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Knocked back on mediation offer
Lomond Quarry near Leslie
AN offer from Leslie Councillor, Fiona Grant to arrange and mediate a meeting between the Lomond Quarry owners, Skene Group and the residents group opposed to the blasting has be refused, reports NEIL HENDERSON.
The Lomond Quarry Action Group (LQAG) have declined the councillors offer suggesting it is an attempt to deflect attention away from Fife Council’s ‘failings’ to enforce appropriate planning restrictions originally agreed by those at Fife House.
Chair of Lomond Quarry Action Group, Yvonne Duncan said: “We don’t see this offer as mediation, but an attempt to deflect the heat away from Fife Council’s failings to carry out their duty over a long period of time.
“The more questions that the local residents raise legitimately with Fife Council, the more Fife Council appears to either contradict itself or absolve itself of perceived responsibilities.
“With this in mind, it seems more appropriate that a meeting is arranged between Ronnie Hinds, the Chief Executive, and our group.
“Though we are heartened by Councillor Grant’s intervention, we are somewhat sceptical of it’s timing as the residents concerns have been well documented for many months.
“I hope we will see a continued involvement from the Councillor in the future.”
Councillor Grant told the Gazette: “Despite LQAG so far having declined, the offer will remain open as I feel it could give a better understanding to the differing viewpoints, which can only be helpful.
“Only on having become aware that there were residents concerns that were being left unanswered did I feel the need to see that procedures and guidelines are being correctly followed in what is a very long and complex history concerning the quarry.”
Glenrothes and Central Fife MP, Lindsay Roy has requested a meeting Fife Council’s Chief Executive, Ronnie Hinds on several occasions, going back as far back as June last year.
He finally met with Council officials last week to discuss a range of concerns on behalf or residents.
He said: “I had a constructive meeting with Jim Birrell and highlighted many of the outstanding issues concerning local residents.
“Mr Birrell will now report back to the Chief Executive and I will now write to outline the key areas requiring future discussion. It is clear that there needs to be a competent system in place to ensure that the various complaints made by a genuinely concerned public are dealt with promptly and correctly by those at Fife House.”
Many residents are unhappy at Council officials apparent non-enforcement and over-ruling of legislation put in place by democratically elected members.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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Comments
There are 3 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Eoin Ryan
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 09:07 PMIf I get this right, the 'protestors' don't want the local SNP Councillor to assist in resolving the issue, but we're happy to be photographed with a Labour Councillor posing with their hands over their ears! Not exactly unbiased behaviour!! As for the Councillor being impartial... Ronnie Hinds is the Boss of the Enforcement Officers that the 'protestors' are complaining about....... Is he more impartial than a local elected representative who has skills in this area or the Labour Cllr who wants a photo opportunity. Frankly avoiding the mediation offered by Cllr Grant, looks like playing politics and being manipulated by the Labour Party! That's my opinion! the wriggling by the 'protestors' and their willingness to be photographed with Labour politicians who do nothing and their refusal to accept real actual assistance from the Local SNP Cllr tells me that this is little more than at best the Labour Party manipulating people or at its worst, 'protestors' being disingenuous and demonstrating a support for a political party. At the moment the protestors appear to be part of the problem, not part of the solution!
Eoin Ryan
Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 08:58 AMSo Cllr Grant (SNP) offerers to help and they knock it back and Cllr Morisson (Lab) has her picture taken with the 'protesters', sends it to the Gazette, but not offering anything but a photo opportunity. I know who is not taking the residents for a ride!
CAOSConflictManagement
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 01:15 PMThis represents an unfortunate misunderstanding about mediation that all too frequently means what it has to offer is missed. First of all a local Councillor is not able to mediate as their status is not one of being impartial, as is clearly indicated by the local resident's group who clearly have a concern about their local council. However, the group's view that mediation is a 'deflection' is also an often expressed objection to mediation in that it is seen as a distraction from the issue rather than a direct opportunity to resolve it between the parties directly involved. While their objection is reasonable on the grounds that the proposed mediator has a clear conflict of interests, their objection on the basis of mediation being a 'deflection' indicates a common misunderstanding of how mediation is used. It can be tried 'in parallel' with any other actions going on and not something that needs delay those other actions, as it is organised and facilitated by someone separate from the situation itself, ie. the mediator.
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