How public is a public meeting asks Heywood Councillor?

Councillor Peter Rush

Councillor Peter Rush has criticised the handling of a ‘public’ meeting to discuss the flooding problems in Heywood.  The meeting, held on Friday 29 September, caused controversy in Heywood.

Peter Rush said: “Residents were contacted by the Chairman of Heywood Township, but it wasn’t made clear to a number of residents that they would not be able to attend.  This meeting should have been open to all residents affected by, or worried about the floods.  Instead, we had an expensive sham that has done nothing whatsoever to explain nearly 15 years of inactivity from United Utilities.  The ‘selected spokespeople’ had a pre-prepared agenda that took great preparation; they were only allowed a short time to express their points and this in my mind is unacceptable.  This was a public meeting with a difference – a lot of the public could not attend.  I’m afraid this attempt to placate Heywood residents has backfired and led many residents to ask what have United Utilities and the Council got to hide?  I am afraid the organisation of the meeting was absolutely atrocious, the few that got in were treated to an aristocratic and undiplomatically organised meeting.

“The Council have made promises to the affected areas that they will be prioritised under the gully cleaning system.  I will be liaising with Councillor Wera Hobhouse, the Council’s Environment Portfolio Holder, to make sure this happens.  I will be reporting to residents in the North Ward on the progress and I will not accept any failure by the Council.  Now is the time to stop talking, we need action not words.”

A council spokesman said: "Councillor Rush is mistaken, the meeting was organised by Jim Dobbin MP, not by the Council."

Conservative Councillor Ian Duckworth rebutted Councillor Rush's criticism, he said: "Peter Rush didn't attend the meeting, he was present at an earlier meeting at 3pm for elected members. He asked only one question which revealed his lack of knowledge on this important subject. He asked United Utilities about cleaning blocked gullies. They replied (correctly) that this is Rochdale MBC's responsibility.
 
"Ignorance is no excuse, all Councillor Rush demonstrated is that he'd rather make headlines than actually research the problems confronting the people of the borough."