As SomersetClive’s Dullbridge Special Correspondent for Dullbridge, I’ve been embedded behind the barricades in the town for several months, chatting to residents about their town and how they feel about the inequalities between Smalltown and Dullbridge.
It’s not a pretty picture. The general feeling is that, unless it’s an application for planning permission or election time, Dullbridge is ignored by Smalltown and Dullbridge Town Council, Sadgebore District Council and the All-New-Yet-Unimproved Somerset Cuonty Council.
In the first part of my Special Report I spoke to residents to get their reactions to the news that the Re-Imagine Dullbridge bid (RIDBid) had failed to win government support for funding, and whilst politicians in Smalltown expressed disappointment, it’s a different story in Dullbridge.
Long time resident Karen Bead told me “It’s really not that much of a surprise. No one ever asks us what we want and more input from the locals is required. The proposals that were put forward are visions of those who do not live in the town and are merely looking for back patting and photo opportunities.
By the time representation from locals were called to a meeting all changes/plans had been drawn up and ready to put forward. A complete waste of time for all those who went along with a vision for their town to put forward, only to fall as they entered the door.
Now there is no funding it’s time to realise that Instead of trying to go big at the start try going small and build on it. Spend some bloody money in Dullbridge.”
Saul Talkloss felt the problem lies with out-of-touch Councillors “This bunch of ex-School teachers are pensioners without work or family commitments and are able to control what goes on to suit them; not the Towns nor people within them. We need to put a total stop on any and all projects trying to take the Towns back to the 1800s and focus on young people and their futures.”
Fellow long time resident Angel Preach agreed, telling me “We need more young people involved. Ordinary working people with families who know what we need in the town. What’s the point of pretty trees if you can’t get an appointment with your doctor for a month?
There’s nowhere for kids to go and let off steam like they used to at the adventure playground. The community hall doesn’t want kids in there. There are thousands more people going to be moving in. We need more things for people to do. We need another Sunday market. It was a place not just to shop but to meet your mates, have a roast pork sandwich and a cup of coffee. And it was cheap. There was a half hearted attempt to resurrect it in the car park but there was no real enthusiasm.”
Colonel Talker said “It’s so annoying. The local people here would love change and regeneration we have a fabulous town which could be utilised so much better but alas we will be stuck in 1840 with the politicians and local councillors here.”
Smalltown Business Tycoon Lex Turkey, who was visiting Dullbridge to purchase a chip butty from Bob’s Fish and Chips shop said “Of course these plans still stand. On a shelf gathering dust. Like every other significant regeneration proposal for these towns this century. For too long we have been ruled by politicians trying to divide & rule and have their little successes. Enough! It’s penalising us all.”
However, Smalltown resident Cllr Fencesitter, who helped draw up the RIDBID defended the plan, droning “I think we’re being too pessimistic. The regeneration framework recently adopted – and, of which, the levelling up bid was a part – is firmly based on the Neighbouhood Plan. In turn, this was developed in consultation with local people and by local people so it’s not fair to say that local people had no opportunity to put forward their viewpoints. If you read it you will see that all the comments made by people at the consultation are included as an afterthought at the very end.
Remember, what was in the RIDBID were not final plans (apart from anything else the bid had to be submitted in July while we were still sketching out proposals and we didn’t have time to come up with anything better.) The framework is now part of the planning policy covering Dullbridge so will not just sit on a shelf gathering dust.”
When I attempted to take Cllr. Fencesitter’s advice and check out the Neighbourhood Plan for myself I discovered that the website at SmalltownandDullbridgeNeighbourhoodPlan.org now displays details of an online betting site based in Thailand.
I spoke to local website specialist, David Geek and he said “There was a website but clearly nobody wanted to pay to keep it up. That’s what it’s like here. There was a town but clearly nobody wanted to pay to keep it up.”