By-election: Philip Barton stands as Conservative candidate

This is all very plausible but I am struggling to appreciate the Conservative's recent record on Planning and Development matters and the Wilmslow Vision. They have been "led by the nose" by local Dean Row and Wilmslow residents through the identification of Brownfield sites in order to reduce the number of houses required.
I note that there is a connection to the Conservative WTC and Cheshire East Council through his sons and that Philip Barton is not a local Dean Row resident.
I firmly believe that Dean Row's best interest will be served by an Independent representative who has local issues as a priority and is closely in tune with the strength of feeling of all local residents. Vote Enstone!!

Phil with his political experience will be a good councillor and fit in well with the Dean Row team and the Council generally He understands the planning problems and knows the effort by WTC in getting residents of Wilmslow involved in the consultation process for the local plan and the WTC recommendations for the reduction in housing that should be incorporated by the planning authority..Phil realises the many issues involved in local government and has assured me of his support in one close to my heart since my time as a Cheshire East councillor, looking after the more mature of our Wilmslow residents,

Mr Barton may have many virtues, but the fact is that this is an intensely local election and it seems to me self - evident that the interests of Dean Row residents are likely to be best served by a Dean Row resident. Bearing in mind the numerous and widely publicised failings in "party political" democracy at various levels in Cheshire East, it seems equally obvious to me that an independent candidate is desirable.

If successful, three councillors of the same family on the Council? A patriarchy?

Phil's election statement above appears to give the impression that Wilmslow Town Council were spear-heading the fight against development in the green-belt. That certainly is not my recollection, indeed, WTC appeared to be on the back foot right from the very launch of the Wilmslow "Vision" and it was only when they saw the overwhelming support from the separate groups which became Residents of Wilmslow that they belatedly got the message.
Clearly a one-party Council does not work, clearly the new Councillor should live in Dean Row and clearly that Councillor should be Independent.

The Conservative candidate for the Dean Row WTC by-election is being more than a little disingenuous, is guilty of manipulating and rewriting historical facts. The housing figures he mentions, 1500 originally planned reduced to 400 and the search for and priority use of brownfield sites are not the work of the Conservative Wilmslow Town Council at all. The figures and the hard work entailed have all come from Residents of Wilmslow, of which Phil Enstone is the Dean Row candidate. WTC has been only too grateful and willing to accept RoWs work, numbers and consultations with CEC and now sees fit to stab RoW in the back! Without RoW's tireless and diligent work Wilmslow would be in a tumultuous mess on this issue.

It is noted that the Conservative candidate makes no mention whatsoever of the over 150,000 square feet of empty office space in the town, including over 10,000 sq feet at Royal London. However, he does state that Wilmslow's building requirements could be achieved "with minimal Green Belt impact". Taking these two elements together, would imply he is all for sacrificing some Green Belt to accommodate Royal London's desire to destroy its Green Belt, in line with Wilmslow Town Council's Conservatives' strategy. This gentleman does not speak with an independent mind or thought, just an extension of the arrogance of our Conservative WTC.

Residents of Wilmslow and Phil Enstone are totally opposed to any Green Belt development.

For an independent local voice, one that will be the first step in restoring some credibility to WTC, one that will speak for Dean Row, is of Dean Row and who will put Wilmslow at large first before petty, local, party politics, it must be Phil Enstone who deserves your vote.

Wilmslow, this could be the genisis of a wholesale change for our town, a shot across the bows of the complacent and arrogant ruling clique that is WTC - Vote Phil Enstone.

Having read Cllr Crockatt's remarkable comments above I feel moved to speak out again. Cllr Crockatt sings the praises of his candidate because "He understands the planning problems and knows the effort by WTC in getting residents of Wilmslow involved in the consultation process for the local plan and the WTC recommendations for the reduction in housing that should be incorporated by the planning authority...". I am staggered, surely it was RoW who led WTC every step of the way?
To jog Cllt Crockatt's memory, it was the Wilmslow-wide local groups, now known as Residents of Wilmslow, that organised residents meetings, outlined & explained to residents just what Cheshire East was planning, and at their expense. Where was WTC and what was WTC doing while this was happening? RoW was thanked by a number of WTC councillors for organising public support, as one councillor said "We (WTC) could not have done this, thank you RoW". Cllr Crockatt also misstates "the WTC recommendations for the reduction in housing that should be incorporated by the planning authority"
WTCs thoughts for reductions of housing numbers are not WTCs numbers, but are RoWs.

I am not a resident of Dean Row but I urge the voters of Dean Row to read the relevant planning experience of their Independent candidate here: http://bit.ly/16Cip9B

This is the first opportunity for the electorate to show WTC at the ballot box exactly how they feel regarding their performance to date; the people spoke regarding the ludicrous proposal to spend £12000+ on a chain of office (Cllr Crockatt's idea) and the Council was forced to back down; hopefully they will listen to the people again, when an Independent candidate is elected to break their monopoly.

