Council’s conflict of interest

The drawing of the proposed Warwick Racecourse Hotel (Courier August 12) failed to give an accurate perspective of the site. For example, the existing buildings on the corner of Hampton Road and Crompton Street, which would be opposite the proposed hotel and be seriously affected by it, are not shown on the drawing.

Apart from the issue of suitability, or need, for such a hotel on that site and bearing in mind the status of Common Land of the racecourse, there remains the big question of the conflict of interest of Warwick District Council in the matter. It is both planning authority and also landlord of the planning applicant’s business. Already there have been some eyebrows raised over the modest rent paid by the applicant’s company to the council, especially in view of the current national monetary crisis affecting local authorities’ budgets.

In the current climate of legitimate public scepticism about the transparency of our public authorities, it surely behoves Warwick District Council to place its responsibility to the town beyond the possibility of reproach either in the short-term, or later (say in circumstances when the applicant wished to sell the hotel on at considerable profit)? - Ruth I Johns, Castle Close, Warwick.