Row over car parks has eroded trust in council

Coun Linda Curran told a special meeting of the authority on Tuesday that questions over the handling of the issue had resulted in a loss of confidence in the organisation.

The meeting was called to discuss a motion from five Liberal Democrat councillors which questioned the impression given in statements to the press by Coun John Blackie, the council leader.

Coun John Harris, leader of the Lib Dem group, said Coun Blackie's comments, carried in the Darlington & Stockton Times on June 3, seemed to place responsibility for the suggested sale of Station Road and Yorke Square car parks on officers.

Coun Harris suggested the comments in a press release from the Conservative group, of which Coun Blackie is a member, were a result of the group recognising the strength of public opposition to the proposed sales. The statement said the Tories would ask for the sale of the Station Road site to be removed from the proposals. Coun Blackie said at the time the group had always believed this should happen, but had not had chance to say so in public.

At the time, council chief executive, Harry Tabiner, said the proposals were drawn up following discussion with council members, including the leader.

"The Conservative group simply under-estimated the strength of feeling in Richmond about the asset stripping that was going on and, as a result of that public pressure, they changed their policy," said Coun Harris. "They should have just said that they had changed their minds because they recognised the opposition; that would have been a perfectly honourable thing to do."

Coun Blackie refused to defend or explain his comments because, he said, a council meeting, held at public expense, was not the correct place for such a debate. He accused councillors who tabled the motion of political gamesmanship.

He recognised that, as leader of the council, he was expected to take some "flak" but added that, since the car parks row began, he had been shouted at and pushed in Richmond, jeered at a public meeting and had received threatening letters and telephone calls.

"However, I still believe that there is a huge number of very, very nice people in Richmond and I have had people apologise to me for the way I have been treated," he added.

Fellow Conservatives backed their leader's stance. Coun Jill McMullon described the Liberal Democrat motion, which was defeated 10-8, as flimsy, ludicrous and "a pathetic attempt at political point scoring."

Coun Curran urged the council to put aside political arguments and work together for the people of the district.

"It is a question of trust," she said. "Trust between members and members, between officers and members, and public trust in the council. Anyone reading about the performance of this council in the press must have a very poor opinion of us."

* Earlier in the day, objectors to the proposed car park sales presented a second petition to Coun Blackie, bringing the total number of signatures collected to 7,111.

Margaret Gruffydd, spokeswoman for protesters from The Green area of the town, said the group would fight on to save Yorke Square car park from development even if the Station Road site was removed from the proposals. "We hope the council will take into consideration the huge number of people who have demonstrated their passionate opposition to both of these car parks being sold and developed," she said.

Coun Blackie agreed to visit The Green before Wednesday's special committee meeting, which he chaired, to see the impact the flats development would have on views from residents' homes.

Brenda Grande, whose house is nearest the site, said: "This view is part of our heritage and it is important to preserve it."

Jane Hatcher, a resident and local historian, said much effort had gone into encouraging coach drivers to leave their vehicles in Yorke Square.