City MP tweets about 'twisted hate-filled republicans' over racecourse plans
A MESSAGE posted on internet site Twitter by Lincoln MP Karl McCartney has strongly criticised people who oppose plans to bring back horse racing to the West Common.
The comments came after the Echo reported on the Lincoln Commons Advisory Panel's decision to reject plans for the racecourse and recommend the City of Lincoln Council's executive does not grant an initial lease.
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Lincoln MP Karl McCartney.
Talking about the issue, Mr McCartney tweeted: "It says a lot that Labour councillors and anti brigade try to judge everyone's motives by their own standards and twisted hate-filled republican logic."
The note has left residents and the 600 people who signed a petition against a racecourse wondering whether Mr McCartney is listening to them.
Jane Kirman, 48, of Hewson Road, voted Conservative in the General Election. She said: "He should listen to the people who put him into power."
The Echo asked Mr McCartney how he thought people might feel. He said: "I would never insult the 600 people who signed the petition as they have rightly wanted to have their say, but the premise of the information in the petition is incorrect.
"The problem has been the way the proposals have been wrongly portrayed by those who willfully have done so, aided and abetted by certain media.
"Yesterday's story in the Echo started with the line 'plans to bring back racing on Lincoln's West Common'. This is not the case because the plans put forward are about looking at whether it is viable to do so and do not say it should definitely go ahead at all.
"This has been about The Lincoln Racecourse Regeneration Company Ltd and Lincoln Racecourse Trust being allowed to investigate if racing is viable."
The company, of which Mr McCartney is a director, is asking the council for a heads of term lease – a document which effectively leaves the door open.
It is with this lease secured that the company would start to work up a masterplan.
But the Commons Advisory Panel agreed that if the company wanted to create a masterplan, it should go ahead without the lease, which the company wants to demonstrate the authority is interested in the project.
The authority will decide later in the year whether to accept the recommendation.
Mr McCartney later edited his Twitter feed to read: "It says a lot that some Labour councillors and a tiny majority of anti brigade try to judge anyone's motives by their own standards."
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by Jas, Off High Street, Lincoln
Sunday, August 01 2010, 12:31PM
“It will be a sad day for businesses and shops in Lincoln if racing is held on weekends and Bank holidays. With Carholme Road closed and traffic directed to go elsewhere with diversions in place all over in the city centre, this will kill off the city and local trade which relies on those days for shoppers, tourists, and visitors. I understand from Highways at County Hall, Long Leys Road and Yarborough Road will be the relief roads in place, and this is for the western part of Lincoln!
Who will do their shopping in Lincoln where traffic will be gridlocked? Word would get around about the nightmariish situation. Motorists, tourists, visitors will avoid Lincoln like the plague on horse racing days and go elsewhere to spend their cash, say Newark. Not a happy scenario with disaster pending. My family business relies on weekends and bank holidays. With horse racing taking precedence, trade will not increase but diminish due to the effects of horse racing.
I dread what will happen to Lincoln for the sake of the betting industry.”
by anon, lincoln
Sunday, August 01 2010, 10:02AM
“tory boy promoting a middle class sport... how unusual.
Will they pay for the required upgrade in the road infrastructure to cope with the volume of traffic this would cause, or just expect us to absorb it without comment when we can't move around the city on race days saying 'it brings vital money into the local economy'... when the people servicing that economy can't move around the city to go shopping or get to work.
An abhorrent sport supported by the middle classes.”
by John, Lincolnshire
Saturday, July 31 2010, 12:12PM
“The LRRC won't be paying tax for years to come if granted the lease by the Conservative ruling body at City Hall. Once the objective of making a profit is achieved then HMRC will ask them for detail accounts. Any accountant can hide figures and shift amounts of cash from one account to another. Notice that Karen Rastall's profession is an accountant and in the proposals uses figures and examples to substantiate so called credibility. But the intentions are flawed which Lincoln people have noticed.
The MPs twitter and outburst over people who have said no to the project shows how immature he is over the matter. Will not accept a no so has a paddy in using various wording. So far nothing concrete to suggest that horse racing will be viable or sustainable for Lincoln.”
by Skip, Lincoln
Friday, July 30 2010, 9:42PM
“The main issue the article raises is the lack of professionalism of our figurehead. The fact he felt compelled to edit his own Tweet speaks volumes. Gerald Ratner had a more promising future after his famous comments than this 'gentleman'.”
by Steve, Lincoln
Friday, July 30 2010, 8:50PM
“At the moment the commons are for everyone to use and enjoy, so why should that right be taken away and the land given over to the chosen few to enjoy? That's without all the previously stated logistical problems that certain people want to ignore.”