HAVE the councillors for the Hope Carr ward lost their grip on reality? They claim they are responsible for the changes to the Xanadu project after taking residents' views in to consideration.

Are these the same people who said that Xanadu would go ahead no matter what arguments we put forward? The same people who said that we were scaremongering?

The reality of the situation is that our case against Xanadu has sound foundations because as stated, our information comes from their own report and we have been stating the facts all along.

As far as the majority of people in the area are now concerned, they now oppose Xanadu along side the residents of Hope Carr.

The actual size of the project may have been changed but what about the problems related to traffic and pollution? Probably nothing but we will just have to see when the new proposals have been released publicly.

After the success of the Green Party in the by-election last November, they will be trying to win back support for the elections in May.

We will be bombarded by exhibitions and public meetings that will not inform us about traffic, pollution or the effect on the environment.

Still, the only positive point is the prospect of jobs and the facilities, although they have made it clear in the past that they are not intended for the majority of local people.

If the people behind Xanadu really believe in what they claim are the benefits of the project and that we are talking rubbish, then hold a public enquiry or a public debate on the whole issue.

Do not forget that Wigan MBC are land owners and the planning authority, so an enquiry is only logical.

How many have had planning permission refused on the grounds that something did not fit in with the environment, or it would block sunlight to an adjacent property?

There are quite a few from the people who have contacted me and their plans did not increase road traffic, cause pollution or destroy a Primary Wildlife Corridor.

So what are you afraid of? You claim to act on our behalf but yet deny us the right to the truth about the project. Let's see if you will stand by what you claim are the benefits and go public on every aspect.

Do not lie publicly and insult our intelligence, give us what we are all asking for - the truth. If you want to give us something, we want facilities that will be completely accessible to the local community without sacrificing existing facilities.

Stephen Critchley

Leigh Central Green Party Candidate

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.