Last December, I regaled of an angry rant at the Longdendale
and Hattersley’s District Assembly, when someone touched a raw nerve and
Councillor Fitzpatrick responded by ‘going on the offensive’ and apparently
slammed people who he accused of warning residents of the possible consequences
should the council amend the delivery hours at the Hattersley TESCO, as those
people who ‘put Hattersley down’.
Last week, overheard in a conversation toward the end of the
Speakers’ Panel meeting, Councillor Peter Robinson was heard to proclaim that
the Hattersley Green Belt and playing field is “already an industrial area”.
“No it is not”, said, Conservative Councillor Dickinson,
correcting him.
“Oh yes it is”, he replied.
Councillor Dickinson was then heard to lament to Councillor
Reynolds, “Is that right; that in 6 months that area will be an industrial
estate?” To which, Councillor Reynolds nodded her head.
 |
| First, 24hr deliveries, next we loose the playing fields, then they bring the concrete. |
So, now that TESCO have succeeded at the second attempt to
persuade the council to amend their terms of agreement and allow 24hr-7 days a
week deliveries; and in conjunction with Councillor Robinson's unguarded remarks,
it make one wonder where all these murky arrangement have been leading and just
what is in store for Hattersley’s Playing Fields and surrounding Green Belt?
Let us not forget that the preferred option for Tameside’s
Strategic Development Plan, is still in place, and the Councillors on the
Strategic Planning Team are due to meet this coming Thursday.
Just to remind you
what Tameside councils preferred plan for Hattersley is:
Site: Mottram M67
Located at the eastern end of the M67 between Hattersley and
Mottram. Suitable for employment led development for research, light and general
industrial purposes, and distribution.
If this goes ahead, it will be interesting
to see just who as been instrumental in putting down Hattersley!
How many people in Hattersley itself (those who could be bothered to vote that is) DIDN'T vote Labour. Serves them right.
ReplyDeleteAs it does anyone who's still deluded enough to vote for ANY of the main parties. Look at the ongoing, planned destruction of our country and identity. Only a traitor or an idiot would vote for that.
Dear Mr Curmudgeon, I follow your views with interest. Are you the same Curmudgeon that wrote for the old 'Reporter' ? If so then I recall an article that you wrote regarding 'Stalybridge Town Team'. Forgive me for commenting off track but as an habitual attendee of the remembrance parade in Stalybridge I was dumbfounded to see the un-elected chair of Stalybridge Town Team take his place alongside our elected councillors, MP and Lord Tom Pendry. I seem to recall your demand for transparency yet that still remains unmet. Who are Stalybridge Town Team?, what do they do?, who elected them?, e.tc., e.t.c...... I am aware that the chair, Andrew Stevenson is a close neighbour of Lord Tom Pendry and that's my frustration . . .it would appear that the 'Town Team' are just another arm of the 'Labour Propoganda Machine' and have an agenda to follow. I look forward to your thoughts and once again apologise for commenting off track. Over to you and many thanks for the interesting reading that you provide.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Anon (a first name would be nice, as so many comment as Anonymous!)
ReplyDeleteyes, I am that very same Curmudgeon from The Reporter. (My services were no longer required when the 'New Owners' (Whoops, nearly typed New Charter then!) took over.
As for the make up of the Stalybridge Town Team; I really do not know, but I will find out.
I have met Andrew Stevenson and as far as I can recall he claimed to be non-political! But in these days of using the contacts you know, I would suggest its almost impossible not to be political!
Watch this space for more information.
Meanwhile, thanks for your kind words and trust that you'll continue to read and make comment on my views.
Dear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteRegarding your comments and questions regarding The Stalybridge Town Team.
Basically, after the Mary Portas initiative where she was asked by the Tory led Government for her recommendations to revive our failing high Streets, part of her recommendations was to create ‘Town Teams’ – These to be none political and made up of like-minded concerned people, who wanted to save their local shopping towns.
In Stalybridge it was started by the MP Jonathan Reynolds who gathered together a group of volunteers to form the 15man/person steering group.
In order to keep a sense of balance, the group as constituted, is as follows:
3 Council Officers, 3 Stalybridge Councillors, 3 Stalybridge Business people, 3 Members of the public, 1 from the MPs office (to keep him informed) 1 representing the Churches and 1 District Assembly member.
Currently, the Town Team is chaired by Andrew Stephenson, a resident and Stalybridge businessman and he has no known political affiliations or aspirations.
As for what they do, well that really has suffered from a lack of information emitting from them although it is now understood, someone with a PR background is putting that right.
You raised concerns that the wreath laying ceremony was ‘political’ but I think you read too much into it, as they (the Town Team) were merely showing respect for those who should never be forgotten. They have been instrumental in ‘Clean-up’ although they perhaps don’t make such a song and dance about it as some I could mention and they have negotiated FREE parking leading upto Christmas.
They are busy doing other things too to push Stalybridge and if you are interested and could offer some time to their cause I’m sure they would welcome you at their next open meeting (TBA soon)
I hope this helps?
Thank you for your reply.
