Barlow's brief

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Now's your chance for a real election

Vic Barlow
26/ 3/2008

MACCLESFIELD Borough is looking for fresh councillors to stand in the May 1st elections for the new East Cheshire Authority. Now’s your chance.

The old two-tier system will soon be defunct and all services will be under the control of one authority (Halleluiah!) so no more buck passing. This will be a real election to a real council with real responsibility.

If you’ve wept with frustration at the weird and wonderful decisions emanating from County Hall or seen a good idea thrashed within an inch of its useful life by MBC, you now have the opportunity to make a difference. This may be the best chance you ever have so do not delay.

If you don’t like party politics stand as an Independent. While we are on the subject can we have ex-councillor Steve Carter back in the fray? The local Labour party has gone into hibernation since he quit. We certainly need Councillor Arnold to get himself re-elected (someone has to speak up for Macclesfield town) and I do believe council leader Wesley Fitzgerald has done a remarkable job in the face of many detractors (including me).

If Hilda Gaddum doesn’t get elected then I’ve lost the plot. She’s stood up for residents time and time again and is not easily placated. Tytherington councillor Murphy will be essential to the mix as he can be relied upon to ask questions no-one else will.

I don’t know if ex-mayor Walter Wright is running but he should.

We need a real farmer to represent rural interests. Recently elected Independent James Nicholas made a promising start, let’s hope he stays. Sylvia Roberts can pack a punch and has to be elected.

Come on. This is an opportunity not to be missed let’s have a real election.

The views expressed on this page are Vic Barlow's and not necessarily those of the Express


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Most recent 2 of 14 user comments

   Just seen these last two comments. I have no 'hidden agenda' whatsoever, Maxonian - if a writer in a local paper consistently publishes articles that represent a point of view that is strongly opposed by others, then, in any country that's a democracy, those 'others' have every right to have their voice heard.

To 'oppose' is not to be rude. The rudeness in these columns almost invariably comes from those who support Vic.

And, when these people are proved decisively wrong (think of the correspondence on the Winterton Internet poll), there is never a word of retraction, or apology.

I personally certainly do not 'hate' Vic - indeed, I think he's a good writer. But if he has a column in which he expresses forthright views, then those who oppose those views should stand up and be counted.
pete111
9/04/2008 at 11:12
   Pete111 perhaps you have lower standards. I have had another look and the comments made were certainly not friendly and I believe that the word "Hatred" was fairly used. I think that the word "pathological" could have been included.

Leigh Turner
7/04/2008 at 22:40
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