Ealing resident Laura Bacon writes of her concern about how an increasing number of Ealing Labour Councillors are blocking on Twitter people who are engaging in debate and expressing their concerns over Ealing Council plans for Warren Farm.
“Over the last few weeks, I’ve been noticing some really concerning behaviours from Ealing Councillors on Twitter. They have been blocking a number of Warren Farm campaigners for either expressing discontent with their plans for de-wilding the land, or for simply engaging in a debate. I wish I could be making this up, but this really has been happening!
“Many of us love Warren Farm, it’s only natural people will be upset and will want to fight to protect this rare urban green space. Whilst I can understand that it would be overwhelming to receive a lot of negative feedback, surely it is part of the job spec of a politician to have to listen to the concerns of their constituents? We have every right under freedom of speech to express our views and be angry at the, quite frankly absurd decisions that have been made in relation to Warren Farm (which includes ignoring expert scientific advice).
“The Council themselves have also been quite provocative in recent weeks, using word play and spin in a way that gaslights those who are trying to protect endangered species at Warren Farm and preserve this tranquil green space for all the mental health benefits associated with nature. They have even gone as far to suggest that Warren Farm campaigners do not care about young people, which of course, is not at all true. We want to protect the planet for the sake of future generations. It should not be a surprise that people will react to such accusations.
“Blocking constituents for expressing their opinions on all this completely undermines principles of democracy and it has made me lose trust in local politics. Does what we say ever really matter, if the Council are going to quite literally block out voices that don’t agree with their own? It’s all so disheartening and surreal, like being stuck in a dystopian dream and I’m struggling to wake up.”
