Whilst the debate over prospective development at Park Farm trundles on, two developments this week show just how wrong the Thornbury Lib Dems have been all along.

First of all, South GLos Council have anounced a further 530 school places will be needed over the next two years, putting a lie to the Lib Dem claim we need development to stop falling school rolls.

Secondly, English Heritage have designated the Medieval fish ponds a heritage site, pretty much demolishing the Lib Dem claims that the Park Farm site was nothing special.

So what do we have left from the Lib Dem catalogue of reasons to build? It will fill the vacant shops in town? Hardly. It will stop the population ageing? Good luck with that one, in the face of the national demographic.

The truth has always been that we probably need some development, just as its needed everywhere. If only our one party town council had taken the time to look at the realities, consult effectively and come up wiith a plan and a site or sites that would actually work for us all, we would be in a much happier position.

Next time you speak to a Lib Dem Thornbury Town Councillor, ask them how much they know about local and national demographics, retail development and site sustainability. Don't worry - it won't be a long conversation.

By TonyDomaille at 19:56 on 11/08/11

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OK, the elections have long passed now YET all you hear both locally and nationally is people going on about the faults or (non proven) faults of the past leaders. if only the focus was put on moving forward then we might actually get somewhere"!!! i think its time they move on and start pressing ahead rather than trying to score points on past actions. this was also proven yet again in central government about on thursday. i for one cant see what the new people have done for thornbury so far let alone them having a go at the previous people. get over it!

By bigmandave at 08:56 on 12/08/11
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I'm afraid you don't undertand how things are, bigmandave, so your expectatons are not realistic. The three Independents on the council will always be out voted by the large Lib Dem majority so the best one can hope for is that at least there other voices in debates. That said, all three are working on a whole range of initiatives - if you don't know what they are it is because you don't follow the issues.

Your point about non-proven faults may have some validity - we shall only know when the planning inspector gives his verdict on the soundness of the Core Strategy. But given that a pre-examination hearing is so rare, some of us can be forgiven for believing there is something in what we say about faults in the process.

As for getting over it, that's not going to happen for me or many others any time soon. If you are content with the way things are, that's a matter for you. If your only burning desire for the town is a bingo hall, I wish you luck. In the meantime, if you're not interested in the issues, don't read about them. Simples, as Alexander would say.

By TonyDomaille at 17:20 on 12/08/11
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