Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, has labelled an attempt to collate a bogus housing petition in Cheslyn Hay an ‘absolute disgrace’.
Gavin contacted the police, this week, after a series of residents raised concerns with him about a man they said was urging people to sign a fraudulent petition outside of Cheslyn Hay Sports & Community High School.
They stated that the petition, which the man claimed was in support of extra car parking at the school, was in fact calling for more housing to be built in the area.
A number of residents, it was claimed, signed the petition after being given false information about the true subject matter.
Gavin is urging everyone in the area to be extra vigilant and to ensure that they read any petitions extremely carefully before signing.
The fraudulent petition follows the recent submission by Gavin of an official petition protesting the proposed development of 141 homes on greenbelt land at Landywood Lane, between Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay. A total of 4,281 South Staffordshire residents signed the document.
The planning application was thrown out by South Staffordshire District Council, late last year. However, there is still a risk that the Planning Inspectorate could overturn the decision.
On the fraudulent petition, Gavin said: “This is an absolute disgrace. Petitions exist to represent people’s views and portray the weight of public opinion on important local issues. To fraudulently obtain signatures in this way is a disgusting abuse of our democratic system.
“I have contacted the police about this matter and I am sure they will do all they can to catch this criminal. In the meantime, I urge everyone to remain extra vigilant and to read extremely carefully any petition that they are asked to sign.”