Lib Dems Attack Tories at Council Meeting

There's certainly no sort of coalition between Epsom Conservatives and Epsom Liberal Democrats.

The Tories had lodged a formal Question to Council about the controversial Upper High Street development site consultation, in which they had falsely attributed words not only to the Lib Dems, but also to the Epsom Civic Society. As a result of a protest from the Lib Dems, Cllr Darren Dale (Conservative) was forced to withdraw the wording.

The Conservatives' question stated that they and a number of other organisations had "gone on public record as saying that the consultation on Upper High Street redevelopment is fundamentally flawed".

Cllr Julie Morris said "We have certainly criticised the consultation, formally requested that it was extended and submitted a large number of comments, but to say it is 'fundamentally flawed' is harsh and offensive to the council officers who have spent a great deal of time on this document. "

"Whatever one's view of the present consultation, it is a draft document designed to be changed and it's excellent news that the public are now taking such an interest."

Cllr Morris also told the council meeting on 17th July that she had been unable to find any response to the consultation (all comments are available for public inspection on the council's website) from either Epsom Conservatives or Cllr Dale personally. "If they are there then I apologise, but they do seem to be all at sea. First the Conservatives don't bother to take any interest, then they want the consultation 'postponed indefinitely', then they deny that is what they meant, then they criticise council officers via a long-winded formal question."

"Their question also demonstrates just how uninformed they are about this development site in general and the purpose of the consultation in particular. So far I cannot find one single piece of information which states their position on the Upper High Street development issue. It's all party political posturing."