FUTURE OF CRANMORE BEING DECIDED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

High level meetings that are deciding the future of Cranmore are taking place in secret, behind closed doors and the elected representatives of the people are being deliberately refused the right to observe what is happening, said Independent Socialist Councillor Declan Bree, when he addressed the Community Soapbox event organised by the Cranmore Community Co-operative at the weekend.

Cllr Bree said “The Cranmore Regeneration Project was established because of significant concerns about the estate including inadequate quality of housing stock, early school leaving, increasing levels of anti-social behaviour, lack of adequate youth, sport, childcare facilities, etc

“The Regeneration Steering Group that was established was to take responsibility for the planning and implementation of the project and it was agreed that the community would be involved in defining what the local needs are, how they should be prioritised and met.

“In this context community representatives were elected to the Steering Group. And of course the Cranmore Community Platform, now the Cranmore Co-operative was established to provide a voice for the people of the area.

“However on the basis of recent reports made to the Borough Council it is clear that the original reasons for establishing the Regeneration Project are being diluted.

“Earlier this year the goal posts were changed and we were told that in order to secure Regeneration status there was need for a revised framework plan which must take in broader planning objectives including items such as the proposed new Eastern Bridge and Eastern Distributor road, other adjacent lands, and that the plan must include provision for bringing the private sector aboard i.e. commercial interests, speculators and developers.

“Of course we should not be surprised at this move. It has been my experience that every time significant sums of public or EU funding becomes available for a particular social or community project, the private sector and the speculators try to cash in on it.” said Cllr Bree.

“And there is a significant danger that if we are not vigilant and if we don’t stand united, that it will be the developers and speculators who will benefit most from the funding that is supposed to be targeted at the people of Cranmore.

“Following a report to the Borough Council in March this year, my suspicions were raised and I proposed that the four East ward councillors would accompany Council officials to the next meeting with Department of the Environment officials where the implementation of the Regeneration Project was to be discussed. My proposal was unanimously adopted by the Council.

“However to date we have been blocked from sitting in at these meetings. The high level meetings that are deciding the future of Cranmore are taking place in secret, behind closed doors and the elected representatives of the people of this community are deliberately being refused the right to observe what is happening. Is that not evidence enough to show that the concerns of the Cranmore residents are being downgraded in the wider scheme of things?” said Cllr Bree.