Oldham Liberal Democrat Councillors were bemused to hear that Labour’s plans to build thousands of new homes on the Greater Manchester Green Belt have been delayed yet again for the seventh time;  this time, because of a spat between two neighbouring Labour-run Councils, Stockport and Tameside, over redevelopment proposals for an industrial estate.

The Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) was developed by Greater Manchester’s Labour Mayor with the ten local authority leaders.  The controversial plan, which is opposed by Liberal Democrat Councillors across Greater Manchester and many members of the public, has been rumbling on for years without resolution.  Next month, Mayor Burnham was due to proceed with a final public consultation on the latest proposals.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, said:

“These plans were meant to be robust and signed off by the Mayor with his Labour colleagues.  Now everything has been derailed by a childish last-minute public falling-out between two Labour-run local authorities.  The Magnificent Seven this is not, as you would be hard-pressed to find a sorrier looking set of cowboys.  What confidence can you have in the process and its recommendations after seven delays.”

“It looks like Oldham Council special Council meeting on this subject planned for the 28 October will now have to be cancelled.  And who knows when the so-called consultation will now start on these key plans and proposals,” added Councillor Sykes.  “We have said it before, and we say it again, these are the wrong plans at the wrong time, and this latest delay just proves the point again.”