Caldergate - The unanswered questions.
Last week I emailed the Chief Executive of Calderdale requesting that the outstanding ‘Creer Report' be made public. (My email and his response are included as comments after this entry). I am left to assume that the result is the Courier article, which I read before receiving a circular letter to all Councillors and Senior Officers. Clearly the Code of Recommended Practice does not extend to the usual courtesies and formalities which are common in business and other walks of life.
http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/Official-39did-not-lie39-over.3975185.jp
Much is made in the press report about the allegations of fraud and presenting false evidence being unfounded, perhaps only in the minds of the objector. These were in my mind only headline issues and not fundamental to the real issue about the ill-fated development plans for Sugden's Mill.
The biggest questions remain unanswered.....
- Why did the Tory cabinet fail to do a proper job and evaluate Officer recommendations before meekly and wrongly, according to Creer, proceed to confirm the CPO in the first place?
- Why did the Council, if so convinced about their scheme for Sudgen's, not ensure that the necessary and required land was purchased before proceeding further?
- Having decided not to purchase the site, why did the Council doggedly pursue plans to build an outdated scheme in the face of massive public opposition?
- Why was the scheme's overall financial implications, which caused the Council's own expert witness to exclaim: " to proceed with this scheme would be bonkers", so badly managed?
- Being fully aware of the massive road congestion problems within Calderdale as a whole and particularly in Brighouse, why was a scheme which involved closing off a major and important road in the town so relentlessly pursued?
Comments: 2
: 0
I write as one of the elected members for Rastrick ward which
includes the Woodhouse area; both parts of the ward would have been gravely
effected should the closure of Mill Royd Street been implemented.
Presently I am busily occupied distributing local election
material and this is bringing me into daily personal contact with many
resident voters on the doorstep. As a result, conversations have arisen that
indicate that the attempted closure of the aforementioned street created a
fair amount of bad feeling. It seems that this has been engendered by the
general impression that the majority view against closure was totally ignored
by the Council. Furthermore, even though the project has been now abandoned, a
great number of voters remain curious as to the outcome of the Creer Inquiry
Their curiosity appears somewhat reinforced by the fact that the Inquiry was
instigated by the Council to allay deep public concerns and was heralded to be
available before Christmas 2007. I know and am able to confirm to my ward
constituents that the Inquiry report was paid for with taxpayer*s money and
delivered by motorcycle messenger to your desk on Tuesday 12th February.
Clearly I am sorely disadvantaged when faced with queries of the
reports findings and, of necessity, call upon you now to publish this report
in order to allow closure of this issue on behalf of my constituents.
Yours sincerely,
Paul,
Cllr Paul Rogan, Rastrick ward, English Democrats
Thank you for your correspondence and I note your request for the report to be published. I will provide you with a more detailed response to your request within the next four working days.
Sincerely,
Owen Williams
Chief Executive
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