Why are the owners of the Holiday Inn in Cromwell Road using a little known and poorly regarded lobbying company to beat locals into submission?
Former cigarette salesman, Sir Pooter Cockell, the disastrous ex-leader of the Council is the clue.
Pooter managed to garner so many sinecures that his income shot up to nearly £140,000 a year.
He also became the subject of massive national media interest for his gigantic expense claims.
Anyway, the gravy train finally hit the buffers and Pooter was left without the wherewithal to further indulge himself at our expense.
Then he found a berth at Cratus.....who now are working to crush resident opposition to the Holiday Inn development.
Beguiled by Pooter’s stories of his powerful contacts the owners made him chairman and a shareholder.
So why would the Chinese developers appoint Pooter?
The Dame, dressed as an elderly tea lady, was able to attend the presentation pitch to Queensgate Investments and here’s the inside track....
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| GREEDY POOTER |
“ Mr Yeung, my name is Sir Merrick Cockell and I stand between your success and failure.
Appoint my company and you acquire influence of such potency that residents’ objections will be steamrollered and your Hong Kong family will reap the hundred of millions they so richly deserve.
I am proud to say that the current leadership of the Council are all ‘creatures’ of mine-except Cllr Taylor-Smith who is much brighter and richer than me.
Under my patronage and influence each one has prospered.
The leader, Cllr Campbell, owes all to me.
Cllr Pascal, who is particularly hopeless is now a member of the Executive Team.
Thanks to me Will and his wife collect £90k a year!
Cllr Hargreaves, too, owes his preferment to me.
When Cllr Weale lost her job she came to me for a shoulder to cry on and a juicy allowance.
As for the senior planning officers....no names; no pack drill but I think I can claim that some credit for Mr. Stallwood’s promotion.
So, no one knows the inner workings of this Council better than me.
Our fees of half a million, plus a success 'kicker' may seem expensive but are mere bagatelle compared to what we can offer.
I rest my case.....”
If the Dame is telling the truth it is quite wrong for Cockell to be involved in a scheme so hated by the residents he pretended to serve.
ReplyDeleteIt's not illegal so your opinion remains as just an opinion, isn't it?
DeleteAs for the connection between 'Sir' & HK developers, if the developers were German or Russian, it means nothing to 'Sir' Pooter. The development is a means to an end....to enlarge his pocket.
That makes a lot of sense about why the scale of the scheme became so grossly inflated once BP and then Cratus took over. Greed is good for HK apparently.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Pooter considered 5,000 flyers going out all over Kensington... he is facing not only the residents but the PR company behind the objection strategy, who have already raised awareness on a massive scale. After the press picks up on the campaign he won't stand a chance to prevent the rejection of the application. The people will be heard!
ReplyDeleteAnd don't forget the garden is protected under the London Squares Preservation Act.
ReplyDeleteIt is a dreadful development. They will make a huge amount of money if it goes through. Therefore they will hire expensive lobbyists to overcome objections. It is a shame that a person who once represented the residents of Kensington and Chelsea is prepared to turn against them in order to make some money. Sticks in the craw.
ReplyDeleteBut can one expect more from a failed fag salesman?
You should know, the Mantra is... 'Anything for money.'
DeleteI can't for the life of me understand this hatred of a bit of development. I know the Yeung family from my days in HK....charming people and I am happy that they will boost their huge fortune. Yes, for several years we will all have to put up with noise, dirt and a blight on our homes but we need to keep on the right side of the Chinese and not annoy them. I like to keep the developers up to speed with local opinion.
ReplyDeleteWhat a vile little reptile Pooter is
ReplyDeleteDear Dame,
DeleteWill you draw a forked tongue coming out of Mr Pooter's mouth next time you post his photograph?
Pooter always had lofty ambitions fueled by fantasy and greed. Today, Apple is worth $1 trillion. Pooter's company, Cractus, has a way to go, but every little handout K&C helps him on his way. If he can turn on his ex residents to make a $, of course he will grab the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteDisgraced ex Leader Cllr Cockell learnt a trick or two from his close friend, disgraced ex Labour Cllr Cunningham.
DeletePioneer Keith left the Council and set up his Planning Consultancy to advise millionaires how to get approval for basement applications from Hornton Sreet. Keith charged £10k a throw for advice and a mandate to talk to his ex mates in the Town Hall. Nice little earner for the holiday fund.
What will the disgraced Emma Dent Coad MP do when she is shown the door at the next General Election?
ReplyDeleteWhat a pointless question. So Tory candidates waste their time worrying when they could be helping the residents. Sounds very self-serving to me. If EDC continues to work for the residents, she won't have to worry about such thing. Get the priority right!
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