Parliamentary Candidate responds to 'storm in a teacup' media coverage
February 15, 2010 12:00 AM
Delapre Abbey, founded in 1145
Deputy Leader of Northampton Borough Council and Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Northampton South, Paul Varnsverry, responds to press reports that the Guildhall is stopping tea-drinkers at Delapre Abbey in his article 'Milking a Storm in a Teacup':
The law of unintended consequences. 'Chaos theory'. A butterfly flaps its wings in the Amazonian rain forest and a hurricane hits leafy West Sussex.
Or, a planning officer's slip of the tongue generates a media frenzy.
Delapre Abbey has hit the local, regional and national broadcast and print media with a story that defies belief - and when the facts are explained, it really shouldn't be believed.
The background is that a Northampton Borough Council planning officer was presenting a retrospective application for change of use, to enable the Friends of Delapre Abbey to continue to operate their popular tea room. In a momentary slip of the tongue, prompted by a question from a member of the planning committee, the officer stated the tea rooms would not be permitted to use the historic walled garden as an outdoor seating area for the tea room, as "We want to keep the walled garden as a peaceful space, and it was being disturbed by tea drinking."
Such a remark is like gold dust to the media. They love a story which can be sold as "local authorities puts community-spirited individual/group under the cosh". Of all the media to be offered the story, however, only a national radio station has bothered to check its sources - and decide not to broadcast.
This is because, as is often the case, the reality is rather more bland than the scream of the headlines.
This was a simple application for change of use. It was so uncontentious that not one representative of the applicant - the Friends of Delapre Abbey - had registered to speak. The Ward Councillor, Brendan Glynane, was the only speaker, and voiced his support for the tea room.
The application was approved by a unanimous vote of the cross-party planning committee.
As I have stated on numerous occasions, the Friends' tea room has been one of the best things to happen at Delapre Abbey. It has opened up the joys of the Abbey and parklands to a whole new clientele. Both new and regular visitors can walk the extensive grounds, enjoying the tranquillity and knowing they can conclude their visit with a hot beverage and freshly-prepared fare served by a band of enthusiastic volunteers who share a common love of the building and grounds. Along with a number of my colleagues, I have regularly visited the tea rooms. Patrons derive additional satisfaction from the experience, in the belief that they are supporting a community charity that is committed to the preservation and restoration of Delapre Abbey.
Sadly, an off-the-cuff remark by a planning officer has been seized upon by opposition politicians to poke fun at the council - the very council a number of them are also elected to, let us not forget. Blogs are being written, interviews are being given to national radio stations, the facts are being conveniently avoided; all in a bid to make political capital. Why, anyone would think there was an election looming!
That so many commentators can be so knowledgeable about what happened in last Tuesday's planning committee, when less than a handful of them were present, gives a very good indication of why the public feels it has good cause to challenge the integrity of politicians. "You couldn't make it up!" In this case, they have.
And all the time the worthy tea rooms are becoming mired by the fall-out.
The Delapre Abbey tea room saga is a prime example of the truth not being permitted to stand in the way of a good story.
A storm in a teacup; being milked for all it is worth.
ENDS
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