The policy of the Liberal Democrats nationally is to devolve power to the community; indeed, in Bexhill they are campaigning for just that. So, what are they so afraid of?
There are a number of possible reasons, but one in particular comes to mind. Anybody looking at the history of the harbour development will be in no doubt that very serious mistakes were made, with very far reaching consequences, mostly by those elected to represent the residents' best interests.
However, when I, and others, have tried to unravel the
background to these mistakes, we have been confronted with un-indexed and incomplete planning records, council committee meeting minutes with pages removed, 'for reasons of confidentiality', or often an outright refusal of access to information.
It is frustrating to know that an injustice has been done to so many people, but it is even more frustrating to know that there are people, still holding public office, who know how the situation at Sovereign Harbour came about, but are determined that residents should not know the truth.
And there we have it, individual residents, and even a strong residents' association can be kept in the dark, but how can a legally constituted, democratically elected community council be refused access to information? Could it be that those who put the skeletons in the cupboard are desperately struggling to keep them there?
The editor, writing in his
website diary of the proposed Sovereign Harbour council said, "As many acknowledged, it would be a strange body with none of the traditional roles of a parish council such as playing fields, village halls, graveyards etc. But I've no doubt that it would establish its own role, and certainly its most valuable task would be as a watchdog with genuine status."
Ian Weeks, Golden Gate Mews, Sovereign Harbour