Your
Tree Wise Voting Guide for Thursday 7th May
As the tree felling and process has caused upset in our village and the vicinity and divided opinions, we emailed
all the national and local candidates from all the parties for the Shipley ward
to ask for their position on the tree issue and Bradford Council processes.
All candidates were emailed in April but
we have not received responses as yet from Steve Clapcote (Labour). All other candidates views can be seen below.
We hope this will help to inform your
decisions locally and nationally on Thursday 7th May.
Three key questions about the Victoria Road
Public Realm Scheme
1.
Do you believe there was adequate consultation for the Victoria Road Public
Realm Scheme by Bradford Council?
2.
Do you support the replanting of more than 8 trees on Victoria Road, Saltaire?
3.
Will you improve future consultation between local government, councils and
Saltaire residents and visitors - especially in light of other developments
planned (for example Sainsbury's, Hydro Electric plant)? And if so how?
Below are the answers from your
parliamentary and local council candidates.
Shipley
Parliamentary Candidates
Philip
Davis, Conservative
1. No.
2. Yes.
3. I am happy to try to facilitate this,
but I am afraid that the local MP does not control the Council and so I cannot
force them to improve their consultation with local residents before decisions
are taken. I am therefore not prepared
to make a promise I am not in a position to keep (I am sure there are plenty of
other election candidates who will do that).
However, if there are any meetings with Council Officers you would like
me to help to arrange for you and other local residents, I will happily do so
should I be re-elected.
Andrew
Martin, Liberal Democrat
1. Our basic philosophy is as much open and
honest, but respectful consultation as possible whilst recognising valid limits
of time and cost. Within such a mutually co-operative framework benefits
usually accrue as no-one side has all the wisdom.
2. On a personal level the more trees the
better provided they make sense in the proposed location. The birds would
certainly welcome extra greenery.
3. Christine Briggs has asked John Briggs
(Lib Dems) to raise this issue with the Foundation but they are already exploring how they can contribute by having
more appropriate trees in front of the Victoria Hall.
Waqas
Ali Khan, UKIP
1. I don't believe the Bradford council
(Labour-controlled) consult locals in their decision-making throughout the
whole of Bradford. There have been many issues that have been highlighted by
disappointed residents in the past.
2. To your second question, "Yes"
I do support replanting 8 trees and continue to plant and make our cities look
more attractive and flower friendly.
3. UKIP is a party that gives power to the
people so before councils must give full consideration to all residents and
respect their views and opinions. I will personally, if elected have a website
portal in which each local issue and parliament vote (separated by category)
will allow people on the current 2015 voting register, to register and be asked
directly if they are in favor of a particular development or issue. We live in
a democratic society, the final decision should be what the people want and
require.
Kevin Warnes Green Party
also Councillor candidate for Shipley
1.
Do you believe there was adequate consultation for the Victoria Road Public
Realm Scheme by Bradford Council?
Looking back over the process to date, my view is that the Council can and should do more in future to open up additional spaces for debate and feedback when carrying out its public policy consultations. The survey in January undertaken by the Saltaire Trees project captured views and feedback that, unfortunately, had not been picked up by the Council. I wrote to the portfolio holder overseeing the public realm project back in February to say that I did not think that it was possible for the Council to continue to argue convincingly that the Council's own consultation that had been carried out in relation to Victoria Road was sufficiently proactive. Given that the future of the trees and the refurbishment of Victoria Road was always likely to generate keen interest from local residents, I think that more could have been done to engage a greater proportion of local people (for example, by visiting properties across the village rather than just up and down Victoria Road) to discuss the options with residents. I hope that this will be taken on board by the Council in the future. We have good, dedicated Council officers and I am sure they will reflect on this experience as Victoria Road is refurbished.
Looking back over the process to date, my view is that the Council can and should do more in future to open up additional spaces for debate and feedback when carrying out its public policy consultations. The survey in January undertaken by the Saltaire Trees project captured views and feedback that, unfortunately, had not been picked up by the Council. I wrote to the portfolio holder overseeing the public realm project back in February to say that I did not think that it was possible for the Council to continue to argue convincingly that the Council's own consultation that had been carried out in relation to Victoria Road was sufficiently proactive. Given that the future of the trees and the refurbishment of Victoria Road was always likely to generate keen interest from local residents, I think that more could have been done to engage a greater proportion of local people (for example, by visiting properties across the village rather than just up and down Victoria Road) to discuss the options with residents. I hope that this will be taken on board by the Council in the future. We have good, dedicated Council officers and I am sure they will reflect on this experience as Victoria Road is refurbished.
2.
Do you support the replanting of more than 8 trees on Victoria Road, Saltaire?
