Who runs this lousy world?

Published: 23 December, 2010

• THE plans for the medical research centre to be built behind the British Library are going ahead following the decision of the council’s development control committee last Thursday despite great opposition from local residents. 

We were also told that if the plans were not agreed then the Mayor of London would authorise it to be accepted. 

So much for democracy and the role of local government. And the needs of those 20,000 on the housing waiting list as now we have no land left to build housing other than that being used by the King’s Cross development – and how many will be for sale?

In addition, the present Conservative/ Lib Dem government are slashing funding to local authorities like Camden which will mean massive cuts to the voluntary sector; to facilities such as lunches for the elderly, and for kids; the loss of funding in a deprived ward like St Pancras & Somers Town of Age Concern-Hill-Wood Centre; concerns over Plot 10 Play group’s funding; the termination of organisations such as Families in Focus and cuts to voluntary sector funding etc, etc…

I then hear that the same government are granting over £220m for the building of the proposed medical research centre to be built behind the British Library! £220m can seemingly be found with ease when councils like Camden are forced to make cuts they do not want to see and indeed it puts a stop to the excel­lent projects the new council had in mind for the borough as whole.

I wonder who runs this lousy world – ordinary men and women or those who emanate from Eton and Harrow? I wonder who is bothered when those who do care in local government like the present Labour council are reluctantly forced to make cuts and the same government of Camerons and Cleggs find funding for a project like the medical research centre which will take away land badly needed for housing and park area, while they can’t find funding for continuing luncheon clubs, play facilities etc – in the same area.

In case someone tells me that the present government inherited the failing economy, let me remind them that it was not the last government responsible but a worldwide recession not created by Gordon Brown and his ministers but the banks and the bankers and whatever clique runs our worldwide finances.

I despair. But we have to fight on…that is the least we can do to make the world a better place for those vulnerable in our community.

I assure you we will fight to try to stop or reduce those cuts but in the meantime, Mr Prime Minister, can we have the said £220million instead for the preservation of the facilities for the elderly, kids, the community in general.

CLLR ROGER ROBINSON 
Labour, St Pancras and Somers Town ward