Yesterday OnTheWight reported on the letter sent by managing director of Eurovia Scott Wardrop to Isle of Wight MP, Andrew Turner.
Andrew Turner has today issued the following response to Mr Wardrop’s letter. He said,
“Given that Mr Wardrop has taken almost three months to reply to my letter and has been chased a number of times, this response is pretty poor.
“What is most troubling is that he thinks Islanders will be fooled by his failure to give straight answers to straight questions.
Regarding the proposed asphalt plant on the River Medina – he says on the one hand that Eurovia ‘are firmly of the view that it is needed’ and then goes on to agree that there is ‘no requirement’ for it.”
PFI contract
On the issue of whether meeting the terms of the PFI contract was dependent on the permission for the proposed asphalt plant, Mr Turner went on to say,
He doesn’t actually say whether the PFI contract can be fulfilled without an asphalt plant on the Island – which is the question he was asked. He has also failed to give clear answers to other points I put to him on behalf of local residents, such as whether he would move staff from elsewhere in the Eurovia Group to fill new local vacancies.
However, I am pleased to hear that any additional cost implications relating to asphalt being brought over from the mainland will not fall on taxpayers – either locally or nationally.”
“He is clearly misrepresenting my comments”
On the subject of developing brownfield sites, Mr Turner went on to say,
“I have said in the past that that new housing should be located on brown-field sites (where development has taken place in the past), before undeveloped land is used. Mr Wardrop says those comments suggest that I should be supporting Eurovia’s inappropriate proposals for this sensitive site on the River Medina.
“He is clearly misrepresenting my comments and my views.”
Purdah has nothing to do private companies
Mr Wardrop had excused his delay in responding on the local election purdah period at the council. Mr Turner responded,
“Mr Wardrop also claims the delay in responding to me is due to the purdah period before the Council elections, when controversial decisions should not be announced by central or local government.
“He doesn’t appear to understand that purdah has nothing to do private companies. His press office even told my staff that MPs are not allowed to raise controversial issues during elections. That is quite obviously wrong!”
Talk to Bardon Vectis
Mr Turner finished his response by saying,
“I will be responding to this letter in detail when I have had the opportunity to consult residents who have raised these concerns with me.
In the meantime, if Mr Wardorp needs asphalt produced on the Island, I urge him to do the sensible thing and start talking to Bardon Vectis who have now received planning permission for a new asphalt plant on their existing site.”
