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Watchdog called into Woodhouse Moor barbecue row
Watchdogs are being urged to investigate the running of a council consultation over plans for a barbecue area on Woodhouse Moor.
Questionnaires were sent to 65 community groups and 10,000 homes around Woodhouse Moor to give people their say over the plan, which has run into strong opposition.
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The council hired a private company to send out the surveys and the consultation exercise, which also included three public meetings, cost 2,467.
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But Liberal Democrat councillors for Headingley and Hyde Park & Woodhouse wards became concerned when they received complaints from residents claiming not to have received the questionnaires.
They have asked the council's city development scrutiny board to look into the effectiveness of the consultation process.
Councillor Martin Hamilton (Lib Dem, Headingley) told the board: "When you have a public meeting of 100 people and the majority put their hands up to indicate they have not had a questionnaire, then alarm bells start ringing."
He said a scrutiny board inquiry could assess if there had been problems and what lessons could be drawn for the future.
But a report prepared by council officials for the board said 10,000
survey forms were sent out and the council received only 23 delivery queries. It said they had all been checked.
Board members asked for more detailed information about the consultation at their next meeting.
Barbecues are not allowed on Woodhouse Moor but so many people have them the council has difficulty in enforcing the bylaw.
A number of community organisations in the area say the barbecues scorch the grass and cause a mess.
The council has proposed setting up a designated barbecue area with small concrete slabs built into the ground.
Extra litter bins and bins capable of taking disposable barbecues and hot coals would be provided.
Consultation started in March and responses are expected by the end of June.
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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