Going the full 12 rounds for Norfolk's future (Norfolk County Council Liberal Democrats)

Norfolk County Council Liberal Democrats <info@norfolkcclibdems.org.uk>

Going the full 12 rounds for Norfolk's future

December 9, 2011 11:34 AM

12 Rounds for the Future of Norfolk

There has been much talk from Norfolk County Council about the link between an incinerator in Kings Lynn and the future ofNorfolk. It is striking then that a project which is promoted as the future ofNorfolkshould be built to demonstrate today's political muscle. The facts are, like it or not, the incinerator has become a political battleground with the main protagonists much more concerned about their immediate political futures than the future ofNorfolk. The council has backed itself into a corner, and like the punch-drunk heavyweight who should throw the towel in, keeps coming out to fight the rounds, hoping a Don King style judges' decision will get them a verdict at the final bell. So let's review the blows in this heavyweight contest for the future ofNorfolk.

One could argue the Council jumped out early showing nimble footwork to manoeuvre itself into a position to secure a site, a technology and an element of financial support from central government. A vast Conservative majority at County Hall meant local political opposition at these early stages was seen but often not heard in what was threatening to become a non-contest.

However, like all great contests, we only start to pay attention when the underdog fights back. In this case the shot that shook the Council and made us all stand up and pay attention was the Kings Lynn andWest Norfolkpoll. 65,000 people stood up to oppose the project, more than voted in the last general election there and seven times more than those who responded to the Council's own 'Big Conversation'. It was clear that from this point on the challenger's punches would be fuelled by people power.

So back into the political ring came the two fighters, the Council on the back-foot as the challenger began to question the financial and environmental costs of the project. The Council, on the defensive, was forced to concede the presence of a £20m compensation clause they would have to pay should the project fall through. Further scrutiny of the Council's defences highlighted potential health issues and the casting of doubt over their economic projections by an external expert. A reeling Norfolk County Council stumbled back to its corner and tried to regroup.

Like all great champions, the Council would now look within to stem the tide of blows coming from the challenger. It conducted its own poll ofNorfolktowns parishes in an attempt to show that the incinerator was what the rest ofNorfolkwanted. The results sent the Council to the canvass, now not only did the people of Kings Lynn not want the incinerator, but neither it seems did the rest ofNorfolk. Two black-eyes delivered by the people ofNorfolkand still no white towel from the Council's corner.

The next two rounds saw the Council running from political punches. It leaned on the referee to prevent a Lib Dem motion being debated at County Hall and discredited its opponents in the press. The council dodged call-ins from all parties believing that by continuing to run it may just weather the public storm enough to hear the final bell.

Yet like all great dramas there is always a twist before the final bell. Enter into the fray Caroline Spelman's knockout blow. By haltingNorfolk's PFI credits she not only halted the incinerator, she halted what was becoming a slide into selective democracy. After 3 rounds, this fight was no longer about an incinerator in Kings Lynn but about democracy inNorfolk. It became about the struggle for power between politicians and people.

SoNorfolkasks the Council to stay down, think about the future, for the blows you take now will have a greater lasting legacy than any financial benefits of an incinerator. If you truly stand forNorfolk's future, then ensure that tomorrow's rubbish does not lay waste to today's people.