Porthleven residents are amazed at all the sniping

10:55am Wednesday 16th April 2008

I AND a number of my friends who live in Porthleven are amazed at the town council's recent sniping, led by councillor Wallis, at those involved with the PACT process.

Despite being involved, Cllr Wallis clearly has not grasped the concept of PACT and appears to be making every effort to jeopardise the efforts being made to improved the quality of life of local people.

The government's introduction of PACT was the result of local councils lack of engagement with the community. Porthleven clearly demonstrates the reasons for the introduction of such a process.

He was clearly not paying attention at the meetings believing that one of the priorities was anti-social behaviour. As far as I am aware anti-social behaviour has never been a PACT priority. The provision of youth facilities is being addressed by the PACT panel, but the council seems determined to undermine the efforts of others in providing such facilities.

It has been proposed to use the old scout hut behind Wellington Terrace, but for some reason the council refuse to support the idea. The council's only suggestion is to use a temporary cabin for our local young people.

I believe that individuals are seeking to purchase the site and anyone acquiring the land for housing development, rather than use by the community, would obviously make substantial financial gains.

The police have stressed in newspaper articles and at meetings that PACT is not solely about policing issues, and at the last meeting it was at officers suggestion that speeding was removed from the list of local priorities.

The basis of Cllr Wallis's uninformed derision lies in his (and indeed his councillor colleagues) dislike of the efforts of others in making progress where the council has so clearly failed. Providing facilities for young people in Porthleven is a case in point.

He and the council in general, appear to be more concerned with exercising power rather than their true function of serving the public.

Local people might reflect upon the democratic process, the requirement for councillors to work with others for the benefit of local people and whether Porthleven town council is fulfilling that requirement.

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