Democracy is like a gentle flower that needs to be constantly nutured. If weeds are allowed to flourish they can quickly suffocate the flower. The good gardener keeps a constant watch and removes the weeds by their roots.

In the last few months our democracy been suffocated by the actions of greedy politicians who consider that they can live above laws that apply to you and I, and must now be weeded out.

Unfortunately, the bad odour that clings to these national politician has descended on us all.

In local politics, these excesses are not possible. The remuneration that we obtain is recommended by an independent body and very few other expenses are allowed.

For democracy to flourish at a local level it must be seen to operate with the consetn of local residents. A case in point is the recent discussion on the future of Woodford BAE site.

The Council called a public meeting at which a number of options for the future use of the site were put to residents. These were discussed by the meeting in small groups and the residents observations together with alternative suggestions are being collated and hopefully a proposal acceptable to the majority will be arrived at.

Democracy demands that the opinion of the local residents should be considered as a priority along with those of Stockport Metropolitan Borough. The considerations of the wider region are, in my opinion, not a priority.

If the problem is addressed sympathetically it can be a very exciting project with the promise of jobs, limited housing and extensive recretional facilities for Stockport and the surrounding area.

As your Councillor, I and my ward colleagues together with our parliamentary candidate, Ben Jeffreys, will be hoping to steer everyone's view towards a satisfactory solutionin time for 2012, when BAEs doors finally close.

Cllr Bryan Leck
Bramhall South

This article, by Cllr Bryan Leck, was first published by the Stockport Express on 04.11.09.