FACILITIES DOWN THE PAN
EU FUTURE IS NOT SO BRIGHT
“MACCLESFIELD Churches Together” should be thanked for organising last Friday’s EU Referendum debate.
Sadly, this local democracy initiative was poorly attended.
Our Local MP was not present. Neither were any of the North West’s three UKIP MEPs, even though one of them lives nearby in Congleton.
Fortunately, former Macclesfield MP Sir Nicholas Winterton did turn up.
In the debate, some argued that leaving the EU would prevent youngsters travelling around Europe.
Yet, as a teenager in the 1950s, I know students were able to travel and study in Europe long before the arrival of the EU.
Visa or no visa, thousands of young people have been back-packing around the world for decades.
In or out of the EU, there is no reason for that to change,
Any attempt to restrict UK travellers would meet with fierce opposition from the EU tourist industries of Spain, France, Italy and others.
Likewise, there is no way the German government would declare a trade war on Great Britain.
If German exports to the UK were lumbered with tariffs, German industrialist and workers would revolt against their own government.
If we are to worry about a “leap into the dark”, we should remember the EU’s future is not so bright.
Up to 50 per cent of “under-25 year olds” in Spain, Portugal, Italy are jobless.
The people of Greece are living a nightmare. Germany is on the verge of an immigration disaster. And the Eurozone is hovering on collapse..
It was not just Brexit that worries the IMF.
It’s warned also that the EU urgently needed “fiscal consolidation”.
That means ever more austerity!
Attempts to create European Unions in the past have always failed.
The Latin Monetary Union (France, Italy and Belgium) launched in 1865 collapsed in 1927, 62 years later.
Likewise, the Scandinavian Monetary Union was abandoned after 41 years.
Yet, those unions had far more in common than do the 28 EU nations with their 24 different languages.
We have only to look at the fate of Yugoslavia, an artificial union of Balkan states set up in the aftermath of World War II.
After 47 years it exploded into genocidal warfare. Perhaps, Cameron was right to predict war. He just got it the wrong way around. Brendan Murphy via email GIVEN the effort which was put into ensuring that toilet facilities were maintained at Macclesfield Bus Station, I imagine your readers will be as disgusted as I was when confronted with the awful state this toilet is currently in.
[When I visited] the seat had come away from the pan, and that the floor was filthy.
There was also no toilet paper, and no soap in the dispenser.
It’s bad enough having to put up with a Bus Station with no clock and no information leaflets, but the state of this toilet is inexcusable. Martin Goodwin via email AT the recent Make It Macclesfield public meeting, it was good to hear the positive progress being made with the new multi-screen cinema and leisure-led scheme, which will play a vital role in regenerating Macclesfield town centre.
The presentation made by developers Ask Real Estate set out next steps for the development, and outlined that latest plans will see the project completed by spring 2018.
Cheshire East Council is taking further action. Planned street enhancements for the town centre worth £1 million are due to begin next year.
The initiative will focus around Castle Street, Exchange Street and upper Mill Street to improve shopping areas and the key routes linking it to the proposed leisure-led scheme.
There is clearly more to be done.
It’s time to build on this momentum and put greater focus on our heritage and culture offer to make Macclesfield the distinctive destination that residents of Macclesfield deserve.
We are fortunate to have the Silk Museum, the Sunday School building and Christ Church to remind us of our rich heritage.
I have urged Cheshire East Council to work with other local stakeholders to develop a clear plan to ensure that the town’s heritage has a central role in regeneration initiatives over the months ahead.
The Macclesfield Canal should be part of this too. I was delighted to take part in the recent launch of the Macclesfield Adoption Group to help maintain the canal in the town.
This year’s Barnaby Festival will be an important boost for the town, running from Friday 17th June to Sunday 26th June.
This year’s theme is “Space”. Among the many events, highlights include appearances by Professor Brian Cox, BBC’s Nick Robinson and comedian Francesca Martinez.
I would encourage everyone to support what is sure to be another memorable celebration for the town.