Tory leader Kevin Carroll accuses councillor of 'playing politics'
TORBAY Tory leader Kevin Carroll (pictured) has said Brixham Town Council is getting 'too big for its boots' in the latest war of words over a major redevelopment scheme in the fishing port.
The row has blown up after Councillor Mike Morey, who is vice-chairman of Brixham Town Council, asked for a special meeting of Torbay Council's planning committee to be held in Brixham to consider the sensitive Wall Park application.
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The current proposals include plans for 231 homes, 14 holiday chalets, a care home, two bat barns and use of land for caravanning and camping on the former Wall Park holiday park site.
Mr Morey had branded Torbay Council councillors 'chicken' after the local authority said this wasn't possible because planning meetings are held at Oldway Mansion in Paignton.
Today, Councillor Kevin Carroll, who sits on Torbay Council's Development Control Committee and is a member of the Cabinet, hit back saying: "Brixham are trying to decide what we are doing in Torbay when they are just a parish council and they should concentrate on doing that.
"I think once again it is Brixham trying to run the whole council. We saw it with the Old Market Place and it seems to me that the town council are getting too big for their boots."
He added: "I can't understand why Mike Morey is calling us chicken.
"This is a decision that needs to be taken by Torbay Council and we will determine where and how that decision is taken. I think Brixham councillors should get down to looking at how they could improve the lives of Brixham people.
"Torbay Council and the planning committee is a function of Torbay Council not Brixham Town Council."
He said that the planning committee had met at Oldway Mansion for the past four years because it was set up for meetings and if 200 people did turn up then they could accommodate them.
"There is the issue of bringing staff, officers and councillors together. I think the Wall Park application is up at the next meeting and here we are, right on top of the meeting saying that we should hold the meeting in Brixham. It's not that easy getting everyone together and get the rooms. We will make that decision because Torbay Council runs Torbay Council."
He claimed the Opposition was about 'electioneering' with the local elections only eight months away, adding: "All of a sudden Mike Morey is jumping up and down as if he is Mr Brixham himself. He should make his representation through the chairman of Brixham Town Council.
"He is just playing politics."
However, Mr Morey said they had been trying since July to try and bring the meeting to Brixham.
He pointed out again that a precedent had already been set with past planning meetings for two Torquay planning applications not taking place at Oldway.
"It is about bringing the decision-making process to the people rather than getting them to traipse over to Oldway," said Mr Morey.
He said there had been a series of things he had been trying to 'protect' in Brixham and said the Wall Park issue had been going on for two or three years so denied it was 'electioneering'.
The fishing port's residents attended a Brixham Town Council meeting in July, where the application was the only item up for discussion and met with strong opposition.
Ki Barnes, the clerk for Brixham Town Council, said: "At a planning meeting that we held to discuss this application in July, we had more than a hundred people attend, so it is very important to the residents."
She said it could affect not only housing, but the town's employment and the number of people able to access the town easily in the evening and thereby affecting restaurant trade too.
"It is a matter of prime importance and a precedent has been set when a Torquay application was heard in Torquay and residents and councillors believe that this application should be heard here in the port," said Ms Barnes.
Mr Carroll said he was not involved with the special planning meeting held at the Riviera Conference Centre in September last year to discuss the Palm Court Hotel development and the Torwood Street development and maintained that 'Torbay Council runs Torbay Council'.
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by ian walters, tq2 5ye
Thursday, September 16 2010, 5:57PM
“Budge up on the prayer mat for Councillor Carroll.”
by D i c k, Torquay
Friday, September 03 2010, 9:50PM
“I wrote on here and it was removed...how strange that is...so did a couple of other messages...the online editor is earning his money again. Perhaps he could sort out the mess this site is in...double message...duplicate stories.
As for Geordie Smith I guess with a name like that you are local.
