A campaign group fighting the impact of studentification on the Chester community is crying ‘censorship’ after being refused the opportunity to speak at a Cheshire West and Chester Council meeting.
Reg Barritt, of Chester Community Voice UK (CCV UK), claims he was denied his rights at the Local Plan Working Group but also felt humiliated.
CWaC says the constitution has been amended to the effect that members of the public may only speak or ask a question on a subject relevant to matters on the agenda.
Mr Barritt, who wished to speak for five minutes on the ‘inadequacy’ of the council’s proposed Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) addressing studentification, is furious after being stopped from speaking by chairman Cllr Rob Bisset backed up by a council officer.
Mr Barritt, from Handbridge, gave the council 13 days’ notice of his desire to speak and when asked which agenda item he wished to address, responded: “If there was a published agenda to refer to I would indicate a particular agenda item but at this moment there is not.
“In any case you will know we wish to speak on planning matters appertaining to the issue of studentification in Chester with reference back to previous meetings and in relation to this one and to the emerging CWAC studentification SPD.”
Mr Barritt, who said he heard nothing more back from CWaC, understands there were no other members of the public wishing to speak during the 15 minutes’ public speaking time. He has now lodged a complaint about his treatment with chief executive Steve Robinson.
He commented: “Our application was grossly incompetently mishandled causing us unnecessary upset and distress, and embarrassing humiliation in front of those assembled.”
In a statement, Karen McIlwaine, director of governance at CWaC, said: “The council’s constitution, which was amended in May 2015, permits members of the public to speak at committee meetings on any subject which is relevant to matters on the agenda. This is clearly stated on committee agendas.
“When Mr Barritt informed us of his intention to speak at the Local Plan Working Group he was asked which agenda item he wished to speak to. In his reply he acknowledged that the agenda had not yet been published and we received no further communication from him.
“At the meeting Mr Barritt was advised by the chairman that, as the subject he wished to speak about was not relevant to an agenda item, he was not permitted to do so on this occasion.
“The subject Mr Barritt wished to address is expected to be an agenda item at the next Local Plan Working Group. Mr Barritt is also able to raise any matter of concern with his local councillor or with the council directly.”
The row comes as Chester MP Chris Matheson this week presented CCV UK’s 500-name petition to Parliament on their behalf. The petition from the ‘residents of the City of Chester’ declares that Government planning guidance requires amendment to ensure that it includes a statutory strategic studentification policy.
