OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN LOST

I AM writing this letter to tell all the Haslingden/ Rossendale voters of a question I asked at the last Full Council Meeting on the 16th March 2022, as a Councillor representing the Greenfield ward which is one of the two wards of Haslingden.

The question I asked the Labour Leader of the Council was, as it is public knowledge of Council Land being publicised for sale which is located in the Greenfield Ward for a seven figure amount.

I asked for the same consideration for a substantial amount of the sale value, being given to benefit the community here in Haslingden and the wider community, hopefully some to be spent in the Greenfield Ward. (‘Leader refuses request to ring-fence land sale cash,’ March 25).

This was asked knowing this has been afforded to Labour councillors of a number of pieces of council land being sold in other parts of the Valley.

In particular in Bacup for large amounts (one a six-figure amount) which the Leader agreed to commit to ring fence the whole sale amounts, to benefit the Bacup community.

But the response from the Leader to my question, for the same consideration, came perhaps as not too much of shock, because I was informed that this land sale of the seven figure amount when sold will go towards the Capital Expenditure needs that the council feels fit to use it for.

To say I am disappointed that the same commitment of ensuring Haslingden is given similar and equal support, is an understatement.

To be given an opportunity to see current plans expanded far wider, and for quicker improvements that the communities may wish to see much earlier has been disregarded by the present Labour Controlling Party.

I only want the same firm consideration to see our Council Assets if Sold, used to benefit our communities.

Rather than what has occurred over some years that our Council

Taxpayers will eventually have to pay back.

We have seen how money has been mismanaged with the ‘Empty Homes Shambles’ that this 2011 Labour Leadership was challenged to oversee, and control back in 2012 and then in 2015 it went seriously pear-shaped, when the then company meant to manage this went bankrupt.

Which now the then has cost this Authority over £7.5 + million thus far, and the cost is likely to be much greater with continuing legal challenges.

That obviously we should ask where this money could have been used for here in Rossendale, if only they’d managed this better than they did.

Coun Granville Morris via email