Apologies for the lack of updates over the last day or two, I’ve been in London this weekend visiting friends.
One thing I noticed on the bus back from Manchester this evening is the sheer proliferation of TIF “consultation” posters. They’re everywhere. It is multi-million-pound political campaigning at the expense of the taxpayer and it is absolutely outrageous.
I agree. The consultation posters always offer something for nothing “How about extra tram services in the city centre to reduce overcrowding”, without showing what we’ll have to give up to make it so!
Tom Rodgers
SalfordOnline.com
ps Iain, could you add us to your links in Local Media?
Email editor@salfordonline.com if you have any questions.
Tom – done!
I noticed on Thursday night that the Good Folks of Irlams o’the Heights, whilst waiting for a bus, are being asked if they’d like extra carriages on their trains. Pity the station closed in – er – about Nineteen Canteen!
According to Wikipedia the station at Irlams o’ th’ Height closed in 1955.
Presumably even people from Irlams o’ th’ Height get on a (currently overcrowded) train sometimes?
And much as I’m sure you’d like it if the only information people received about the TIF was funded by Peel Holdings, having a bit of outreach information rather than expecting everyone to read through the entire documentation of the bid seems like a fairly sensible idea…
I expect a bit of balance from £3 million worth of taxpayer funding, not a political poster campaign…
Peel are perfectly entitled to put their opinion across through the Momentum Group, as of course are United City the pro-TIF business lobby group who are doing the same thing in favour of the bid. Of course, unlike the AGMA posters they are actually spending their own money…
Grace,
If you were signing up for a billion pound loan wouldn’t you want to read the small print? My argument is always for a fair and balanced representation of the facts, this consultation process has been nothing such.
We have a situation now where anyone who questions the Tif bid is a ’stooge’ of Peel, or in the case of Tom anyone who agrees with Iain is a closet Tory.
Lots of people agree with me on this issue Martin, including the Labour MP for Worsley… and I’m not sure she’d appreciate being called a closet Tory.