As exclusively revealed by the Salford Star here, Salford Council’s £3 million bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund has been rejected on the grounds that “a hotel within a park would impact on its character”. This all relates to the fact that last year Salford Council sold the mansion to a private invester who wanted to turn it into a four-star hotel. Lib Dem Claremont Councillors fought this decision every step of the way on behalf of residents and the local community.

Lib Dem Councillor Mary Ferrer, who led the opposition to the hotel, is pleased that the community’s arguments were taken on board.

“I am actually glad that somebody has listened to what the people of Salford wanted” she says “We didn’t want a hotel in a park, but because the Council wouldn’t listen to other options we have now lost the Lottery bid. If we would have worked together we wouldn’t be in the situation we are in today.”

Against local public opinion, Wilkinson was given planning permission for the hotel. And Salford Council submitted the bid to restore the park with the hotel at its centre.

Critics argued that the restoration would merely enhance the hotel from which the public would be excluded, and letters and petitions were sent to the Lottery urging it to reject the Council’s funding application. Now the Lottery has accepted the arguments put forward by critics, including Claremont Community Association.

Now it’s hoped that Wilkinson will back away from the project and the mansion will be given back to the people of Salford as a community resource.

Meanwhile, in a report to the Lead Member For Environment, dated 30th March 2009, Salford Council estimated that it would cost £72,685 in fees and surveys if the bid failed.

So basically, Salford Council have spent £73,000 of taxpayer’s money – YOUR MONEY – and received nothing in return. I was previously critisiced for asking the question “What has Salford Council’s leader, Councillor John Merry done to deserve a CBE?”, I now wish to pose a different question and ask “Why is Councillor Merry still the leader of the Council?”

With other recent failings of our council (Demi-Leigh Mahon case, moving a Youth Offender Service into a residential cul-de-sac with one of the highest crime rates in the city) Councillor Merry should take the Lead Member for Childrens Services (Langworthy Councillor John Warmisham) and the Strategic Director of Childrens Services (Jill Baker) with him.

All three have failed Salford and they should voluntarily step aside so that we can start to fix our broken Council.