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Speaking up for the silent majority
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| Party spokesmen - Martin Hunt (Lib Dem), Robert Davidson (Conservative), Tim Young (Labour) and Peter Lynn (Green) with Pensioners' Action Group chair Barbara Williamson, centre. (76973-1) |
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They didn't act like a silent majority.
In fact, the 40 people who had turned up for this particular husting were vocal - very vocal - about a lot of issues - council tax, transport, recycling, litter, noise pollution.
The one thing which brought the applause and the most passion was Colchester's new art gallery.
The people facing Colchester Council's party leaders just didn't get it - and certainly don't want it. The controversy which has faced the building, known to many as the Vaf (the Visual Arts Facility, but officially Firstsite Newsite) for the past four years won't go away.
And, if the comments made by this audience are anything to go by, it never will.
Many of the audience are members of Colchester Pensioners' Action Group. It was the group's chair, Barbara Williamson, who organised the Meet the Politicians' husting to coincide with the local elections on May 1.
On that date, a third of Colchester Council's 60 seats will be up for grabs; Mrs Williamson wants the over-60s to be very sure of what they will be getting.
The leaders all turned up, too. Robert Davidson (Conservative, council leader), Martin Hunt (Lib Dem), Tim Young (Labour) and Peter Lynn (Green) were all present.
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| Angry brigade - pensioners are the highest percentage voting group in Colchester. Pictures: STEVE ARGENT (76973-3) |
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They cut it fine, though; they were that close from a Politicians Snub Pensioners headline.
But they wouldn't make such a tactical mistake. Mr Hunt made that very clear when he declared that pensioners are the "highest percentage voting group in the town".
Yet the audience didn't feel that counted for much. While Mr Davidson pointed to many positive aspects of the Conservative administration - keeping council tax low, improving street cleaning, increasing recycling rates, bringing new jobs to the town (he prudently never mentioned Vaf) - the audience was not prepared to sit back quietly.
They listened to what the other leaders had to offer for older voters. Mr Hunt insisted his party in Colchester would not increase council tax, although he did concede he could not speak for Essex County Council, while Peter Lynn concentrated on renewable energy schemes, traffic reduction and a sustainable future and Tim Young promised more on tackling antisocial behaviour - the biggest issue raised during doorstep canvassing - and recycling.
Then Mr Young really got the ball rolling. He mentioned Vaf, called it a "waste of money" and sat back. Everyone, it seemed, agreed.
It was left to Mr Davidson - as leader of the party which, whatever councillors' personal misgivings, is on the side of Vaf - to be the art gallery's champion.
Yes, the council would be subsidising the gallery by £200,000 a year, but the council also subsidised Colchester Leisure World, the Mercury Theatre and the town's parks.
One of the audience was quick to point out that "Colchester wanted those things".
Tim Oxton was an independent socialist candidate in Colchester two years ago who campaigned to try to stop Vaf being built on top of the former bus station site.
"The council did organise a consultation and 1,080 people filled in the forms," he said. "Of those, 1,040 said they wanted a bus station, not Vaf, but we are now getting Vaf - and we are not sure of a new bus station."
While Mr Davidson stressed there would be a bus station in the plans for the Vineyard Gate development, Mr Lynn was still concerned about the overall rising costs of Vaf and, along with Mr Hunt and Mr Young, wondered whether or not the money spent by the council on the project could have been put to much better use.
Terri Fahie probably thinks that money could have gone towards a bus service to Colchester Leisure World. Mrs Fahie attends the centre's 8am water mobility classes and is "very lucky" she can get there by car.
"Many older people don't have cars and have to rely on others," she explained. "We are told these classes are for us, that we should make use of them - but how do we get there?
"We can't walk from the nearest bus stop. That would be impossible."
There was similar concern over the move of adult education classes out of the town centre from Greyfriars in High Street to the Wilson Marriage Centre in Barrack Street.
The bus stop was no longer outside the front door and there was "quite a way" to walk from the main road. Not only that, but the class subsidies for pensioners had been "wiped out" by Essex County Council which meant many people could no longer afford "this access for all education".
So, what to do?
The panel was unanimous. Complain. Make your voice heard.
"Complain to everyone - your ward councillor, your county councillor, council officers," said Mr Hunt.
"Eventually, they will have to do something."
Not that this audience need such encouragement.
For more information about Colchester Pensioners' Action Group ring 01206 577921.
WHAT MAKES THEM ANGRY
Colchester pensioners' concerns:
Rising council tax
Visual Arts Facility (Vaf) building
Plans for new Colchester bus station will be scrapped
Bus passes now valid from 9.30am not 9am
No bus services to and from Colchester Leisure World
Adult education classes - pensioners' subsidies axed
Antisocial behaviour
11:16am Monday 21st April 2008
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CommentPosted by: martin hunt, Colchester on 7:09pm Mon 21 Apr 08
I thought Martin Hunt was particularly good.
I thought Martin Hunt was particularly good.
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