Monday 19th August 2024,
North Yorks Enquirer

Newby & Scalby Parish Poll Victory

August 18, 2024 Newby & Scalby

Newby & Scalby Parish Poll Victory

  • an “In My View” article by NIGEL WARD, reporting on a famous victory for democracy achieved at the Newby & Scalby Parish Poll on 9th August 2024.

~~~~~

It is encouraging to see that the voice of the people rang out in the Scarborough suburb of Newby & Scalby last week – loudly enough to catch the ear of the BBC by Tuesday 13th August 2024:

Predictably, however boringly, it did not take long for the ‘old guard’ grapevine to issue the usual rumblings that the Council was not legally bound to take the slightest notice whatsoever of the voice of the people, garnished with the usual twaddle about what a waste of money such democratic ‘last resorts’ really are. With an electorate of 8,085, the Parish Poll cost less than a pound per head. What price democracy?

The ‘official’ N&S Town Council statement can be read here.

But we have encountered all that garbage before.

In October 2023, a mere 75.5% of those who voted in Whitby (on a fundamentally identical question) were treated with customary disdain. But, lest we forget, six of those then-WTC Councillors are no longer with the Council and further resignations now appear imminent. It is a matter of regret that some of those who have departed were sorely needed by the town – but simply could not tolerate any more bullying, harassment and sheer bull-headed stupidity.

The Newby & Scalby results were more emphatic.

To the Question:

“Do you want  Newby and Scalby Town Council to be dissolved and a new Newby and Scalby Town Council elected”

558 (96.71%) voted YES;

19 (3.29%) voted NO.

The turn-out was 7.17%.

The community of Newby & Scalby Town Council has sent a very clear message; they do not want a Council that condones bullying, ignores Lord NOLAN’s Seven Principles of Public Life and no longer provides highly-valued wellbeing services to its community.

When a Council made up of just 13 members receives a grand total of only 19 votes, it should stand down with immediate effect.
Granted, Councillors and their spouses and immediate families members (of election age) were all legally entitled to vote in their own favour, the Enquirer was not aware that they could receive special dispensations to goad their pet tortoises to ballot. Pitiful.
Mark my words; this will prove to be more than a pyrrhic victory. The writing is on the wall . . .
Pictured below are voters queuing to vote. Man up, Councillors – and give them their due:

Comments are closed.