When I became a custodian of Fenton Town Hall, I was delighted that a community was finally finding the courage to make a stand against corruptness within our society and last night I attended the Friends of Fenton Town Hall meeting, but was surprised to only see the 30+ custodians present. Where were the people of Fenton? Speaking to someone afterwards, they said: It’s a lost cause. But how can something of importance be a lost cause? When if achieved, would benefit the community greatly. What is a lost cause it seems, is trying to invigorate the people within that community to stand up and fight for what is rightfully theirs. We use apathy as an excuse. When the real problem is the people themselves? What came out of the meeting was the sheer feeling of regret. Regret that we’d done the right thing and trusted the MoJ to work openly and with integrity with Urban Vision and the people of Fenton, only to be slapped in the face. vis unita fortior What was clear from the meeting was the sheer lack of respect the MoJ – government have for the people of Fenton and Urban Vision. I could understand there distrust in Stoke-on-Trent City Council, because we certainly have no faith in them. But they’re prepared to offer the building to the council and only for a pepper-corn rent. How does that work? However, the council aren’t prepared to take it on and with the MoJ wanting value for money they’re going to continue with the sale of the building at any cost and to anyone. Urban Vision is reluctant to take on the building, because of the £54,000 yearly upkeep quoted by the MoJ. The fear of obtaining a criminal record is always in the foremost of anyone’s mind when they make a stand, but was it in the foremost of the minds of those committing criminal acts in the first place? The Government came into the possession of the building through ‘Acts of Parliament’ and therefore, obtaining freely a building previously in the possession of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, who occupied the building at the beginning of the 1900’s. The council lost the title deeds during this time and because of this, true ownership of the building isn’t quite clear. So was the building built by William Meath Baker at the end of the 19th century which established the town of Fenton developed for the people of Fenton? Onward and Upward
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 04:16:15 +0000
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