PaulRogan

Have the Tories jumped in with both feet and the only water on the site will be the tears of disappointment flooding through Brighouse?

Remember, the Council, no doubt under instructions from the Tory leader and her cabinet, did not consult with other Councillors, the public or stakeholders in the selection of the site for the new pool.

A clear indication to many that the Tories did not wish to dilute the advantage of the news, which features substantially in their campaign material and leaflets.

Now we hear rumored that the tennis courts site is a ‘no go' with the Environment Agency. The apparent use of Council resources to boost Tory election hopes may now be seen as just another demonstration of the complacent leadership and lack of strategic thinking of the last 7 years of Tory control in Calderdale.

There is still time on Thursday for voters, especially in Rastrick to send a clear message to the Tories that they have been found out. Putting Party before People is not what the People want.

Published and promoted by Paul Rogan on behalf of David Stevenson and B&C English Democrats, all at 363 Stainland Rd, Stainland, HX4 9HF

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?

Would Brighouse be better in Kirklees than Calderdale?

The Press Release issued by Brighouse Forward following the Open Forum Meeting in February 2008 is the only written statement on the subject.

There have now been three newspaper articles since.

Huddersfield Examiner, (28 Feb 08 )  http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2008/02/28/let-brighouse-join-kirklees-says-councillor-86081-20533271/

Yorkshire Post, (24 March 08 )  http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Row-as-top-Tory-urges.3907402.jp

Halifax Courier, (25 March 08 )  http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/Call-for-Brighouse-to-switch.3909245.jp?CommentPage=2&CommentPageLength=10#comments

A number of comments attributed to me in these articles were in fact not made by me and do not constitute my personal views. Most certainly I am not a ‘top Tory' as stated in one particular article. Therefore, for the sake of absolute clarity I wish to state that I have no personal position on whether Brighouse should leave Calderdale and join Kirklees. Many will know, that if this were to happen, I would automatically be unable to represent Rastrick ward, as I would then reside in another Authority area.

My reading of the present situation in Brighouse and Rastrick is that the electors feel they have been shabbily treated over the past 30 years. That a re-amalgamation with Kirklees could not be any worse, given Calderdale's perceived past record. And, that a change could only bring improvement in the eyes of local residents.

Very shortly now the elector's views will be solicited and they will have the final say.

We are all aware of the Secretary of State's decision regarding the Council's plans for Sugdens in Brighouse. The Secretary of State refused to confirm a compulsory purchase order, which would have resulted in the Sugdens site being redeveloped as retail sheds and in Mill Royd Street being closed. Many people in Rastrick consider the announcement of the £6million to be spent on swimming pools in the Borough to be either pre-election spin or smoke and mirrors. Could the Leader please help to dispel such cynical comments by giving clear answers to the following questions?

1. An outside solicitor (Mr Creer) was appointed at the beginning of December to look into allegations that false evidence had been presented to the Compulsary Purchase Inquiry. A report was promised by Christmas. Has anybody had sight of Mr Creer's report yet either in draft or final?

2. When will all Elected Members have sight of it?

3. Exactly what proportion of the headlined £6million is specifically intended to be invested in Brighouse pool?

4. Do you agree that Brighouse should have the first and major call on the capital investment for new pools as it is the only one of the three areas which had a swimming pool and now does not, for whatever reasons?

5. Do you accept that the timing of the announcement made about the investment in pools, at the very least in Brighouse/Rastrick and Sowerby Bridge may be thought by some to be politically motivated?

6. At what time do you consider it appropriate for the Council to respond to requests from the Brighouse Area Voluntary Sector to publicise proper details of the Council's plans for the wider community?

7. What are the Council's costs to date in the matter of the Sugdens compulsory purchase inquiry and have all those costs been reimbursed by the developer in accordance with the terms of the development agreement?

This month's e-newsletter (Rastrick Voice from the English Democrats) is in the process of being emailed out to community and voluntary groups, associations & bodies in Rastrick ward. Anybody reading this, who would like to either receive a copy or be added to the distribution list, please send an email to voice@rastrick.org.uk.