Conservatives snub residents on Keys Hall petition - UPDATE

6.10.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 3rd Jul 2007

Keys Hall..now only available 3 months ahead

Members of the Liberal Democrat group on Brentwood Borough Council have slammed the Conservative administration for snubbing the residents who signed the save Keys Hall petition. The 620 strong petition collected by the Lib Dems was on the agenda at June's Policy Committee but when it came to discussing the item the Conservatives said they simply "noted" it.

Lib Dem councillors David Kendall and Karen Chilvers tried to move a motion to rescind the original decision making Keys Hall surplus to leisure and recreation requirements and asking for the matter to be looked at again, however their efforts were thwarted by the Conservative majority.

The Conservative members refused to suspend the standing order to allow the motion to be discussed and in doing so effectively snubbed the 620 users and residents who had signed the petition.

Speaking about the issue, Lib Dem Leader Cllr Kendall said:

"Once again the Conservatives have shown an arrogant and dismissive attitude towards the views of local residents. For them to not even allow a further debate on the issue and give us an opportunity to highlight users genuine concerns such as those expressed by the Essex Regiment, is in our view a disgrace".

Cllr Chilvers added:

"This is another example of the Conservatives using their large majority to railroad items through. Sadly now there seems little else we can do to stop the hall becoming unavailable for leisure and recreation use by the local community".

FURTHER UPDATE: At Ordinary Council on 27 June, Cllr Chilvers asked when bookings for Keys Hall will no longer be taken. It was confirmed that bookings are only being taking on a rolling basis, 3 months ahead.