Press Release follow up WFC is both surprised and disappointed by Councillors Whyte and Dunseith’s comments. Councillor Whyte criticises WFC for “stirring up public opinion”. WFC has not done this. WFC has set out our view upon the application through our solicitors as we are required to do in law. WFC has properly stated its support for the application. That is all. WFC would expect publically elected servants to respect our right to register our view, not to insult it. Isn’t listening to the views of the community what local democracy is all about? Councillors are elected to represent the views of the community and there is a considerable amount of the community of Weymouth who we know would like the town to benefit from a community stadium. Would she prefer that the voice of the community is silenced, if she does not agree with it? WFC has not used any controversial language. It is very unfortunate that Councillor Whyte has herself used the totally inappropriate phrase about “holding a gun to someone’s head”. WFC regards this statement as both unhelpful and disrespectful. We would not expect that sort of comment from a person in public office. WFC, on the other hand, has kept its counsel upon the application and acted in a thoroughly professional manner at all times. We have printed our solicitors letter upon the club website out of respect to our shareholders and supporters. We have acted entirely properly. WFC has at no time stated that a new stadium should be at the expense of planning policies. We are very concerned that councillor Whyte implies that we have. This is both false and misleading. WFC feels that the application should be considered in a proper manner by the Planning Officers and thereafter by The Planning Committee, both implementing planning policies. WFC is perfectly clear upon this point, and has never said anything to the contrary. WFC is also very disappointed that Councillor Dunseith should openly tell The Echo that she “objects to the plan”. Surely it is the role of our elected officials to respect the Planning Officers who are employed by WDDC, and the councillors who sit on the Planning Committee to reach a sensible decision based on Planning Policy not emotional outbursts? WFC respects the councillors right to have a personal view but is disappointed that they do not appear to respect the view of many hundreds of people who form their electorate. WFC has clearly recorded its support for the application in the proper manner . WFC will continue to act entirely professionally. WFC will encourage the local community to voice its views as that is what local democracy is all about. We respect the views of the councillors and would expect that they in turn would respect our views and the views of all members of the community, even if they don’t agree with the Councillors. We would remind the councillors that we are not even the applicant.
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 09:05:08 +0000