Statement on this week’s decision in relation to the future of land adjacent to Newark Library on London Road

“The decision taken this week at Full Council was never going to be easy and we took no pleasure from it at all but as Councillors we are voted in to make difficult decisions. 

“We care passionately about our district and serving our residents but this was a no-win situation.  The only alternative option available to us would have been to lose £650,000 of Council tax payers’ money. We can’t undo history and we can’t change the decision we were faced with. 

“We are absolutely committed to making the district cleaner, safer and greener but quite rightly, we have to balance that against our financial responsibility to the council tax payers.  £650,000 will go a long way to delivering our green agenda. We will continue to plant trees.  We will continue with our commitment to be carbon neutral by 2035.  We will continue to battle against our climate emergency.  But on this one issue, we would have lost no matter the decision made.”

Full details of the report provided to Councillors, outlining the options available to them, is available on the District Council website. The London Road report starts on page 22.