VISION TAMESIDE: STARTS HERE - COULD GO ANYWHERE!

You can learn quite a lot when you study the propaganda news releases which percolate with alarming alacrity from the inner-sanctum of Tameside council’s cabinet rooms.

"More Bull-s***
flying off a shiny shovel 

Their latest informs us of the progress of the ambitious project, called ‘Vision Tameside’ which will see the building of state-of-the-art college facilities, a smaller, more cost-effective public service centre and improved transport connectivity to the area.

 

In the council release, they tell us that according to ‘Independent analysis’ it is hoped that this will bring greater prosperity to the borough with £300 million of anticipated economic benefit through increased retail, more jobs and more apprenticeships!

Of course, there’s no mention of who was the author of this ‘Independent analyses’ is, or how much this crystal ball gazing document has cost,or over what time period, but they proudly tell us that these ambitious plans have been supported by 78% of participants consulted in the recent budget consultation!

Now, when one takes into consideration the fact that only 1004 (One thousand and four) out of 220,000 Tameside residents took part in the recent budget consultation. It means that Tameside councillors are telling us that they are justifying their spending plans based on the approval of  0.45% of the boroughs residents, who, like the rest of us, will not have had access to the financial analysis!

Hardly what one could call representative or democratic, is it!

Why is it that these career councillors think that when they quote statistics, they can hoodwink the populous?

"Eh, I only wear slip-ons!
 or should that be slip-ups?"

The only statistic with which Tameside councillors can claim any consistent accuracy is any time they have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 95% probability they'll get it wrong.

And nothing should strike more fear and trepidation into the pockets of the thinking man than when Cllr John Taylor throws in his tuppence and endorses anything vaguely financial, because along with that other intellectual titan Kieran Quinn, it wouldn't surprise me if they needed help to tie their own shoelaces, frankly.

So, instead of the usual waffle, could the 'council leaders' please just tell us how and on what time scale these estimated economic benefit figures are based.

Better still; - before the election, publish the ‘Independent analysis.’ So the remaining 218,996 of Tameside residents could have the opportunity of giving you the benefit of their opinion.