Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth withdraw from Scrutiny Commission
Reported in the Gazette
Environmental group Friends of the Earth has dropped out of the Trow Quarry Scrutiny Commission amid allegations that vital letters to South Tyneside Council have gone unanswered. Even though yesterday's meeting heard that past problems of delayed communication on the part of the authority have been sorted out, the group claims letters sent as recently as January have been largely ignored. As a result the group has turned down an invitation to attend the meeting today. But the council has hit back, claiming it has answered letters as quickly as possible and within the law. Bryan Atkinson from the South Tyneside branch of Friends of the Earth said: "The council has failed to provide the information that we requested and that they are bound to provide us through the Environmental Information Regulations, which became law at the beginning of January. "It really is a bit of a farce that this information, which includes the consultations carried out between the Environment Agency, South Tyneside Council and the National Trust, has not been forwarded. "They have invited us to act as expert witnesses, but how can we be expected to do that if we do not have the relevant information to hand? "Under the circumstances we have refused to take part in this process." But a spokesman for South Tyneside Council said: "We believe we have fully complied with the law, and responded as quickly as we could to the requests. "All the material requested under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 was supplied by the council on March 2. "The regulations require the council to respond within 20 working days, but allows authorities to extend that period to 40 days. "Assurance was also given that information had not been destroyed or put beyond anybody's reach. "The council is disappointed with Friends of the Earth's decision to withdraw from the scrutiny commission."
Why should the Council decide to extend it's period of reply to 40 days?
To ensure that Friends of the Earth did not have timely information to use at the Scrutiny Commission?
Does anyone else tend to think that the findings of the Scrutiny Commission will be a forgone conclusion?
All is well, nothing to worry about?
No National Trust warden to get in the way of the "facts"?
No Friends of the Earth to dig up further trouble?
An "expert witness" to denigrate the findings of High-Point Rendell?
News management on a scale to match Alastair Campbell.
_________________________________________________________________
Reported in the Gazette
Environmental group Friends of the Earth has dropped out of the Trow Quarry Scrutiny Commission amid allegations that vital letters to South Tyneside Council have gone unanswered. Even though yesterday's meeting heard that past problems of delayed communication on the part of the authority have been sorted out, the group claims letters sent as recently as January have been largely ignored. As a result the group has turned down an invitation to attend the meeting today. But the council has hit back, claiming it has answered letters as quickly as possible and within the law. Bryan Atkinson from the South Tyneside branch of Friends of the Earth said: "The council has failed to provide the information that we requested and that they are bound to provide us through the Environmental Information Regulations, which became law at the beginning of January. "It really is a bit of a farce that this information, which includes the consultations carried out between the Environment Agency, South Tyneside Council and the National Trust, has not been forwarded. "They have invited us to act as expert witnesses, but how can we be expected to do that if we do not have the relevant information to hand? "Under the circumstances we have refused to take part in this process." But a spokesman for South Tyneside Council said: "We believe we have fully complied with the law, and responded as quickly as we could to the requests. "All the material requested under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 was supplied by the council on March 2. "The regulations require the council to respond within 20 working days, but allows authorities to extend that period to 40 days. "Assurance was also given that information had not been destroyed or put beyond anybody's reach. "The council is disappointed with Friends of the Earth's decision to withdraw from the scrutiny commission."
Why should the Council decide to extend it's period of reply to 40 days?
To ensure that Friends of the Earth did not have timely information to use at the Scrutiny Commission?
Does anyone else tend to think that the findings of the Scrutiny Commission will be a forgone conclusion?
All is well, nothing to worry about?
No National Trust warden to get in the way of the "facts"?
No Friends of the Earth to dig up further trouble?
An "expert witness" to denigrate the findings of High-Point Rendell?
News management on a scale to match Alastair Campbell.
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