ALONG with others, I attended a planning meeting on March 31 dealing with the massive Davenport Green project.

I was appalled that outline planning permission was granted despite requests by both Conservatives and Lib-Dems to defer a decision - a delay supported by members of the public. None of us could understand the rush to grant permission.

This rush, the short notice given for the meeting and the overall lack of consultation with residents on the proposals was not properly explained by the Labour Group.

Also, to cynically arrange a meeting to discuss such an important topic at short notice just before a major holiday weekend really takes the biscuit!

Davenport Green is arguably one of the most important projects in the borough. It should be remembered that permission was originally granted with a number of caveats to protect residents, to preserve a buffer between Manch ester and Trafford and to ensure that the project was done sensitively.

Some of these caveats do not appear to have bee n met with the latest proposals. The 'It'll be all right on the night' attitude of the council is cavalier, amateurish and does not allay the fe ars of residents.

Labour originally opposed the development, so why the rush now? Is there something we don't know?

Ralph Stafford, Wood Lane, Timperley.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.