Council gives green light to close ‘vital’ garden centre

KEY DECISION MAKERS ARE ABSENT FROM CABINET MEETING AS PROTESTERS SHOW UP

- By PHILIP JAMES LYNCH

HILLINGDON Council's cabinet has approved plans to close a “vital” garden centre in West London maintained by volunteers with learning difficulties, however two key decision makers were notably absent.

Both the Leader of the Council, Cllr Ian Edwards, and the relevant cabinet member, Cllr Eddie Lavery, chose not to attend the meeting on Thursday, June 26, much to the fury of campaigners who attended en masse.

Despite a public campaign and petition with thousands of signatures to keep the Rural Activities Garden Centre open, both key decision makers failed to attend the crucial meeting where its closure was ultimately approved.

This is the first time this year that Cllr Edwards has not attended a cabinet meeting. Speaking after the closure was rubber-stamped, Danny Beales, MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) it was “disrespectful” for the councillors not to attend.