Councillors Put Re-Election Hopes Ahead Of Public Safety At The McDonald's Roundabout

In one of the rankest examples of electioneering you'll EVER see, Burgess Hill Town Council Leader Pru Moore and Cllr Richard Cherry (both Conservative) have decided to be concerned about the issues with the roundabout by McDonalds with just 10 weeks to go until the elections - despite the problem existing for well over a year!!!



Local newspaper the Mid Sussex Times ran a story earlier this week where the two councillors questioned how the planning application ever got through, that as town councillors their hands were tied and they're very concerned for public safety. For some reason, the paper's journalist did not question any of their claims or their rather sudden concern.


Richard Cherry and Pru Moore - electioneering in the most disgraceful way.

Let's pick apart these statements:

1. Their hands were tied as a town council?
Burgess Hill Town Council are a statutory consultee for all planning applications. Their committee meet once every three weeks. They pass on their views and recommendations to Mid Sussex District Council.

For the McDonalds refurbishment and alterations to the drive-thru, your town councillors recommended approval without any notes or concerns attached.



2. How Did The Application Ever Get Through?
What Pru Moore and Richard Cherry conveniently didn't reveal in their story (because the majority of residents won't know) is that they are BOTH Mid Sussex District Councillors too! MSDC are the local planning authority and rule on the applications.

McDonalds is located in the Meeds Ward. Richard Cherry is a Meeds Ward Councillor along with Anne Jones. As the ward councillors, they are allowed to 'call in' a planning application to ensure it goes to the full committee to be ruled on.

Cllr Richard Cherry DID NOT call in McDonalds' planning application. As a result, the decision was delegated to a council officer who approved the application.

The fault is completely that of Burgess Hill's District Councillors who didn't take any action when they had the chance.



3. Public Safety
If they were that bothered about public safety, why have they only come forward now to speak out?

McDonalds reopened following their refubishment in early February last year. There have been three West Sussex County Council 'CLC' meetings for our area where councillors could have publicly questioned the highways manager. Neither Cllr Moore or Richard Cherry attended these meetings to ask a question.

The reality is that they don't think you can win votes for an election by doing work to benefit the community 16 months away from polling day. They have chosen to act 10 weeks away from an election as they think it will make the most impact for them. When I say 'act', what have they actually done apart from have their picture taken and appeared in a video? They have put themselves and their self-importance ahead of the people they are supposed to serve.

Part 2 of this story to come soon....

Got an opinion on this story? Leave a comment below.....
What's your reaction to Cllrs Cherry and Moore only showing concern for this issue just 10 weeks away from the election when it's actually been going on for over a year now?