Cllr David Drury Monk’s Lie About Otterpool Park.
On the 22nd June 2016, The Looker published an interview with Cllr David Drury Monk where he is quoted as saying about Otterpool Park :
‘I am really excited by this proposal [Garden Village where up to 12,000 homes could be built], but there are some who think there has been a smokescreen around this. We bought Otterpool Manor Farm before Christmas (2015) as a strategic purchase. We had no plans for the site other than a tenanted farming operation to earn some income, but we had to take advantage of the Government’s offer to help with future development.’ This was a lie, by Cllr Monk and emails (as downloadable pdf’s) below prove this beyond all reasonable doubt.
We at the Shepwayvox Team have never believed that there was no intention to develop the site. In fact SDC Corporate Director’s for Strategic Operations Susan Priest (pictured) expenses told another story; which supported our thinking that there always was a plan to develop the site at Otterpool.
Well now we can can confirm that development of the site was on their minds four days before they even bid for the land in November 2015.
Andy Jarrett, (pictured) Head of Strategic Development Projects at SDC was in communications with Savills about the purchase of the land at Otterpool Park asking them how much it would cost to purchase the land. He was informed that £3.5 million would not be enough and that an offer with the number 4 may well do the trick. Admittedly Andy did manage to bring the price to be paid to Savills down from 1.5% to 1.25%, so saving the tax payer some money. So what do these communications show. Well you can read them below as we have added them as pdf’s (at the end of the post) which were all gained by our public face via Environmental Information Requests.
The area discussed was Otterpool, that is clear from the email chain and the request was all about Otterpool. So there you have it Cllr David Drury Monk’s assertion that “We bought Otterpool Manor Farm before Christmas (2015) as a strategic purchase. We had no plans for the site other than a tenanted farming operation to earn some income,” was a lie. Or is he saying the all SDC officers kept this information from him, even though he attended meetings where Andy Jarrett was present and discussed the ongoing purchase of the Otterpool Land.
Cllr David Dury Monk (pictured) will stand in the forthcoming KCC elections on May 4th 2017. This is a man who has clearly told a lie regarding Otterpool Park. This is a man who has compromised his intergrity and honesty. Cllr Monk is a man who breaches confidences so we have been informed. Is this the kind of man the electorate wish to be their representative at KCC? Only you can decide that come polling day, if you live in the Folkestone West Division.
The officers of Shepway District Council remember follow his instructions, so we lay no blame on them whatsoever. For they must follow the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet’s instructions.
Here are the emails
Environmental Information Request Emails (2)
Environmental Information Request Emails (3)
Shepwayvox Team
This worries me Monk has a lot to do with Hawkinge council he certainly wont get my vote
did the local MP not give them the info to buy for building
We all knew this had happened, but now you’ve proved it, so hats off to the Shepwayvox Team. It does make me wonder what else the failed double glazing sales man is embellshing.
I am wondering something.. Maybe I’m wrong but…..
Where is Alistair Stewart in all this ?
Surely the correct procedure should be where Jarrett tells Stewart who then talks with Monk?
Or is it normal to bypass the Chief Executive?
If this is the ‘norm’ then why have a Chief Executive?
So you are saying David Monk lied to Council ( Thereby us ) when he declared that this land had been bought for “Agricultural purposes” although Susan Priest says otherwise.
We all knew that Monk was being “Economical with the truth” when he gave his statement as leaving the money on deposit was preferable.
Why do we have this man still on Council, let alone as Leader, when he has been proven so many times to have lied to his electorate, and it should be said, those who did not vote for him.
KCC elections are looming and David Monk is standing, consider the history before making your choice!
“When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.’
’The question is,’ said Alice, ‘whether you can make words mean so many different things.’
’The question is,’ said Humpty Dumpty, ‘which is to be master — that’s all.”