We know what to expect from the Labour Party in Government and at a local level. They dither and they find every opportunity to hide away from the views of local people.
Last year, the Labour Government announced their decision to close the maternity and neo-natal units at Salford Royal (Hope) Hospital over the August Bank Holiday weekend. They held a “consultation” over the closure of St George’s High School months ago, and the results of the “consultation” have still not been published.
Now here’s a surprise - the decision on the TIF bid will be available just after the local elections. Our local and national Labour politicians are too cowardly to risk announcing the decision before Greater Manchester goes to the polls, so they bury it until two weeks after the elections - with a full two years before the next chance residents have to vote for their Councillors. It’s a disgrace and Salford residents should use the opportunity to tell our Labour politicians - who are incapable of listening otherwise - exactly what they think by voting them out next Thursday.
Also coming up just after the elections (a complete coincidence, I’m sure) is the announcement on whether any local Post Offices in Salford will have to close. Look out for a Post Office near you.
Strange that the cabinet report into the ’success’ of the £24,000 loss-making pink rink was delayed too. Cllr. Lancaster and officers asked me not to make comments in the press until the report went to Cabinet - then strangely the report didn’t make it. Quell surprise!
They take every opportunity to avoid scrutiny and then mysteriously the dates for contentious decisions to be taken are always co-coincidently when they can do least political damage.