It’s time to burst bubble and move from edge of cliff
GOOD morning to you. Have you ever had that nightmare where you see a coach full of passengers singing, ‘ We’re all going on a summer holiday,’ as they head towards the edge of a cliff?
I had that yesterday when Congleton MP Fiona Bruce warned Cheshire East that their threatened closure of local tips has already increased fly tipping in Alsager by 111 per cent.
Paul Bayley, CEC’s director of environment, says that following CEC’s ‘thorough research’ the problem is being created by ‘mismanagement of household waste’.
No mention of illegal tipping or those who leave their toxic waste for taxpayers.
You might remember when ‘thorough research’ claimed that allowing pubs and clubs to choose their own closing times would change Macclesfield into a European style café society.
We all know how that worked out. You may also recall the ‘thorough research’ that declared some streets became safer by turning off the lights.
Clearly, councillors live in a bubble that enables them to see what they want to see rather than what others see.
Reinforced by likeminded colleagues’ whatever picture they paint becomes their reality.
I have learned over 22 years of observation that when an overwhelming majority of residents share the same opinion it’s wise to take note.
Residents went to extraordinary lengths to warn against closing police stations and removing beat bobbies, a move that ultimately led to ASBO’s and widespread hooliganism.
Contrary to political opinion, voters are not troublesome idiots.
They know when a bus is going over a cliff. Whatever the current level of fly-tipping it will rocket skywards the moment local tips close and no amount of CEC’s ‘thorough research’ will prevent it.
Fiona Bruce knows it, the good people of Macclesfield, Bollington and Congleton know it…the only people who don’t know it are huddling together in Sandbach with their fingers in their ears.
You can email me at vicbarlow@ icloud.com