logo
A huge political spat has broken out... over a playground

A huge political spat has broken out... over a playground

Yahoo15-06-2025
A plan to build a playground in Alkrington has been delayed once again.
The suburb, on the edge of Middleton, had seen a number of playgrounds close down in recent years.
The decision over where to build a new one has dragged on for years, with squabbles between politicians and locals over the most suitable spot.
READ MORE: Blankety Blank viewers in shock after learning winning contestant died since filming show
READ MORE: DWP confirms Winter Fuel Payment will only be £100 for some pensioners
Last month, it appeared the matter was finally settled when rochdale-council>Rochdale council's township committee in Middleton approved funding of £84,840 for the new playground on a field off Mainway and Moss Lane.
The money is expected to go towards paths, fencing, swings, see-saws and other play equipment.
But now Labour councillors, who approved the funding, have been left furious after two Middleton Independent Party (MIP) politicians called in the decision.
'Calling in' a decision opens up the matter for further scrutiny if politicians feel there is an issue that hasn't properly been addressed. The call-in will mean further delays to a project that has already dragged since 2023.
A statement issued by Middleton Labour read: 'The South Middleton councillors believe it is a disgrace that a legitimately arrived and very popular decision can be delayed without good cause by the MIP councillors' petty behaviour, especially when they do not have any seats in the South Middleton Ward.
'The decision taken to go ahead on May 22 was taken with 12 Labour councillors voting for, and two MIPs not even voting against - they abstained.
'Now they want to revoke the decision depriving kids of a long awaited play park in South Alkrington. We must add 1,200 Alkrington residents have signed a petition in favour of this new play park, backing our decision.
'The 'call-in' decision will take place at the end of July. However, South Middleton councillors had hoped to get spades in the ground this year to start building the play park.
'This will prevent planning and organisation until this 'call-in' decision is taken, which will inevitably delay the erection of the play park for many months.'
Although other sites were considered by the local authority, Mainway field was the largest open space available, meaning potential noise and antisocial behaviour would be less of an issue. A council report went on to say they will look into mine shafts under the field as well as drainage issues before any building work.
Lee Wolf, leader of the MIP, believes there was a lack of consultation before the process and has questioned the impartiality of the decision making.
He said: "Our involvement in this matter began last year when I stood as the MIP candidate for Middleton South. From the outset, the site of the proposed play park in Alkrington emerged as a key issue for local residents.
'We have always supported the development of new recreational facilities across Middleton. These spaces are vital for families and young people, and we believe they should be delivered through a process that is fair, transparent, and inclusive of the community's voice.
'However, we have serious concerns about how the decision to site the play park at Mainway Field was reached.
'Our two MIP councillors could not support the report, as it failed to provide a clear and consistent rationale for selecting Mainway Field.
'Throughout this process, our aim has never been to obstruct progress. We want to work collaboratively with all stakeholders, including our Labour colleagues, to find a solution that genuinely reflects the needs and wishes of the community. There is still room for compromise, whether that means revisiting alternative sites or reconsidering the exact positioning within Mainway Field.
'We remain committed to ensuring that decisions about our shared spaces are made openly, fairly, and with the full involvement of the people who live here. Our community deserves nothing less.'
Rochdale council confirmed the matter has been called in and will be discussed further at meeting next month.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Voices: Governor Bailey is wrong: We should embrace the digital pound
Voices: Governor Bailey is wrong: We should embrace the digital pound

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Voices: Governor Bailey is wrong: We should embrace the digital pound

