Dear Sir,

Alexander Pope wrote: ‘Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed’, but I  am disappointed! Disappointed that some of the residents of our town – places such as Armstrong Close probably will have to endure stress in battles to prevent Livin from building on land, close to their homes. I asked the question, back in July 2008: ‘Why does Sedgefield Borough Homes require these open spaces?’ The Chief Executive of Sedgefield Borough Council, called my fears and predictions regarding the fate of open spaces ‘absurd’. He gave categorical assurances that this would not happen and covenants would be written into the ‘Offer Document’ preventing housing developments. His words now appear hollow and empty, however, my main disappointment does not focus on former SBC Officer Mr Allen, but rather with the 15 Newton Aycliffe Councillors – initially, 10 Independent and 5 Labour Party – elected to represent this town in the 2007 Sedgefield Borough Council elections.

Those 15 councillors made up some 30% of the total of the 50 elected for the whole of SBC. They represented us from 2007 until  2009. If I, as an unelected Newtonian, was receiving public written assurances (and slap-downs) in July 2008, why were they, our elected representatives, not then making sure that those words became actions? Would any of those councillors, still active, from back in 2007 – 2009, like to inform us why collectively, they were not able to hold the Chief Executive to his word? Were they given the opportunity to scrutinise the ‘offer document’ and its’ terms? Did they vote on this? Were there ‘behind closed doors’ meetings to which councillors were not privy? To my mind this particular stable door should have been firmly shut and bolted back in 2008, before the SBH/ Livin horses were allowed to trample over our open spaces.

We should never have been put in this position in the first place! Have any of those six or more SBC councillors from back in 2009, who will be standing in the May 2017 elections  – both Independent and Labour – have any recollections? Or should I refer to Alexander Pope, again?

Derek G. Atkinson GATC councillor and GARA committee member