SHERINGHAM DIARY NO 135 - Deliberately Choosing The Nuclear Fallout Option

 

In the Chernobyl Disaster (the TV version) the Manager in charge of the Reactor insisted that his staff do as they are told and perform a procedure that he's designed, that they are unsure is advisable. He overruled them. This sets in motion a whole sequence of events that results in the reactor exploding and nuclear radiation eventually spreading around the world. He used the power mode, because he was more concerned about being respected as authoritative, to not to lose face or his wider reputation and future career prospects, than ensuring the safety of his staff, or the safe operation of the nuclear power plant. He unwittingly chose the nuclear fallout option.

Our 1950's vintage Bus Shelter.

Here in Sheringham local protesters trying to save the vintage bus shelter, have had, shall we say, a mixed week.  Early in the week, all sorts of strategies were being talked about, such as applying for listed building status for the shelter in order to give it legal protection. Though this can itself take six months or more. Everything was sort of put on pause until a Sheringham Town Council public meeting on the Tuesday, called to discuss the matter. Three representatives of the protesters were selected to speak on their behalf. Norfolk County Council were not sending anyone to represent their viewpoint, they simply issued a letter, that was read out at the very beginning of the meeting. This letter landed like the landmine it was intended to be. In summary, it said - The plan for the demolition of the bus shelter and development of the surrounding area either goes forward as planned, or they will pull the plug on the whole thing. Withdraw the building contractors, leave the area half finished, and should the Town Council choose to back the protestors, bill them for the work already done. Basically it was their way or no way.

Kay Mason Billig - NCC Leader

I wasn't at that meeting, but when I heard what the County Council said, I was incandescently angry. So much so I found it hard to sleep. My mild and slightly mixed endorsement of the protestors was now wholehearted behind them. And I'm sure I've not been alone in that response. I have in the past wondered why there was such a high level of animosity towards the County Council within Sheringham. If this letter is typical of how they generally interact on local issues, then I do understand now. 

This response deliberately chose the Nuclear Fallout Option. Yes, 87% of the responses to the planned proposals were positive, and the Town Council and MP had previously endorsed the plan, and yes, the shelter doesn't conform to current access requirements, it may even be structurally in need of repair, but this one issue emerged that has shattered the previous unanimity of that agreement. This petulant fit of pique, by the NCC, may have aimed to draw an end to the whole discussion, by blackmailing all concerned into submitting to their fiefdom. But ends up galvanising the Town Council into backing the protestors, and a good deal more locals are recruited to the cause. This has become about a lot more than the bus shelter now, it's also about democratic responsiveness, and to not being egregiously bullied.

Our MP Steffan Aquarone

Since then one Town Councillor has resigned over the Council's backing of the protestors. Our local MP Steffan Aquarone has called NCC 's letter "unacceptable... nothing short of bullying - Common sense would have been to allow a proper conversation to take place.". The Conservative leader of the NCC Kay Mason-Billig called him a hypocrite, saying he "He now sees an opportunity, I think, to grandstand and get his face in the papers." after, so she says, he'd previously said to her 'What you really need to do is pull this for a week, talk to the people who are making the fuss about this and then do it anyway'. I thought that was a really disingenuous thing to say." Aquarone has strenuously denied saying any such thing, and accused her of lying. Now, whilst no one can really ascertain where the truth of that lies, I can,however, imagine someone saying all that in a sarcastic tone, without changing a word.  Mason-Billig has not exactly got a great reputation for being sensitive or truthful in the use of her own language. As head of the Conservative led County Council, she's been the chief rottweiler in charge. With frequent calls for her resignation, yeah, she's that popular.

Starmer & Alexander in Norwich

Then by Thursday our embattled PM was in Norwich to launch the governments forty six million pound boost to bus transport in Norfolk. He stepped into the controversy, having obviously been briefed, saying he was "not surprised" local people had strong views on the issue. Starmer, was here with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander who said:~ "I think the people of Sheringham have made their views known about this bus shelter and Norfolk County Council have got the money to get on with the job. The government have given them the money through the bus funding. They need to amend the scheme and make sure they make those improvements in Sheringham that people want. But they also want to keep their bus shelter, so Norfolk County Council need to pull their finger out and get on with the job."

An endorsement by a PM and a government who are currently chronically sinking rapidly in popularity, might appear on the surface to be a less than helpful intervention. As yet there is no sign at all of any volte face from the Conservative run NCC. The layers of fencing around the bus shelter have been removed, but there has been no other activity on the building site the rest of this week. So who knows if NCC is still intent on following through on its over assertive withdrawal threats. I suspect there is a lot more road for this controversy to run on yet.

The threat to bill the Town Council for the work already done, seems an empty one, there is no existing legal framework for doing this. Which doesn't mean they couldn't attempt to devise one. NCC appears to like doing a bit of empty saber rattling, like sending in bailiffs, in an attempt to intimidate folk into submission. If they did submit a bill for work done they'd essentially be bankrupting our Town Council. At some point the Government might reluctantly step in, if the NCC continues with their intransigence.

If we are left with a builders yard and not a Transport Hub, I can imagine everyone being galvanised to fundraise to finish it off ourselves, and this might garner quite wide local support. I'd certainly pitch in.