Stockport Council News

Still, it is “vexatious” to mention the dangerous traffic situation around the toxic waste dump school to the bent LibDem Executive Councillors, one of whom even caused the death of her passenger by dangerous driving.

Email sent – 23 September 2009 19:17

..

So, we see from the attached the “obvious concern
over funding” expressed in March 2007 (when the cost was about £2.5 million
cheaper than it is now) and “advice required on how much of this goes in the
highlight report”

Yours

Mrs Sheila Oliver

Stockport’s Freedom of Information
Campaigner

Email sent 23 September 2009 19:44. No reply yet.

Please see the attached.

The new centre was to provide 78 nursery places. We
have seen that the birth rate in the area is rising. The nursery places now to
be provided at the proposed children’s centre are around 50. I assume this is
because the site is too small for purpose, in which case the school should not
be going on this site.

Given all I have sent you so far, I am starting to
smell a pretty strong rat.

Your comments please.

Yours

Mrs S J Oliver

Stockport’s Freedom of Information
Campaigner

Email sent to Stockport’s Director of Finance 23 September 2009 19:16. I have not yet had a reply from him.

From the Harcourt Street Highlight report for
period 15/3/06 – 14/05/20

“Aspirations continue to
exceed budget provision and at this stage the scheme is undeliverable if the
funding (or Brief) is not revisited.”

Highlight report for period 15/3/06 –
14/5/06

“Funding shortfall will lead
to ultimate project failure if not addressed i.e., unable to enter into
contract”. This was when the cost was circa £8.6 million – it is now circa £10
million.

From the Fir Tree Consultation with Governors
06/07/05

“There was concern from the governors that families
in the Fir Tree area will have difficulty in getting to the proposed new site.
The governors felt the outreach work would need to be increased as they felt
parents from the school would not walk to the new facilities. The governors
supports a new school but would wish the site to be in the Fir Tree
community”

How much has the outreach
work been costed at?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Mrs Sheila Oliver

Stockport’s Freedom of Information
Campaigner

“I wanted to update you in respect of the proposal to build new homes in part of
Reddish Vale Country Park, a proposal which was opposed by myself and the
Reddish Labour Councillors. Despite the overwhelming objections sent to the
Stockport planning committee, the decision to approve the scheme was
made.

Since then, residents
have sought to have the decision judicially reviewed, which I fully
support.

This week, local
residents and users of Reddish Vale Country Park have notified me that tree
felling has commenced on the site. I have asked Stockport Council why, and this
is their response:

“A license has been
issued to Countryside properties to allow them to carry out a full independent
ecological assessment, and then to remove any potential nesting sites, before
the main nesting season starts. Although this is in preparation for the proposed
development, it does not require separate planning approval or the issuing of
the planning approval for the proposed development. Relevant Executive Cllrs and
the ward Cllrs are fully aware of this work.

The sale of this open
space is currently subject to public consultation, prior to a decision by the
Executive. This public consultation, or pending decision, does not however
preclude the Council, as landowner, from permitting the works previously
described.

Finally, to be clear,
it is the planning approval (which has not yet been made) which is the subject
of the recent application for a Judicial Review.”

Clearly, Stockport
Council’s response is totally unacceptable to me, and I know a number of local
residents are urgently exploring taking an injunction out to prevent any felling
of more trees until the judicial review into the planning application has been
heard.

Even should the judge
uphold the planning permission, before any building can begin there must also be
public consultation to approve the removal of the land from both the curtilage
of the Country Park and from the Greater Manchester Green Belt, the latter which
must also be approved by the Secretary of State. So there’s still a very long
way to go.

I will keep you
updated, but please be assured of my continued opposition to the destruction of
our Country Park, which serves both Stockport and Tameside residents
alike.

Best wishes,”

ANDREW
GWYNNE MP

Shadow
Health Minister
Labour
– Denton and Reddish

Constituency
Office, Denton Town Hall, Market Street, Denton, M34 2AP

House
of Commons, London SW1A 0AA

Tel:
0161 320 1504 (Constituency)

Tel:
0207
219 4708 (House of Commons Voicemail)

Fax:
0161 320 1503 Twitter:
@GwynneMP Facebook:
AndrewGwynneMP

Serving
the communities of:

Audenshaw,
Denton, Dukinfield, Haughton Green, Heaton Chapel, Heaton Norris and
Reddish

in
the House of Commons