Lib Dem's dismay over exclusion from Priory task group

Conservative only task group will look at project's future

THE Conservative task group weighing up the options for The Priory will not have any Liberal Democrat input.

Mr Croft said that there were other options that the Conservatives were looking into but it would be inappropriate to speculate in front of the press and public.

The move was seen as an affront to the Lib Dems by Mr Dillon who asked the Conservatives to allow any councillor to attend The Priory task group.

“We are just asking for the right to sit and contribute, you don’t have to vote for the suggestions,” he said.

But Mr Croft dismissed the idea saying that things had a tendency to leak.

The vote was passed by the Conservatives and councillors Croft, Boeck, Chelliah, Collis and town council leader Richard Crumly will sit on the secret task group.

Speaking after the meeting Mr Dillon said: “The Tories criticised the previous administration for holding too much business in the confidential section of the meeting... now they want to hold secret meetings that will bar democratically elected councillors from attending.

“In my nine years on the council I have never seen such disregard for the role of councillors.

“It seems the Tory leadership is determined to crush this project despite its clear benefits even if it puts the council and the residents in a worse position.

“Because it was the Lib Dems who started this project it seems certain councillors like Cllr Croft are adamant that it should not proceed.

“I am pleased that there are some Conservative members who are at least seeking more information before they make such a drastic, irreversible and damaging decision.”