Eyes Wide Shut

As someone who appeared entirely new to the world of politics when I was elected in May 2023, it was abundantly clear to me at that time that due to the large political change that took place, there was also a large personal adjustment for those who had been Councillors for longer due to the political sea change.  After nearly twenty years of one group being in, I can understand why this was a difficult change for lots of people.

There were some comedic elements to this.  I remember one member running around, almost literally, trying to arrange meetings, the purpose of which I was not clear on then, and I am even less clear on now.  Another decided to call my lot incompetent because we were new to being in power.  Presumably because they thought any of our professional or life experience prior to that counted for nothing and we all popped out of an egg on election day.  That particular pronouncement was so loud that I had to put a hand over my good ear to protect it.  In what was a charming encounter, I said “hello” to someone I hadn’t met before and they looked me straight in the face before turning away.  A few days later when they realised that I had been appointed to Cabinet, they came back and apologised.  I bet they don’t remember it; I do.  

For the past three years I have observed this adjustment process play out for everyone.  Every so often there are flashes of confusion as to which side they are on, or what they should be doing because of history, but I am pleased to say that except for a few notable exceptions, people behave kindly and respectfully, even when they disagree.  

It is therefore unfortunate, that as the South Warwickshire Local Plan process moves forward it appears to have brought out a more, shall we call it a blindly exuberant side in some.   I don’t mean people being upset by it and wanting to give their views which we are all entitled to do.  It is a process and we all get to input into that process.  I mean that there appears to have been some misrepresentations of the process which has left those who make them and those who repeat the claims, open to legal claims themselves.  Oh dear!  More important than that, additional upset and distress has been caused to residents.  A resident in my ward has confessed to losing sleep over this process. Another resident was so stressed that they raised their voice to me at a parish council meeting demanding to know what I was going to do about it.  Residents do not need winding up, none of us do, we need facts.

I am currently looking at a bundle of 774 pages which contains the draft plan.  Now it seems to me that not only could the 774 pages take down an elk, it is one document, with all of the documents behind creating it it taking up an awful lot of space on the South Warwickshire Local Plan website. It is massively complicated. There are literally thousands of papers and reports from experts and specialists which have been poured over, updated and poured over again for five years and counting.  Not only is it irresponsible to suggest to residents that this is anything other than a quasi-legal process with professionals and experts advising thereon, as evidenced by the gargantuan array of documents which are publicly available, it is demonstrable nonsense.   Also evidenced by the gargantuan array of documents which are publicly available.

“For the love of god, Natalie, why are you interrupting your enemy whilst they are making a mistake?” I hear you all cry. For those of you interested, following victory at the Battle of Borodino, no doubt puffed up with his own self-importance, full of noise and bravado, Napoleon did not heed his own wise words and either refusing or failing to see the bigger picture, he decided to march on Moscow.   Unfortunately, when Monsieur Bonaparte arrived he found nobody home.  Surely there isn’t a nation on Earth who would surrender their capital so easily is there?   Presumably because of the massive amount of literally voluminous self -congratulatory gloating that was going on, not only had this caused them to put their hands over both ears,  this verbiage had also alerted the Imperial Russian Army to the incoming Grande Armee.  Deciding that discretion was the better part of valour, they quietly packed up their things and stole silently into the night;  Russia was playing the long game.  After some weeks of looking in cupboards, under beds and running out of food and men, in what appeared to be an uncharacteristic moment of self-reflection, Napoleon began to doubt that the surrender he was expecting from the Tsar was going to come. His doubts were correct; the Tsar intended to surrender when Moscow froze over.  And then he intended to leave the French on the ice.  As luck would have it, a Russian Winter was incoming.  Moscow was going to freeze over and….well, timing is everything.  No doubt muttering something about needing fluffier socks and an infinitely more suitable hat, Napoleon and what remained of his army, decided to put their tails between their legs and go home. 

We have to produce a local plan because to not do so will mean that the District will be spammed with uncontrolled development until we do; the development will happen either way – controlled or uncontrolled – and that is the unpalatable choice we are faced with. If those who are blindly exuberant get their way and the plan falls, then uncontrolled development will be seen across the District. Whilst it pre-dates me, I understand that the latter did not go all that well last time. It would be neither right nor responsible not to learn the lessons of history.