What with talk of cosy chats, back-room deals, and absolutely no draft reports, I began to wonder whether the consultation was going to be a pointless charade. So I asked what would happen if we say "No" to night flights...
Dear Councillor Bayford,
I'm Phil Rose - the guy in the green T-shirt who was the last to speak from the floor at yesterday's Thanet Local Board meeting. In the rush to close the meeting, I forgot that I had a supplementary question, and I would like to take this opportunity to put it you:
Over a period of 3 months, we will be told a lot about night flights, and will be asked our opinions about having more night flights. IF the majority of us say "No" to nights flights, what will you (and the rest of TDC and KCC) do on our behalf? Will the number of night flights go up or down?
Many thanks in advance for your swift reply.
Yours sincerely,
Phil Rose
Dear Mr Rose
Thank you for your email.
I think it would be inappropriate for me to speculate what the Council's policy might be in light of the consultation.
I will repeat what I said at the meeting, that our approach to this will be as objective as possible.
I would like to think that whatever our final policy is, that people will consider it to be reasonable and fair, for both the benefit of all residents of Thanet and the wider region.
Yours sincerely
Cllr Robert Bayford
This worries me. I think the phrase "it would be inappropriate for me to speculate what the Council's policy might be" should read "it would be inexcusable for me not to know what the Council's policy might be".
Regardless of whether TDC view the opinion of the majority as just one of the factors to be considered, or as one of the key factors, or as the primary factor, or even as the only factor to be considered, they must (surely?) have prepared their responses to Yes, No and Maybe results.
Unless they're planning to ignore us.