Caroline Flint's comment
on the Rossington Referendum




25 July 2008

Don Valley MP Caroline Flint said:

"I welcome any parish consulting residents, but I am disappointed that the Rossington referendum seems to have been poorly organised, despite having a month to plan it and receiving professional advice by Doncaster Election Services. Some residents clearly knew nothing about the referendum, which is a great shame.

"I hope the Parish learns the lessons to ensure that they involve everybody in future plans about Rossington and provide factual information about the proposed eco-town; how many people are waiting for an affordable housing and how many young first time buyers would like to live in the village."

The MP points out that 653 Rossington residents are on the housing waiting list and that for every family property that is advertised by St Leger Homes there are 52 applicants. Only 24 family homes have become available in Rossington since November 2007.

Said Rossington Labour Party Secretary Richard Cooper-Holmes: "Sadly, less than 1 in 10 residents took part in the referendum. There was no delivery of information to every household and no provision for postal voting - even though 2,754 people vote by post in Rossington because they find it difficult to get to a polling station.

"The only leaflet delivered was from a pressure group demanding a no vote to save the village. The village is not under threat in the first place, so ninety per cent of people have ignored him. The leaflet also suggested that 15,000 new homes were planned, which is not correct.

"I am very disappointed that the Parish Council has made such a terrible mess of this referendum."