Councillor resigns over 'appalling restrictions and influence'

A parish councillor from Handforth has resigned because she felt she was not allowed to serve the residents of Handforth and function equally as a parish councillor on Handforth Parish Council (HPC).

Patricia Page, who was elected as a Labour councillor in May 2011, resigned on January 24th because "discussions held behind closed doors prior to Handforth Parish Council's public meetings meant that decisions had already been made and there was no room for public, or even full council scrutiny".

Ms Page resigned when she discovered that meetings were taking place, connected with the Local Plan consultation, that she was not being informed about.

The draft Development Strategy (also referred to as the Local Plan) includes proposals to build a new settlement of up to 2300 homes on green belt land to the east of the A34 bypass, along with 5ha of employment land, and supporting infrastructure such as a local retail centre, new secondary and primary schools, leisure facilities, open space and sports pitches.

In addition the draft document proposes that a further 200 new houses would be built within Handforth itself, though the sites have not yet been identified, and 50 homes on land adjacent to Coppice Way.

Patricia also felt the Parish Council backtracked on their plans to leaflet all Handforth residents about the Local Plan consultation, and its impact on Handforth, following a "private' meeting with the Leader of Cheshire East Council, Cllr Michael Jones.

On January 16th ward councillors and members of HPC formed a working group to put a leaflet and questionnaire together for Handforth residents. 6000 copies of the pack were to be printed, which comprised of a four page leaflet and questionnaires. These were to be delivered by HPC, Hands off Handforth GreenBelt Residents Group and volunteers to every household, as well as being put on display at various shops, pubs, churches and on a stall at the Artisan Market.

Patricia told wilmslow.co.uk that the leaflets had been designed and approved by full council on Monday 21st January. Then at a meeting on Monday 28th January, which had been arranged for the questionnaire to be approved, a decision was taken to delay until after a meeting with Cllr Michael Jones took place on January 29th.

Following this meeting, plans to send the drafted leaflet and questionnaire were dropped and replaced with a flyer, dated 30th January, inviting residents to the public meeting which took place at Handforth Youth Centre on Tuesday, 5th February, and was attended by Cllr Michael Jones and Adrian Fisher, Strategic Planning & Housing Manager at CEC.

Patricia explained "I believed I was working for, and should truly represent the wishes and needs of the residents of Handforth. I did not sign up to dictate to Handforth residents nor to be unduly influenced by councillors or Cheshire East Council. I wouldn't be presumptuous enough to believe that I could represent the people of Handforth without consulting with them first."

She added "Everybody should be allowed to have a fair share and if the majority rules, decisions were being made that I felt were morally wrong and they made my position impossible as I could not truly, honestly and with good conscience serve the people of Handforth under these appalling restrictions and influence."

Tags:

Handforth Parish Council, Local Plan