30th July 2007

Dear Councillor Bantoft

BEHAVIOUR OF PARISH COUNCILLORS

I am writing on behalf of the FLAT Committee and many local parishioners, to express concern about a remark made by a member of your Parish Council after the Parish Council meeting of 27th July 2007.  A parishioner and leading member of FLAT (David McGuffog) was talking to Councillor Joyce Smalley after the meeting about the conflict between the Parish Council and the local community regarding the wind turbine issue.  At the end of the conversation she said to Mr McGuffog, “I am leaving now, I will not be bullied and if my lawn is scorched off I know where to look” (the conversation was overheard by a number of Parishioners).  This was clearly meant to infer that FLAT had something to do with the recent vandalism to the property of some of the remaining consortium members.  In the way it was stated, she stopped just short of the statement being slanderous but I am writing to you to suggest that you advise all of your Parish Councillors to be very careful about “glib” statements that they make about FLAT members and activities.  If you have any evidence relating to illegal activities undertaken by FLAT or its members, then I suggest you take them to the police.  If not, you would be well advised to keep your remarks to yourselves!

I will again state that FLAT do not and have not ever condoned any criminal act by people opposed to the wind factory development and condemn the latest act of vandalism.  We at FLAT would again like to make it clear that our campaign has been one of peaceful protest and has primarily been driven by the need to make the local community aware of the nature of the proposal and the potential consequences for individuals and the environment as a whole.  This is a task that’s should have been fulfilled by our Parish Council but even now you are still failing to serve the needs of your Parishioners.  There seems to be a feeling amongst the Parish Council that the wind turbine issue is not important and is being driven by a few incoming NIMBY’s.  I would have thought that the loss of your seat as Borough Councillor, the two public meeting that FLAT have held and the turnout for the Parish Council meeting on Friday should have made it obvious to you that it is the biggest issue to face our community for many years.  Please don’t make the same mistake as you made in the Borough elections – start taking it seriously and face up to your duty as the elected representatives of this community.  You could start to rectify past mistakes by calling a public Parish meeting and giving everyone the opportunity to have a frank and open discussion with the Parish Council about this issue – if you won’t call for it, I will and that will again leave Parishioners thinking “what are you frightened off” as was asked from the floor during the meeting on Friday.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

[signed]

Lyndon Mason
FLAT Chairman and local parishioner.