MP George Osborne met with the recently appointed Leader of Cheshire East Council today to discuss the Draft Wilmslow Vision consultation.
The Chancellor visited the Wilmslow Vision exhibition at the leisure centre this morning, having received letters from loads of local residents expressing their concerns about the proposed plans.
Speaking after a private meeting with Cllr Michael Jones, George Osborne said "I think some mistakes have been made in the presentation of the plan but the good news is that local people have had the chance to have their say and Cllr Michael Jones has listened well to local people. I think they are going to get the balance right here."
Speaking about plans for the town centre, George Osborne said "I think the town centre could be greatly improved but I want to see it done in a way that's sensitive to local people where they have had an input."
He added "I very much support improvements to the town centre. They need to be sensitive to people but frankly the town centre needs to be improved. If we can get a theatre and better town centre and leisure facilities I think this is something a lot of people will support.
"When it comes to housing needs we need to make sure that young people can afford to live in the town they grew up in, but we need to allow development to take place.
"This fits in with what we are trying to do nationally, we have got to allow development to take place but it needs to be in accordance with local people's views.
"I want to see new homes for people they can afford but I feel more appropriate sites can be found - but I will leave that to the council to point out where they can be."
When asked again about his views on the Vision, George Osborne commented "The Wilmslow plan felt too much like a plan delivered by consultants and delivered from a high. I think the consultation was poorly handled at first.
"It could have been handled better, it was presented as a fait accompli and it is not that at all. It is all going to change and pretty significantly. That's a credit to the town that so many people got involved.
"In a sense its a victory for local people."
He added "This is not about no change, it is about the right change."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
" It is all going to change and pretty significantly. "
How does he know. Does he have a crystal ball or does he know something that the residents of Wilmslow don't.
i wonder!
If we knew what he was talking about we could start to make considered judgements but all the while Cllr. Jone's proposals are cloaked in half truths and secrecy we only have one option.
We object in principle to moving the library. We object to knocking our Leisure Centre down and we object to loosing our Rectory Fields.
Please show some real sensivity to the Residents of Wilmslow Mr Osborne and get CEC to come out into the open and stop this guessing game which is getting very frustrating. If the Vision exercise was not well prepared or well recieved then any Town Centre schemes are already heading in the same direction.
If what is being hinted at is known then why on earth cannot we be told about it?