Who knows what’s best for your local area? Is it Government? Is it the Council’s controlling group? Is it local residents along with elected members? Judge for yourself.

 

 

 

 

 

Throughout the Borough planning applications are put in which will come to Area Committee for a decision should there by any objections from local residents. In my own ward of Heatons North people are passionate about issues which affect their environment, freedom to enjoy their lives and the status of the Conservation Areas.

 

 

 

 

 

  • In October 2007, an application came before the Four Heatons Area Committee from O2 to extend the mast on
    Heaton Moor Road
    opposite to Hawthorn Grove. The three Conservative members for Heatons North refused the application. We knew this would go to appeal and frequently these are upheld by the Inspector. The Inspector dismissed the appeal and found: ‘the proposal failed to strike the best possible balance between environmental considerations and the appellant’s technical requirements for need and coverage’.

     

  • Late last year two Appeals against our decisions to say ‘no’ to extensions in licensing hours for premises in Shaw Road,  were dismissed by the Inspector, on the basis of the effect on people’s lives.

     

  • The appeal against our decision to reject the application for change of use of The Savoy Cinema to a public house was dismissed.

     

 

 

 

These examples prove that local Councillors know their area very well and are in touch with the heartbeat of the area and know how residents think. This surely is enough evidence for more appropriate funding to be given to Area Committees to serve the areas they represent.                                                  

 

 

I often wonder about the mind-set of some Labour Councillors. Recently they have gone to great lengths to put forward their view that there is some unholy alliance between the Conservative Group and the controlling Liberal-Democrat Group.

 

 

 

 

 

This is blatantly not true. If a Liberal-Democrat proposal is put forward that is for the good of the Borough and sound, well-researched reasons are given, then if after doing our own investigations we agree, we will support it. The same would apply to a Labour proposal.  We would expect that they would do the same for a proposal put forward by ourselves that would benefit Stockport.  Obviously it is getting harder and harder for the Labour Group to defend their Party and their Government which has totally lost its way, so they turn to fantasy.

 

 

 

 

 

Our Conservative Group believes in ‘Putting Stockport First’, and as responsible elected representatives, that is what we do.

Cllr Jackie Jones
Heatons North

This article, by Cllr Jackie Jones, was first published by the Stockport Express 13/ 08/ 2008.