Councillor's planning feud delays more than 80 applications

Improvements to the British Heart Foundation Charity Shop in Baillie Street, Council Housing in Smallbridge and Firgrove, a new Business Centre in Central Rochdale, access ramps for the disabled in Kingsway, two doctors’ surgeries in Balderstone and Kirkholt, a dental surgery in Sudden, a hotel at Healey Hall, a Community Support Centre for the vulnerable in South Middleton and the construction of an artificial football/hockey Pitch for Cardinal Langley RC High School - these are just some of the plans that have been delayed by a dispute between rival councillors.

Planning applications across the borough are being called in in protest by the local Labour party over representation on Township planning sub-committees.

Planning officials at the Council have confirmed that the number of call-ins has increased dramatically in recent weeks.

Councillors can call in applications for the regulatory committee to consider if they think it is in the public interest. The regulatory committee deals with all major planning applications but, due to the dispute, they have also had to deal with a large number of call ins recently.

The number of call ins has prevented the Council from dealing with minor planning applications or those from homeowners, which are supposed to be dealt with within an eight week deadline.

The Labour group are believed to be protesting about what they perceive to be a 'lack of democracy in the borough'.

Councillor Colin Lambert, Labour Group Leader, told Rochdale Online when it first broke the news two weeks ago: "Major applications will continue to be sent to planning sub committees, and the council will need to speed up the committee cycle to deal with applications within appropriate timescales, until confidence can be restored in the democratic structures.

"The Lib Dems will tell any tale but the truth is that because of their actions and failure to nominate at two previous council meetings, all Heywood applications have to be sent to Regulatory Committee, causing a delay and meaning that all Heywood objectors and applicants have to travel to Rochdale to be heard.

"This is not just about transparency in planning but about democracy in the council.

"It seems to me that a number of councillors in the controlling group are shouting about having to do their job and attend meetings to ensure progress on planning applications."

But the Liberal Democrats say that the Labour protest will have serious financial implications for the taxpayer and will delay crucial projects, and could cost jobs as even routine applications such as kitchen extensions are being held up.

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen believes that the dispute is stopping the borough from making progress. “I am disgusted at the behaviour of the local Labour Party," he said. "Not only could the bill to the tax payer run into tens of thousands, but this puts a halt to much-needed progress in our Borough.

"I am even more concerned that they have been causing a severe delay to projects in Smallbridge, Firgrove and the rest of the Pennines. This is despite having no Councillors whatsoever on the Township.

"This is the most irresponsible behaviour that I have seen from a political party in over 30 years in frontline politics.”

Dozens more applications have been delayed in Heywood and Middleton.

Council Leader Alan Taylor said: “No one is safe from Labour’s attack on the Borough of Rochdale. School children, the elderly, the disabled, the unemployed, the sick, people who can’t afford dental care, people in need of Council Housing and many more groups are affected. The progress of this Council has been hampered at the worst possible time.

"As someone who has had heart problems recently, I personally am disgusted that their stance is affecting the British Heart Foundation – this is despicable, cruel and unacceptable.

"Councillor Colin Lambert has clearly mis-used his position in public office and as a result, he has cost the tax-payer tens of thousands of pounds. Local businesses are already struggling to survive the credit crunch and Councillor Lambert’s actions are totally irresponsible.”