Manual Goulding appears to support the Adlington road Development as this is not Greenbelt but within the existing land scheduled for development.
Not true of course but neither are most of his comments.

Dear Mr Barton, I assume that your comment above refers to Manuel Golding, rather than "Manual Goulding". Please could you explain properly what you mean by it? I find it rather difficult to understand your meaning.

Many thanks, Thomas.

This election is being fought on words and semantics.
It may be late in the election process but a Dean Row voter may be able to book a local venue for a public 'meet the ward WTC candidates' meeting either Tues or Wed and question the candidates on a range of issues.

Prospective candidates, keep next Tue & Wed evenings free

Mr Barton seems to think that Manuel Golding’s comments were untrue! I can assure him they are not!

Together with residents of Dean Row I helped establish a small (and now fast growing) organisation named ‘Friends of Dean Row’ following the release of the Wilmslow Vision proposals in early 2012.

We should remind residents that this important strategy for the future development of Wilmslow was signed off by the Conservative Council and turned out to be an absolutely inaccurate and flawed shambles. With the Council’s blessing £30,000 of Wilmslow residents’ money was spent by the global architecture practice consultants Broadway Malyan. This major Vision for the town was released very quietly via the Town Council’s website without any other promotion whatsoever and during a month containing the Easter school holidays. Due to complete incompetence the Vision brochures and questionnaires were in short supply and ran out after two weeks. The consultation period therefore had to be extended by a further month. 1,500 houses were unscientifically proposed in greenbelt areas all around the perimeters of Wilmslow. No allowance for brownfield sites, windfalls or the use of empty office space was mentioned in this report. The stakeholders chosen for focus groups fell well short of being representative of Wilmslow residents.

It was during this time that as well as ‘Friends of Dean Row’, a number of other action groups were formed. When we made ourselves known at the launch exhibition at the Leisure Centre in May 2012 we were welcomed with open arms by several Councillors desperate for help in fighting off the developers and defending the greenbelt and ‘safeguarded’ land. This was curious as it was our Councillors who allowed the Vision proposals to go forward with the 1,500 houses target. Cynics may suggest that this could have been done on purpose in order to allow for subsequent shrinkage.
I wonder?

It was left, however, to the resident groups to raise awareness, challenge the many flaws in the Vision document and encourage residents to respond to the questionnaires. These actions resulted in about 1,400 questionnaires to be completed – a record number for Cheshire East with 84% of Wilmslow residents against any development on greenbelt.

Residents of Wilmslow, not our Conservative Council or Cheshire East Council, visited every street and corner of the town seeking potential brownfield or windfall house building sites. Empty offices were researched and listed. Meetings were held with Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council, Adrian Fisher, Cheshire East’s Chief Planning Officer and Councillors from Wilmslow Town Council and all our findings shared. It was the Residents of Wilmslow who found over 1,100 brownfield sites and 150,000 square feet of empty offices in the town.

Do not let Wilmslow Town Council let anyone think that it was they who reduced the 1,500 houses projected in the Wilmslow Vision plans to the now 400 houses. It was as a direct result of painstaking work and research by the Residents of Wilmslow who presented the facts the Council’s couldn’t or wouldn’t provide!

In truth Wilmslow now has sufficient brownfield sites, windfall sites or empty office space to provide those 400 houses, and more, without rolling back the greenbelt or even using the ‘safeguarded’ land on Adlington Road in Dean Row. Why isn't there one single Wilmslow Councillor who agrees with us and supports our cause when the vast majority of all their constituents do?

What Dean Row Ward and Wilmslow need in the forthcoming Council election on 22nd August is the champion we and the town haven’t had yet! What Dean Row Ward needs is Phil Enstone!

Phil Enstone is big in business and big in the experience Wilmslow needs right now. He’s used to dealing with planners, developers, architects and builders in his nationwide job for the NHS. He’s far from being a ‘one issue’ candidate and he’s the non-political independent voice for the whole of Wilmslow.

Oh! And as a Councillor for Dean Row, I can tell you truthfully Mr Barton, he’ll be far more interested in results than regalia!!

Martin Lewis- Friends of Dean Row

I am appalled at the comments of Pete Taylor. WTC were asked to ensure that the resident of Wilmslow were aware of the consultation for the new Local Plan so they arranged meetings for this purpose, one of the first at the Leisure Centre. WTC led the process throughout.
Cannot understand the comment about regalia. This was certainly not my idea, I was chairman at the time and could not have such ideas. Further I took no part in the discussions on this subject, this was left to the task group appointed for this purpose. I would recommend that information like this should be verified for correctness before being published.