Is the digital pound dead in the water? More than 100 countries are looking at the creation of their very own digital currencies. China already has one. The EU is developing a digital euro at pace. But the Bank of England? It seems to be tacking the opposite way to the rest of the world. Andrew Bailey told MPs on the Treasury Committee that he would need 'a lot of convincing' to greenlight a launch, which the Bank has already said couldn't happen until sometime in the 'second half of the current decade' anyway. Is this an opportunity missed? Even a case where the governor's conservatism threatens to leave Britons in the digital dark ages? First off, I should explain what the digital pound actually is. Digi-pounds (that's not the official name; I'm not sure we have one yet) would be currency issued by the Bank that could be stored in a digital wallet provided by a company like, say, Apple. This would allow you to pay for things directly, without the need for the card you currently have to be set up to use Apple Pay. People could also pay you by the same means. PS, Apple CEO Tim Cook isn't paying either me or The Independent for the mention. I'm using Apple Pay as an example because it's a service I use. Bailey is distinctly unimpressed with the idea of this new form of money. His preferred option is to help the market improve digital payment tech, which he said could deliver 'huge benefits'. Fraud reduction, lower costs, faster payments to SMEs (small to medium-sized enterprises), which at this point are probably saying chance would be a fine thing. 'That's a sensible place to do it because that's where most of our money is," the governor opined. But here's an idea: why not simply do both? Is that really so hard? Or is the Bank yet again in 'can't do' mode? It is true that there are legitimate concerns about digital currencies. Sceptics worry about vulnerability to hacking. Fears have also been expressed about their making it easier to launder money, even to facilitate terrorist financing. Criminals took up Bitcoin with alacrity. Lately, they have favoured so-called 'stablecoins', the value of which are linked to an underlying commodity or an existing currency such as the dollar. On the flip side, some critics have voiced fears about digital currencies being used to facilitate government snooping. This has been a big concern with the Chinese version given the obsessive interest in what its citizens do, say and even think of that country's government. But every new technology comes with pluses and minuses. It would be better for Bailey to accept that and roll with the punches. Bitcoin and its ilk already have a legion of fans in this country. If people like the concept of central bank-issued digital currencies, there would theoretically be nothing to stop them from using digital euros if and when they arrive. There are already outlets in London that accept the paper equivalent (and dollars and yen while we're at it). Here's a potential selling point for your business: 'We accept the digital euros!' Right now, the central bank looks flat-footed, a very obvious laggard, largely thanks to the conservatism of the governor. I suspect some of Bailey's caution can be traced back to his time at the head of the Financial Conduct Authority – a fairly thankless, if well remunerated, task at the best of times. Its CEO tends to get the blame for everything and the credit for nothing. Launching a new form of money is bound to create challenges, and it will once again be Bailey's head on the block if something goes wrong. There have lately been suggestions that the Bank could cease or at least shelve the work it has been doing on a digital pound. That would be a mistake. Digital currencies are coming. The Bank should accept that and prepare for the future. The governor badly needs to pull his legs out of the mud in which they're stuck. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

‘Urgent' need for digital reform of banking payments, says Bank of England boss
‘Urgent' need for digital reform of banking payments, says Bank of England boss

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

‘Urgent' need for digital reform of banking payments, says Bank of England boss

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has said that 'urgent' reforms of retail banking payments should be a priority as he remains to be 'convinced' over the need for a digital pound. In his annual Mansion House dinner speech, Mr Bailey said the UK needs to 'harness the potential of digital technology for retail payments' both within Britain and internationally to help future-proof payments infrastructure and ensure it can play its part in boosting growth in the UK. But he added a dose of scepticism over any plans for a digital pound and reiterated concerns over so-called stablecoins – a type of cryptocurrency which is backed by a traditional asset such as a currency or commodity. Mr Bailey said: 'There is an urgent need for innovation now in the area of payments, and the opportunity is there, no doubt about that.' He said the Bank would collaborate with authorities and industry to 'design and deliver the next generation of UK retail payments infrastructure'. 'This must be a priority, both to replace ageing infrastructure and as part of promoting growth in the UK,' he said, echoing financial services reforms outlined by Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Tuesday to help boost the economy. Mr Bailey added: 'There may well be a role for stablecoins going forward, but I don't see them as a substitute for commercial bank money. 'Moreover, our job will be to ensure that those stablecoins that purport to be money are safe. 'Perhaps there may also be a role for retail central bank digital currency, but I remain to be convinced why the natural next step is to create a new form of money rather than put digital technology into retail payments and bank accounts.' His comments follow just days after he warned global banking giants against issuing their own stablecoins, which he said threaten to take money out of the banking system and therefore leave less available for lending. Mr Bailey has also appeared to be increasingly cooling on the idea of a digital pound in recent months, raising doubts over whether it would ever be officially launched. In his speech, Mr Bailey cautioned over the ongoing impact of the global trade war, with the current shift in policy marking the 'most sudden and fundamental in the post-war era'. 'The shifts we have witnessed – and continue to witness – mark a generational change in the system of trade amongst nations,' he said. 'Increasing tariffs creates the risk of fragmenting the world economy, and thereby reducing activity,' he said. 'Recent events have exposed fault lines in the multilateral system of relations between nations, including in the global trading system,' he added. He said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Word Trade Organisation (WTO) can both work together and play a part in cooling the current trade war by helping 'achieve agreement amongst its members on the global rules of the road and how they are adhered to'. But he stressed he cannot 'underestimate the challenges' in addressing the current trade tensions. Sign in to access your portfolio

