HomeBlogs & ViewsBirmingham Mail ColumnistsThe Stirrer
Councillor rejects bias claim
Mar 27 2008 By The Stirrer
HARBORNE councillor John Alden has withdrawn his backing for the Friends of Ravenhurst Playing Fields - in order to help them.
According to lawyers Pin-sent Masons, the fact that Coun Alden has written in support of plans to turn the site into a village green would compromise the independence of the local authority which is hearing the application.
That's why they're taking the costlier route of appealing to the High Court.
"It's obviously nonsense," Alden said. "I'm just one councillor doing the job I was elected to do, which is to represent my constituents.
"It's ludicrous to say that Birmingham City Council couldn't take an independent view because of that.
"But now that I've taken my letter of support back there can be no argument for taking this case to the point where ordinary people could be made liable for unlimited legal costs."
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