Ungrateful Tory Council Bans the Gurkhas!

1.06.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 26th Jun 2006

Cllr Duncan Clark, Cllr Anji Patterson and Cllr Alan Whittart at Frimley Lodge Park

Surrey Heath Borough Council has banned the British Gurkha Welfare Society from its flagship Frimley Lodge Park. The group had wanted to use the park for it's annual reunion barbecue which has taken place there for a number of years.

The Council claims the event is disruptive to the running of the park and that it wants to discourage the use of the park by large groups during the summer months.

The organiser of the Gurkha barbecue, Major Tikendra Dewan said, "In the past we were the only organisation who wrote asking for permission, brought our own Porta loos, informed the police and cleaned up the place afterwards. We gave assurance that should there be any charge levied we are more than happy to pay and also we confirmed our responsibility. We are British citizens who pay taxes like everyone else, but we have been unfairly excluded from the park"

Council Liberal Democrat Group Leader, David Whitcroft, was outraged by the Council's decision. He said "We had meetings and exchanged any number of emails on the subject but Council Officers will not change their position.

"These Gurkha veterans have given their all to this country and their serving Gurka colleagues still donate their services to the Council. They even run an important part of the Council's Action Holiday Scheme for young people in the borough. All the thanks they get from the Council is their veterans being banned from Frimley Lodge Park!"

Frimley Green Councillor Alan Whittart commented " I am disgusted by the way they have been treated and hope the Council will change its mind even at this late stage."

In fact, the Council refused to shift its position - although the matter was covered in the national media - and the Gurkha veterans are now holding their barbecue at Kings International School.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson Councillor Duncan Clark said "It's a shame that the Conservative controlled Borough Council cannot take a simple opportunity to show its appreciation of a group who have given so much to this country."