The fact is that it is very difficult to "verify for correctness" because of the conflicting statements emanating from various quarters. For example, Mr Barton states, "The planning threat to Dean Row is on the north side of Adlington Road, which was 'safeguarded' for development in 1988 and has risen to the top of the list". The Macclesfield Land Plan was adapted as "altered plan" on 8th January 2004 and was designed to cover the period through to 2011. Section 4.22 of this Land Plan specifically points out that nothing can be permitted which prejudges the situation. It does seem to me that Mr Barton arguing that the safeguarded land has "risen to the top of the list" is prejudging the situation. The Macclesfield Land Plan also makes it clear that because it cannot be prejudged "that would not rule out, for example, its use as an open space." It does seem to me that the definition used for "safeguarded" land by Cheshire East is conveniently flexible.

Jim, may I refer you to the comment from Martin Lewis, immediately preceding your?
With regard to regalia, I think it might be timely to remind electors of the June 18th edition of Wilmslow.co.uk

http://bit.ly/13T4DLC

Mr Crockatt I am one of your more mature voters. We your electorate are not asking for anything other than Wilmslow Town Council carrying out the wishes of the majority of the respondents to the Cheshire East Consultation process in that you do not spend our money unwisely nor change the beautiful environment that is Wilmslow. Sorry Paul Sorry Jim. We will be voting Enstone.

Some finely,well rehearsed and well tuned words from the Conservative run WTC but I sense more than a touch of desperation. Interesting that Phil Barton thinks Manuel Goulding (no such person) is telling lies. I have been working at ground level in order to protect Wilmslow from further unnecessary development since the publication of the now discredited "Wilmslow Vision." I have been at every public meeting, every meeting with Michael Jones, Leader of CEC and Adrian Fisher, Chief Planning Officer, and have visited every identified brown site within Wilmslow, those in the Greenbelt and every site put to public consultation in order to create the Strategy Plan. In the light of this work I feel I am in a position to present some facts:

> How the number of houses required in Wilmslow became reduced is best represented in Martin Lewis' comment above;
> The figure 400 is dependent on the development of Handforth East Village on land opposite Marks and Spencer, along the A34 bypass road;
> My figures tell me that 191 houses have been built on brown sites in Wilmslow since April 2010 representing the possibility that close on 1000 houses could have been built on brown sites by the year 2030 (Not 2025);
> My figures tell me that, with a change in planning policies, greater imagination and pro-activity on the part of CEC and WTC, thus demonstrating a real desire to protect the Greenbelt, well on the way to 1000 houses could be built on brown sites in Wilmslow today;

I read with interest that Philip Barton and WTC "cannot play King Canute." Thus, I have to accept that I can only expect the best of a bad job from them in representing Wilmslow. I would prefer someone who will vigorously and intellectually challenge the status-quo and put an end to zombie repetition of failed policy and practice. Listening to our local councillors I pick up all sorts of messages:

> The Waitrose store in Church Street is an ideal site for apartments;
> The current Leisure Centre is an ideal site for a super store;
> The Wilmslow High School site is an ideal one for the Leisure Centre and the library;
> The Greenbelt behind Royal London is an ideal site for mixed development, 75 houses, more offices and a hotel - commercial development being of prime importance to the future wealth of the town (this despite the windfall opportunities opened up by Astra Zeneca moving away from Alderley Park);
> 108 houses are not possible on the site of the long gone Bollin Cross School. It does not belong to CEC and this site, having been cleared of buildings, is no longer brown; it has returned to the Greenbelt (For information it is a recent addition to the Strategic Land and Housing Availability Audit, SHLAA, thus one is lead to believe the land is being made available by the owners);

There is much more well cataloged evidence but the people of Dean Row need to make up their minds. This is not a political decision they are called to make but one that has everything to do with how the future of Wilmslow is being shaped, the physical environment and the quality of life for those living here. I know who I would vote for and hope that RoW field a candidate when my ward comes up for grabs.

Once again Councillor Crockatt is being selective with the truth over WTC's part in the Vision, It was produced in WTC's name, WTC was given the task to distribute the brochure etc ........... and that was it.

Please do tell us which "arranged meetings" WTC organised.

Where? When? Certainly long after Residents of Wilmslow and its constituent members had held local meetings and after the RoW Leisure Centre gathering. Cllr Crockatt, at best the council you led as Chairman was way, way behind the curve - all the way along you have been following in RoWs tail and now you and your WTC group are claiming to be the vanguard of Wilmslow disquiet on this very issue.

However, on the issue of "regalia-gate" you were most certainly at the front. That I will not dispute! Pete Taylor raises an interesting point with regard to the WTC "regalia-gate" attempt at petty posturing - with our money!

Having looked up the 18th June article, as Pete suggested, published in this journal, I came across these highlighting quotes of various members of WTC, in all their self delusional glorification.

