware of their feelings by sending letters of complaint to: planningpolicy@newcastle-staffs.gov.uk