Have Your Say On East Dorset Gypsy And Traveller Sites

The East Dorset gypsy and traveller sites suggested by Baker Associates, appointed as consultants by all the Dorset councils, are to be made available for public consultation between 18th November 2011 and 10th February 2012.

Public consultations will take place on the 24th November in the Allendale Centre, Wimborne and the 28th November in the Hub, Verwood, and more information on the process can be found on the council's website HERE, or the policy planning section of the council HERE.

I can't help thinking of these 'public consultations' as a PR exercise in pacification rather than a proper consultation where the views of the general public are listened to, taken on board and acted upon. The Canford Bottom Roundabout public consultation is a prime example of this. I'm not genuinely aware of anyone who thinks the roundabout plans were a good idea, even the representative from the Highways Agency conceded the plans were flawed, and yet they went ahead with the so called improvements anyway, despite considerable opposition from the public.

The same can be said of Waitrose in Wimborne. Although those who took the time to write to the council about the plans for Waitrose were split exactly 50/50 for and against the council still went ahead and gave permission for Waitrose to be built. It begs the question what level of opposition does it require for councils to act? 98%? 99%? 100%?

Do the councils actually listen to what the public have to say, or do they arrange these public consultations so they at least appear to be doing the right thing? Will they listen to public concerns over these gypsy and traveller sites, or have they already decided to go ahead regardless of what the public might have to say on the subject? I'd really love to hear some councillors' views on this.