Controversy over council loan

Regular readers may recall a piece from Private Eye last month that implicated Cheshire East in yet another possible scandal.

Private Eye said: "...... the Information Commissioner has ruled that the authority will have to make public an internal report on another project which has the smell of fish about it.... the council's joint project with Bure Valley Adventures Ltd to build an adventure park within historic Tatton Park which the council leases from the National Trust.

"Opponents asked to see the report after discovering via Freedom of Information that the council had set aside £240,000 to support the company's planning application with surveys showing the project was viable. Very even handed!

"The information Commissioner says the two schemes are "comparable initiatives involving significant expenditure". As in the case of the Lyme Green waste transfer site, he says, "there does not appear to be evidence that the council conducted a procurement exercise in selecting a company to deliver an adventure park at Tatton". Oh dear!"

National Trust members

Meanwhile, in an announcement sent to AudlemOnline yesterday, it appears many members of the National Trust are trying to block this controversial project.

The Save Tatton Action Group, STAG, has found many National Trust members are unaware of the plans and the discussions surrounding the application which have been going on for several years. They say:

"The National Trust's support for the controversial planning application to build a theme park the size of 100 football pitches in Tatton Park has recently been questioned by the Information Commissioner who said: "As the Trust has given its support to the proposed development, the Commissioner is mindful that the public perception of the National Trust as an institution set up to conserve historic buildings and environments might be affected or damaged by its stance."

Protect spirit of Tatton

STAG add: "It's time the National Trust wised up to the strong feelings of the people of Cheshire and beyond who expect the Trust to protect the quiet, uniquely local spirit of Tatton Park.

"When the ICO questions the National Trust's role in such a contentious planning application, surely it's time for their executive to re-think their support for Cheshire East's plans?"

"Cheshire East Council plans to loan Norfolk-based Bure Valley Adventures £5 million to build BeWILDerwood as its owner Tom Blofeld and his family trust (Blofeld is the nephew of cricket commentator Henry Blofeld) cannot fund the development. The Council will also spend £1.5 million on building the infrastructure required.

"Secret talks"

STAG says: "The Council has been in secret talks with Bure Valley about the BeWILDerwood development for at least three years. Last April plans were submitted to the Council which attracted more than 400 objections from the public and bodies such as the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE), the Woodlands Trust, and the Garden History Society.

"STAG initially questioned the viability of the development in planning terms, but is now increasingly concerned about the way Cheshire East council tax payers will underwrite the £5 million loan over the next 20 years."

Locally, AudlemOnline readers may wonder about Cheshire East's priorities. When money seems scarce for everything else, why spend so much on a theme park by a non-local company at a site which could be damaged by such a development. "Curiouser and curiouser", as Alice in Wonderland might have observed.

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