Over the last few weeks I have been doing some digging with various local contacts and here are the facts.
The college wants to sell the Hibbert Lane site to raise funds to redevelop the Buxton Lane site.
If the land was sold for housing it would raise about £4M, if sold for retail development around £12M would be generated.
The college principal does not want this discussed with even the staff as last time this happened the general public became aware very quickly.
A company (I don't know who) have already been round the site looking at the useability of the site.
If any councillor voiced opposition to any proposed development then they would not be allowed to vote when the development came before the local area committee.
I would suggest that the only effective way that local people can voice their opposition to the site being used for Retail development is by signing a local petition, if there is enough support for this can it be arranged to be on-line using this site? With the new planning guidelines being introduced planners have got to take into account local views and this just might be enough to frighten off any developer.
And before anyone asks I'm not at liberty to name any of my sources, but I haven't hacked into anyone's mobile messages!