Councillors 'are selling Hucknall down the river'

The meeting was of the Hucknall Area Consultative Group, which gives local residents a chance to discuss local issues with councillors who sit on Ashfield District Council.

And on Tuesday, at the John Godber Centre on Ogle Street, it attracted a band of campaigners who are battling to prevent more than 800 homes being built on Hucknall's Wigwam Lane playing fields and the adjoining Grange Farm site.

One man blasted: "This is a personal opinion and not political. It's directed at every councillor.

"We are ordinary people and we have formed a group (the Wigwam Warriors) because no-one seems to want to listen.

"I'm saying to you as individuals: it's time for you to look at your own hearts and souls and stop selling us down the river."

However Coun Charlie Short (Lab), of Hucknall, retorted: "I get sick and tired of you saying we councillors don't care.

"I am a Hucknall lad, born and bred, and I worked at Linby Colliery. I've got no interest in selling you down the river.

"I'm not interested in what we should and shouldn't do but we are governed by a set of rules. They are not my rules but we have got to stick by them."

The discussion persuaded Coun Bob Gow (Ind) and Coun Simon Harris (Lab), both of Hucknall, to leave.

But complaints were raised about the covenant that supposedly protects the Wigwam and one woman added:

"This is not a new protest. We are not political and we want to work for the future of Hucknall. This is like a ping-pong ball and nobody is prepared to say anything directly."

Other complaints were made about policing, council spending, alterations to Titchfield Park, the much-delayed plans for an inner bypass, the Tesco superstore, car parking and town-centre shops.

Hucknall businessman Robert Spray said: "Hucknall is suffering because Tesco has got the monopoly in the town and you can't park on the High Street, so shops there are suffering."

One woman barked: "We've allowed Tesco to take over the town."

Some people felt that 'low-level' offences, such as vandalism, should be treated "more seriously" by the police.

Others were confused about whether the inner bypass will ever be built because its route and budget have been changed so often.

Councillors pointed out that the bypass is the responsibility of Notts County Council, not Ashfield, and that a final plan has yet to be decided.

But Coun Ken Creed (Lab), leader of Ashfield Council, said: "Traffic surveys are being done and I have been told that the county council will go out to public consultation on this again."