| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:meeting with Justine Greening 5th Jan at 7.30pm | |
| Posted by: | Claire Johnson | |
| Date/Time: | 05/01/11 09:30:00 |
| Hi Caroline. The meeting tonight is for constituents to discuss concerns with Justine Greening, not for questioning of Thames Water and I think as our local MP there will be pressure on her to state her position and what she is going to do to address residents concerns. I think the problem with the last meting was that the presentation was far too long (most people got the marketing blurb at the exhibitions and didn't need to hear the same thing again). There were a lot of questions that needed asking and some of the key questions and points could not get asked (although I agree that some people were not sticking to the key issues and facts and getting a little ‘shouty’). I was disappointed that we didn't get to question John Ramage (the Engineering Director) further to make it clear why other sites had been ruled out from the site selection process and the limitations of the other sites and strategies that were raised. I stayed to speak to him afterwards to try to understand further. Many people at the last meeting were already at quite an advanced level of understanding of the project, implications and options, since they had been studying the information and in communication with various bodies for weeks and had attended exhibitions at least once. Also because no-one from StoptheShaft was on the panel a balanced view was not being presented to the audience. IMO Phil Stride was not presenting the real technical details, much of the information on the problem and construction they presented can be found on the consultation website or given at the exhibition & was not new info. I personally see these meetings as an opportunity to stringently challenge the people who are making decisions that affect OUR area. At any rate, these people are senior executives of a multi billion private enterprise, they are paid (well) to deal with these situations and pressure - a little passion does no harm and I'm sure that the Thames Water people felt the strength of objection all the more for it - I am sure they are not losing sleep over it - unlike many of the campaigners working to object! |