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.”

#LabourDoorstep – Leafleting in Old Glossop & Shirebrook Park

After my younger brother offered me his afternoon to  help with the campaigning, how could I refuse?!?
So we got to work delivering hundreds of leaflet on parts of Shirebrook Park and Old Glossop. Thank heavens that the rain clouds that made this morning’s canvassing session such a soggy affair had disappeared making way for blue skies and spring-like sun. Champion.

#LabourDoorstep – Simmondley with Tameside Labour

Today saw a whole lot of Tamside Labour friends come over into Glossopdale to help out with a doorknocking session in Simmondley despite the horrible weather. Which we greatly appreciate!!

2013.03.16 - Simmondley with Tameside Labour
Simmondley is traditionally a Tory ward – currently with two Tory Borough Councillors -but we found there was a lot of support for us. In the region of about 60:40 but more worryingly if you are a Tory that is as Cllr John Taylor (Deputy Leader of Tameside Council) pointed out “today’s canvass clearly shows the traditional Tory voters deserting the party in droves, with UKIP picking up many of them”.
It was also commented upon – and appreciated – that we were the only party doing anything in the area with this canvassing session being or third/fourth return to the area in the last 6 months.

#LabourDoorstep – Leafleting in Charlesworth

This afternoon saw Ellie and I leaflet a village of Charlesworth.
The views across and down the Glossop valley from there are stunning, especially with the grey, misty, low lying rain clouds that were passing through (as seen below from Haydn Drive).

Haydn Drive, Charlesworth

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