Rossendale Council - Why so long?

11.03.07pm GMT Thu 11th Feb 2010

Bob Sheffield condemns Rossendale Council for delays on the Valley Centre

Liberal Democrat activist Bob Sheffield has written asking why Rossendale Council has taken so long to see the sense of the Liberal Democrat proposals on the "Valley Centre", a proposal they condemned nearly a year ago.

Here is his letter to the Rossendale Free Press

I have just read your article 'Day you played the regeneration game' and noted that the council are looking into Compulsory Purchasing Powers to take over the Valley Centre'.

Whilst I applaud our council for finally seeing sense, why has it taken so long. Back in April last year we the Liberal Democrats suggested the council purchase the 'Valley Centre', however, at that time Rossendale Council leader Tony Swain called our proposal "financially naive".

See: Valley Centre takeover idea rejected: Lisa Higginson April 24, 2009

In a letter to the Free Press Councillor Tony Swain also said in response to our proposals that the council were not in the business of property development.

It would be interesting to find out why the change of heart or is does it always take 9 months for ideas from other parties to sink in.

Let us hope that this time something is going to happen with the 'Valley Centre'.

Bob Sheffield

Rossendale Liberal Democrat