All RDAs across England are closing by March 2012
(see transition and closure section).
With our resources reducing steadily, this page has not been recently updated and the information below may not be current.
If in doubt, please contact us directly.
South West RDA to meet protestors at Morlands
09 January 2009
The South West RDA will meet on Monday (January 12) in
Glastonbury with protestors occupying a dangerous derelict building
on the Morlands site.
Also, the Agency has accepted an invitation by the Mayor of
Glastonbury, Tom Billing, to attend a Glastonbury Town Council
meeting (date to be confirmed) to give a public update on Morlands
and discuss future prospects for the site as a whole. Cllr Billing
has also been invited to Monday's meeting with the protestors.
At the end of last year the Agency announced it needed to
demolish the red brick buildings at the Morlands development site
because of serious concerns for the safety of young people who have
been breaking into it in recent months.
A small group of protestors broke into the building on Monday
January 5 and occupied it to prevent the planned start of
demolition.
The RDA will meet with representatives of the protestors to
explain the reasons for the demolition and listen to their
concerns.
Carl Budden, head of regeneration at the South West RDA,
said:
"We understand that the community is calling for more
information about the site. The private meeting with protestors and
proposed meeting with the Council are two of a number of measures
we will be carrying out to improve communications.
"We are pleased to accept the Mayor's invitation and discuss
issues relating to the development in public."
The Agency has been criticised for announcing the demolition on
Christmas Eve.
Carl Budden continues: "Demolition was not confirmed and the
date was not set until only a matter of days before we briefed the
local paper on December 17 so we gave the community as much notice
as we could in the circumstances.
"We hope the protestors will leave the site as soon as Monday's
meeting has finished and following this commitment to take part in
the Town Council's meeting."
Ends
For more information call Sue Dawson at Spirit Public Relations
on 0117 944 1415 or email sdawson@spiritpublicrelations.co.uk
Notes to Editors
1) The South West RDA leads the development of a sustainable
economy, investing to unlock the region's business potential. It is
helping companies respond to the economic crisis and charts a
course for recovery. The RDA is developing or expanding initiatives
which include: establishing a Business Loan Fund; coordinating the
response to large companies in difficulty; preparing for economic
recovery.
Contact Details
Name Sue Dawson
Tel 0117 944 1415
Email sdawson@spiritpublicrelations.co.uk