ReplyDeleteThat pretty much explains the lack of in-action in Stalybridge. Eight out of Fifteen on the payroll, that's clearly the problem. I pity the ones in the group that actually think they can make a difference. As I said roll on T.M.B.C. agenda and the 'Labour Propoganda Machine'.
3 Council Officers, 3 Stalybridge Councillors, 3 Stalybridge Business people, 3 Members of the public, 1 from the MPs office (to keep him informed) 1 representing the Churches and 1 District Assembly member.
ReplyDeleteLets try being honest when an MP starts "anything" its with an objective which has an unknown factor to the electorate and that`s how they keep control of the plebs.
I have no qualms in suggesting this is a cartel of sycophants loyal to Reynolds and as for being welcome at a meeting,the truth is that meetings are a smoke screen in Tameside and always have been.
I speak and comment having considerable knowledge of how Tameside MBC operate,placing pawns throughout the Borough to extend the Councils tentacles where its already confirmed.and recognised in
Media both press and radio,Police,New Charter,Tameside Health Authority,Greater Manchester Pension Fund,Standards Committee, Planning Committees, plus a large dose of Cabinet sycophants.
Its ability to hang on in power considering the vast majority of Tameside people do not want this sleazy set up and do not vote Labour when you vote count all the Districts,but they press their buttons and get their pawns into action who dominate the local so-called independent groups.
The lies and deceptions performed year on year are a suitable epitaph for a despot Council.
Too many of the same people in positions of power and influence for too long has bred a stagnant, complacent ruling clique.
ReplyDeleteAs for councillors going off on a rant go to a DA and try the mildest criticism, they can't stand it and start bristling with 'how dare you criticise US' indignation. Their assumed right to power comes from their group being in office far too long.
Interesting to lean of your previous link with the Reporter Cumudgeon especially because some years ago I asked to see the Editor at their Stalybridge Offices and proceeded to offer substantiated information
ReplyDeletewhich was detrimental to Tameside MBC.
I was given little hope of the Reporter being interested and one of the main defensive comments were
we get a great deal of advertising revenue from TMBC and we don`t wish to shoot ourselves in the foot.
I read and respect all your comments Cumudgeon however the same applied when I went to the Advertiser and offered facts and information,therefore has our local press was happy to limit exposing TMBC throughout previous years because of its financial links with TMBC.
Based on a number of previous experiences relating to biased reporting and ignoring requests for a level playing field, I do lay blame at the doors of all the Tameside Press for diminishing democracy in Tameside and enabling a despotic Council to survive.
I expect you have a range of stories locked away Cumudgeon which confirm my allegations,its just a great pity we plebs are left with a Council unfit for purpose instead of the truth being allowed. to reach the Tameside folk.
I respect that the press are subjected to a tight legal process,however when information is received which cannot be discredited in anyway and would stand alone on its facts allowing the Tameside Cartel to survive all its scandals was a detrimental aspect the public had to suffer.
@ Anonymous 07:47, True. The real people responsible for allowing long term ultra-mediocrity and self-interested, corrupt cliques to reign in our increasingly rotten borough however, are the apathetic 75% of the electorate who never bother to vote and the unthinking 1200 or so whose automatic Labour 'til I die vote created and maintains the sutuation. One of the worst Tory groups in Britain have played a highly significant part in the continuance of Labour's local dominance too.
ReplyDeleteFor the first time I'll be voting UKIP, if they stand in my ward, next year and would strongly advise others to consider doing so.
I have just read this and based on my own knowledge that Tameside is one of the most Air Polluted area`s
ReplyDeletein the Country,was rated No1 for having the largest traffic increases,and again holds the No 1 spot in the UK for Heart Diseases,plus TMBC were told years ago to deal with the abnormal volumes of pollution,and has done nothing whatsoever.So finding out Air Pollution is a confirmed cause of Cancers.TMBC Council Members should be disbanded.
Latest Lancet Report November 2013
We are what we breathe; air pollution a carcinogen
LETTER
Last month, scientists from around the world issued a report about air pollution, classifying it as a carcinogen. After looking at scores of studies relating air particles to disease outcomes, WHO researchers found that the evidence for a cancer link was overwhelming. Their conclusions were underscored by a case report of an 8-year-old in China — the most heavily polluted country in the world — who developed lung cancer.
A second report from Lancet — a leading British medical journal — linked air pollution to increased rates of low birth weight infants. Their data indicated that more than 20 percent of cases of fetal growth retardation could be prevented by improving air quality in European cities.
Over the last decades, most Americans have come to realize that we control our health, to a great degree, by the choices we make regarding diet, exercise and habits. We don’t have a lot of control over our genetic predispositions for diseases, though knowledge about how our genes interact with the environment is expanding rapidly.
As individuals, we also have little control over what we breathe. Clean air is a public policy issue — with health concerns balanced against cost. Strengthening the federal Clean Air Act is our best protection against dangerous air pollution; states can’t do it alone. Citizens need to know that the health risks of air pollution are real, and support measures that reduce its impact. “You are what you eat” is an old adage — new data add that you also “are what you breathe.”