A WAR of words has broken out following the announcement that former borough councillor Chris Vobe is to seek election to Winwick Parish Council.
Mr Vobe – son of Warrington North MP Helen Jones – cited his involvement in the ongoing battle to block housing development at Peel Hall as a reason for seeking election – a cause his mother is also closely associated with.
He said he had attended the recent public inquiry into the proposed development and helped gather support in opposition to the original application which was rejected by Warrington Borough Council.
But his remarks drew a swift response from developers Satnam – the company that wants to build houses at Peel Hall.
Colin Griffiths from Satnam said: “We note Mr Vobe’s declared opposition to the development of Peel Hall, but we note he did not attempt to make any statement to the recent public inquiry and did not even volunteer to read out his mother’s representation letter he handed into the Inquiry, nor speak to the Inquiry.
“Instead of behind the scenes opposition and statement making, perhaps a more constructive way forward to achieve the best outcome for local residents would be open and fair engagement regarding the many issues currently facing Warrington as a whole and Poplar’s and Hulme in particular.
“As set out at the public inquiry, these issues include the massive scale releases of green belt proposed by the council, mainly in south Warrington but also in villages to the north of the town, and the acute shortage of housing as assessed against the council’s own assessments of housing need.
“As always, our door remains open for Mr Vobe or his mother to begin to engage with us in this way”.
Mr Vobe said he did offer to read his mother’s representation at the inquiry, but that the inspector decided to read it himself.
He said: “Warrington North Labour Party, its elected representatives, and local candidates are united in our opposition to any development on Peel Hall. Far from ‘behind the scenes opposition’, Labour has worked openly and pro-actively alongside local people to fight their corner and defend our much-loved green spaces.
“Mr Griffiths refers to ‘the best outcome for local people’. The “best outcome” would be for any plans to develop this site to be shelved once and for all.”
Chris Vobe pictured with his campaign team
