Feedback from Millom Neighbourhood Forum

I attended the Millom and Haverigg Neighbourhood Forum this evening in the Network Centre at Millom School.

The agenda included presentations on the Millom Economic Development Group, which included the proposals to develop Haverigg Prison as a community prison.

There was also a short item on Concessionary Fares.

There was a heated debate about various proposals currently put forward by the Econmic Development Group, and also about the Palladium.

Some interesting points put forward both for and against several of these proposals. The South Copeland Disabilities Forum had some constructive suggestions about the plans for Millom Town Square and the need to ensure that there was enough disabled parking.

Cllr Robin Pitt, the current Chairman of the Economic Development Group, initially responded to questions from the floor about the Palladium by saying that he did not consider it appropriate for him to speak on this issue because it had been dealt with before he joined the EDG. He might have been wise to stick to that stance, but then he reversed it and insisted that the building was past its' sell-by-date. Following that, Cllr Pitt then he said that there is no threat at all to the Palladium. Then he said that it is too big for the local community.

Former Labour councillor Roland Woodward made a powerful speech in favour of improving facilities in Millom and Haverigg, which he rather spoilt with a gratuitous attack on anyone who dared to disagree with any of the projects he supports, accusing them of wanting to turn Haverigg into a museum. It was fairly obvious that his impassioned plea for a better environment in Millom had some support in the hall and even more obvious that his attack on residents and councillors who had reservations about some of the proposals stirred up a significant amount of resentment. Ironically his main point, which is a very sensible one, was the need for Millom Town Council, Copeland Borough Council, the EDG, the County and other agencies, to work together: slagging off anyone who expresses a slightly different view is probably not the best way to acheive this.

One speech from a Millom Town Councillor called for a referendum on the Town Square proposals and one in Haverigg on the Community Prison proposals. I think that something of the sort would be a very good idea.

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