In the dark over Stanborough's Splashlands
SIR – I see the Splashlands development has re-surfaced again. Despite nothing at all from the borough council since September on the subject things are, it seems happening. The last posting from the council was from September 4, 2008. It states: The
SIR - I see the Splashlands development has re-surfaced again.
Despite nothing at all from the borough council since September on the subject things are, it seems happening.
The last posting from the council was from September 4, 2008.
It states: "The council has been consulting with local residents about what they would like to have at the old Splashlands site in Stanborough Park, WGC. Some of the results are now in and can be viewed here. Some are still being analysed and will be published shortly. Keep checking the leisure and culture section of the website for updates about the redevelopment."
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The council has since subsequently failed to release full results of its much publicised and, in my view, flawed 'consultation' on the subject. Even the 'here' link in the above no longer works.
But there is now news that a grand plan, one which so far nobody knew about, is having to be scaled back.
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Why all the secrecy over this? Why haven't the public been kept informed and, dare I ask, even properly consulted, on the proposals for the site.
They seemed to have been at quite a late stage of development, but who knew?
No doubt a lot more money (our money) will now be spent on professional consultations and surveys as this unfolds; wouldn't it be better to involve the public from the outset, ask us what we'd prefer and tell us afterwards what we said?
The preliminary results from the flawed EIBE 'consultation' that we were allowed to see, were sub-standard and full of errors. It showed one and two-year-olds expressing an opinion on options for the site!
Also, presumably the site will need a new geological survey? A Freedom of Information request revealed the old one, the one that was the basis for shutting down Splashlands, has apparently been lost by Welwyn Hatfield Council! Even Herts County Council was surprised that such an important and expensive document could be so easily lost or misplaced.
I wonder how much a new one will cost?
Will Davis, Panshanger.
