Fury as Lib Dems fail to object to Daresbury dance festival

11:00am Friday 19th March 2010

By Miranda Newey

A COUNCILLOR has slammed the Liberal Democrats for using ‘weasel words’ after the party failed to object to the Creamfields festival.

Clr Paul Kennedy (CON – Hatton, Stretton and Walton) said a letter from five of the party’s councillors to the Warrington Guardian opposing the two-day dance event’s plans for a three-year licence was simply ‘kidology’ after they failed to object to Halton Borough Council.

He said: “It is no wonder politicians are in disrepute. When I say I am going to do something I do it.

“The Liberal Democrats could have turned up to the hearing at Runcorn Town Hall but they didn’t.

“You have got to put yourself out if you are genuinely trying to do something, even if it is a lost cause.

The letter, published in February, was addressed from borough councillors Clr Brian Axcell and Clr Judith Walker and called for the dance festival to be moved to a new location to prevent residents being inconvenienced again.

It claimed Appleton residents have been afflicted each year that Creamfields has taken place.

Clr Kennedy said the councillors could have made a representation to the regulatory committee at Halton Borough Council despite living outside of the Daresbury boundries.

“If they were genuine they could have made a representation or spoken at the hearing.

“Writing a letter into the paper will have no effect on the licensing, it does nothing. It is kidology.

“Creamfields is here for three more years, not just for elections.” he said.

Clr Brian Axcell (LD – Appleton) said: “As an individual living this side of Appleton, I live too far away and as a borough councillor I don’t have any right to object.”

Eager to throw out the proposals, Appleton Parish Council, of which Clr Axcell is a member, made a representation to Warrington Borough Council after being informed that it was not a consultee.

The parish council asked the council to make a representation to Halton objecting to the three-year licence but the council chose not to challenge the permanent licence.

Clr Axcell added: “We objected using the only avenue available as we were informed.