by David Skentelbery
MEMBERS of the campaign group fighting to save Walton Hall and Gardens from development as a luxury hotel complex have made a last ditch attempt to persuade Warrington Borough Council’s executive board to delay any decision on the future of the site.
They have written to every member of the board urging them not to rush into a decision which might be regretted later.
The board meets at the Town Hall on Monday at 6.30pm when members will be recommended by officers to continue discussions with a “potential partner” – Contessa Hotels to agree a detailed development agreement and lease and a draft master plan as a basis for public consultation.
But in their letter, the Save Walton Gardens Campaign, ask councillors to agree nothing more at this stage than to carry out detailed and wide-ranging consultation with the public.
Campaign spokesman Mark Winstanley says a critical element of the process is that the public are consulted and fee they have been involve in any development which might take place in future. Unfortunately, he adds, this is not how things appear to be evolving.
The letter is strongly critical of the fact that part of Monday’s debate will be held in private session, after the press and public have been excluded.
“The council is seemingly intent on appointing a developer to carry out a development where the public have not had a proper chance to be involved.
“That all smacks of a token approach to consultation with the council paying lip service to obtaining the views of the public.”
Mr Winstanley urges the board to deal with the whole matter in public.
If, however, the board decides to exclude the press and public, he says he hopes they will explain how it has concluded that it is in the public interest for the matter to be considered behind closed doors.
Last ditch attempt to save Walton Hall
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
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Warrington Borough Council will tell protestors that they listened to them and announce that they have taken on board their comments and will not proceed with anything untilt here has been a full public consultation.
They will then go ahead and do the deal which has already been privately agreed!
So don’t bother wasting your breath!
We’ve heard all the reassurrances from WBC before ? remember Stockton Heath Primary School ? Longbarn School, Warrington Baths. They are all a bunch of deceittful lying so and sos who dont give one jot about Public opinion. Its about time the public saw through this bunch of jokers and elected people who do listen to the people.
Like the true blue local councillor for Walton!
Is that really helping TB ?? No decision has been made yet so maybe they will prove you wrong tomorrow and you will chill out a bit 🙂
Agree with the gist of what you're saying True Blue. Though I don't suppose they will very much like being called " deceitful lying so and so's" or being refered to as "a bunch of jokers". However I think you've let them off lightly considering the type of redress they might have got had Oliver still been around to rout them!. he was certainly not a man to mince his words!
Dissolution of the Long Parliament by Oliver Cromwell given to the House of Commons, 20 April 1653
"It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.
Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter'd your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?
Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil'd this sacred place, and turn'd the Lord's temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress'd, are yourselves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors.
In the name of God, go!" Gets the point across though doesn't he!!!
I am very cynical when it comes to council decisions in which all they can see is the bottom line: I’m concerned that ‘Council Insider’ is right. I think the WBC anticipated a huge public outcry, so there has been a done deal in private. The excuse will be that this deal will ‘increase the tax base’ and ‘provide more jobs.’ In reality, the council will have unloaded what they see as a white elephant, and at the same time, made money. Wonder who owns / invests in ‘Contessa’?