The Mayor of Pocklington Cllr Steve McCann has today written to the leader of ERYC to express his disappointment that the local community has not been invited to be part of the decision making process about the future of Burnby Hall.

Furthermore, it has come to light that the ERYC valuation and estates manager has met with the Burnby Hall Gardens Trust to discuss relaxing covenants and deeds relating to the building should it be put up for sale. The council is also considering demolishing the community hall to facilitate car parking.

The mayor says that PTC are adamant that ERYC should not engage in any further dialogue or meetings before meeting with the Town council and local interested parties.

In a recent exchange of e mails with Cllr Leo Hammond stated:

“To be completely honest I am not aware of a single business who has come forward either as part of putting the Hall on the market, or as part of the conversations with ward or town councillors”.

It sounds to me as if Cllr Hammond has already given up on retaining the hall as a community asset. Our three existing Pocklington provincial ward councillors have said nothing.