Residents Excluded As Abingdon's Future Is Decided In Oxford

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 5th Oct 2006

Vale Lib Dem Councillors were amazed to find out that the future of Abingdon will now be discussed and decided behind closed doors at the County Council rather than in the open, public consultation meetings which have been held for several years to agree on plans for the roads around the town.

The Abingdon Integrated Transport Strategy (AbITS) steering group has met over several years. The steering group involved councillors from all parties and invited comments from residents and local groups, including the Chamber of Commerce. The meetings included provision for formal statements from residents. The Tory County Council has suddenly decided to scrap these consultations, raising questions over the future of important works in the town centre. This is despite the County Council representative recognising the value of the views expressed at the Abingdon meetings.

Proposals for work to improve traffic flows through the town have been discussed over several years between County and Vale officers, local residents and councillors in public meetings, although the final decisions have been taken at County Hall.

The Tory County Council's Cabinet has now decided to scrap all steering groups in the county and to make all decisions itself, dealing a serious blow to local consultation with residents and interested local groups. Lib Dems are ready to continue working with the County Council but wish to continue doing so in public.

Cllr Roz Smith said: "This is incredible and so undemocratic. When central government is telling local representatives to be more open and accountable to residents, it takes a Tory authority to have the nerve to tell the residents of Abingdon that their views don't count. Lib Dems have always encouraged open meetings and public comments in the Vale since we were elected here in 1995. We want to work with the County but we don't like discussions behind closed doors. Has the Tory Party changed or is it still wedded to the smoke-filled rooms of old?

"No one has a monopoly on good ideas - least of all the Tories. The past practice of consulting with residents and local representatives in Abingdon allowed practical changes to be made to what started off as theoretical plans before they were developed too far. The recent changes in Stratton Way may not be perfect but they represent the result of several years of careful work. Now Abingdon is faced with the prospect of technical decisions in Oxford affecting the lives and daily travel plans of thousands of road users in the town without reference to residents' concerns or new ideas."