An open letter to Ickenham councillor Ray Puddifoot, leader of Hillingdon Council
I WISH to add my voice to those who have expressed concerns about the way in which your plans for Ruislip Lido are being carried forward and, in particular, about the council's approach to consultation.
Prior to your announcement of the plans at the Ruislip Lido management advisory group meeting on January 19, no consultation whatsoever seems to have taken place with stakeholders.
The Friends of Ruislip Lido had not been consulted. Nor had local councillors, Ruislip Residents' Association or Ruislip Lido Railway.
One person who had, however, been involved in discussions, was a gentleman who attended the Friends of Ruislip Lido meeting on January 20, who said that his company had met with the council about running boating on the lake.
Ruislip Lido Residents' Group subsequently asked the council if there was going to be public consultation before any of these plans went any further and, if so, what form it would take.
The council's reply made no mention of the word 'consultation' but said 'the council intends to keep residents informed through Hillingdon People and via the management advisory group'. Apparently we are going to be kept informed but not consulted.
The article in the March/April Hillingdon People includes, under 'What you told us', three positive comments from those in favour but made no mention of the 1,000-plus people who signed petitions expressing concerns about the plans and calling for proper public consultation.
The good news is that the plan to reintroduce boating now seems to have been downgraded to something that is just being considered.
Nobody is against the improvements to the toilets, but the other proposals need to be worked on with interested parties, in particular, but not exclusively, with the Friends of Ruislip Lido, Ruislip Lido Railway and Ruislip Lido Residents' Group.
Mr Puddifoot, that means listening and taking advantage of their local knowledge and their ideas, and not just informing them of what you have decided.
I hope this is of help.
PETER SILVERMAN
