Why am I not surprised? Simply because it's happened before and it will happen again - the decision on the new hospital at Southmead, now work in progress and hopefully soon to be operational, was a classic example of obfuscation and delay. Whether we like it or not, both politicians and planners have a vested interest in keeping issues alive rather than nailing them.
Let me explain what I mean.
Politicians, whether local councillors or MPs, love nothing more than a battle. It makes headlines and keeps them in the public eye. It builds their credentials for the next election. Once the battle's won that's the end of the headlines and they have to look for the next cause. So they have a vested interest in prolonging the fight by picking on every minor issue and using the protest groups as cannon fodder.
Planners also have an interest in delaying decisions. In these difficult times they don't have the money to spend so they will seize every opportunity to delay investment. Every £1 million deferred is £1 million 'saving' this year.
What's really sad is that the well-intentioned actions of protest groups are used as excuses for delay. And inaction of the majority allows politicians and planners to get away with it. Once again the people of Thornbury are left wondering when they will ever benefit from a modern health centre with diagnostic services and a minor injury unit.
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