Solar Pyramid U-Turn for Poole Conservative Council

1.00.00pm GMT Fri 1st Feb 2008

A concerted campaign of opposition led by Cllr. Philip Eades, Lib Dem deputy group leader, has forced the Council's Tory Cabinet into a public u-turn over plans to build a 54m high sundial on public open space at Baiter.

Phil explains, "The original decision to spend up to £40,000 of public money investigating this scheme was taken behind closed doors. This would have been a waste of tax-payers money, which has been avoided by Liberal Democrat action. As more and more information leaked into the public domain the Tories held further secret meetings and eventually decided to kill the scheme.

"Poole's Liberal Democrats support both tourism and local businesses but this proposal would have desecrated public open space at Baiter and the beautiful natural views of the Harbour, Brownsea, Sandbanks and the Purbecks. The Tories have already abused public open spaces with the new restaurant in Poole Park and the portakabins at Whitecliff. What part of 'public open space' do the Conservatives find so difficult to understand?"

Leela Widger, Poole's Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesman, says "Poole's great attractions are its harbour, beaches and recreational areas. We do want to see business flourish and we can only do that if we protect those valuable amenities."