Statement from City Centre Councillor

From: Councillor Marc Ramsbottom
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 9:15 PM
Subject: Re: Planning Decision

STATEMENT

I am very disappointed that the Planning and Highways Committee approved this application. At the Committee, I spoke out in support of residents objection, stating that the plans represented overdevelopment of the site and that the design of the scheme was out of keeping with the Conservation Area and especially out of character with the Victorian and Edwardian buildings that surround the site.

It seems that commercial and financial interests out weigh the concerns of the local community, and the City Council has failed yet again to listen to the needs and interest of people.

At the Committee meeting opposition members of the Committee were refused permission to speak out against the application, and as a result the decision to approve it was railroaded by Labour members who dominate the Committee. I have sent a formal complaint to the City Solicitor about this, and also a letter of complaint to Manchester Pride who had no right to speak in support of the application without the backing of the local lesbian and gay community.

Marc

Cllr Marc Ramsbottom
Liberal Democrat Councillor - City Centre Ward
Tel: (0161) 202 6603 Home(07976) 352 513 Mobile(0161) 234 3002 Town Hall(0161) 234 3296 FAX

www.marcramsbottom.org.uk

You can meet up with your Liberal Democrat councillors to discuss any issues of concern on the first and third Saturdays of the month between 11am and 12 noon at the main cafe bar in the City Art Gallery. The next few dates are: Saturday 17 February and Saturday 3 March 2007.