Sleepless, who are the big guns then? I don't suppose you include me but, in case you do, I will come out of the closet.
I have lived in Marple for 33 years and I represent myself and myself alone. I am not part of any group, I feel no need for the comfort of the pack. I have nothing whatsoever to do with the Yes group. My contact with Asda has been limited to questions to their staff at the two public consultations, a letter which was posted in full on this forum and one telephone call regarding the number of anticipated deliveries.
I first became aware of this issue last July when the posters were put up and I turned to this website for more information. I found none, no information, just an increasing stream of speculation, rumour, fabrication, hyperbole and, sadly, abuse. I soon decided that it would not be possible for me to support a campaign which was expressed in these terms.
Nowhere in my posts have I argued for the building of a supermarket on Hibbert Lane and I have been no advocate for Asda. The closest I have got to expressing a view was on 21st December with a post “Personally I remain firmly on the fence until the facts emerge. If there is a plan to build a hypermarket, an “Extra” or something like it, on the site I will oppose it. If, however, there is a plan to build a supermarket commensurate with the widely recognized needs of the district and with architecture which owes at least something to the vernacular, such as it is, I believe that most of the opposition will simple evaporate."
That remains my position to this day. I cannot take a view on a planning application until there is a planning application to consider.
As you would expect of anyone who was once a governor of a college of further education I am passionate about the future of education for our maturing children and grandchildren in Marple. It seems to me that the college have a problem and that they have gone to some lengths to obtain professional advice as to solutions to that problem. The route they have chosen appears to be the only one available which might lead to a satisfactory conclusion.
Despite my current ambivalence towards the building of a supermarket on Hibbert Lane, I feel bitter towards the MIA campaign, not because of the message it seeks to broadcast but because of the way it has been done, The reliance upon scaremongering, hypothesis, hyperbole etc etc etc. The draft letter to the CEO of Asda set out in the December newsletter was the last straw. The hypocritical pretence that the campaign was all about education. How could any decent, honest, campaign promote something like that, especially when it threatens the future of the young in our community?
So, Sleepless, don’t assume that everyone who is critical of the MIA campaign is an American agent. Some people in Marple, many I expect, have got a brain and can think for themselves.
I hope you have a better night.
