Welcome Welcome to the East Wards web site for the Sefton Central Conservatives. Here you can find out what is happening in Molyneux, Sudell and Park wards. Join in our discussion forums and contact the members of the committee. Just click on the information link above.
Tuesday 21 December 2010
Tuesday 21 December 2010 - 09:02:14
Conservatives Winning Green Belt Battle in Lydiate
Alex Orme pledged to readers of the Champion that he would not allow developers to use legal loopholes to build on Green Belt land. He said "We need to change our procedures for granting planning permissions so that inspectors cannot overrule a decision made by elected Councillors. It is simply undemocratic and open to abuse." Lib Dems are sitting on the fence again due to fears that by Sefton not having a policy for building new houses, developers will be able to successfully appeal any planning rejection on this basis. This had occured in Nottingham, however at the time the Labour Government required local authorities to build certain quotas of new houses annually. The Coalition has since scrapped this requirement. We successfully stopped the proposed marina going ahead with the help of local residents, we will need that help again in fighting future developments.
Lib Dem Councillors have failed Lydiate residents again by going too far with their traffic calming measures. The decision to place these measures on Kenyons Lane was taken by Lib Dem Councillors on the Sefton East Area Committee. At the last meeting Cllr Fenton could be heard demanding that traffic islands be made even wider on another road they have needlessly targeted for their traffic calming measures. What is most frustrating is that Tony Robertson has pointed the finger at Council officers rather than his own party who is responsible for it. This is yet another example of how Lib Dems contradict themselves. They agree that we need to make cuts on one hand but waste huge amounts of money on traffic islands no-body wants on the other.
On Wednesday the 15th of September, a historical debate was held in Crosby Civic Hall by Sefton Planning Committee to decide on whether the deeply unpopular development proposal by Sainsbury's would go ahead in Crosby Village. The atmosphere at the meeting was incredible, with residents packing the hall and balcony just to get a glimpse at this eventful meeting. Residents, Conservative Councillors and Shop Keepers received a mass of applause and cheers from the crowd as they delivered passionate speeches and compelling evidence against the Sainsbury's proposal. The Labour Chairman struggled to keep order and eventually caved-in to the mighty will of the vast number of local residents. They cheered on their representatives and booed the Sainsbury's representative who attempted to respond to each case made against their proposal.
Conservative Councillors Martyn Barber and Peter Papworth have long campaigned against this proposed development for some time and make specific objections to the size of the facility that Sainsbury's wish to build. All parties are agreed that Crosby Village requires regeneration but this proposal was clearly unacceptable.
The Liberal Democrats have confused the public by sending out mixed messages over the Sainsbury's Development. Initially they produced a Focus leaflet claiming that they were against the so-called 'Crosbry's' development. They then suddenly changed their minds after the election and fully supported the proposals. On the night of the meeting many residents found their motives behind this move extremely questionable. Especially when pitted against such intense and emotional opposition, they still defied the people to vote in favour of the development. All with the exception of one; Lib Dem Councillor Jim Byrne who abstained. A signal of the Lib Dem retreat to their comfort zone sitting on the fence. Luckily for residents, the Conservative Councillors' leadership on the issue had gained enough support from Labour to win the vote and reject the proposal.
This issue may not directly affect residents in Sefton East, but they should certainly be aware of the true nature of the Lib Dem Councillors who have clearly lost their democratic perspective on who they are supposed to represent.
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