Cllr Grey correspondence

On 21 Nov 2012, at 11:13, Andrew Brett wrote

Dear Councillor Grey

Thank you for your call the other day. I am sorry you are unable to attend the meeting on Thursday to discuss the above matter. I appreciate your diary will be very full, but the truncated period of consultation for this proposal has meant moving things along quicker than all of us would have wanted.

Yesterday I spent a great deal of time discussing this matter with members of the village. Many were dismayed at not having been informed of the matter and will I understand be writing to Mr Hurrell today to enquiry why his letter to villagers had a circulation of approximately 150. Our Parish Clerk informed us at the last Parish Meeting that his understanding was that the letter was going to be sent to all members of the village. In my, and many villagers' opinion, that would have been entirely appropriate.

You mentioned on the phone you had to be mindful of both sides of the issue and that there may well be 'special circumstances' to be considered which would warrant the overturning of Borough and National published policy on settlement on green belt and flood plane. I wonder, given that you are unable to attend our meeting, whether you might submit a written statement on your views which I could read to those in attendance at the meeting on Thursday night. I am sure you will understand that your parishioners will be most anxious to understand your position in this matter.

Again I fully appreciate that this is all very short notice but hope you understand that the timescale for consultation was entirely outside of our control.

Kind regards, Andrew Brett

On 21 Nov 2012, at 23:27, Jesse Grey wrote:

Andrew,

I must say that I felt your tone, vocabulary, and general attitude was very rude on the telephone yesterday. Your opening remarks about a threat to my re election, was in poor taste! However, I will put the reaction down to you receiving the Traveller consultation letter.

You should be aware of some facts, before you over react. The residents should be aware that the proposed site is located away from the Cobb Close boundary. It is also well away from the Horton Road rear gardens. There are no caravans proposed, but would be very similar to the permanent mobile homes already on the existing Mill Place site. Residents are welcome to visit Mill Place and view the existing homes. Many of these homes are is excellent condition.This site is very well run by Radian, the Borough Housing Association. The waiting list consists of existing occupiers of Mill Place, and other Datchet residents, who could then free up accommodation, for Radian. The proposed site is not up for grabs by any and every gypsy in the country. They would be carefully selected to fit in from local needs. European Legislation dictates the provision of Traveller Sites.

Their children attend our two schools. No issues from the Head Teachers! Many of the residents of Mill Place are well integrated with our village community. Helping with The British Legion, village events, school activities and with both Parish and Borough affairs. I am on the Police Authority and get regular updates on crime, anti social behaviour and arrests. The statistics don't highlight Traveller involvement from Datchet!

Overcrowding is also an issue, that needs to be addressed at Mill Place. Many are on the Electoral role and pay their taxes. Please re assure the residents, this to prevent any hysterical reaction, just because they may have the wrong perception of what is being proposed.

Best Regards, Cllr Grey

From: Andrew Brett
Date: 22 November 2012 00:36:32 GMT
To: Jesse Grey
Subject: Re: Extension of travellers sites in Datchet

Thank you - I shall relay your views to the people in attendance. From my viewing of the map, I think you are mistaken about the proximity of the proposed new site to Cobb Close and Horton Road. The map attached to the letter from Simon Hurrell is very clear. The proposed site directly abuts Cobb Close and the back of the gardens of Horton Road.

I am sorry you disliked my tone and thought I was rude. My memory of our conversation was that I was perfectly reasonable until you seemed to suggest you were in favour of the proposal and yet freely admitted you were unaware of the special circumstances that might prevail in allowing the Borough to agree to this proposal in direct contradiction to its own published policy and to National policy.

I think you are also mistaken about our objection: at no point have I or any of my fellow members of the the Datchet Common Group expressed any concern about the conduct of travellers. In fact you yourself are on record in the Borough minutes about alluding to the disruption caused by travellers and the percentage of travellers that Datchet already hosts within the Borough. I have copied the minutes to Councillor Muir and will send you the same tomorrow.

I am please you have written to me expressing your views as I shall be able to print your email and make it available to those attending the meeting tomorrow. I would not want to mis-represent your views. They will make what they will of your comments.

Kind regards

Andrew Brett

From: datchetcommon@hotmail.co.uk
To: cllr.grey@rbwm.gov.uk
Subject: datchet common community group
Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2012 18:16:14 +0000

Dear Councillor

We had a very productive meeting last night with the Baptist Church Hall packed, with people having to stand at the back.

The overwhelming feeling of the meeting was that the proposed extension of the Traveller's site in Datchet is most unwelcome and to be resisted as forcibly as we are able.

A number of attendees relayed accounts of how this is but the latest of a number of planning sagas related to sites off Mill Place.

We have been reading Borough minutes and minutes of the planning cabinet with great interest and see that in June you on are record as saying the following:

"Councillor Grey (Ward Councillor for Datchet) informed Members that he believed Datchet already had their fair share of travellers and that if the proposed site in Datchet was approved the area could be viewed as being overcrowded and a ‘ghetto’. Councillor Grey asked the Panel to consider alternative areas such as Holyport or Ascot.
Councillor Grey explained that the proposed Datchet site was located adjacent to an existing site and was also a contaminated site which was on flood plain. Councillor Grey explained that it had been well documented that schools and businesses, along with residents in the area had all experienced problems which related to the travellers."

More recently you have gone on record in a statement read out on your behalf by Councillor Phill Bicknel at a more recent planning cabinet that:

"I have no problems with travellers in Datchet or around Horton and Wraysbury. They are very much part of the community and take a genuine interest in events and functions in the village. Many helped with the Jubilee events....."They are representatives on the parish council and the schools' headteachers have nothing but praise for their contribution." [ as quoted in the Slough Observer)

You also recently emailed one of our group that you had taken up this new position. Our group is most anxious to understand this complete change of view.

In asking for this account we were mindful of the two clauses in the code of conduct for RBWM Councillors:

- You are accountable for your decisions to the public and you must co-operate fully with whatever scrutiny is appropriate to your office.
- You must be as open as possible about your decisions and actions and the decisions and actions of your authority and should be prepared to give reasons for those decisions and actions.

We wonder if you could respond at your earliest convenience so that we are clear of your views and we do not mis-represent them on our website or in the local and national press.

Thank you in advance.

Datchet Common Community Group

From: datchetcommon@hotmail.co.uk
To: cllr.muir@rbwm.gov.uk
Subject: FW: datchet common community group
Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2012 18:25:13 +0000

Dear Councillor Muir

We have just sent an email to Councillor Grey with a request that he provides us with a written statement of his views. We would like to extend the same invitation to you so that we do not infer your views when speaking to the local and national press. You will see from the email that there was a good turn out yesterday.

We ask that you respond at your earliest convenience.

Kind regards

Datchet Common Community Group

We the undersigned petition The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to withdraw Datchet Common/Mill Place, Datchet, from its list of identified sites for additional traveller pitches within the Royal Borough.

(link to RBWM e-petition to withdraw site)

Date	Time	Sent from	Sent to
21 Nov 2012	11.13	Andrew Brett	Cllr Grey	view
21 Nov 2012	23.27	Cllr Grey	Andrew Brett	view
22 Nov 2012	00.36	Andrew Brett	Cllr Grey	view
23 Nov 2012	18.16	DCCG	Cllr Grey	view
23 Nov 2012	18.25	DCCG	Cllr Muir	view