In the face of almost universal opposition from residents, Tory Councillors used their majority to vote through plans to impose new parishes in Park North and Walcot and across Swindon by a margin of 29-26.
All Labour councillors voted against parishes and many Labour councillors made passionate arguments against parishing.
Local Cllrs Abdul Amin and Emma Bushell spoke about the strength of opposition to parishes from residents in Walcot and Park North and concerns about the impact parishing would have on the area.
In the face of almost universal opposition from residents, Tory Councillors used their majority to vote through plans to impose new parishes in Park North and Walcot and across Swindon by a margin of 29-26.
All Labour councillors voted against parishes and many Labour councillors made passionate arguments against parishing.
Local Cllrs Abdul Amin and Emma Bushell spoke about the strength of opposition to parishes from residents in Walcot and Park North and concerns about the impact parishing would have on the area.
Cllr Emma Bushell said:
“I want to make it clear that the residents I represent in Walcot and Park North do not want parishes and believe that parishes will leave them and their communities worse off.
Since plans to introduce parishes were introduced my colleagues and I have held 5 public meetings across the ward to discuss this. At the most recent meetings we held a vote to ask whether residents wanted to live in a parish – something this administration has cynically refused to do.
Out of the 47 residents who voted only 1 was in favour of parishes.
Residents know that this council holds them and their views in contempt and does not care that this half-baked plan is likely to be disastrous for their communities and Swindon as a whole.”