THE CONCRETE COWBOY OF KREMLIN KERNOW This post originates from the curious case of the ''extensive'' Cornwall Council "housing surveys that never were". Back in 2015, Cornwall Council’s planning chief announced at a packed public meeting about housing growth, broadcast by Radio Cornwall, that massive new housing projects were (are) attracting virtually no in-migrants. Instead, with a straight face, he stated that 80% of all new houses being built are actually being bought by current residents of Cornwall, according to ''extensive surveys'' conducted by Cornwall Council. It’s fair to say, given that most of the proposed new housing was deemed unaffordable to most local buyers, that this was met with some marked degree of scepticism and not a little derision from those present. Subsequently, and following a recent FOI request, it turns out that no surveys (extensive or otherwise) by Cornwall Council supporting this claim actually exist. However, this blatant untruth has been enthusiastically seized upon and regularly peddled by self styled ''Concrete Cowboy'' Councillor Timothy Dwelly who was elected to Cornwall Council as member for Penzance East on a Labour ticket, but following a recent spat with Labour has since become "Independent". (www.change.org/p/cornwall-council-phil-mason-council-s-chief-planning-officer-has-failed-cornwall-and-must-resign/u/22397780) Councillor Dwelly has on numerous occasions, used what has been proven to be false information, to debunk and belittle various critics who have challenged him. This correspondence has been fully documented. Councillor Dwelly's concrete obsession mirrors that of Councillor Bob "the builder'' Egerton, currently portfolio holder for housing and development. Councillor Egerton (who has been featured in a previous post) is directly under the control of the strategic Director Economic Growth and Development, Mr John Betty, whom some CC members have been heard to describe as a bully. Mr Betty's meteoric rise to prominence at Cornwall Council raises several questions that Cornwall Council will not answer. FOUR QUESTIONS TO CORNWALL COUNCIL: 1- Why does Councillor Dwelly continue to peddle a blatant untruth relating to his use of the proven non existent ''extensive surveys'' to debunk and mislead critics with false claims to protect his own position? 2- How can Mr Betty appear to serve two masters as MD of his own business as well as a highly paid (reported salary circa £145k) Senior Officer of Cornwall Council? (www.change.org/p/cornwall-council-phil-mason-council-s-chief-planning-officer-has-failed-cornwall-and-must-resign/u/22379027) 3- Surely this highly unconventional situation is wide open to potential conflicts of interest as an ostensibly employed civil servant with obvious outside business interests? 4- Could this be seen by any reasonable person as moonlighting? Cornwall Council have thus far declined to comment despite several requests to do so. We repeat, if we cannot trust those we employ to serve us there is no hope! Do YOU think it is time for some accountability and real transparency rather that the current climate of opacity from Cornwall Council? Have you signed our petition expressing a vote of no confidence in Cornwall Council yet ? If you agree with Cornish Solidarity and wish to do so please follow the link below. THANK YOU FOR YOUR MOST VALUED SUPPORT. One campaigner adds: "In fact, Mason claimed 100% of housing went to locals back in 2015. Even Dwelly must have thought this was stretching credibility a bit too far, and plumped for "around 80%". Yet having had all his claims demolished, he is still unrepentant, preferring instead to ignore facts that undermine his preferred hyper-developer agenda. Indeed, Mr. Dwelly is on record as having stated that the Local Plan figures were "too low". Another enemy of truth and beauty....." Whilst another says about Phil Mason: “Phil Mason is arrogant and machiavellian and a liar. He has spent his entire career working for Cornwall Council in one guise of another and has no experience of other places. He has managed to get into his position by stabbing colleagues in the back and surrounding himself by yes men. In most places he would get found out for not being as capable as he claims to be. But in Cornwall he can get away with it. He is little more than an egotistical con man.” Have you also signed this: www.change.org/p/cornwall-council-we-the-undersigned-wish-to-express-a-vote-of-no-confidence-in-cornwall-council?