Truth is sought (From Penarth Times)

Truth is sought

I WOULD like to take the opportunity to reply to the story by Sue Vincent-Jones on the Sully hospital, 'Battle goes on'.

Cllr Anthony Ernest made allegations about certain local Labour party members being in favour of Sully Hospital being used as a refuge for asylum seekers.

This is totally wrong as there has been no-one working harder than John Smith, our Labour MP, Jane Hutt, our Assembly Member and Rhodri Morgan, the First Minister of the Welsh Assembly.

The point being made is that the Home Office officials were given permission to inspect Sully Hospital. This is correct as the hospital authority advertised the vacant Sully hospital throughout Britain.

The auditor would require substantial reasons (not political) as to why permission was not given for an inspection of the hospital, for he would be seeking the best financial return for the property.

That is not making an agreement with the Home Office to turn Sully Hospital into a refuge for asylum seekers.

It is a different story behind the scenes. Cllr A Ernest himself stated at the Sully Community Council meeting that he and the other Vale of Glamorgan councillors had met with Home Office officials to discuss Sully Hospital's future.

Cllr Ernest states that he cannot divulge any information from this meeting.

Who is really trying to achieve a viable alternative to an asylum refuge for Sully Hospital? It is the Labour party members with help from others, such as Sully Community Council.

The Sully Community Council was the only local authority to hold public meetings on the question of Sully Hospital being an asylum refuge.

So Cllr Ernest, get off your pre-election platform, tell the public the truth and not only part of the truth.

Give us the information of your clandestine meeting with the Home Office officials.

Raymond Cox Ex-Vale of Glamorgan County Councillor for Sully and Lavernock Clevedon Avenue