Burntwood Action Group

It was with very great regret that our Committee unanimously voted to withdraw from the Alliance of Lichfield District’s Action and Resident’s Groups.

In proposing the setting up of an alliance and hosting the inaugural meeting our aims were to provide a forum for:

• Sharing ideas and developing strategies to present a coherent and unified case to Lichfield District Council for the preservation of Lichfield District’s green land.

• Ensuring that actions taken by member Groups were mutually supportive and never contradictory.

These aims are unchanged and our decision to withdraw from the Alliance is based solely on the manner in which the new Alliance was set up and is now run.

The attached document sets out our views which were to be presented to the Alliance Meeting on 5th August, hosted by South Lichfield Residents Group. We were not allowed to present our case and, to avoid an even more uncomfortable situation, withdrew from the meeting.

Having decided that we are unable to work with individuals who believe they have a right to dictate policy and have little regard for democratic procedures we are pleased to see that the press release, informing the public of the new Alliance, has been written largely according to our advice.

The letter addressed to individual Councillors, which we counselled against, is toned down from the original draft but its hostile, dictatorial tone still makes it unlikely to generate a positive response. Also the integrity of the Council Leader is still questioned. We completely disassociate ourselves from this letter.

Burntwood and Hammerwich Action Group has stayed within the Alliance but will maintain its individuality and will continue to work with us to present a unified front against development on our surrounding green land.

We are saddened to have left the Alliance in the hands of those who adopt a bludgeoning approach to negotiation. but give Burntwood people the assurance that we will continue to fight, on their behalf, to keep as much as possible of our surrounding green land. We will always try to lobby for support using well researched and reasoned arguments and welcome any constructive ideas from residents.