Dave,
I think that you believe that if you keep repeating the Mantra about the Councillors and the MP letting the community down that everybody will start believing it.
'Everybody'?? No danger of that, Simone - the number of people who have got nothing better to do than post on this forum, or read our words of wisdom, is vanishingly small.
Try this: Rightly or wrongly Councillors and the MP believed even though it was a catalyst for a College refurbishment a supermarket on Hibbert Lane was a bad idea for Marple. They believed that the harm it would do outweighed the benefits.
That's your analysis, Simone. My take on it, for what it's worth, is different. I was at the 'party in the park' in July 2011, and saw some of our councillors looking visibly shaken by the angry crowd that shouted at them, and I have little doubt that from that moment on they were browbeaten into opposing the college's scheme. I'm afraid it's probably as simple as that. It would be nice to think that they all gave it calm, deep and rational consideration and concluded that 'that the harm it would do outweighed the benefits', but somehow I doubt it. You may be right - but there again, so might I. And now it really doesn't matter - we are where we are.
Throughout Councillors + MP have taken a consistent stance, they have engaged with the community, they have explained their position. They have represented their community - how can this be construed as "letting the community down". Please explain if you can.
With pleasure, Simone. Motivated by their desire to hang on to their seats, they have put their own short-term interests ahead of those of the next few generations of young people in Marple, who will for the foreseeable future continue to put up with third rate facilities, while their college is spending ever increasing amounts of money propping up its crumbling and inefficient buildings instead of spending it on teaching. The best we can hope for is that the college sells the land for housing and carries out 'plan B', in which case we may be able to look forward to second rate facilities!
I would like to think that our elected representatives have the vision and courage to act in the long-term interests of our community, not to make knee-jerk responses to every noisy pressure group that comes along. But maybe I'm being unrealistic.
As if this wasn't enough Councillors + MP believed that there were/are other ways for the College to finance a refurbishment programme but when they tried to communicate this to CAMSFC they would not entertain them.
Some time ago I discussed this with one of our councillors and our MP. The only proposal that they have had to offer, as far as I know, is that the college should dispose of the land for housing, and carry out whatever limited refurbishment they can afford for the c.4 million that this would provide. And indeed, that is what now looks most likely. Thanks a lot!
