Campaigners trying to save the Sobell Centre’s ice rink

• THE council’s decision to axe the Sobell ice rink despite strong arguments for its retention, including those expressed by Dr Keith Edwards and Barry Hill (The ice rink consultation has been a sham and The future of the Sobell centre matters, July 28), remains open to question.

Local government invariably involves controversial decisions, and firm evidence or public trust are necessary for a council both to deliver such decisions and be returned to office.

In this case a paucity of support data and disregard of viable solutions have put trust firmly in the hot seat.

What if the telltale “make them think we’re listening” email exchange (Ice rink campaigners’ anger at email leak, July 7) is the main takeaway from this affair?

If so, the suggestion of a dysfunctional, untrustworthy, culture will tarnish all future consultations and the public could be forgiven for making the connection between Labour’s dominance of the council and Lord Acton’s 1887 maxim, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. That’s not a good look for a purportedly listening party and manna from heaven for the opposition.

In order to banish suspicion of skulduggery and bolster public trust, the council must open its books and get round the table with all concerned in a full and frank forum to justify its decision, or risk being labelled as the gang who put the con into consultation.

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