Heywood Township facing bankruptcy?

The Chairman of Heywood Township Councillor Alan McCarthy has accused the Liberal Democrat Cabinet on Rochdale Council of seeking to bankrupt Heywood Township. His accusation comes as a result of what is said to be an unprecedented decision by the Lib Dems to pass on the as yet unsubstantiated costs of a successful planning appeal on houses on Grove Street. This Councillor McCarthy says could possibly lead to Heywood Township having to "declare itself bankrupt".

Councillor McCarthy added: "This amounts to fining Heywood Township for not rubber stamping Planning applications.

"Never before in the history of Heywood planning appeals has this been the case as costs awarded against the Council have been met out of the corporate purse.

"As I recall, the Planning Committee at the time sought and received advice and confirmation from the Planning officer present that the reasons given were valid and sustainable Planning grounds for refusal; we will be appealing against the decision on the grounds that Heywood Planning Sub Committee were obviously misled/misinformed by the Planning Officer and as such the corporate body, not Heywood Township are at fault.
"Given another recent Cabinet proposal to annex some 2500 residents of Hollins from Middleton into Heywood this now shows the Liberal Democrats for what they are – for Rochdale only."