10:00am Monday 7th May 2012
I am afraid your reporter quoted me out of context when he just wrote that I did not want to be a puppet as an Oxford city councillor (Oxford Mail, April 6).
I actually said that I did not want to be a puppet, as the Labour leaders would have all councillors be, including those of their own party.
In fact I don’t feel that I have been a puppet. I pressured the administration into reopening access for residents to Angel & Greyhound Meadow and in carrying on the maintenance agreement with Christ Church on Aston’s Eyot, after they had cancelled both these arrangements.
I supported residents in their desire to establish Oxpens Meadow as a Town Green, when the administration was trying to avoid the issue.
I successfully defeated three planning appeals against officers’ advice on East Oxford historic sites and buildings. I also successfully opposed an application for a mobile phone mast at the foot of South Park and enabled residents in my ward to challenge the plans for a massive student development that would have closed St Clement’s car park for over a year.
I have really enjoyed working with residents over these issues and others and feel that my time as a councillor has been worthwhile. I do however have family, friends and paid work.
Being a councillor has been more than a full-time job and I really need to get on with the rest of my life again.
I hope my successor will also be able to have the same commitment that I have given over the past six years.
However, it is not healthy for the democratic basis of the city council to be eroded in the way it has been, with all power devolved on to one person and major decisions being taken by “single-member meetings”.
NUALA YOUNG, Former Green Party councillor, St Clement’s
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