A new levelling up row has flared up amid claims voters were misled over a funding bid being knocked back by the government. Stockport council chiefs were left furious in January when the government apparently snubbed the authority’s £20m Marple community hub project.
Coun Colin MacAlister, cabinet member for economy and regeneration, branded the decision ‘a joke’- claiming ‘the north has been shafted again’. Dismay turned to joy last month, however, when the council was awarded the cash in the spring budget - a move that appeared to be a welcome surprise.
However the Conservatives now claim the Lib Dem administration knew that alternative funding was in the pipeline - but used the initial rejection to attack the government and Tory party. The Lib Dems, however, have dismissed this as a ‘desperate’ pre-election move, as the funding was not confirmed until several weeks later.
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An email from council leader Mark Hunter to Conservative Coun Oliver Johnstone, confirms the council was made aware, on January 18, that its ‘round two’ Levelling Up bid for the Marple hub had been unsuccessful. He adds that the following evening, bosses were advised funding may be available for ‘very strong projects’ such as the hub.
They also received a government email ‘advising in confidence of provisional agreement to funding subject to various conditions being met and subject to ministerial approval’.
According to Coun Hunter, confirmation of approval and funding was not received until March 15 - with an embargo on announcing the cash lifted an hour ahead of the public release of that day’s budget papers.
Coun Johnstone, deputy leader of the Conservative group, claims it ‘demonstrates yet another startling example of the Liberal Democrat administration misleading local people’.
“The funding for the Marple Community Hub had already been provisionally agreed by the Government in January thanks to the tireless work of our local MP, William Wragg, whilst the Liberal Democrats were telling a very different story to the public and asking people to sign petitions that they knew were not necessary," he said.
“It raises serious questions as to whether local residents can trust anything this Liberal Democrat council says."
However, Coun Hunter has hit back at the ‘unwarranted attack’, which he claims ‘simply demonstrates how desperate the Conservatives are’.
He added: “We are well used to seeing their negative, aggressive, American style campaigning in every election - but this is a new low even for them.
“The Conservatives are the party that is misleading the public on this issue - and on many others - because they are so desperate to hold on to the tiny handful of seats that they currently have in Stockport.
"No wonder many people are predicting a wipe out here for them on May 4.”
The new facility in Marple will include a pool, library, gym and play park. The town's baths closed in 2018.
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