Small minded. Limited thinkers

Geoff Fahey Small minded. Limited thinking. Local government is the same the world over … here’s my story of a battle with council over my bid to allow seating at my coffee bar in Maesteg Indoor Market, Mid-Glamorgan, South Wales:
Dear Councillor,
Unless you were elected last May, you will have been made aware of issues in Maesteg Market for more than two years now. I recently brought to your attention in an email (see below), that Maesteg market is unique in that it is being ‘managed’ like no other Market in Wales and further afield (in all probability globally). My reason for pursuing this issue, is to ensure that Maesteg Market Traders are afforded the same respect and competitive advantages of Traders everywhere else, from Bridgend to Brisbane.
Allan Phillips (Head of Finance and Property) is presently advocating an unusual method of ‘management’, i.e upholding ad hoc, arcane rules, and ‘no duplication of trades’ for some traders, it has now emerged that Mr Phillips methods are completely at odds with market management strategy, everywhere, this is obviously very bad news for Maesteg. Whilst every other markets manager in the land is trying to maintain or increase ‘dwell time’ in markets, Mr Phillips is doing his level best to stop it all together in Maesteg Indoor Market. There are many people hoping that Mr Phillips will soon divulge his reasons for doing so, he is due back from holiday on the 8th February.

In view of the silence that ensued when I asked for your support two years ago, which meant that the issue went nowhere, and effectively showed your support for the Property Department’s peculiar stance. I now ask you once again, in light of the new evidence if you maintain your positions? I will accept your silence as verification that either you do, or that you have no opinion one-way or the other. I was told by an old hand the last time I asked for your support that you (councillors) were told to back off because ‘it’ might become legal? The person in question “couldn’t remember” who told him. If this is true, and it is that easy for you to be prevented from voicing your opinion, then it begs the question, what use are elected representatives, or more to the point, what has happened to the Democratic process?

At present we have two Borough Councillors supporting our cause, Steve Smith, (Independent) Caerau, who has been supportive since first hearing of our plight, he has been joined by Malcolm James, (Plaid Cymru) Llangynwyd. Maesteg Town Councillor Ian Jones, (Welsh Liberal Democrats) has been made aware of the situation and has come on board. The fact that Borough Councillors Buttle (Labour), Edwards (Labour), Reeves (Labour) and Teesdale (Labour) have yet to voice any opinion with regard to this important issue is a major talking point in the Market. Huw Irranca-Davies MP (Labour), has also been made aware, but to date has declined to comment.

The general opinion is that the Labour machine is geared to winning elections, period. The Labour Councillor’s deafening silence on this matter suggests that they have not the slightest desire to restore Maesteg Market to the competitive enterprise it once was. I sincerely hope that I will be proved wrong.

I look forward to hearing from you, or not, either way you paint a picture.

Kind regards

Geoff Fahey