I met Gareth Ratcliffe this morning, pushing leaflets through doors.
He's had a thousand printed, one for every house in Hay, with a questionnaire about the proposed school/supermarket on them. What he wants to know is what the people of Hay really think. Are the majority in favour, against, or don't care? Do they want a school but not a supermarket, or some other outcome?
When he knows what the majority of the people in his constituency want, then he can come down off the fence and represent that majority view.
Thus it's really quite important for everyone to fill in their forms and get them back to him!
Closing date is the 25th Jan.
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17 comments:
It's a great idea, Gareth, but I think you should have put at least two questionaires through each letterbox. The majority of houses in Hay have more than one person living in them. I'll be photocopying mine.
One questionnaire per household will be completely invalid. What if there are 3 people in a household who are for the project and one against? Unless individuals are allowed to give their verdict the survey will be useless.
Also the population of Hay is more than 1000. Sorry Gareth this will be a complete waste of time and paper.
However the result appears either party can argue that the outcome is invalid.
The questionnaire is light on the option agreement which is the only problem I have with the idea. As long as the development is done completely openly and with several developers tendering all for it.
I think the matter concerns, and will affect, not just the people of Hay but also the people who live within a ten-mile radius of Hay . . . people who run businesses in Hay, growers of produce, farmers, market traders and so forth. They also should have a say about in what happens to our town.
I agree with Anonymous.The whole reason a supermarket wants Hay is not for the 2,000 odd Hay residents but the radius of 10-15,000.
This is just a cheap shot by powys CC of trying to tick all the boxes..Gareth is merely the messenger....
After receiving Gareth's leaflet I am now completely confused. Would anyone " in the know" kindly explain exactly who wants to build what,and where?
If Gaufron build a new school on the Sports Association field,do PCC "give" them the existing school site to do with what they please? And is this new school built for FREE, or is it a PFI?
For this school to be built, am I right in my understanding that the Sports Association have to sell the bottom football pitch to Gaufron to build a Nursing Home, and also sell the area between the surgery car park and top football pitch for the new school site?
Gareth's leaflet also mentions a new Youth Centre,who's building this,who's paying for this,and who's getting their hands on the old Youth Centre site at the bottom of Oxford Road?
It's not rocket science - do what what did and make a copy of the questionnaire for each member of your household!
If the Youth Centre site becomes available and the town council appear to be willing to let one of the big "Nationals" move into our town, then how about letting any of the following build in Oxford Road.
Travelodge-- Oh no,that will affect our Mayoress' B&B trade!
Harry Ramsden Chipshop-- Oh no, our County Councillor will be affected!
Millets or Go Outdoors-- We wouldn't have to go to Hereford to buy a cheap Barbour jacket and Hunter wellies if we can't afford to shop at Golesworthy's!
Nice idea about new businesses in Oxford Road. Of course, they'd all have to be charitable institutions dedicated to helping "The Community".
Bloody hell, we finally see an example of genuine democracy, whereby our representative wants to know our views, and all people do is find fault!
..."Bloody hell, we finally see an example of genuine democracy, whereby our representative wants to know our views, and all people do is find fault!"
The questionnaire only needed one question..
"Do you want a new school funded by a development that involves your county council giving away public land and your local SPORTS Association selling your football pitch off to the same developer for a Care Home?"
To be fair to Gareth, some county councillors wouldn't have bothered to try to find out their constituents' views.
Who's running for election in may then ? This councillor is trying to keep everyone happy for two reasons that he can get reelected and isn't he a beneficiary in morellis will if something goes wrong ?
Or hasn't he said that ?
the last anonymous post is pretty poor, whats suggested isn't right or fare.
some of these comments are crazy, gareth has done no end of good in this town for years he work his behind off helping everyone he can and keeping us all informed with all the goings on. We should count ourselves lucky to have a councillor that is so accessable to all in the town. The school seriously needs to be updated and my family are in favour of the new development.
"...The school seriously needs to be updated and my family are in favour of the new development."
Try Googling "gaufron developments, company check" and you will see that your school saviour is categorised as "dormant" with zero money in the bank. If you can make enough profit from building 1 small supermarket to build a "Free" £5 million pound school,then can I have a tender application form please?
Now Google "gaufron healthcare,company check" and see they are worth over £9 million, it's the Hay Sports Association football pitch they want ,to build a Care Home, they couldn't give a toss about a new school!
What odds will you give me on the Care Home being built,then Rowlands(Gaufron Development) going BUST again before any school gets built?
How ridiculous are these comments- Gareth Ratcliffe is a LOCAL resident (not somebody from London etc who like Hay but a local born and bred) who understands the need for democracy, a person who has worked constantly for OUR town. He works 24/7 for our community attending meetings which most residents do not know anything about.
No in an ideal situation Hay does not need another supermarket but realistically it will not affect the shops on the highstreet they are too expensive and appeal to an audience that Hay does not naturally have.
Remember Hay has not always been a tourist hotspot and we need to move with the times and attract more businesses. I know its not ideal but if somebody like tesco comes then there may be further investment from othersides.
I recognise that there are lots of low-income families in Hay- these did not choose to come to Hay but most were born there and these are the real locals who the town needs to respect, look after and support.
In terms of other shops on Oxford Street Grow UP!! Hay is a small town and that is a completely different argument.
Hay needs to attract people and investment otherwise it will turn into Talgarth- however, this is a town moving with the times attracting thousands of visitors because of the mill-perhaps we should follow them.
Before you disregard this post I am a local, born and bred, so are my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents etc we have been in the town for hundreds of years, run businesses, rely on tourism, own lots of properties, sit on committees and work hard
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