One thing for sure, Councillor Crockatt needs a further refresher course. Below is just what he and others had to say on the expenditure of over £12700 of tax payers brass:-

Cllr Adrian Bradley said "We have at last the opportunity to take steps towards Wilmslow Town Council receiving the recognition it deserves." - Oh dear, how we crave recognition!
Speaking about the quality of the regalia he was proposing, Cllr Bradley added "We were mightily impressed. It was wonderful and the price far more reasonable than we expected. Price is important but the regalia will last 30, 40 years - even 100 years has been mentioned - and it will remain an asset to the Council." - Great asset indeed!

Cllr Gary Barton commented "This is an asset for the Council so it is not money that's disappeared but money transferred into assets. I think the investment is well made and at a sensible price." - Yet another asset! And now his father wishes to join Garry and his brother on WTC, which would make three (3) members of one family on the council - the family would represent 20% of the council!

(Chairman of the Council) Cllr Jim Crockatt said "I think we'd do well to invest in this regalia because in my two years (as Chairman) getting round to the various towns and villages in the county it was pretty obvious that what I was wearing was a fob. I think it is an investment for the future, it is like putting money in the bank, it is not money that is going to be frittered away. I think a chain like this will increase in value over years and think it will be a worthy investment of the Council." - Putting money in the bank, eh Cllr Crockatt? Whose money? Which bank? Cllr Crockatt believes he is playing with Monopoly money and using The Toy Town Bank!

Thanks Pete for highlighting just how cavalier our current WTC councillors are with other peoples' money.

I must add here that Councillor Christopher Dodson did vote against spending and purchasing unneeded regalia in these cash strapped times.

Mr. Barton, I am tempted to comment here on your misspelling of both my names. Before writing anyones names it is always a good idea to ensure you have the correct spelling, otherwise could be construed as an insult by the other party. Heaven forbid! As a rule of etiquette it is always polite to address people by their correct name and spell their name correctly. You have made two lazy and ignorant blunders with both my names! Are we, perhaps, to deduce these elements as being a true part of you? Your incorrect spelling of both my names, writ large above all correspondence here, leaves me to doubt you have actually read my comments

Not a very good advert for your ability to read and take in facts as simple and basic as this. What does that say about your other 'abilities'? If you are unable to take in a simple fact, as demonstrated,  how on earth are the electors of Dean Row and the wider Wilmslow public going to have any faith in your skills understanding planning or any other issues that may come before you?

How on earth are you able to say I could possibly support the development of the Adlington Road safeguarded site? As you know full well, as do the other Conservatives on and associated with WTC, I have been to the forefront of the fight to save these very fields from the developer's shovel, as I have been with the Green Belt around Wilmslow. As has Residents of Wilmslow, including Phil Enstone.

What an incredible leap of desperate wishful thinking on your part!
 
Once again, I will reiterate for your benefit, all the housing figures you are banding around, 400 new builds in Wilmslow reduced from 1500, the search and research for brownfield sites within the town, the finding of over 150000 sq ft of empty office space are all the work and effort of Residents of Wilmslow, not the WTC and certainly not by you.
 
At the Leisure Centre meeting, organised by RoW, not please note WTC, a couple of Wilmslow Town councillors congratulated me and Residents of Wilmslow generally for all the public effort RoW had put into bringing the Vision & its consequences to the Wilmslow public, "Thank you and RoW for all you are doing to bring the issue to the public, we at WTC could not have done this".

RoW organised other public meetings, RoW galvanised the local public, not WTC, not the local Conservatives. And now you and your friends, and family, on WTC have the gall to try to claim RoWs results, from our efforts not yours, are your own. Chutzpah will hardly cover the disinformation you and your Conservative group are broadcasting! I would call your efforts simply cheap, low level propaganda.

As you know full well Mr. Barton it is the Conservative WTC that advocates development on some of our Green Belt, which, by association, you obviously agree with. Well you haven't disassociated yourself from it - you therefore "appear(s) to support" the development of some of our most valuable Green Belt protection.

Phil Enstone and Residents of Wilmslow are absolutely and totally against all development on the Adlington Road safeguarded site and against the development/loss of any of our Green Belt -
Phil Enstone and RoW are fighting to save Adlington Road and the rest of our Green Belt.
Unlike you Mr. Barton and the WTC Conservatives!
The only way to protect both of these aspects is for Dean Row electors to vote for Phil Enstone. 

We residents of Adlington Road have today received from Phil Barton a letter in which he states re Site Bc on Adlington Road 'This site was safeguarded for housing development in 1988 by the former Macclesfield Borough Council and has been vulnerable ever since' Derr ! Re-read the Local Plan Mr B the land is safeguarded FROM development not FOR development and is only to be considered at all if there are no alternative brownfield sites and that it is of overriding benefit to the local residents to build there. This was a stipulation set by the governments own Inspector not MBC.

