Tom re-elected as Lib Dems make gains
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by Lib Dem team on 20 September, 2019
A Government “Left-behind towns” fund targeted at marginal constituencies may not deliver any money to Cheadle after all.
The announcement a couple of weeks ago that Cheadle was on the list of 100 left-behind towns across the country surprised many, but funding is always welcome.
Now it appears that the money may never come after all. We don’t know how much is on offer, when it will come, what strings will be attached and where it can be spent (e.g. Cheadle village, Cheadle constituency or anywhere in Stockport).
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government says “Any final spend will be dependent on a business case being submitted to Government and agreed according to value for money assessments.”
Cllr Iain Roberts said “This is government-speak for saying that we will only get money if we spent it not on what local people know we need, but on what civil servants in Whitehall think Cheadle needs, and even then it could be months or years before anything happens.”
22 Comments
I’ve been away for a couple of weeks so have probably missed this issue before today.
Much as I’m in favour of our area getting more funding from anywhere, it is laughable that Cheadle is anywhere close to being a “left behind” town. Just call me an old cynic but is there any connection between the government throwing some money our way and the fact that Cheadle is a marginal constituency?
I’d like to think someone may respond with that old “House of Cards” line. You know the one – “You might believe that, John, but I couldnt possibly comment”.
Submit a valid business case for an underpass at the A34 junction & see what happens.
Wow. Broken promises.
Next they’ll be pledging to scrap university tuition fees!
Any promise from a Johnson led government should be ignored. He can’t be trusted to tell the truth.
Your alternative is Corbyn and The Tooth Fairy
John
What paper do you read? Do you honestly honestly believe that Jeremy Corbyn will be worse than this shower of lying inadequates?
Labour are at least proposing fair policies to redress the obscene inequalities in our society
Alan
Not only do you believe in the tooth fairy you also believe in the contents of newspapers Nurse Abbott will be along soon.
Cheadle is finished! Shops closing down left, right and centre! Too many traffic lights! No train or tram! Poor bus service! Cheadle is finished!
Iain,
Clearly a business case needs to be submitted but who will be doing that?
There are a large number of things that would benefit Cheadle so perhaps its a case of asking the local community and organisations like for example Cheadle Civic Society and then pulling together a business case.
Hi Peter, Council officers will write the business case but that’s not the issue. The problem is that Whitehall civil servants might set up the funding so that what Cheadle actually needs is not what we can bid for.
I believe that all Central Government funds of this type are subject to a business case.
We elect our Councillors on the basis that they understand this and will produce professional business cases together with SMBC to maximize the opportunities to receive these funds.
It’s council officers who write these business cases rather than ward councillors, but the point is that we have no idea what the criteria for the money will be and whether what civil servants demand from us will in any way match what would actually benefit Cheadle.
Surely it’s your responsibility to stop blaming others for something you neither take seriously nor have engaged with.
As our elected Councillors you have a duty to us to tstop carping, take this at face value and demand that SMBC officers produce a viable request into which you have had meaningful input.
If we don’t get anything, and you may well be right, then that’s the time to complain and do it loudly.
Well said Alf, couldn’t agree more
Spot on Alf, very succinct
Cheadle looks a bit down at heal – and a new train station and other infrastructure investment would go a long way to transformation- depends on the conservatives which naming the forthcoming election. Can the lib dems promise this money as well??
Cheadle is finished, Colin Massey? Finished at what? Two new businesses have appeared in the last few weeks. We have a small hardware shop that is challenging the big sheds. As long as we have residents who understand that local businesses need our support we will survive and thrive. It’s tough living under the Tories. Tougher with a serial liar in charge. ☹️
Lets take a clear look at this – If we do not know how much funding there will be, when it is available and what strings are attached – how can it be said then that Cheadle may not receive any? – surely the decision is made following the appropriate application being made by the Council?
So, Keith, just decide that the submissions aren’t good enough and you have promised everything and delivered nothing. ??
Left behind towns? This is Tory gerrymandering base on the fact that Cheadle is a marginal seat held by the “invisible woman” put a case in for a cHeadle station with a waiting room , lift etc and see what you get. This government is corrupt, arrogant and totally out of touch with reality
Are there other areas that could be mentioned. Gatley, heald Green to name but 2. Why is cheadle always to the front. Is it where most of the Lib Dem’s vote for you.
Hi Bob – the “left behind towns” fund has come from the Conservative Government rather than the Lib Dems. The Government have specified “Cheadle”. However, we don’t know whether than means just Cheadle village, or Cheadle constituency (which includes Gatley and Heald Green) or something else. The Lib Dems always fight for a fair deal for the whole area, not just one part of it.