Macclesfield Future...part 2.

This morning I attended a meeting hosted by Cllr Macrae about the future for Macclesfield. Fortunately, the location had been moved to Macc Town Hall from Sandbach, which debunked the myth that Congleton and Crewe are actually the future of Macclesfield.

Essentially the plan is to carry out some work to properly understand what Macclesfield wants and needs economically from a larger strategic viewpoint. This work can then be used to inform the 247th revision of the town centre plans, and also to drive forward work for the South Macclesfield Development Area, by which they mean Lyme Green/Danes Moss.

Prior to the meeting I was given an embargoed copy of the cabinet report, although I note that it's publicly available here anyway:
http://moderngov.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ecminutes/mgConvert2PDF.asp?ID=4837

Sounds a bit like management mumbo jumbo and further council promises to get on with something? Well that's because it is to a certain extent. But do not underestimate this to any extent. It is without a doubt one of the most crucial decision to be made for Macclesfield in the last 20 years.

Essentially the intention is to push forward two projects, the names of which will send a shiver down the spine of most self-respecting sensible denziens of Macclesfield: Danegate and the Wilson Boden development.

It's only when you start to consider these projects that you realise how much they have in common. They were both deeply unpopular. There was inadequate consultation, and attempts by the authorities to drive ahead with them regardless (more so in the case of Danegate). But most importantly, they are both desperately needed. In the right form, of course.

That's why this is so important. The approach that the council is now looking to take will overcome everything that was wrong with the initial iterations of these two projects in the first place.

As long as the businesses and the public are given the ability to scope what they do and don't want, then there will be minimal objection to the proposals which come out of the other end. Jamie has promised me that this will be the case, and I believe him. I hope he doesn't let us down.