CORRECTIONS TO THE ABOVE.

The Town Assembly is not being called to discuus whether Whitby should be independent of SBC. It is being called to discuss whether a Referendum should be held to ascertain the opinion of the Whitby Electorate as to whether Whitby should be independent of SBC.

The estimated cost of £3,000 will come from WTC reserves - cash held to one side to pay for vital measures, like upholding the democratic rights of the people. I have not been told how many Electors there are, but I have been informed that Abbey Ward alone has 4,000. The price of democracy is well under a quid.

The Local Government Act 1972 tells us that anyone may speak - it's a public meeting - but only Electors may vote.

The Gazette's own straw poll is a true reflection of public opinion. The Mayor, of course, believes that neither WTC nor SBC have to take people's views into account.

Thus speaks the voice of democracy - WTC style.

I really can't work out why the Whitby Gazette is so obsessed about the cost of a possible parish poll. £3,000 is meagre sum to find out what the people of Whitby think about this very important issue. Quite frankly, I think you are being petty. Whichever way Parish votes, this is an exciting story about the future of the town. To drag it down to a financial argument, especially when we're talking about such a small amount, is pathetic. What are you people afraid of? I thought the pursuit of the truth was what journalism was all about. For pity's sake, please try and see the real story here.

I think readers are entitled to know that I have written to the Editor offering to include the Gazette in our democratic attempt to re-invigorate our Town Council.

I have had no respone.

I have emailed the Editor offering to fully explain the 'Plan B' which he opined was missing from our strategy in his Editorial in last Friday's paper.

I have had no response.

I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to fully outline 'Plan B', as the Editor likes to characterize it. I would call it 'Plan A+'.

Readers who would like to hear about it are free to petition the Editor to that effect.

I will be screening a Video Presentation of the 'ARTOPIA' Project at the Coliseum on Friday 29th May, where the public will be admitted FREE OF CHARGE, from 7:00pm, to watch it. It will be screened as many times as is necessary to allow as many as want to see it to do so.

Come on, WHITBY Gazette! Remember which town you are reporting on. And for. Our 90p per week is what's keeping you afloat, don't you know?

Good to see the story on the website before the tuesday edition hits the newsstands: surely a first?

With regard to the projected [fiendishly expensive!!!] cost of a referendum, namely £3000: depending on how many electors one believes [or knows, if one is sufficiently well informed] are qualified to vote, that could actually work out at around the same cost as a Tuesday edition of the Whitby Gazette per person for the privilege of their legal right to have an influence over how they are governed: I know which I'd rather have!

Pip pip!

Billy Scoresby

Oh how lucky the people of Whitby are to be able to even contemplate breaking away from the tyranical jackboot that is SBC.

Grasp the nettle, take the bull by the horns, go for it, it's a win-win situation for the town and it's inhabitants.

The people of Filey and Scarborough are looking on in envy and saying "if only we had the chance to do the same".

Do not listen to the opinins of the SBC councillors, they have a vested interest in keeping the 'status quo' not to mention thier allowances and expenses.

I hope the whole electorate will get involved, have your say, make up your own mind do not be swayed by the "it's to expensive brigade" it's your town and your children and grandchildrens future, vote for a SBC free Whitby.

Oh yes, I must state I to have a vested interest, as soon as we can sell up in Scarborough we will be coming to live in your, hopefully SBC free town.

PS, Nigel could you possibly be related to an SBC councillor one Mike Ward, who lives in whitby.

No. I am not related to SB & WT Councillor Mike Ward.

Though I do believe that that is his real name, just as Nigel Ward is mine. What is yours?

I echo your sentiments, but I do feel that if a man wants to state his opinion in public, he is free to do so; and if it is an honest statement of his opinion, it carries more weight if it appears under his own name.

In any case, one cannot stand for election under a pseudonym.

Nonetheless, thanks for the support.

I have no problem divulging my identity if I felt that it mattered, what does matter is the opinion of local people, this is an unmissable opportunity!!

If there is massive support for such a split, then it may be driven forward, but there will be strong opposition from many local councillors who are fiercely opposed.

A "yes" result will be seen as a vote of no confidence and little else.

I have yet to meet any one from Whitby who believes that Scarborough Borough is operating in the best interests of the town. Many of the important decisions taken on planning and development over the years have not been in the best interests of the town and the Borough have failed to notice (or simply ignored) the worries and concerns of the township. The crumbling pier fiasco is an example of this cavalier attitude, of innapropriate/inadequate solutions following years of neglectful inaction.

However; even if there was an overwhelming swell of opinion for a split, in reality the town could not support the huge financial burden which is currently shared between the three townships.

Central government would not be keen to support such a split and the town would face serious financial shortages without this.

I fear that this marriage is, for better or for worse, etc etc til death us do part!!

Could we tolerate yet another tier of beaurocracy that would inevitably result in a massive hike in our local taxes. I doubt it.

We need a local town council with greater influence, we need the power to control our own destiny. The system of local government requires an overhaul. It is the structure of power that requires a little fine tuning!!

In my humble opinion, this is the way forward!!

There exists a natural geographical region, loosely defined by the N Yorks Moors watershed, the Cleveland Hills watershed, and the coast. Roughly, a triangle drawn on the map to include Boggle Hole, Commondale and Staithes. Whitby is the main port and population centre - the natural 'county town' - of this coherent region.

Both the present government and the oppositon are moving quickly towards a new solution to local government. I believe it is of paramount importance that we stake our claim to this OUR region, so as to be in a strong position as the new approach unfolds.

Other small communities around the country are in the throes of adopting a similar strategy precisely because people (as well as governments) are beginning to recognise that the interminable layers of unproductive bureaucracy are sapping the countries life. Sinpler is better.

Seemingly, I can do nothing to sway the old guard from their outdated allegiance to a system which is crumbling under its own weight like a dinosaur.

I urge bright and experienced men and women to offer their capabilities to Whitby to establish a dynamic and resilient local authority. The old way has not worked. Times are changing - and Whitby must evolve to survive.

Finally, congratulations to all those who attended tonight's Town Meeting to demonstrate their concern and to voice their dissatisfactions. Please communicate your opinion to your friends and families and let them know that another option exists, free of the constraints of a demonstrably inadequate WTC/SBC hierarchy.

If there is to be a realistic and sensible attempt to break away from Scarborough it MUST be done properly.
The first step is fine, the poll to be taken in Whitby town only will show a huge majority in favour.

But some will vote "No" if there is not a planned way forward and a realistic alternative.

Nigel Wards suggestion that the Whitby District as we know it could become a seperate district is a none starter, the local government minister will throw it out.

As far as I am aware the smallest District Council in England is Berwick upon tweed ( app 30,000 ) to clear the thirty thousand we would requre a similar Town Poll in Loftus, our neighbouring and closest town.

We would need support from most parishes within the Whitby District from Fylingdales in the South to Hinderwell in the North aswell as up and down the Esk Valley - Eskdaleside to Danby.

If there was widespread support for a new District within North Yorkshire from the electorate the local government minister would have to listen and consider the wishes of the people.

IF such a campaign got underway it would attract a lot of media interest and support, I personaly would join with any such campaign.