FOLLOWING Vicky Fairweather's letter (Lynn News, June 23, Dismay and disgust at proposals for pits) I would just like to take the opportunity to reassure your readers that the council is listening to what people have to say.
Over 120 people attended our consultation events and provided comments or feedback on the proposals - some against the whole scheme, many in favour and some who have provided constructive feedback on landscaping elements they would like to see preser
ved or enhanced.
Our landscape architects are now reviewing all of this information and we will be giving people further opportunities to comment on the landscaping proposals on July 5 and 8.
It is true to say that we didn't attend the Harding's Pits Association public meeting but we had previously explained to the chairman that both Councillor Daubney and I were unavailable on that date. We offered alternative dates and even offered to provide a suitable venue free of charge to facilitate the rearranging of the meeting. Unfortunately, the organisers felt unable to change the date of the public meeting. It would be misleading to suggest that we were unwilling to attend.
We have made, and continue to make, every effort to involve local people in the planning and development of what is a very complex, long-term regeneration scheme. What we have is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a high-quality waterfront development with associated marina which will serve as catalyst for King's Lynn's future economic prosperity.
Large, complex, brownfield regeneration schemes of this nature are difficult and not without risk but we firmly believe that the waterfront is one of the town's strongest assets and we should seize this opportunity to deevelop it in a way befitting of a regional centre.
JASON LAW,
Cabinet Member for
Regeneration, Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council.