It is not for me to suggest whom the Constituents of Dean Row should vote for or why. But if I may add my thoughts to the forthcoming election may I wish that the turnout is significantly more than the drab 30%s that are the norm of late. There are issues that separate the competing candidates and perhaps the largest is "where was the Leadership of Wilmslow both CEC and WTC when the Vision was put into the public domain?" Events are now clear that without the continued and prodigious efforts of RoW we would be facing a total of 1500 houses built in green belt.

Perhaps the other most significant issue is the CEC leaked proposals to build on the Rectory Field, demolish the Leisure Centre for a supermarket, build a Lifestyle centre on the School North Playing fields and demolish the Library. Which candidate is going to fight to halt these unwanted and unasked for plans? Your choice electorate of Dean Row, but I know where I would put my money.

It's no surprise that Mr Barton has a ringing endorsement from other Conservative councillors. He does work for the Tatton constiuency and has two sons who are WTC councillors. He doesn't live on Dean Row and won't have  detailed knowledge, unlike Mr Enstone. If elected we will then have three family members on our council, some 20% of the votes. That really does not feel right. I am very uncomfortable about it.  It's a pity that the Conservatives couldn't find a Dean Row resident. (But there again Dean Row CEC councillor, Mr Whiteley doesn't live here and that doesn't feel right either). I wonder how the voting would have gone for buying new mayoral regalia? I suspect it would have been another councillor in favour of the extravagance. This was a fiasco frankly and they ALL should have known better!

WTC was forced to listen to the general public over the "regalia-gate" and we do have a Wilmslow Big Society in action called Residents of Wilmslow. David Cameron must be proud of us!   I and others no doubt in large numbers, have complained to MBC and latterly CEC about signage, flowers, civic pride, the Carrs, tennis courts, Alan Turing recognition etc.  WTC have taken much of this on board and got things to happen. That's all well and good, but trivial when compared with their obedience to CEC over the Vision document. Where's that rebellious streak? They must know developing our green fields is just plain wrong.

 When it comes to the Wilmslow Vision 20 year strategy, the Wilmslow Big Society appalled by the first draft felt it neccessary to form protest groups,forming into RoW, because CEC were proposing 1500 houses  built on our green belt. Outrage and assertive discussion/ meetings reduced this to 400, 20 average builds annually. WTC signed up to this, reacting to local feeling AND followed the work, strategy and actions developed by RoW members. RoW took the lead and a good job too.

RoW have identified sufficient brownfield sites in Wilmslow and promptly presented these,  giving their findings to WTC, CEC and George Osborne. From a position where brown fields weren't even mentioned, they now take priority, ahead of our greenbelt fields. That's now government policy but I'm still convinced that CEC wishes to ignore this strategy for Wilmslow. The RoW work is on going, which is why Mr Enstone is absolutely the right man for WTC. 

 It's possible that a windfall site emerges too, like the ex school on Dean Row or the Lacey Green site. They have in the past and it will happen again. I'm a great believer in reuse of assets, like a refurbished mayoral chain!

As it stands, land off Adlington Road, Bc on the vision map, has been for sale (sold?) with an outline for 250 houses. It would be a dual site with access from the north via Browns Lane for one estate, like Summerfields and to the south from Adlington Road larger properties. A cycle path, emergency services road would head up through Clay Hill Farm. It was designated for house building in 1988 by MBC. Mr Enstone's challenge, if elected, is to continue the resident's fight to delay the use of this land, by identifying brown field opportunities in the town. Also I read in one of these responses of land being returned to greenfield status. Now there's a thought Mr Enstone , WTC and CEC!

Additionally, Mr Enstone will be equally effectively, I'm sure, working on all council matters to improve our quality of life and the vibrancy of our community. And why not? You don't need to be a Conservative Councillor to do this. I'm sure he cares just as much as Mr Barton and perhaps even more about Dean Row. Wilmslow does need an independent voice on our council. Having almost contiguous connections with CEC isn't good for us. We do need to say NO from time to time.

I definitely do not want a councillor 'dropped in' by the Conservative Party. Without Mr Enstone I would  feel disenfranchised.

The  "quote" by Cllrs Crockatt & Brooks -  "By voting for Phil you will gain an able, hard working councillor, who is here for the long term, who wants a town fit for our children and grandchildren and will serve all Dean Row residents." He would certainly be doing that with two of his children on the WTC! He would be the third member of his immediate family on WTC - i.e. the Barton family would represent/control 20% of WTC votes & decision making. Healthy for local democracy? No way.
  
 RoW  called for this election NOT the WTC Conservatives, who would have "shoe-horned"/co-opted their choice onto WTC, with no thought for the Dean Row electorate. The Conservatives would have achieved just what they sort fit for their purpose and CEC.
 
