William Hunter Way: It's All Over

Statement: Lib Dem Leader Cllr Barry Aspinell

"It is with relief that we hear that the nightmare for our town centre residents is over. After wasting thousands of pounds in council tax payer's money chasing after a development that was not right for Brentwood and woefully outdated, extending contracts on spurious datelines and not listening to the majority of residents the Conservative Leader of Brentwood Council has finally seen sense and abandoned this awful development.

Last moment decision

"It seems that, at the very last moment, Cllr Louise McKinlay decided to acknowledge the facts that had been outlined to her time and time again by opposition councillors when the officers saw exactly what we saw - a hefty legal case that would have cost residents dear as she ignored an approach from another developer who had a much better plan for Brentwood.

Cllr McKinlay must now resign as council leader

"With nowhere else to go, she had to finally declare the whole thing dead. Clearly, the only appropriate action for her to take now is to apologise to the residents of Brentwood for the years of stagnation and worry by resigning as leader immediately.

A change is needed in Brentwood

"As Leader of the Opposition I hope the residents of Brentwood will now finally see just how bad the Tories are for Brentwood over this eight year debacle. The way forward, and I say this with the fact that only three seats need to be taken from the Tories for them to lose their majority, is an open and honest debate with residents over what they want for their town with my assurance that they will be listened to this time and any decision will be in their best interests."