Category Archives: County Election 2013

Library gets cold shoulder from Glossop Residents

 

Mr Greenhalgh says that having combed the Derbyshire website he could only find one local supporter, which was Conservative Cllr Jean Wharmby, who “offers her full support for “the relocation of the existing library to the Talbot Street site.”Labour County Council candidate, Damien Greenhalgh, has today written to County Council planning chiefs asking how much public support there has been for the building of the new library from the Glossopdale public.

In an open letter to planners regarding the consultation, Mr Greenhalgh has asked how many other people have taken Mrs Wharmby’s supportive position. He said “just looking at the other responses currently entered on the website, it looks like Jean is a lone voice in supporting the plan.”

He has also sought further clarifications about what other replies the planners are awaiting, as the formal consultation ended on the 14th February.

He goes on to say that the planning application: “pays no attention to the local area, and is equivalent to proposing to build an aircraft hangar in the traditional Victorian setting.”

Labour’s other County Council candidate, Ellie Wilcox, promises a new consultation if Labour is elected and shares her concern that a contract could be rushed through before 2nd May. She said a “signed contract would be a disaster for Glossop.”

Link to Cllr Jean Wharmby’s Letter – Click here

Damien’s letter to DCC Planners – Click here

#LabourDoorstep – Whitfield Ave

Today saw Ellie, myself and the Glossopdale Labour team out in Whitfield.

2013.03.10 - Whitfield Ave 1Despite the chill in the air from the weekend’s cold snap there was a warm reception for us on people’s door. Expect lots of window posters in the coming weeks.

2013.03.10 - Whitfield Ave 2

#LabourPhonebank – No 2

Brilliant phone canvassing session tonight with

    • more people
    • more Labour promises; and
    • more poster site

Phonebank1

As you can see lots of tea, coffee and quality biscuits. Tempt you to join in?

We meet at my house every Tuesday at 7pm until 8.30pm.

Please get in touch if you would like to help out.

New library plans in chaos

Labour’s candidates for the May County Council elections in Glossopdale have accused Conservative-controlled Derbyshire County Council of incompetence in it’s handling of plans for a new library on the site of the Old St. Luke’s School site.

Damien Greenhalgh said that the County Council’s plan to demolish the former school and build a new library in its place is in “chaos”.

His comments come as the Council announced that its own planning committee would now meet to decide the planning application on March 25, not March 13 as originally intended. Derbyshire County Council cited ‘delays in finalising the anticipated reports’ for the change of date.

Damien called on Derbyshire County Council Leader, Andrew Lewer, to use the extra time to fulfil his specific personal pledge to hold information days and consult local people as stated in his open letter of 8th November 2012.

Failure to hold the meetings was just another failure on the part of the County Council to pay regard to the strong feelings of the people of Glossopdale.

Branding the process as chaotic Damien highlighted mistakes such as the over stated usage numbers. When the new library was first proposed it was estimated that there would be 310,000 visits, this figure has since been revised downward to 150,000.

He said: “It is unbelievable that the figure should change so much over night. The Council has since admitted it got the numbers wrong which begs the question about what other mistakes could have been made in the haste to get the plans through before the May elections”.

“The biggest mistake of all is the county council’s insistence on pushing through these plans without proper public consultation and without any public support.”

Email postponing the Planning Control Committee – Click here

#LabourDoorstep – Glossop & Buxton

It was a double dose of doorknocking today; kicking off with myself and the Glossopdale Labour team – joined by comrades from Tameside Labour – out around High Street East and Royal Avenue.

2013.03.03 - Royal Ave

Then it was straight off to Buxton for a constituency campaign meeting followed by doorknocking in the Barms area of the Buxton North East division for Caitlin Bisknell.

2013.03.03 - Barms, Buxton

#LabourPhonebank – No 1

old phone call

Slow start to inaugural weekly phone canvassing session at my house tonight. We were was cooking on gas by the end of it though with about 20 solid promises in all.

DamienGreenhalghLabour’s candidate for the May County Council elections in Glossopdale has accused the leader of Derbyshire County Council of reneging on his promise that information days at the Victoria Hall Library would be held when the County Council submitted plans for it’s new Library on the site of the Old St. Lukes School site.

Damien Greenhalgh said that the failure to put into action a specific pledge represented another letdown on the part of the County Council to pay regard to the feelings of local people.

In his open letter published on 8th November 2012, County Council Leader Councillor Andrew Lewer said “We are keen to work alongside local people.”

LewerLeter

He then went on to write that he “would urge local people to get involved by commenting on the plans when the Council seeks planning permission over the next few weeks, or by attending one of our information days at the library…”

With consultation due to end on 14th February, Mr Greenhalgh said there appeared to be no intention to hold a realistic and reasonable discussion with the Glossopdale community.

“When a senior Borough Councillor phoned the Library on Monday afternoon (4th. Feb), staff confirmed that no consultation had so far been held, but that a senior manager would return his call. A very senior officer rang back to confirm that there was no intention to hold any information days at the library until after the planning application had been granted.”

“If they do end up holding a meeting, it will be as a result of this intervention rather than because they intended to listen to the people of Glossopdale.”

Damien Greenhalgh said that an additional Derbyshire planning committee had been called for 13th March. He suspected that this was to allow the application to go forward would not consider whether people wanted investment in Victoria Hall or in the demolition of the old St Lukes building.

Derbyshire County Council Labour Leader Anne Western has already promised a new consultation will be undertaken in conjunction with High Peak Council if Labour take over at the May elections.

A new team: Dedicated and experienced

This evening saw the selection of my friend and colleague Ellie Wilcox to be my fellow Labour candidate for the double Glossop and Charlesworth seat. This follows the unfortunate withdrawal of Maggie Mooney for personal reasons.

Chair of the CLP Fiona Sloman (L) and Anne Western, Leader of Derbyshire Labour Group (R) and myself congratulate Ellie

CLP Chair, Fiona Sloman (L) and Anne Western, Leader of Derbyshire Labour Group (R) and myself with Ellie shortly after her selection as candidate.

Ellie Wilcox is currently Borough Councillor for Padfield and has helped them to solve issues involving housing and homelessness, food poverty, and anti-social behaviour. She has been active in developing the Bare Necessities Food Bank and has supported local groups with money from her councillors’ initiative fund.

Youth and Experience: A winning package

As previously mentioned the new Glossop and Charlesworth Division is a two-member ward. This mean that the Labour Party will be fielding two candidates; and I am delighted to be able to tell you that our other candidate will be Maggie Mooney.

Damien and Maggie at this years Party Conference

Maggie was born in Stockport, the daughter of a railwayman.  She became a social worker, moved into adult education and held senior posts in Bournemouth and Halton Councils before becoming Chief Executive of Carlisle City Council in 2005.  Maggie retired last year and moved back to Glossopdale with her husband Brian. She has been enjoying not being in a politically restricted position and has been very active in local groups and the Party.

I’m  thoroughly looking forward to the next few months on the campaign with her.