Leaders apologise over town letter

THE leader and deputy leader of Cheshire East Council have apologised publicly and said they 'sincerely regret' writing a letter which appeared to support the proposal for Adlington new town.

- BY BELINDA RYAN Local Democracy Reporter

Council leader Nick Mannion.

The letter, obtained through a freedom of information request, was sent to the New Towns Task Force by council leader Nick Mannion (Macclesfield, Lab) and deputy Michael Gorman (Wilmslow, Ind) in June.

Last Wednesday (December 10) the two leaders faced a barrage of questions and challenges from angry councillors and members of the public.

And the meeting of full council had to be temporarily adjourned for a few minutes for legal advice, when Poynton & Adlington councillor Michael Beanland (Con) demanded to know under what constitutional authority the two leaders had made the declaration that the council supported the controversial proposal.