……………MY BIN was emptied; and I am grateful for the men who came a week ago last Saturday before 8 a.m. to take away my green bin’s dry recycling waste and my brown bin’s compostable food waste. “So what’s the story”, you may ask? Sadly, the story runs over the past 5 weeks and, as […]

In recent months and days, the very existence of Uttlesford District Council seems questionable. I am kicking off this trilogy with a slightly shortened account from the Bishop’s Stortford Independent by reporter Hollie Ryder. Uttlesford District Council: Residents for Uttlesford-led authority says it is facing ‘tough but manageable’ financial challenges ahead Uttlesford District Council is […]

I last wrote about this ongoing issue three weeks ago, just prior to the adjourned Council Meeting on July 21st. That Thursday’s meeting got off to a disgracefully bad start when the Chair, Cllr Heather Asker, announced that the number of councillors allowed to speaker would be limited to a strict quota to ensure business […]

Mystery and cover-up surrounds Uttlesford’s mishandling of the 2021 planning appeal by Stansted Airport against Uttlesford Council’s refusal to raise the passenger limit at the local airport. I FEAR THAT UTTLESFORD’S POLITICAL LEADERS ARE TRYING TO SCAPEGOAT THEIR OWN PLANNING COMMITTEE BY PUBLICLY PILLORYING ITS COUNCILLOR MEMBERS. A recent “independent” report commissioned by officers at […]

This week I came across an old Turkish proverb. It describes the national and local situation so well. “When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” It’s difficult to avoid the conclusion that today’s political culture is not one of integrity and honesty to get the […]

The Bishop’s Stortford Independent yesterday published a new, on-line story about a longstanding investigation by Essex Police into possible criminality within Uttlesford District Council. The report can be read here. The public at least now knows that the Essex Police are referring that case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for discussions. This is what […]

A planning appeal began today about Bloor Homes’ proposal to build 168 homes west of Pennington Lane, Stansted and just north of the Bentfield Green conservation area. I spoke in opposition to the appeal and said the following in asking the Planning Inspector to dismiss the appeal. Worryingly, the QC representing Bloor Homes cross-examined me […]

On Monday, thirteen councillors were thwarted by 20 votes to 10 from holding the ruling Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) Party to account for their mishandling of airport planning and for allowing alleged criminality, bullying and dishonesty to continue to damage the reputation of the council. The big issue is R4U’s disastrous mishandling of Stansted Airport’s […]

Opposition Members of the Council have risked growing weary over Uttlesford’s dysfunctional council. Yet they are not deterred. Questions they raised six months ago about the Stansted Airport appeal remain unanswered by the Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) Administration. Attempts to hold a Vote of No Confidence in the Leader and Cabinet have been obstructed for […]

I am posting below a press release published last night by Uttlesford Council Liberal Democrats. The complete release can be read here. I am becoming increasingly outraged at the continuing efforts of the Council’s political administration to suppress scrutiny and debate of controversial matters. It has been a growing behaviour over the past eighteen months. […]