 WTC Conservatives are demonstrating contempt for the democratic process, for Dean Row voters in particular and Wilmslow's electorate at large by selecting a non Dean Row candidate. Has the Cons Party no one in Dean Row to  stand? No, they do not. This proves they were determined to have their man, their choice, onto WTC at all costs.  
 
Above all, RoW's Mr Enstone will be a strong independent voice standing up for the voters of Dean Row and Wilmslow, not a Yes Man for the Conservatives. Do we want more of the same or a truly fresh and independent councillor for Dean Row? I know whom I want.
 
Mr  Enstone is a Dean Row resident of many years standing, who understands the locality, not a "dropped in" outside to bolster both the local Conservative hierarchy and Barton family in particular. He will do a great job.

Mr Barton is not the candidate for me. 

Correction Terry RoW did not call this election, the electors of Dean Row did, because this was the first chance for them to elect a Ward Cllr, rather than have one foisted on them.
RoW may have collected the min 10 voters names, but another Independent potential candidate collected/submitted a further ~30 names, to ensure an election would be held.
This person (non Dean Row ward resident) did not submit candidate papers once aware that RoW had selected a local candidate to stand against the expected Cons nomination.

The best way of monitoring WTC is to attend full WTC and various Committee meetings, which are open to the general public. Wilmslow voters can even comment during the Public Participation session. The next full WTC meeting should be next Mon (pre election).

For me Philip Barton seems very capable but on this issue he is signing cheque's he can't cash.

As part of the Conservative machine, his views will count for little and there will come a time when he is forced to tow the party line "for the greater good".

I am originally from Surrey (also solidly Tory) and saw how local residents associations there were always the ones who fought hardest for local issues, mainly because they had no party affiliation hanging over them.

So, despite being a staunch Conservative myself, I will not be voting for Philip on Thursday.

Mr. Goldsmith is correct in his assertion that Wilmslow at large is almost solidly Tory. Where he says local residents associations do well in localised elections due to such groups not having party affiliations controlling them is also in the main true.

However in the case of Residents of Wilmslow this is not correct. RoW was born as a direct lack of leadership and guidance from the WTC Conservatives. It and they were out of sight in relation to the furore, anger and dismay felt by a very large number of Wilmslow's residents to the horrific attack on the town's Green Belt as shown in the joint CEC and WTC "Vision" document.

The Conservatives were no where to be seen or heard!

Residents of Wilmslow was first into the battle, way, way ahead of the local Conservatives. They have followed in RoWs footsteps ever since, though RoW has always been more than happy to share our research and consultations with them.

Mr. Goldsmith is quite correct when he says a resident group will fight hardest on local issues. This RoW has and is doing, way ahead of the WTC Conservatives.

RoW is apolitical, a large number of our members and supporters, myself included, are life long and instinctive Tory supporters and members. However we are dismayed at the plagiarism of our efforts, to state RoWs research is all the Conservatives and by their sheer contempt for Dean Row voters in hoisting the father, no personal disrespect intended, of two current WTC councillors upon the electorate.This would make three members of one family out of a total of 15 WTC councillors!

The Tories local political antennae most certainly requires an overhaul.

A vote tomorrow for the Residents of Wilmslow independent candidate, Phil Enstone, will be a wake-up call to the Conservative Party across Cheshire East.

Over the last period I have been out and about in Dean Row canvassing for Phil Enstone and have found speaking to people on their doorsteps and in the Precinct enjoyable, rewarding and informative. It has been put to me on a number of occasions that Residents of Wilmslow have only one policy, protection of the Greenbelt and there doesn't appear to be a great deal of difference between the wishes of the two candidates.It has been good to be able to explain this is not the case: Conservative Wilmslow Town Council supports commercial development of the Greenbelt and seems to have no clear plan about the shape of the town centre, seeming to go along with Conservative Cheshire East Council's thinking about moving various buildings around so as to put a super store on the leisure centre site, including the cricket field. Several people have aired their complaints about life in Dean Row: About Dean Row School now being extended to take additional pupils when the school next door was closed down due to a drop in numbers, about the housing development that replaces this school and the parking problems at the beginning and end of the school day. I am told the footpath that runs parallel to the A34 bypass road is so overgrown, including with nettles, that it is increasingly difficult for people to use this way as a link to Wilmslow Town Centre. Steps along the way make it increasingly difficult for young people with prams and push chairs. (An accessibility issue) The childrens' pay area in the Villas is tired and in need of bringing up to date. I hope the people raising these issues and others not mentioned feel they have been given a sympathetic ear and some good advice from me as to how to address their problems and that they now feel very confident that Phil Enstone and Residents of Wilmslow are very much in the business of looking after the people of Dean Row on all issues.

@Manuel Golding

You could also claim that the very creation of WTC was wholly unconservative too.