Yes, I do. The Council's original consultation in April 2014 showed that most people wanted to see trees on Victoria Road and I have pressed for as many replacement street trees as possible to be planted as the public realm project has proceeded. It is worth mentioning that the Council's preference in mid-2014 was for no replacement trees at all - this was the decision made by the Project Board in June 2014 and was apparently backed by a majority vote at the subsequent Steering Group meeting. Thanks to pressure from myself and the other Green ward councillors, the Council agreed to dig exploratory tree pits to identify where new trees could be planted. The tree pits revealed that there was room for eight replacement trees on the upper stretch of Victoria Road and these have now been planted. Unfortunately, new trees could not be planted elsewhere due to the extensive presence of a number of underground services (pipes, cables) beneath the pavements. New trees require proper tree pits, these take up space and cannot go in where there are services like this. I was told that the cost of moving one of the cables alone would have been £113,000 plus VAT and that moving all the services was simply beyond the financial scope of the project. The Green councillors feel that this was advice we have to accept.
So we have sought instead to secure some replacement trees on the carriageway itself. We argued last autumn that planting trees in build-outs or even tree tubs would not only help mitigate the loss of the woodland trees, but would slow car speeds and help Saltaire's many pedestrians to cross the road more safely. We were advised, however, that there are underground services beneath the carriageway as well, and that altering the line of the pavements would undermine the architectural heritage of the village. These are serious considerations, for sure, but we remain unconvinced and have urged the Council to revisit the option of providing additional street trees in some form on the carriageway. We argue that additional trees can be accommodated in ways that do not dramatically alter the heritage character of the village and would, in fact, help to screen the numerous parked cars that were certainly not a feature of Victorian Saltaire! We would also like to see more trees planted on land owned by the Council on and near Victoria Road (ie the Caroline Street car park).
3. Will you improve future consultation between local government, councils and Saltaire residents and visitors - especially in light of other developments planned (for example Sainsbury's, Hydro Electric plant)? And if so how?
Yes, I would like to see more extensive consultation take place when these major developments are proposed. It is vital that the Council engages as proactively with residents in ways that underpin the legitimacy of the eventual decisions and reassure all residents that their voices have at least been heard (even if the final outcome is not one that they all necessarily welcome).
First, I would like the planning service to write to ALL residents in the vicinity of a project, not just those living adjacent to the development in question. I pressed the planning office, for example, to write to the residents in Riverside Court in relation to the hydropower scheme. When they repeatedly refused to do so, I wrote to all the residents myself. While the planning department has no statutory duty to issue planning notifications more widely than they do, I believe they have a civic duty to do so when the magnitude of the proposal in question is of the scale of the hydro project or the proposed new Sainsbury's on Bingley Road.
Second, I would like the timescales of consultations to be extended to enable more people to take part, particularly when exhibitions of any proposals are planned. A key part of this is the need for more face-to-face time between officers and residents (and among residents) to enable the Council to capture people's viewpoints, preferably well upstream of the point where detailed design options are finalised - in other words, a more open-ended process that creates a richer variety of options for final consideration. This was the approach we adopted back in 2009 in relation to the replacement of the Saltaire roundabout - at the insistence of the Green councillors at that time - and it eventually resulted in the best possible traffic management and pedestrian safety scheme in the circumstances, I believe.
Third, the Council needs to engage more proactively with social media and via the internet. Publishing project details on the Council website is no longer sufficient in a world where Twitter and Facebook and other platforms seem to offer additional opportunities to engage with the communities we serve.
Yes, I do. The Council's original consultation in April 2014 showed that most people wanted to see trees on Victoria Road and I have pressed for as many replacement street trees as possible to be planted as the public realm project has proceeded. It is worth mentioning that the Council's preference in mid-2014 was for no replacement trees at all - this was the decision made by the Project Board in June 2014 and was apparently backed by a majority vote at the subsequent Steering Group meeting. Thanks to pressure from myself and the other Green ward councillors, the Council agreed to dig exploratory tree pits to identify where new trees could be planted. The tree pits revealed that there was room for eight replacement trees on the upper stretch of Victoria Road and these have now been planted. Unfortunately, new trees could not be planted elsewhere due to the extensive presence of a number of underground services (pipes, cables) beneath the pavements. New trees require proper tree pits, these take up space and cannot go in where there are services like this. I was told that the cost of moving one of the cables alone would have been £113,000 plus VAT and that moving all the services was simply beyond the financial scope of the project. The Green councillors feel that this was advice we have to accept.
So we have sought instead to secure some replacement trees on the carriageway itself. We argued last autumn that planting trees in build-outs or even tree tubs would not only help mitigate the loss of the woodland trees, but would slow car speeds and help Saltaire's many pedestrians to cross the road more safely. We were advised, however, that there are underground services beneath the carriageway as well, and that altering the line of the pavements would undermine the architectural heritage of the village. These are serious considerations, for sure, but we remain unconvinced and have urged the Council to revisit the option of providing additional street trees in some form on the carriageway. We argue that additional trees can be accommodated in ways that do not dramatically alter the heritage character of the village and would, in fact, help to screen the numerous parked cars that were certainly not a feature of Victorian Saltaire! We would also like to see more trees planted on land owned by the Council on and near Victoria Road (ie the Caroline Street car park).
3. Will you improve future consultation between local government, councils and Saltaire residents and visitors - especially in light of other developments planned (for example Sainsbury's, Hydro Electric plant)? And if so how?
