Petition sends message
THE clear message from five of Horsham's councillors to our community at Monday night's council meeting was, no matter what the community says, it's full steam ahead on the Transforming Horsham plans.
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A petition called on Horsham council: "To suspend all Transforming Horsham plans, effective immediately, until an acceptable level of community engagement, inclusion and transparency of processes in these and future plans by the council, has been resolved."
This somehow turned into councillors doing yet another sales pitch on the draft City to River concept, and councillor comments attacking both the integrity of the petition organisers and some businesses.
If parallel parking and any parking reductions were introduced as per the "possible suggestions" in the draft transport plan, then many businesses see this as a threat to their survival. At the meeting with the CBD businesses the information presented was read from draft plans that have been presented to the community for comment by Horsham council.
This petition wasn't only about the possibility of parallel parking; but it appears some businesses felt so threatened that they made a point of it. I believe that is their democratic choice.
However, to ignore such a powerful message from more than 2000 community members, by attacking the credibility of the petition and the organisers, showed lack of respect for community members our Councillors were elected to represent, and also for those who read the petition and signed it for other reasons.
It's a Town Hall replay, because the process of "telling" the community, instead of "genuine consultation" is being used.
Di Bell, president, Horsham Rural Ratepayers and Residents Association
A Christmas poem
Once again the streets are buzzing, bringing in the cheer; Lights and trees and carols heralding Christmas is near.
Once again the panic starts, oh we have to spend; Can't cut back it isn't right, that's not the Christmas trend!
And once again there's people, maybe not you and me; But they're alone this Christmas, they have nowhere else to be.
No special gift to open, no meal upon their table; Some will be bedridden, cannot get up coz they're unable.
And some will be so lonely, there's an empty chair; They will try to make it happy, but someone will not be there.
So those of us who can, show others that we care; Include them in somehow, sometime or somewhere.
A simple smile, or some food or maybe a listening ear; Understanding, that for some, it's been a trying year.
What would Jesus do? How would Jesus show?; The Word of God simply says, to love, to share and go
Go and show to others the beauty of their worth; Shown to us from God, when Jesus came to earth.
And when Christmas is over, and all is packed away; The wonder of this is....Jesus is not just for a day.
He longs to share your moments, the good as well as bad; The days, the weeks, the months the years; The happy and the sad.
Love came down at Christmas and it never went away; He's King of Kings and Lord of Lords...And the reason for this day.
Shirl Hair, Horsham