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Press Releases
Taro Naw: accusations of lack of democracy in county council
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The argument over the closure of a busy road in Carmarthen has raised serious questions about the state of democracy within Carmarthen County Council. This is the view held by campaigners who will voice their concern on tonight's Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales' current affairs programme, Taro Naw.
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As part of a Β£50m development scheme, the council intends to close St Catherine Street to traffic during shopping hours (9.30am to 5.30pm) so that shoppers can walk over to the new Debenhams store on the site of the old market.
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But 12,000 vehicles use St Catherine Street everyday and there are serious concerns that traffic on the quiet streets nearby will increase considerably as a result.
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The debate over the closure of the street has been dragging on since 2004.
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According to campaigners, it is evidence of lack of democracy within the council, which is under joint Labour/Independent control, since there is strong opposition to the scheme.
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In damning interviews with Taro Naw (Tuesday 10 October 2006, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales on S4C), two councillors have said that many of the county council meetings are pointless because the council cabinet, the Executive Board, they say, has made all the decisions before the meetings.
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Councillor Neil Baker, Plaid Cymru, says on the programme: "To me, the main democratic forum in the county is the full council meeting... and the full council is a farce."
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Councillor Hugh Richards, Independent, former President of the NFU in Wales, says: "It's the executive board that makes all the decisions... One often wonders about the point of many of the meetings."
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There are also concerns about the effect of the huge development on the town's small businesses.
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Taro Naw spoke to the former head of planning for Carmarthen District Council, now an independent planning advisor, Derek Carnegie, who raises questions about the type of financial package offered to entice Debenhams to Carmarthen.
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"In Newbury, a town of comparable size to Carmarthen... the local authority in producing a similar town centre developments has offered a Β£4m premium," he says.
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"That is a Β£4m incentive to move into to the town, and a significant sum of rent free period... That is a very significant sum of money to say to any retailer in the private sector: 'Come to our town...'
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"I'm not sure if the Carmarthen figures are of that ilk, but it would seem to me that it is a similar situation, and I wouldn't be surprised if a similar deal had been done... and that to my mind is public money... the mart land is publicly owned... and if the deal involves giving millions to a top national retailer to compete with other independent traders in the town, I feel that is unfair..."
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On 1 November, the St Catherine Street campaigners take their protest to the High Court in London, to try and force the county council to hold a referendum on the closing of the street.
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According to 85-year-old Harry Lloyd, one of the campaign organisers: "This is a campaign for democracy, because this case has highlighted the terrible fact that democracy has almost disappeared from Carmarthen County Council."
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According to Peter Hughes-Griffiths, a county and town councillor, the St Catherine Street saga shows that the cabinet system is unsuitable for local government.
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"Everything lies in the hands of the Executive Board, the cabinet," he says, "And I'm afraid that Wales has to... look again at the structure of local government... and the rights of local people."
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Taro Naw contacted Carmarthen County Council Press Office by telephone and numerous email messages, requesting interviews with Chief Executive Mark James and the Executive Board leader Meryl Gravell. But no-one was willing to respond on behalf of the council.
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Taro Naw, Tuesday 10 October 2006, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales on S4C, 8.25pm
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales Bangor Press Office
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