Frustration begins here……….

An article by walton-site-admin    Comments Off

Dear voters of Walton Central Ward,

Hello!

Last week I attended my first official council meeting since the election in May. The “Surrey Local Committee” presides over many issues in Elmbridge – including highways and parking – so as you can imagine, I was highly motivated by the prospect of defending our town centre roads from the perils of heartless and wholesale Residents Parking Zones.

What you possibly cannot imagine, dear voter, is my utter dismay at what I witnessed within the walls of the Esher Civic Centre.

Taking my new position as your local councillor with all seriousness, I duly prepared for the meeting in a business-like manner; I read and digested the agenda, consulted senior officers about declaration of interests and protocols, got the views of my fellow Walton councillors and local residents, arrived at the meeting in plenty of time in suit and tie, with all my notes prepared.

Well, call me naïve and conscientious if you will, but I genuinely thought the object of such a meeting was to get things done – to consider and then to decide upon the serious issues in Elmbridge affecting our daily lives.

But no time was allocated to properly discuss the agenda items.

Most of the committee members had got up and left – during the meeting – to attend other meetings.

 And the Surrey representatives who promised to meet with me afterwards also ran off before the meeting ended.

Feeling fobbed off, I marched up to the Chairman after the meeting to complain. (In fairness, I thought he had done a good job of trying to manage the whole affair). He explained that the meeting had run on due to the extra time given to the public speakers, and that NO, we could not re-arrange the meeting to be held again properly.

Another lady at the top table repeatedly cried at me with haughty disdain, “We have private meetings!” As she offered no time and place, I can only assume she meant meetings where duly elected local councillors like me were not invited to attend.

And to cap it all, the very next morning (Friday 15^th June 2012) as I bounded down my road to work what did I see? Notices on lampposts from SCC announcing that the RPZ is coming to our part of town! Clearly indicating that SCC had already decided to advertise its ill-conceived parking restrictions and therefore making a mockery of last nights’ meeting.

Neil, welcome to local government!

So, what next?

Well fortunately I am in a team of dedicated and experienced councillors who (having now stopped laughing at me) are ready to jump in to help. The WS is now contacting the head of Parking at SCC to arrange a “private meeting” to discuss the implementation (I hope) of a suitable and tailored RPZ for Thames Street, Dale, Harvey and Mayo Roads.

Following that meeting I will course update you on our progress! …….so watch this site…..