Hold a poll on link road (From Witney Gazette)

Hold a poll on link road

in Letters

Sir – I hate those posters! Of course, I am referring to those little Cogges Link Road posters which you see in people’s windows across the town.

In my mind, both the campaign group against the road and the ‘hell bent on getting the road’ Tories have missed something. What do the people of Witney really think?

To be honest, I did sign the petition against the road but only because it was a friend who asked and because I knew that petitions in Conservative-run West Oxfordshire have no impact democratically, unless it serves a purpose for the current regime.

I am not really decided on any argument and I don’t really care if we get the link road or not.

So, what do the people of Witney really think? Well, if you ask the campaigners then you will hear that the majority are against, but the Tories have a different story.

Surely, for most people, this is more than a little confusing. Why can’t we have a town poll, a kind of referendum, so that, democratically, we can see if Witney wants the so-called relief’ road or not? This is a no-brainer isn’t it?

If we really are a democracy, then the people should have the final say. If we are not, then the pro-link road PM David Cameron may be able to have a gin with the secretary of state who will be making the final decision and lean on them until they see his way of thinking.

Let’s call for a town poll. That way, democracy can be done and we can stop wasting money on expensive inquiries and, for me, the most important bit, we can see the end of those ugly posters – which represent those members of our community whose voices go unheard.

Of course, which side of the argument would be brave enough to call for the town poll remains to be seen.

Richard MacKenzie, Manor Road, Witney