Anyone heard about next week's meeting?

I don't envy my colleague Robert Gibson.

Yes, he's handsome and talented, but in the run-up to Northumberland County Council deciding on the Prudhoe town centre plans, he's been bombarded with such an onslaught on information, he's barely had a chance to think.

The objectors are furious the application is up for discussion next Wednesday, despite – as they see it – serious flaws in the plans that are yet to be addressed; the developer is anxious his side of the story gets a decent airing; and a few town councillors aren't too pleased about the way the plans have been handled.

We'll touch on the first two issues in this week's Courant, so let's look now at the third.
First of all, it should be made clear that Prudhoe Town Council objected to the scheme.
A representation was made to that effect a few months ago when, in a properly convened meeting, members voted to register their opposition.

Despite this, the officer's report to go before the west area committee makes mention of a letter signed by seven town councillors who wanted to show that they think differently.

Fair enough, but as mayor Coun. Jennifer McGee pointed out in a town council meeting this week, the letter – at least to date – hasn't been attached to the report and there's no mention of who these seven councillors are.

This makes the process far from transparent and, as the Northumberland Association of Local Councils has confirmed, such a letter should be given no more weight than a letter from seven members of the public.

The fact that the town council even knows about next week's meeting, though, was basically a matter of luck; west area committee chairman Ian Hutchinson bumped into Coun. McGee at a unrelated event and happened to mention it was coming up.

By Wednesday, at least – just a week from the big event – town councillors and members of the public had had no official confirmation it was happening.

Neither had the Hexham Courant or, as far as I know, other media, received a press release about it.

Where it not for Mr Gibson's enquiries this week, we would have missed the deadline for a preview article, possibly having a significant impact on the number of people turning out to see democracy in action.

Presumably, the county council is doing things by the book, but given how controversial this scheme has been – and given that lack of consultation has been highlighted time and time again – it's surprising that a mammoth effort isn't being made to prevent a repeat of past mistakes.

The recent public debate on the plans passed peacefully and I hope the same can soon be said for the next week's meeting.

It seems fair to say, though, that the objectors won't be short of ammunition.