Yes, I would like to see more extensive consultation take place when these major developments are proposed. It is vital that the Council engages as proactively with residents in ways that underpin the legitimacy of the eventual decisions and reassure all residents that their voices have at least been heard (even if the final outcome is not one that they all necessarily welcome).
First, I would like the planning service to write to ALL residents in the vicinity of a project, not just those living adjacent to the development in question. I pressed the planning office, for example, to write to the residents in Riverside Court in relation to the hydropower scheme. When they repeatedly refused to do so, I wrote to all the residents myself. While the planning department has no statutory duty to issue planning notifications more widely than they do, I believe they have a civic duty to do so when the magnitude of the proposal in question is of the scale of the hydro project or the proposed new Sainsbury's on Bingley Road.
Second, I would like the timescales of consultations to be extended to enable more people to take part, particularly when exhibitions of any proposals are planned. A key part of this is the need for more face-to-face time between officers and residents (and among residents) to enable the Council to capture people's viewpoints, preferably well upstream of the point where detailed design options are finalised - in other words, a more open-ended process that creates a richer variety of options for final consideration. This was the approach we adopted back in 2009 in relation to the replacement of the Saltaire roundabout - at the insistence of the Green councillors at that time - and it eventually resulted in the best possible traffic management and pedestrian safety scheme in the circumstances, I believe.
Third, the Council needs to engage more proactively with social media and via the internet. Publishing project details on the Council website is no longer sufficient in a world where Twitter and Facebook and other platforms seem to offer additional opportunities to engage with the communities we serve.
Darren
Hill, Yorkshire First
1.
Do you believe there was adequate consultation for the Victoria Road Public
Realm Scheme by Bradford Council?
I have no idea about this consultation process, and its length of time. I would like to believe our excellent Green councillors would have to held the local authority to account.
2.
Do you support the replanting of more than 8 trees on Victoria Road, Saltaire?
Yes I think trees are a wonderful addition to any neighbourhood. I'm looking at one now from my front room window, as I type this response. I am involved in my neighbourhood group and trees and the maintenance of them are high on the agenda.
3.
Will you improve future consultation between local government, councils and
Saltaire residents and visitors - especially in light of other developments
planned (for example Sainsbury's, Hydro Electric plant)? And if so how?
I would use existing networks, but, would also promote grass roots community groups. You can't leave politics to the professional politicos!
Steve Clapcote, Labour
No answers yet – we will update if and when we
receive his response
Responses
from our Local Council Candidates
Ben
Pickles, Labour
1. I do believe that the consultation that
Bradford Council undertook was sufficient - although I realise some disagree,
the immediate areas around Victoria Road were asked and I reckon for the issue
concerned here, this was adequate.
I personally feel this was a great start to
a more direct and representative democracy which is what I want us to work
towards.
2. The Council have considered the options
put forward in this instance, therefore I support their decision.
3. If elected this would be one of my major
aims, to strengthen to communication between the residents of all areas and
Bradford Council. Of course I feel that residents should have a bigger say in
how their area will be affected than visitors, but I'm willing to remain
open-minded about consulting visitors too. The examples given, particularly the
hydroelectric plant, are perfect illustrations of where we can allow people
working in/with the Council to speak to people living nearby. Issues such as
the Sainsbury's of course become more complex with the planning rules, however,
groups both for and against should be brought to the attention of the
committee's and their views should be thoroughly heard.
I feel we could strengthen this
communication particularly with social media - as Saltaire Trees will know,
social media is incredibly useful for communication and shared interests coming
together. Face-to-face contact though I believe is the most important, and as
with the Victoria Road example, has to remain the primary source of
consultation.
David
Servant, Conservative
1. I do not think there was adequate
consultation by Bradford Council with regard to this scheme.
2. I would support the planting of more
than 8 trees if it is practical to do so.
3. I would like to see improved
consultation with local residents by the Council throughout the district, I
think more use can be made of social media but at the same time ensuring that
people
who do not have access to it can have their
opinions considered . Local Councillors
should be ensuring that adequate consultation has taken place before making
decisions.
With regard to the proposed schemes you
mention - Sainsbury's and the hydro electric plant, these are matters which
will be dealt with through the planning process and all local residents have the
opportunity to comment and make representations to the Council through the
statutory consultation process for planning matters.
Christine
Briggs, Liberal Democrat
1. Our basic philosophy is as much open and
honest, but respectful consultation as possible whilst recognising valid limits
of time and cost. Within such a mutually co-operative framework benefits
usually accrue as no-one side has all the wisdom.
2. On a personal level the more trees the
better provided they make sense in the proposed location. The birds would
certainly welcome extra greenery.
3. I have asked John Briggs (Lib Dems) to
raise this issue with the Foundation but they are already exploring how they
can contribute by having more appropriate trees in front of the Victoria Hall."
Kevin Warnes, Green Party (see above under Parliamentary Candidates)
Kevin Warnes, Green Party (see above under Parliamentary Candidates)
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