15th Feb 2012
A motion put down by the Liberal Democrats, opposing the sale of County owned land on the Quantocks, was narrowly defeted in a highly charged atmosphere at a meeting of the County Council today.

Campaigners against the sell-off were there in force and presented two petitions, another is still running and will be discussed at the next Council meeting. However, the matter has not ended there. Given the strength of public feeling, the leader of the Council, Ken Maddock, has offered to meet with protestors and discuss the issue in the next couple of days.
Somerset County Council sell Quantocks protest
Mike Rigby presents a 33,000 signature petition

Since last Sunday the protest had moved to another level with the campaign group, 38degrees, running a national petition in support of our local endeavours. Mike Rigby presented the Council with the petition, which gathered over 33,000 signatures within just 3 days.

A separate petition that we started on Somerset County Council’s web site less than two months ago, and which currently has over 5,200 signatures, will continue to run until March 19th and will be debated at the May County Council meetin. It was remarkable that David Huxtable, the decision maker in selling the land, appeared quite dismissive of this petition, “…which continues to rumble on”. For goodness sake! This is a local petition which currently represents over 1% of the population of Somerset!

sign the local petition

sign 38degrees national petition

link to the 38 degrees petition site

signed..

I was there and it really did come across that SCC have made up their minds on the sell off.

All the questions put to them were vaguely answered or even not answered at all. There was certainly a lack of detail and a massive amount of avoidance.

They’ve not had the land valued, though have buyers ready.

The whole meeting felt very prewritten, almost rehearsed at times.

An uncommon debate was rushed through and then a vote where 28 were in favour of the sell off against 22 opposing it and 4 abstaining.
I’m unsure whom the voters were, a mix of council people, some from both parties, but how fair it was ….Hmmm.

There are mentions of selling or gifting or selling the land.
Possibly to an organization, even local groups, parish councils, etc.

to be continued…..

The Lib Dens seem against it our MP Tessa Munt is on our side

Thanks for this Edric 64 – I agree when you hear and read the information – they have already made up their mind it will be sold – shear arrogance that they can do something against the will of the local people – clearly Cllr Huxtable is the main man in pushing it through – although Ken Maddock the chair is also one of the real problems – still as long enough money is raised to pay his £32000 a year expenses why should he care – he can sell it to his mates cheap!!

Good for Tessa!

All is not yet lost.

We’ve a plan, though it depends on whether they will allow the sale to go to the right person/organisation.
As the council will be the ones vetting perspective purchasers, we can’t ensure that they are handing it over to whom we the public see as suitable owners.

In the case of the forestry, the FC have a 900+ year lease on the land which means that there are claimed to be an interested party, but as the forestry sell off is still a possibility, the future if the FC isn’t certain.

Keep pushing the e-petition.

cheers chaps and chapesses.

Signed.

signed.

Thanks for the updates.

Given the strength of feeling about this, Huxtable’s arrogance is jawdropping.

Signed

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-17034397

They are determined to push it through – Huxtable and Maddock thrive on arrogance!!!!! their agenda is to sell off the whole of SCC as is every other Tory run council

I missed today’s last minute meeting with Mr £35,000 expenses Leader Ken Maddock due to commitments.

The group representing those protesting the sell off, were given roughly 24hrs to get facts together to defend the NOW Parliament Agreed land sell off. During a brief meeting where SCC get yet another chance to fully justify the sale of 3 parcels of Quantock land. Then attempt to reassure us that land bought by SCC in the 1930’s to ensure it’s future protection, would be safe from change. They can only loosely promise 10 years of protection based on their, yet unconfirmed covenants that will be placed on the land when/if sold.

That leaves less than a dozen local members of the public attempting avoidance of a political ambush without a proper witness, access to the immediately accessible bullshit facts to are needed to mount a strong argument against the sell off.

Despite all this, little slivers of information had quickly emerged putting some weight behind what feels like a futile battle, where there will be only one outcome, no matter what.

There is panic in the ranks at SCC and this is quickly spreading across into all local councils who are also quietly going about changes, without you knowing about it..

County Hall has stocked up on the finest washing powder going as certain Councillors and personal there, are presently heavily soiling their undies as their crap gets thoroughly sifted through.

Grr!

Mike Rigby’s page is worth keeping an eye on:

Home

It’s gotten a mention in the Telegraph.

This has got to be doomed now, given that even the local Tory MP thinks it’s a daft idea?