Riverside plans go behind closed doors

5.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 21st May 2008

In a shock move the Conservative controlled Borough Council have disbanded the cross party Riverside redevelopment working group.

Cllr. Mike Mackrory, Leader of the Opposition, said, "I have been informed by the Leader of the Council that because we have 'made the issue political' he has made this decision. If he thinks representing the views of the people using the Riverside pools is political then so be it. He has denied the official Liberal Democrat Opposition a voice in determining the future of this hugely expensive project.

"A Cabinet working group, meeting in private, will now progress the scheme with no opposition members present. This is an abuse of power which only increases our fears that the Conservatives want to steamroller through what they want and not what the public want."

To support the campaign against the lack of consultation and lack of options considered for the proposed redevelopment of the Riverside site, please go to http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/riverside and sign the petition.