Category Archives: Glossop

Glossop Gazette Questions

The Glossop Gazette  as part of it’s coverage is asking every candidate three questions. Please find these along with my answer below.

 

1. Is the loss of 1,400 jobs an inevitable consequence of the savings that must be made in the DCC budget?  How would your party’s cuts differ from those of your opponents?

It is a sad reality that job loses at the County Council would have to be considered by any new administration in Matlock of any political colour.

The Council’s budget has been cut by one third which is difficult enough but added to the increasing cost of care for the elderly and those venerable members of our society whom have had their lives made even harder by Government cuts, and some very painful decisions lie ahead.

The 1400 figure is the current Conservative administration’s calculation but we aren’t able to see what informed that decision. Not until a new administration takes over and has the opportunity to look over the books will we know if those assumptions are correct or not.

Labour values people as being the greatest resource of the Council and we will always try to minimise the number of compulsory redundancies, but at the moment assurances are unfortunately impossible. 

 
2. If you were on the DCC planning and control committee would you have approved the application to demolish the old St Lukes School and build a new library?  If not please suggest an alternative.

The plan to build an inappropriate new library in Glossop will not see the light of day if Ellie and I are elected. The hastily put together application will be withdrawn.

I, like many residents I’ve spoken to, do not buy into the false argument used by currently county councillors that the Victoria Hall cannot be become a library and community resource fit for the 21st century.

Therefore a consultation to assess the needs and requirements of the people of Glossop will take place after the election, with proposals that will focus on a sympathetic internal refurbishment of the Victoria Hall with the funds available; if people have an unexpected and unlikely change of mind then we would of course look again at this.

 
3. Is immigration an issue in the DCC elections? If so, why?

Immigration has long been used by political opportunists seeking someone to blame all the country’s ills. Migrants by and large contribute to society and have added great social, economic and cultural value to our nation – their looking after our elderly and unwell in the NHS is the exemplar.

The overwhelming proportion of them come to this country to work, create wealth and pay taxes, not to live off benefits or seek NHS treatment as is often portrayed. 

The problem is not immigration but our globalised free-market system which denies us the tax base to invest properly in people and places. It’s not a new immigration policy we need, but a reformed system where the likes of Google, Amazon, Vodafone and Starbucks pay their fair share of taxes.

 

New Library Plan Pledge from Labour Leader

Ellie Wilcox and Damien Greenhalgh start to shred the new library plan.

Derbyshire County Council Labour Group Leader Anne Western has today confirmed that the planning application for a new Glossop Library “will not see the light of day” in the event of Labour being elected to run the County Council in May this year.

In a message to the people of Glossopdale, she confirmed that Derbyshire Labour will consult on the best ways to sustain library provision in the Victoria Hall and make best use of the “campus of buildings” that cluster around the library, following suggestions that the planning application for a new library would be reconsidered in the near future.

She has already given an assurance that the £2,000,000 which Labour set aside more than five years ago, will still be available for a fully-costed, value for money project that can enhance both library and adult education provision.

“If, after consultation with Ellie Wilcox and Damien Greenhalgh, the people of Glossop have an unexpected and unlikely

change of mind, then we would look again. But whatever we propose will be complementary to the work we commissioned when we renovated the adult education centre, rather than the unsympathetic modern structure that the local Conservatives continue to confirm they support.”

Padfield and Hadfield Councillor Ellie Wilcox said that discussions need to focus on a sympathetic internal refurbishment of the Victoria Hall Library.

“From visits to the Royal Exchange in Manchester, and from the refurbishment that is taking place on the Central Reference Library, people in Glossopdale know that older buildings can be retained and modernised sympathetically,” she says.

“Of course, we won’t be able to afford enhancements of that scale, as £2million can quickly disappear on a listed building, but it is nonsense to suggest that the Victoria Hall cannot provide a 21st Century library and community resource.   The idea of the proposed supermarket-type design has met such strong resistance from locals, it would be reckless to still go ahead, especially since there have been no formal consultations surrounding library provision.’

Labour’s other County Council candidate Damien Greenhalgh has said that he wanted to be part of a mature discussion with the community on the way forward.

“One of the biggest mistakes of the present incumbents has been their failure to consult and listen. People need to know what the money set aside could buy. We hope to make discussion and dialogue with the wider community our basis for future policy, helping to properly address the needs of local people.”