That man Carroll is an "apron wearer" perhaps you cannot criticise the big fat Hitler type he is....what did he claimed last year in food alone, we paid him for it in his expenses, £627.34, not bad is it?”
by glenys, brixham
Friday, September 03 2010, 8:30AM
“Well Goerdie Smith, Mike Morey might visit the Blue Anchor in Brixham occassionally it's more than what we can say about Nick Bye. He's barred from almost every pub in Brixham. I dare say if Kevin Carroll has the cheek to show his face around here now the same thing would happen to him., after this outburst by him.”
by Ann, Preston
Friday, September 03 2010, 1:37AM
“I know both Carroll and Cllr Morey and I know which I believe to be the most honest and sincere......lets say it is not Carroll”
by Geordie Smith, brixham
Thursday, September 02 2010, 10:26PM
“As we see from Chris Bedford¿s letter of today, Mike Morey has been involved in local politics from a lad, well, Brixham Regatta anyway, and that gives us a clue as to his ability. He has evolved into a local politician simply through longevity and limited ability (unless of course we have a world statesman in our midst who chooses to serve only in his own neck of the woods) and evolving into a position is a long, long way from being in that position because of natural ability.
Like most kids I wanted to be a footballer and stuck at it year after year after year but no matter how I tried, anyone with an ounce of natural ability left me for dead and I was stuck forever playing in the Sunday league.
Mike Morey is in the Sunday league; Kevin Carroll is a professional.
Mike Moray is a decent fellow but he is no politician. He is often seen in the Blue Anchor in Brixham, usually hiding away in the back room with a couple of his cohorts. If only he spoke to the locals more when he is in the pubs of Brixham he might get a better idea of what the word is on the street and so realise that he not always (if ever) speaks for the people of Brixham.”
by Philip Godden, Brixham
Thursday, September 02 2010, 8:01PM
“Mr Whistler the answer is money! The Brixham Conservative Councillors may not agree with Mr Carroll but he holds the key to their survival and livelihood. Some are inadequate business people who rely desperately on the committee allowances to prop up their failing business or else they are pensioners who appreciate the extra cash. Mr Carroll can then expect loyalty especially from fellow apron wearers.”
by Mr Whistler, Paignton
Thursday, September 02 2010, 5:57PM
“I would imagine that Cllr Kevin Carroll's comments have sounded the death knell of any consevative candidate being elected/re-elected in Brixham next May. The Liberal Democrats and Independents must be laughing their socks off at this ridiculous attack on Mike Morey. Cllr Carroll fails to appreciate that Mike Morey is a Torbay Councillor and a good one at that.
When oh when are the Conservative councillors going to have the courage to get rid of this arrogant individual as their leader. If they don't they will be decimated at the local elections next year.”
by Baggins, Torbay
Thursday, September 02 2010, 4:40PM
“...
@John, Paignton: John's comments are so concise and to the point that they deserve appearing twice ¿ or now it appears not at all!
Having stuffed the planning committee's with placemen this arrogant - I hesitate to a more succinct epithet - individual appears to have forgone any notion of respect for fellow Members by his 'Parish Council' comment.
Bye made a great mistake putting Carroll in place as his hatchet man and they will both surely pay the price at the next election.
.”
by Baggins, Torbay
Thursday, September 02 2010, 4:34PM
“...
@John, Paignton: John's comments are so concise and to the point that they deserve appearing twice.
Having stuffed the planning committee's with placemen this arrogant - I hesitate to use a more succinct epithet - individual appears to have forgone any notion of respect for fellow Members by his 'Parish Council' comment.
Bye made a great mistake putting Carroll in place as his hatchet man and they will both surely pay the price at the next election.
.”
by Philip Godden, Brixham
Thursday, September 02 2010, 1:31PM
“I sincerely hope, J.T., of Brixham, that you are alone in your views. You may be forgetting that Mike Morey has a dual role here. He is also a Councillor on the Torbay Council in addition to his local responsibility. Why can't he make a comment in that position to support Brixham?”