ANGRY residents objecting to the handling of the controversial Peel Hall planning application have joined a growing chorus calling for Warrington Council’s executive director Andy Farrall to resign.
Almost 300 residents attended a public meeting at the Millhouse Pub, Houghton Green, which was called by local councillors.
Speaking after the meeting Cllr Chris Vobe, who along with Warrington North MP Helen Jones and four other elected councillors, called for Mr Farrall to resign last week, said: “Warrington Council sent assistant director Peter Taylor as its representative – but to the bafflement of residents, he refused to answer any questions about the council’s failure to meet the eight-week deadline which resulted in Satnam’s appeal on grounds of ‘non-determination.’
“When asked to state simply whether he believed the Peel Hall application had been handled diligently by his department, Mr Taylor responded: ‘I can’t answer that question’.”
Residents were angry that Mr Farrall (pictured right) had not attended the meeting.
Cllr Billy Lines-Rowlands (Poulton North) said the numbers attending showed the strength of local feeling.
He said: “Council officers have drastically underestimated the strength of feeling locally on this matter. Peel Hall is north Warrington’s Arpley Tip. Three hundred people at a public meeting is a huge turnout. Officers have, at times, taken a cavalier attitude to a matter of enormous public concern.
“Residents are rightly vexed that the council’s representative would not answer a single question about why the deadline was missed – despite my giving him the opportunity to do so. This has fuelled the frustration locally, and led to further calls for Mr Farrall’s resignation.”
Residents are to lobby the Development Control Committee and email the chief executive to put their case.
Cllr Steve Roberts (Poplars and Hulme) said: “It is very important that local people send their views to the planning committee members, as well as the council’s chief executive. My fellow ward councillors and I will be contacting all interested residents with the full details of where they should send their letters and emails to.
“This will give them a dual opportunity to emphasise their opposition to any development, as well as register their protests at the way the matter has been handled by officers.”
Residents join calls for planning chief to quit
66 Comments
Share.
About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
6 Comments
Steve Roberts should know as a union rep that to force someone out in this way constitutes a constructive dismissal case. That would look very good at a industrial tribunal. This would result in costing the council a hefty fine
There is a very simple way of achieving Mr Farrall’s removal. Make him reapply for a position in a reorganized council management set up. This strategy has been used for some time by several local authorities. For all I know it may well have been used by Warrington.
I’m strongly opposed to these plans but I’ll have no part in the witch hunt, so I’d appreciate it if my presence at the meeting wasn’t claimed as an indication that I’m part of this particular ANGRY MOB. Thanks
This would probably result in a redundancy pay off at council expense NO THANKS
This happened to a close friend of mine who worked in Local Government, and it seems there was little she could do about, apart from saying it was unfair.
As I see it.
This is a Head Hunting stint for the WRONG person/s.
I was at that meeting, there were NEVER 300 people attending, maybe 150 realistically. Cllr Chris Vobe, called for Mr Farrall to resign, when he himself is under suspicion
All the councillors that asked questions at the meeting had all been well prompted and primed before hand. I wasn’t prompted but on trying to ask one I was told, I’m not letting you speak.
Was this a fair meeting? I think not. Did any of the councillors really answer any of the PUBLICS questions? I don’t think so, just passed the book head hunting.
People of Warrington need to wake up and smell the coffee pot, your being lead down the wrong pathways.
The elected members on the planning committee are the ones to head hunt for and those breaking the laws.