Trump slams Europe over immigration, says ‘horrible invasion' is killing the continent
Trump slams Europe over immigration, says ‘horrible invasion' is killing the continent

Fox News

timean hour ago

  • Fox News

Trump slams Europe over immigration, says ‘horrible invasion' is killing the continent

President Donald Trump arrived in Scotland on Friday and wasted little time lashing out at European leaders over mass immigration, warning that the crisis is "killing" the continent and calling it a "horrible invasion." Trump fulfilled a key campaign promise by effectively closing the southern border with Mexico while Europe and the U.K., in particular, are still struggling to get to grips with the crisis as dozens of boats packed with illegal migrants continue to pour into the country every day from France. "On immigration, you better get your act together or you're not going to have Europe anymore," Trump said to reporters after landing at Prestwick airport on Friday evening. "You got to get your act together and last month we had nobody entering our country. Nobody. Shut it down. And we took out a lot of bad people that got there with Biden." Biden repeatedly had single days when apprehensions ranged from 8,000 to 10,000 migrants, with his highest single month being December 2023, when 249,785 Border Patrol apprehensions were recorded. "Biden was a total stiff. And what he allowed to happen," Trump continued, chiding his predecessor. "But you're allowing it to happen to your countries and you got to stop this horrible invasion that's happening to Europe." "Many countries in Europe, some people, some leaders have not let it happen. And they're not getting the proper credit. They should. I could name them to you right now, but I'm not going to embarrass the other ones. But stop this. Immigration is killing Europe." The U.K. saw a major surge in 2022 and 2023 when small boat crossings reached over 44,000 per year, according to government figures. Nearly 22,500 people have arrived in the U.K. so far this year after crossing the English Channel, up 57% on the same point last year. Net migration to the UK was 431,000 last year, down almost 50% from 2023. Hungary and Poland are two of the most prominent European countries to take hardline stances against immigration, particularly irregular migration and asylum seekers. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is a Trump ally. Trump is in the U.K. for a five-day trip where he will check in with his golf resorts in Turnberry and Aberdeen, as well as with British Prime Minister Kier Starmer and head of the Scottish government, First Minister John Swinney. The president is expected to discuss the latest U.S.-U.K. trade agreement, a deal dubbed the "Economic Prosperity Deal" last month, which agreed to slash tariffs. The U.K. is one of the few countries with which the U.S. has advanced its trade agreements under relatively amicable terms. "I like your prime minister. He's slightly more liberal than I am, as you've probably heard. But he's a good man, he got a trade deal done," Trump told reporters. "And they've been working on this deal for 12 years. He got it done. It's a good deal. It's a good deal for the U.K." Trump added that he would be meeting Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission about securing a trade deal with Europe. "We're meeting with the European Union. And that would be actually the biggest deal of them all if we make it," Trump said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store