Newsletter 1 2 November 2001
This is the first of
what will be a regular newsletter to keep our concerned community informed of
news and developments. We will be
setting up a series of collection points where newsletters can be collected as
well as making them available on notice boards.
Every Friday night 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Please support
if you can
even if
just for 15 mins. On 26th
October over
200 people turned out during the course of the
evening and was
covered on the television by both the BBC and Sky.
Minister
Visits Civic Office!
Beverley
Hughes the Home Office Minister visited Runnymede
BC Civic Offices on Wednesday 31st October. Only four people from the local community
were allowed to meet the Minister. They
were:
Jacqueline Parker - Silverlands Action Campaign
Mark Bugden - Governor at Lyne & Longcross
School
David Cleworth - Head of Salesian School
Clare Penfold – local resident
There
were 19 other people at the mtg (plus Home Office reps). Others present included senior reps from
Surrey CC, Police, Surrey Education, White Lodge, St Peters Hospital, PH MP,
RBC Chief Exec, ward cllrs, Probation svce.
Apparently the fact that 7,000 children are taught within a 2.5 mile
radius of Silverlands fell on deaf ears.
There is no recognition on the government part of the concerns, fears
and the impact on the every day lives of the people in our community.
Decision expected at the
end of November
Silverlands Action Campaign, Copse End, Lyne Lane,
Lyne, KT16 0AW
By phone on 07960 828113
e.mail to silverlands@hotmail.com
Internet -
WWW.silverlandsgroup.org
Do you have specific skills
or time to help us? Let us know what you can do to help. Talk to your friends
and neighbours - ask them to write to our local MP. Don't let them get away
with this decision without having our say.
Council
Meeting - Thursday
25th October
–
Runnymede Council passes motion as follows:
'This Council expresses its deep concern at the
way the Home Office hasprogressed the proposed move of the Wolvercote Clinic
for sex offenders from Epsom to Silverlands, Chertsey without local
consultation and makes representation to the Home Secretary to withdraw the
proposal having regard to the location in close proximity of various schools
and children's units and the problems of staff recruitment and retention in
this area.'
This resolution was taken at a meeting of the full
Council, although all members of the Planning Committee who were present on the
night withdrew from the chamber for this item so that they could not be deemed
to have supported the motion prior to the planning application coming before
them. The motion was carried by a unanimous vote of 19.
The result of the motion will have been that a
letter will have gone to the Home Office, expressing the view that is outlined
above, and I understand that the Council will also be indicating that it
reserves the right to apply for a judicial review should the Home Office
continue to press for the Silverlands location
Background
to the Proposals
The government is proposing moving Wolvercote
Paedophile rehabilitation clinic (operated by the Home Office and Probation
Service) from Epsom to Silverlands (opposite St Peters Hospital) in Chertsey.
The reason for the move is the sale (already completed) of the site at
Wolvercote for housing development by the Health Department. The lease at Epsom
terminates on the 9th January 2002. The Home Office stated to
Phillip Hammond the local MP that they had made a study and no other suitable
site in England existed.
The move only came to light on the 18th
October after articles were printed in local newspapers. Subsequently it has been discovered that a
decision on the of Silverlands was made by senior government minister on or
before 11th May 2001. It has also emerged that Tim Williams CEO
of Runnymede Council, knew of this proposal some time ago but this was under
some code of confidentiality. To
date no public consultation has taken place.