National Trust faces AGM vote of no confidence from furious members

The National Trust’s plans to build a commuter village of 223 houses on green space on their Erddig estate near Wrecsam have been under attack from local residents for almost two years, and the Trust now faces a members’ revolt in their Annual General Meeting at the Arena and Convention Centre in Liverpool this Saturday (01/11/08). Two proposals have been made by activist members: the first calls for the development plans to be scrapped, and the second calls for those responsible for them to be removed from the Trust.

Rhostyllen.com campaigner and Wrecsam county councillor Carrie Harper said “The support we’ve had from National Trust members over the last two years has been amazing, especially since the motions for the AGM have been published. Thousands of them have been in touch. We have been surprised by how much resentment members feel at the behaviour of the Trust. We believe that the AGM will show the real voice of the National Trust by voting against the proposed Erddig development. The people of Rhostyllen voted overwhelmingly against this development in a local referendum, but the Trust has completely ignored their concerns while claiming hypocritically to be sensitive to local opinions.”

Amanda Richards, chairperson of the Rhostyllen Residents Committee, said “Last week the Trust issued a statement to say that they will be focusing on saving open green spaces, yet they want to concrete over the one in Rhostyllen. This is unacceptable hypocrisy. People have been asking us just who within the Trust is responsible for this development, and we have requested this information from the Trust repeatedly – but they refuse to give it to us.”

“Our community needs protection from the National Trust. Because of these resolutions, 3.5 million Trust members are now aware of what is being done in their name. The situation at Erddig is the tip of the iceberg – we are in touch with hundreds of individuals and many other communities and organisations who have been and are under attack from the Trust’s profiteering, bullying and oppressive behaviour.”

“We believe that the general membership of the Trust are decent people who care about the environment and local communities and will not let this continue. The small group responsible for this unethical behaviour on the part of the Trust will find themselves accountable.”

Aran Jones, Chief Executive of community pressure group Cymuned, said “We have been supporting local people from the beginning in their fight against the National Trust. The development is unsustainable and completely unethical. The Trust have some real soul searching to do if they are to lead their organisation into the 21st century as the ethical body we all used to trust and respect. They need to stop riding roughshod over local communities if they want the accusations of double standards and hypocrisy to stop.”

Campaigners from across North Wales will be protesting outside the AGM at the Liverpool Arena tomorrow from 9.15 am.