For my view it created more government, more bureaucracy, more expense and less accountability. See http://bit.ly/1735AUi for an example of how the two authorities now blame each other, while we pay more and get less.

Why would you vote for anyone who thought that was a good idea?

Kathryn Blackburn, I am sorry you are factually incorrect. When the site was safeguarded- it meant it was reserved for the development - that is why it was in the MBC and still current development plan. If RoW are telling you different, either they are ignorant or liars.
If you have other issues to discuss or wish to further discuss the state of the footpaths with me I will be happy

I am a Conservative, I am a Wilmslow resident, I am a hard worker. I hope loyal Conservative voters will support me. I do not expect loyalty, I hope I have earned it from walking the streets of Dean Row talking to people. I have walked - Colshaw, The Villas, Summerfields, the 'RAF' houses, Dean Row Road, Handforth Road, Welland Road, Addlington Road and all roads off. I have worked with the Chamberlain road group about the Wilmslow Tavern and met the Architect today discussing the plans for the place. It will open in October looking like the Bulls head in Handforth. I got the footpath along the A34 strimmed, I have been chasing other paths and works, I attended the CETRA meeting and town council. I have worked 6 hours a day for 5 weeks (Sundays off). That is the level of effort I will also put in to the council.
To hear people talk they think David Cameron probably told the council how many flower pots to install and to hold an Artisan market, a Car Show or to support local groups. They must be orders direct from Conservative HQ or are these things that good well organised Conservatives Councillors do. Coalitions are great just look at how helpful the Lib-Dems are in government!
A vote for me is a vote for:
A local champion to protect our greenbelt from unwanted development
A team player with the interests of Wilmslow at heart
A wide base of skills to apply to serving ALL residents on ALL local issues
A councillor who will listen, communicate and consult in order to deliver value for money, effective local services

What a sorry indictment of one-party politics in local "government" this has turned out to be! Twice now, in his comments here, Mr Barton has called people liars, he seems to have missed the point the RoW stands for Residents of Wilmslow... i.e. it is actually made up of Wilmslow residents, it is not some political organisation of rabid activists; these are the very people who he seeks to SERVE on the Council.
The several separate groups from all parts of the Wilmslow area came about because of inaction by the one-party Town Council; when folks living all over the area realised that many others felt the same way about the lack of action from WTC they came together as an umbrella group RoW. This group is made up of Conservative, Labour, Lib-Dem, Independents, Greens and, for all I know the Scottish Nationalists, they have no whip, no party agenda but they do two things which WTC were not doing- they listen to residents and they take action.

Mr Barton, RoW supporters may have facts incorrect from time to time, as you will too. RoW has fought to influence the future development of Wilmslow and IMHO will continue to do so in a right and proper manner.
David Cameron wants us all to get involved and that's just what is happening.
You have now used liars to describe honorable people. Seems like the action of a desperate man. I have supported the actions of RoW but would be voting for you IF I was convinced that you would really fight tooth and nail NOT to see our green fields built upon. Brownfield sites are still not ahead in the Vision and you don't have the facts. You lost my vote when the word liar was used.
As you have put it in writing Mr Barton, all I would add is, 'beware of a lawyer bearing a writ'.

Mr Barton. You are still not understanding the nature of safeguarded land. It was not "safeguarded for the development" . The relevant document, as I pointed out earlier, made it clear that safeguarded land was simply put aside for the future. Not "for residential development", but to be considered for an alternative use. Indeed the document makes it clear that nothing could be done to pre - judge the situation and that the alternative use might be as "open land". In other words, "Development" in planning terms does not simply mean, "building houses".
As to having walked the streets of Wilmslow, - there are many people, unlike you, who live in Dean Row, and who have walked the streets and spoken to the residents and who work with a wide range of community groups and expect nothing in return.

The electorate of Wilmslow will decide not cyber trolls. The facts of Bc field and who achieved 400 will also emerge. I have no fears.

Thanks Jackie, ignoring the sophistry you prove my point.

Sorry Mr Barton to have caused you to spend this evening spelling out to the good people of Dean Row in great detail how hard you have been working on their behalf when you might have been out and about trumpeting your cause. You will be pleased to know that whilst out this evening I bumped into some people who will be voting for you just because they always vote Conservative. (Personally I will never know why?) However, I do feel the good people of Dean Row should keep in mind the energy you have expended getting around the patch, be concerned for your health and give you a well earned rest by voting for Phil Enstone, Residents of Wilmslow.

See you tomorrow night at the count Mr Barton. Am ready to celebrate or weep at the outcome but will not go away as Residents of Wilmslow will be a very significant player in the future design of Wilmslow both in terms of its physical development and the quality of life for its people.

Cyber trolls! How out of touch with reality is this man?

Unless I mistaken, every single person who has commented here is a member of the "electorate" of Wilmslow.

How not to run for office: look and learn!

