Plans drop-in is just a ‘tick-box’ exercise – claim

Residents claim a second public meeting had been promised about the £8.5 million revamp of the civic hall and library, off Station Street.

Instead, a drop-in session was held two weeks ago, with the works — including 49 new homes — all set to begin.

One resident said: “Prior to Covid, there was a meeting where we looked at different options.

“We were told it was right to have consultation with residents to understand what people wanted.

“A second meeting was promised before the plans would go to the planning board. But that never happened. There was social media consultation, but that was it.

“Now they set up this meeting after planning permission is all done with. It’s just a tick-box exercise.”

RMBC said an open public session had been held in January 2019 and public consultation welcomed comments for six months before the decision was made.

More than 20 objections and a 150-name petition were submitted against the development before the planning board voted in favour on July 21.

Several residents queried RMBC’s legal right to build on the land, saying a covenant from the landowning Harrop sisters had bequeathed it to the public.

RMBC has partnered with Ben Bailey Homes on the development, which it says will modernise and regenerate a large area, making Swinton more attractive for people to live in and visit.