Angry scenes as council leaders refuse to attend town meeting
Angry residents have accused Northampton's council leaders of hiding from them after failing to attend a debate last night.
More than 300 people turned up to a passionate meeting at the Guildhall where the public expressed anger over a lack of progress in plans to improve the town.
The meeting was organised by a mixture of football fans, market traders and artists who have criticised a scheme to alter the town's Market Square and called for plans to redevelop Sixfields to be speeded up.
But only hours before the meeting was due to be held, the Liberal Democrat leaders of the authority announced they would not attend because it was "too political".
MP tells council: Now do something to help Cobblers - click here
A joint statement issued by the council's cabinet said: "Tonight's meeting has become very political. We would not attend a meeting organised by the Conservatives or Labour.
"Given the publicity for the meeting, recent press coverage and comments made on various internet websites, we no not believe it will be possible to hold a constructive dialogue between ourselves and the public at this meeting."
Their decision provoked anger at the meeting. As the Liberal Democrat statement was read out, residents called out "Rubbish", "They're hiding" and "claptrap".
One resident shouted out: "You're supposed to lead from the front, you're supposed to be here."
Opposition councillors also condemned the council leaders' decision. The deputy leader of the opposition, Councillor David Palethorpe (Con, Billing) said: "Having organised a public meeting to discuss their concerns over the decline of Northampton, the many hundreds of people who turned up rightly felt let down by the contempt shown by the Liberal Democrats.
"By failing to front up, they proved they lack the backbone to face up to the consequences of their actions. "They have demonstrated a complete disregard for the views and concerns of the people of Northampton, whose only wish is to stop the town from sliding into oblivion."
Labour councillor Joy Capstick (Lab, Lumbertubs) added: "For elected politicians to say they're not attending because the meeting is "too political" is simply astonishing.
"Local democracy is partly about the citizens of Northampton having the opportunity to question their leaders. As our elected leaders, Tony Woods and Richard Church have to make themselves available and not hide themselves away."
Northampton Town football fans, members of the area's arts community and market traders decided to stage the event following growing frustration over the way they feel the town is being run.
The Cobblers were the main driving force behind the meeting, following increased concerns that long-delayed plans to expand their Sixfields stadium could now be put back another decade or more because of arguments over which part of the town should be developed first, Sixfields or the town centre.
Market traders were also among those who pushed for the meeting. They oppose council plans to alter the current layout of the market, which would see the current entertainment area expanded and stalls pushed up towards the Grosvenor Centre.
Other groups behind the meeting included the town's artists, who have concerns about the future of the Fishmarket art gallery, and residents who do not want to see either the Balloon Festival scrapped or town centre toilets closed as part of the borough council's latest budget plans.
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Weather for Northampton
Saturday 04 February 2012
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