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Hands off our poster, say green belt campaigners

2:10pm Tuesday 16th March 2010 in


GREEN belt campaigners have distanced themselves from Castle Point MP Bob Spink’s new Independent Save Our Green Belt party.

Members of both Thundersley-based Hands Off Our Greenbelt and the Canvey Green Belt Campaign have been quick to stress they are non-political organisations.

Hands Off campaigners persuaded Castle Point Council to scrap plans to allow as many as 750 homes on land north of Daws Heath Road, Thundersley.

Now Dr Spink is using his own Save Our Green Belt posters to publicise his new party, featuring a background and stop-sign logo similar to the one used by the lobby group. The posters also use the words “Hands off Our Green Belt”.

Graham Bracci, from the Canvey campaign, which is fighting proposals to build 400 homes behind the Dutch Village, said: “As a group, we are not political. Obviously, Bob Spink thinks there are votes to be had in the issue.”

Paul Saunders, one of Hands Off Our Greenbelt’s founders, had a similar message. He said: “We want to make it clear we are not a political party and we are not siding with anyone.

“Dr Spink approached us a while ago and asked if he could use the slogan.

“We agreed on the grounds we would let the Conservatives or Labour use them as well, as long as they supported our stance.”

Mr Saunders, 56, of Daws Heath Road, Thundersley, said two members of his committee had been approached a couple of months ago by a mysterious third party who asked them if they would consider standing in the borough council election in May.

Dr Spink’s new party will field candidates in all eight of the borough council’s mainland wards in the forthcoming borough election.

There has been speculation the Dr Spink’s Independents might form an alliance with Canvey Island Independent Party councillors if they are elected in May.

Canvey Green Belt Campaign’s Mr Bracci, 60, of Holland Avenue, Canvey, said: “Speaking as a Canvey resident, I think this is the only chance to restore some balance to the council.”

Dr Spink, a former Conservative and UKIP MP, has been representing Castle Point as an independent since November 2008, having quit the Tories eight months earlier.

He was first elected as the borough’s Conservative MP in 1992. He lost his seat in 1997, but won it back in 2001, again for the Tories.

Comments(14)

westcliff willi says...
2:50pm Tue 16 Mar 10

The moral of this story is READ YOUR VOTING CARD CAREFULLY OR YOU MIGHT VOYE FOR SPINK BY ACCIDENT, and you wouldn't want that.

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Sim0n says...
2:58pm Tue 16 Mar 10

It must be made CLEAR , that the Hands Off Our Green Belt Action Group are Non Political, Our objectives have been the same from the start, we have sort assistance from all areas in our cause, from all Parties across the Borough and must remain neutral .
The Public must not be mistaken in believing we are affiliated with a Political party as this is mis-leading the public who have supported us in our actions.

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Oricle says...
3:08pm Tue 16 Mar 10

A blatant attempt by Dr Bob Spink and his new Party to hi-jack an important topic for the whole of the Borough and almost clone a recognised Symbol and poster of a greenbelt group.
These are tactics of a desperate man, a despicable act of Identity theft and deception (like his expense forms Probably )

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Sim0n says...
3:26pm Tue 16 Mar 10

If you want to support the Green belt issues of Castle Point then visit .

www.handsoffourgreen
belt.co.uk (www.HOOGB.co.uk ) and

www.canveygb.co.uk .

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lifelongislander says...
3:34pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Any Independent has got to be worth voting for - get rid of the arrogant lot at Kiln Road and have some true democracy in the Borough.

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John T Pharro says...
4:36pm Tue 16 Mar 10

lifelongislander wrote:
Any Independent has got to be worth voting for - get rid of the arrogant lot at Kiln Road and have some true democracy in the Borough.
Could not agree more.
Too many of one party, especially when they follow the whip, never is good for democracy.
Having said that wish we could have our own Council on Canvey. Canvey was fine until we were forced into Castle Point.
You only have to see the zero support we had from the mainland Councillors with the paddling pool.

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lifelongislander says...
4:57pm Tue 16 Mar 10

The Council at Befleet are also in the process of installing an Adizone (adult swing park) at Kismet Park on Canvey. Brilliant except they have not told any of the residents who live round the park who will have to suffer the louts and drunks using it late at night. But moreover - they did not have the courtesy to inform the Town Council who until last night were completely unaware of its location (they had been told it was going to be sited at Waterside) . There will of course be an unveiling by Lady Bountiful Pam Challis of something which although very nice would probably be better sited somewhere else - by the Bumblebee perhaps!

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lifelongislander says...
4:59pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Of course just because one votes for an Independent Councillor doesnt mean one has to vote for an Independent MP although compared to "one argument tory" and "silent labour" the Independent does seem the best option.

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Sim0n says...
5:34pm Tue 16 Mar 10

The Issue of the Paddling Pool is down to Council Officers, I was there when it was brought up in the Council Chamber, questions should be asked as to where these figures the Officer spoke of for repair and for continual up keep came from.
Why was it s so expensive ?
There should be public consultations over these type of issues its OUR Council and our say should be heard, why was this matter not brought up at the Canvey Neighbourhood meetings?

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woodsman says...
6:06pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Just remeber Spink has stood for 4 different groups. He is not independent he stands for his own agenda which is to get elected regardless so he can keep claiming his salary and expenses and think he represents the locals. He does not he has never attended any greenbelt campaign and has hijacked the logo to make it look like he is supporting the campaigns

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Cambrensis says...
9:18pm Tue 16 Mar 10

If the Canvey Island Independent Party has not struck a secret deal with Spink, why has he not put up candidates on Canvey. The eight seats this year will not give him power, only if he has a secret handshake deal with Dave Blackwell. Dave has already half admitted this in the Echo report last week. Come on you people, you are being hoodwinked by the two kings of spin. The people of Canvey have been sold out.

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Colleen G says...
7:28am Wed 17 Mar 10

Toffee nosed ponce jumping on any eco bandwagon to try and raise his profile, or even justify his exorbitant pay and expenses. Out of touch with reality:

Voted very strongly against the hunting ban

Voted moderately against anti-terrorism laws

Voted moderately against introducing ID cards

Reduction in abortion time limit amendment - 20.5.2008
Amendment to reduce the upper limit for abortions from 24 week to 22 weeks. (could not be bothered to vote)

In fact it does not appear he has done anything for us apart from hide at the back of class hoping no one notices him..... must be getting desperate now to want so much attention.

Healthy expenses claim for 08/09 of £146,568

Aint his life grand.

We need politicians with b a l l s, not a limp wrist whilst holding their hands out!

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shortybells says...
10:02am Wed 17 Mar 10

Colleen you are so right. What does Spink do? When you analyse it very little.

Lots of self promotion, pointless questions in the house, EDMs that are meaningless but cost the tax payer money and a lot more self promotion.

Complete waste of time and space.

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upset says...
11:47am Wed 17 Mar 10

John T Pharro wrote:
lifelongislander wrote:
Any Independent has got to be worth voting for - get rid of the arrogant lot at Kiln Road and have some true democracy in the Borough.
Could not agree more.
Too many of one party, especially when they follow the whip, never is good for democracy.
Having said that wish we could have our own Council on Canvey. Canvey was fine until we were forced into Castle Point.
You only have to see the zero support we had from the mainland Councillors with the paddling pool.
Freedom of speech and a free press is something to behold. The only problem is (especially on a website) if you ask people to comment about something you will get differing responses, some of which will be against either the story teller or the contents of the story. These two participants have made unfounded and unproven comments they remain available for all to see, why then are mine and others against the Independent view point routinely removed?

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