Mr. Barton, you really are proving just how inadequate you will be as a councillor - you call respectable committed and concerned Wilmslow voters, your voters, cyber trolls. How can one even start to respect your intellectual ability if this is an example of your bullying attitude? We would expect this level of name calling in the junior school playground - maybe that is where should go.

However, this is just one further example of Wilmslow's Conservative councillors and would-be councillors level of "political" debate and thought process. Just look at these two examples, from amongst many, that RoW has encountered this past two or three weeks:-
1) This from the Dean Row Cheshire East councillor - If RoW is so concerned about the Adlington Road safeguarded site, why does RoW not buy it? Now this is a level of political argument that is almost unsurpassed but it also points out two possible schools of thought about Wilmslow Conservatives a) if they are as equally concerned as RoW is for the preservation of that land then they too could/should buy it OR b) possibly the Wilmslow Conservatives are not really interested in keeping the field free of housing, but are playing Cheshire East's game of destroying our greenery by development.
2) As we know Residents of Wilmslow's candidate, Phil Enstone, is a resident of Dean Row whereas the Conservative candidate is not; he has been "parachuted in" upon the local voters. To counter this problem of their own making, a further Dean Row WTC councillor has "reassured" voters when questioned that the Tory candidate is not a local by saying that this is not a problem as she lives in Dean Row and will therefore be able to tell her candidate all about the Dean Row issues! It beggars belief, it really does.

These are just three examples of the low, puerile even, level of unsophisticated arguments the local Conservatives are offering their very concerned electorate. They are resorting to name calling, childish suggestions to land purchase and the usual "trust me" strategy.

It leaves me and others almost speechless when Dean Row voters tell these tales to us.

The other telling point that makes thinking Tories aghast is the realisation that the Conservative candidate has two sons on the Town's council, he would make three (if elected). They don't like it, it smacks of cronyism, the "old boys" network.

To counter this problem, voters are told the Party could not find anyone at short notice. This is hard to believe; they had ample time to line someone up for the then pending vacancy, well before RoW or anyone else knew of the incumbent's resignation.

Well here is news for the Conservatives - RoW found a very able, willing and very well qualified former county councillor living in Dean Row who had previously indicated to the Party his willingness to stand. Why are you not standing?, we asked. His answer - they didn't call me. Why not you may wonder? It seems fairly obvious the Conservatives had decided who they wanted, even if it would mean three of one family being on the council, at the same time showing arrogance and a high degree of contempt for their Dean Row "ballot box fodder".

Is this cohort of sycophants suitable to be controlling Wilmslow Town Council?

The answer should be and must be a Vote for Phil Enstone - such a vote will send very strong signals to both Wilmslow TC's and Cheshure East's Conservatives that Wilmslow is stirring and the next act will be staged at future elections.

Dear Mr Barton, I have registered my vote for the candidate that hasn't had to resort to name-calling in order to defend his views. "Cyber trolls" indeed, whatever next? "Pea-brains"? Regards, Thomas.

“Politics is the art of looking for trouble,
finding it everywhere,
diagnosing it incorrectly
and applying the wrong remedies.”
Grouch Marx

Oxford Dictionary definition of Cyber-

“relating to or characteristic of the culture of computers, information technology, and virtual reality”

And Troll-

“a deliberately provocative online posting intended to incite an angry response “


It appears Phillip Barton in his own “virtual reality” has successfully posted material to “incite an angry response”

Now whats that phrase i’m looking for........ Oh yes that’s it ..........own goal Philip!

Seems like all those years ago Grouch got it right !!

Mr Barton I asked you to re-read the local plan. You still seem to be unable to grasp the meaning of the word 'safeguard' - a stipulation, circumstance that tends to prevent something undesirable - to protect by a stipulation or precaution. The stipulation and circumstances are made quite clear in the plan. Safeguarded from development until all the Inspectors conditions are met relating to development in the countryside.
Oh and where is Addlington Road I cant find it in Dean Row.

Thank you Nick Jones for your most helpful research of Mr. Barton's politically myopic accusation of his critics as being "cyber trolls". Your summing up as "own goal" is more than adequate.
Thank you also Kathryn Blackburn for pointing out to Mr.Barton that ADDlington Road is not to be found in Dean Row. We must therefore not be surprised he lost his direction and way.

Phil Enstone's Dean Row election victory yesterday was indeed a stunning result, not least amongst Conservative supporters. Phil Enstone and Residents of Wilmslow have been entirely focused on the direction, including Adlington Road, we have needed to take in this election and in the wider scope of Wilmslow's problems. RoW feels confident that Phil Enstone is the right man to lead Wilmslow's defence and we thank the voters of Dean Row for placing their trust in both Phil and RoW.

Congratulations to Mr Enstone; the people of Dean Row have spoken; the people of the rest of Wilmslow will speak at a later date!