Candidates confirmed

The Statement of Persons Nominated was released by High Peak Borough Council (acting as agents of Derbyshire County Council)  on Friday 5th April. This states all those people who have handed in their papers to be candidates and whether or not their nomination is a valid one. This document can be viewed here directly; but I have summarised it below to show confirmed candidates grouped by party:

Damien GREENHALGH    Labour
Ellie WILCOX                        Labour

Peter ALLEN                           Green

George KUPPAN                   Liberal Democrat
Stephen WORRALL             Liberal Democrat

George WHARMBY              Conservative
Jean WHARMBY                  Conservative

David PHILLIPS                    UKIP

Even weather against library proposal

Ellie Wilcox & Damien Greenhalgh outside the former St Luke's School building on Monday morning

Ellie Wilcox & Damien Greenhalgh outside the former St Luke’s School building on Monday morning

A controversial Derbyshire County Council planning meeting being held to decide the fate of the Glossop Library site was postponed yesterday (Monday), due to snow.  However, Labour’s candidates Damien Greenhalgh and Ellie Wilcox were still present at the former St. Luke’s School site at 10 o’clock, when the original site visit was planned to go ahead.

Damien Greenhalgh said, ‘It seems that even the weather is against this proposal. Though the cancellation was very last minute, we understand that the roads around Derbyshire have been left particularly treacherous due to the wintery conditions.  Nevertheless, we were still there to support the voice of the local community regarding the fate of Glossop Library.’

Hadfield and Padfield Borough Councillor Ellie Wilcox added, ‘It’s unfortunate that Damien and I were not able to air our views in the council chamber, but we did at least get the opportunity to speak with members of SOUL and other members of the public.  It’s clear that this issue is not going away, and when the planning meeting is re-scheduled, we will be there to make sure that the views of local people are properly represented.’

A date has not yet been confirmed for the re-scheduled meeting, however the Chair of Derbyshire County Council’s Planning Committee stated that the application will be brought back to the committee at a date and time to be determined.

Tomorrow is D-Day

Screen Shot 2013-03-24 at 22.39.07

Tomorrow is decision day for the hastily thrown together plans for the demolition of the former St Luke’s School on Talbot Street which currently serves as the area office for the County’s social workers and the erection of a new building of questionable design.

Derbyshire County County’s Regulatory – Planning Committee is meeting tomorrow to decided upon the County Council’s application to demolition and replace  the former St Luke’s building – details can be found here.

As part of the committee’s deliberations, there will be a site visit to the Talbot Road site at approximately 10am.

I believe many residents and members of SOUL will be there to try and make representations to the committee’s chair as will Ellie and I.

These representation can unfortunately only be points on the merit of the planning  application in isolation i.e. not mention of the future of Victoria Hall if the library is moved out nor whether this top down plan from Mr Lewer in County Hall is what the people of Glossopdale want.

So I hope to see you there if you are coming.

490 objections -vs- 1 in favour

Ellie & Damien @ LibraryLabour County Council Candidate Damien Greenhalgh says that he is “flabbergasted” at the recommendation from the County’s Planning Officer on the new Glossop Library planning application.

Following an open letter to planning chiefs last week, Mr Greenhalgh says that of 491 public representations there was only one in favour. Even more concerning, he says that respected national organisations such as English Heritage and The Victorian Society have had their representations dismissed, along with many residents objections because it is claimed they refer to Victoria Hall too rather than to the application itself.

His County Council running mate, Padfield and Hadfield Borough Councillor Ellie Wilcox, says that she and Damien intend to make direct representations to the planning committee at their Matlock meeting on 25th March.

 

“There are many reasons to be outraged at the lack of consultation and the failure of the County Council to take part in the Glossop Halls consultation exercise, but planners have to focus on planning matters.”

 

“In that respect it is appropriate to suggest that the proposed building is completely out of keeping with the surrounding architecture. If it had the design merit of the adjacent Adult Education Centre, then it might be acceptable, but this is more like a superstore than a building for the 21st Century.”

“In light of the huge public outrage at the proposal, it would be proper for the elected members of the planning committee to defer a decision.”

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

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

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.

Selection, the return of…

Labour Party members from across the Glossopdale gathered together at a hustings event at Glossop Labour Club last night to put the candidates shortlisted for the county council selection to one final test before picking a new candidate.

I am happy to be able to report that at that meeting I was selected, with more than two-thirds of the vote, as the second of two of Glossopdale Labour’s prospective candidates for the Glossop and Charlesworth county council seat in the 2013 elections, joining the wonderful Maggie Mooney. A team that will offer the right mix of youth and experience.

I am delighted to have been selected – it’s a huge honour and privilege, but now the work really starts to make sure that we win  this seat for Labour to return fairness to County Hall with a Labour Administration in May 2013.

I would just like to thank those that came and caste their vote on such a cold and wet Friday evening, those that sent messages of support in advance and afterwards, Anthony McKeown – the procedural secretary – for his organisation of it and of course Roger Wilkinson for his friendly competition.

Smiles all round: Damien after the vote with Derbyshire County Party Secretary Joe Murphy (L) and County Councillor Dave Wilcox (R)