Andrew Turner, the Island’s MP, has finally received a response to his letter of 7th March to Scott Wardrop, the Managing Director of Eurovia, and has made the following statement.
“Given that Mr Wardrop has taken almost three months to reply to my letter and has been chased a number of times, this response is pretty poor.
“What is most troubling is that he thinks Islanders will be fooled by his failure to give straight answers to straight questions. Regarding the proposed asphalt plant on the River Medina – he says on the one hand that Eurovia ‘are firmly of the view that it is needed’ and then goes on to agree that there is ‘no requirement’ for it. He doesn’t actually say whether the PFI contract can be fulfilled without an asphalt plant on the Island – which is the question he was asked. He has also failed to give clear answers to other points I put to him on behalf of local residents, such as whether he would move staff from elsewhere in the Eurovia Group to fill new local vacancies. However, I am pleased to hear that any additional cost implications relating to asphalt being brought over from the mainland will not fall on taxpayers – either locally or nationally.
“I have said in the past that that new housing should be located on brown-field sites (where development has taken place in the past), before undeveloped land is used. Mr Wardrop says those comments suggest that I should be supporting Eurovia’s inappropriate proposals for this sensitive site on the River Medina. He is clearly misrepresenting my comments and my views.
“Mr Wardrop also claims the delay in responding to me is due to the purdah period before the Council elections, when controversial decisions should not be announced by central or local government. He doesn’t appear to understand that purdah has nothing to do private companies. His press office even told my staff that MPs are not allowed to raise controversial issues during elections. That is quite obviously wrong!
“I will be responding to this letter in detail when I have had the opportunity to consult residents who have raised these concerns with me. In the meantime, if Mr Wardorp needs asphalt produced on the Island, I urge him to do the sensible thing and start talking to Bardon Vectis who have now received planning permission for a new asphalt plant on their existing site.”
