Just be Honest with regard to Staffordshire Moorlands (High Peak Liberal Democrats)

High Peak Liberal Democrats <info@highpeaklibdems.org.uk>

Just be Honest with regard to Staffordshire Moorlands

July 9, 2009 12:00 AM

Information has emerged that makes it clear the takeover of the High Peak by Staffordshire Moorlands is now almost complete.

The residents of the High Peak have every right to know what exactly is going on. The Tory-run administration must make a full, honest statement of where we currently stand and what their long term plans are.

'Rumours have started to leak out about the proposed sale of the Chinley Council Offices. I had a bad feeling that a deal had already been done behind closed doors' said local councillor Steve Sharp.

He added ' A number of sites have been inspected to see if they are suitable to host council meetings, which include Buxton and New Mills Town Hall's and Chapel School. Only this week it has emerged that our Joint Chief Executive has inspected the facilities at Leek and feels ' they are ideal to host council meetings'.

We need a full, formal statement from the Tories on their intentions; and we must demand a vote on being governed from Leek.

For those old enough to remember the last Local Government re-organisation in 1974 under the Tories, the High Peak was sold down the river. I for one am not going to sit idly by and watch history repeat itself.

The one basic fact is the most western part of the High Peak is certainly in the wrong region. We are nothing to do with the East Midlands. All our transport, economic, health and leisure links gravitate to Stockport and Manchester. It is so obvious it shouldn't need stating.

I personally think that the Tories will be waiting until after the General Election, hoping they win and then going to the Secretary of State asking for the formation of a unitary authority with Staffordshire Moorlands. They will use the pretext that it is 90% in place already.

It is now time for an open and honest debate with all to have their say, none more than the residents of the High Peak. I for one certainly do not want to be part of a novel new arrangement being governed from Leek.