Three years ago and after literally a generation of talking by the Whaley Bridge Town Council and two reports commisioned by them, using your money, to determine the future of the Transhipment Warehouse (TSW) and the Whaley Wharf, the Whaley Water Weekend Committe were invited by the North West Manager of British Waterways (BW) to become involved in a bid for funding a new project to develop the TSW and the Whaley Wharf.
We were delighted but anxious that, after enough hot air to launch a Montgolfier Balloon coming from The Mechanics and many of the present Whaley Eleven over the years, rapid progress should be the watchword. We asked the Amentity Society ( Do you remember them? Where are they now?) and local architects to join us. They, already having surveyed the building had ideas. We agreed a plan of possible activities including a market, a bandstand, a community hall, a tea and scone cafe and other facilites designed to enhance the commmunity and the businesses of Whaley Bridge. After all, the money from East Midlans Development Agency was for just that purpose - to develop business and communities around our waterways and British Waterways were keen to get the TSW off their hands
The Town Council became involved and that proved to be a VERY sorry day for the future of the TSW project and Whaley Bridge, as they, for reasons best known to themselves decided that they did not want the Wharf developed unless they could have Bingswood Industrial Estate developed at the same time, despite the fact that they were unable to justify development of this privately owned industrial estate, in a commercially quite unattractive position, many miles away from modern transport roads/links. Justification was requested at the time from the then Chair of WBTC, Cllr BarrieTaylor. It was not forthcoming. 
At best it would produce only a very small number of jobs and therefore even fewer for Whaley Bridge workers and would certainly cost many millions of pounds due to the poor site access. Their [WBTC], justification for the stance they took, was that the HGV's must be removed from the Town centre and their dangerous presence eliminated. Please note that there has never been an accident recorded by the police on Canal Street. BUT there has been on Market Street, outside The Mechanics. It is true that the HGV's are inconvenient and there is potential for problems. We would be better off without them for sure but they don't use Canal Street at weekends and in the evenings when most people/visitors are about.
A third consultation was embarked upon costing £50,000 of taxpayers money, in 2008, and as the report says towards the end, it is not complete.
So, the Town Council joined with High Peak Borough Council (HPBC) and they linked the two projects into one, called the GOYT BRIDGE PROJECT. Then the HPBC officers changed in the join up with Stafffordshire Moorlands and severe delays occurred.
We now learn that the whole scheme is to be scrapped - 'GOYT BRIDGE PROJECT REACHES DEAD END' was published last week on 10th. June 2010. It is not just the new Goyt Bridge that has now died but our much needed Transhipment Warehouse Community Centre with it, thanks almost entirely to Whaley Bridge Town Council and their narrow bigotted outlook.
Well shame on them. May they have many sleepless nights thinking of what they have lost for Whaley Bridge - the communty they are supposed to serve. The story of 'The Fox and the Grapes' from Aesop's Fables, comes to mind. Watch this column for the sour grapes appearing!
Edited by user 16 June 2010 07:00:24(UTC)
| Reason: typos
