At last week’s Harrow Borough Council meeting, I asked Councillor Keith Ferry, Labour’s portfolio holder for planning and development, if he would consider all the evidence on the impact of the Anmer Lodge development, including the views of local residents, before he gives final approval to the plans.

His answer, given twice, was no.

For Cllr Ferry to be so dismissive of both myself and more importantly of the very real views of concerned local residents is, quite frankly, a dereliction of duty.

He doesn’t live in or represent Stanmore, which in many ways means it’s even more important he listens to those who do.

When the planning committee gave initial approval to the development, it did so based on what I believe to be a flawed traffic study.

Stanmore Hill and other roads are already heavily congested, yet the study significantly underestimates the impact of even more traffic on these roads.

Everyone I have spoken to who lives in the roads surrounding and leading up to Anmer Lodge is worried about the increased traffic, but Cllr Ferry refuses to take another look at the study.

What we can glean from this is therefore quite straightforward; if you don’t live in a Labour ward they don’t appear to care what you think, however profoundly their decisions may affect you.

Labour talk a lot about consultation, but Cllr Ferry’s contempt for the people of Stanmore shows Labour don’t listen when they don’t like the answer.

Cllr Marilyn Ashton

Con/Stanmore Park ward

Harrow Borough Council