Don’t consult - and put the trust back in politics
GOOD morning my majestic Maxonians. As most of you know I have been following and commenting on events in our beloved town for 25 years and I think I know a way to reduce public expenditure and help reduce our council tax.
I propose that Cheshire East Council simply do away with public consultations, assessments and monitoring.
Okay, here’s one for you.
Bellway Homes have informed us that a recent highway assessment has shown traffic generated by their Henbury development ‘would not have a severe impact on the Broken Cross junction.’
Hands up anyone that agrees with that.
You may recall the previous Tory led council producing incorrect and unexplained air quality statistics in proposed development areas.
It came as no surprise to learn that they had no idea who had come up with the figures and even less surprise that residents did not believe them.
Let us now move onto gritting the roads where council ‘assessments’ astonishingly found that highways with schools (like Whirley Primary) did not require gritting.
After a quarter of a century observing and writing about our local council in all its forms these so-called assessments and consultations are a complete waste of public money.
They appear to start with the required conclusion then work backwards. I don’t know who commissioned the above mentioned Bellway Homes ‘assessment’ but I doubt there is anyone convinced that the large housing development currently under construction around Henbury will not have a ‘severe impact’ on the Broken Cross junction.
On a much larger scale is the proposed destruction of Danes Moss in order to build an enormous estate of 930 homes.
There is a mountain of evidence from respected environmentalists that it will be an ecological disaster.
It has been alleged that a report by CEC’s own consultants (RSK) arrives at the same conclusion but that report has yet to be made public.
Make of that what you will.
Do the good people of Macclesfield actually believe that there will be little or no effect on the ever-dwindling wildlife and eco-system that has served the town well for
centuries? So, why should the public pay for these consultations, assessments and monitoring that amazingly always seem to confirm the Council’s desired conclusion?
Politicians are elected into office by the people, to represent the people.
(Abraham Lincoln said that)
In our part of Cheshire they represent themselves. (I said that.)