7th January 2026
A long-standing community campaigner from the borough has accused Stockport Council of undermining local democracy after a series of confrontations at public meetings and private correspondence with senior council officers.
Sheila Oliver, who has been active for many years on issues ranging from transport policy to environmental protection and disability access, says she has repeatedly been given incorrect or misleading information by councillors and officers — and publicly dismissed when challenging it.
In correspondence seen by the Romiley Gazette, the Council’s Chief Executive, John Schultz, asked Ms Oliver whether she would object to him copying one of his letters to the local media. The request followed Ms Oliver’s indication that she intended to raise her concerns publicly rather than continue asking questions in council meetings.
Ms Oliver responded by setting out a detailed list of cases where she believes elected members provided inaccurate statements in public forums. These include disputes over the cost of the South East Manchester Multi Modal Strategy (SEMMMS), the risk status of the Harcourt Street School project, and the absence of contingency planning.
She also described instances where, she claims, questions were deflected or shut down during council meetings, including intervention by the Chair and the Mayor when she sought clarification on alternative sites for development.
Ms Oliver further highlighted her involvement in securing improvements for local communities, including campaigning for better pavements for disabled residents, the protection of green spaces such as Poise Brook Valley and Chadkirk, and the release and use of Section 106 funds for community projects.
“I will not stop fighting for what I feel is right,” she wrote. “I have no status, no money, and nothing to lose by speaking out.”
Ms Oliver says she believes the council’s actions discourage ordinary residents from participating in local democracy. “If this is how someone who is persistent and well-informed is treated,” she said, “what hope is there for people who are less confident?”
Stockport Council was approached for comment but did not respond by the time of going to press.
Mon 29/01/2007 11:14
Mrs Oliver,
I should be grateful if you would let me have a reply to the question in my letter about whether you would be prepared for me to copy that letter to the local media.
John Schultz
—–Original Message—–
From: sheila.oliver@tiscali.co.uk [mailto:sheila.oliver@tiscali.co.uk]
Sent: 27 January 2007 16:05
To: John Schultz
Subject: Response
Mr Schultz
You don’t have to worry about my council chamber questions – I had already decided to put everything in the press instead and have made a start.
I notice from a council newsletter recently delivered to my home that the Council seems to value local democracy. Gosh! May I give you some examples where incorrect information has been deliberately given to me:-
Councillor Derbyshire denied the £556 million cost of SEMMMS, despite it being in the Council document for that full council meeting and having also been in the Executive meeting document a few days before. This was a budget meeting
– that was her portfolio – you would have think she would have read it.
I have turned out to be correct and Goverment figures put the cost at £60 million plus per mile. What a pity no-one wanted to listen and instead I was publicly belittled for stating these facts. Not locally democratic is it?
I asked Councillor Pantall to confirm what he had put in a letter to me a couple of days before – that the Harcourt Street school issue was not high risk and that there was no Plan B in place. He was unable to confirm this in front of the press, public and other councillors. The issue is referred to as high risk in documents seen under the FOIA. Why is there no Plan B?
Not locally democratic,
is it?
When I asked in the full council meeting why the Fir Tree site wasn’t considered, Councillor Pantall said I knew the site hadn’t already been sold off for housing. Not what I asked at all. My attempts to get a proper answer were scuppered by you and the Mayor. Not very locally democratic is it?
I gave notice of a question to Councillor Goddard about the £2 million cost of working out the PFI for SEMMMS. I have these details in writing from the Council. He said there would be no cost. Not locally democratic is it?
I recently asked a question at SHAC. The Chair came to me at the beginning of the meeting to tell me my question was wrong – there was no plan to move Woodsmoor Station to Stepping Hilll and I should alter my question. Lo and Behold it was in the agenda document, so the Chair hadn’t bothered to read it before the meeting. Not very locally democatic, is it?
I have fought for better pavements for the disabled, playgrounds for children where the Council has left them without for 12 years despite Section 106 money for this purpose resting inthe Council’s account. I have tried to help Offerton Community Farm, got Poise Brook Valley recognised as Local Nature Reserve, helped to get Chadkirk recognised as a Local Nature Reserve and will shortly do the same for the Goyt Valley. I have fought to get £820,000 of Section 106 money off Sainsbury’s – why has it been in their account for
7 years losing value for us and gaining interest for them? I have helped to get £17,000 Sainsbury’s section 106 money spent on much needed improvements at Cow Lane. I have fought as hard as I can for the 317 bus at Offerton and for the people of Offerton who have been disgustingly neglected by this council. I am doing my utmost for the people of Reddish, have helped to get an Audit Commission Inquiry into the hidden cost of roadbuilding, have tried to get Tesco on the national agenda regarding what happened at Portwood without ever having publicly criticised Stockport Council’s role in that.
I have discovered at least £250 million waste of taxpayers’ money on the
M60 Denton to Middleton section.
And I am the baddie in all this!
I will not stop fighting for what I feel is right and you can throw all you like at me, Mr Schultz. I have no status and will take any humiliation on the chin. I have no money – everything given away – so you can’t sue me, and if you did it would make a lovely story in the Guardian.
I have watched my child die – do you really think anything can frighten me after that, Mr. Schultz?
You remain my humble servant, which I think you forget sometimes
Sheila X
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