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For your diary: town meeting on bridge referendum
A town meeting will be held at the United Church Hall, St Margaret’s St, on Saturday 13th March at 6pm.
The meeting is being held to call for a Town Referendum on the following proposition: “The Town Council’s footbridge, estimated at £850,000, should be put on hold until local people have been presented with an acceptable design that does not impose a financial burden on the town”.
This Referendum is being called because the Town Council’s footbridge scheme is seriously flawed. Its chosen design has proved controversial. Its financial implications are not yet known. Its suitability for cyclists is challenged. Its low-maintenance claim is disputed. These flaws result from the Town Council’s persistent failure to consult properly with local residents and with leading bridge experts.
Before going further ahead the Council should re-think this project and only proceed further with a scheme that has public backing.
This meeting is called by the undersigned electors:
Carolyn Ching, John Grose, Jacquie Knight, Norman Ley, Marilyn Maundrell, Annette Seekings, Christine Steel, Trevor Tees.
(Contributed by: Annette Seekings)
BoA residents should be aware that if a poll does take place it will cost £3,000 to run and the Town Council has to foot this bill. Also, whatever the result of the poll, the Town Council is not obliged to act on it.
The purpose of holding a Town Poll (Referendum) is to test the feeling in the town about the apparent extravagence of the Town Council’s bridge. If an expenditure of £3,000 saves the people of the town from the excessive cost of nearly £1 million, then it is a very worthwhile investment.
At the Town Meeting on Saturday 13 March a decision was taken to ask Wiltshire Electoral services to hold a Town Poll on the following question: Should the Town Council’s footbridge, estimated at £850,000, be put on hold until local people have been presented with an acceptable design that does not impose an unacceptable financial burden on the Town”
64 voters supported the motion, 5 opposed and 2 abstained.
It is expected that the vote will take place mid April.