Lights cash bah humbug

Councillor Mike Buckley— Scrooge-like tendencies?

Saddleworth and Lees District Partnership meeting
Councillor Mike Buckley was comically dubbed the “Christmas Lights Scrooge of Dobcross” at the meeting as he abstained from voting on a budget decision for festive village decorations.

Councillor Barbara Beeley made the comment after he raised concerns, arguing that he didn’t think public money should be spent on lighting up Saddleworth villages.

He said that village communities should be raising the money, as in Delph where profits from Party In The Park are used to inject festive cheer in the form of Christmas lights.

Mike Buckley was the only one to abstain from decisions to grant up to £9,351 for the installation, removal and expansion of the Christmas lights scheme.


Door slams shut on gate
DISTRICT Partnership cash will not be used to fund a new barrier at a Dovestone Reservoir car park. Members voted against a request from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

The wildlife charity, which now manages the site, asked for £4,650 to install a new heavy-duty gate at Binn Green car park, to replace a gate that has been wrecked twice by vandals and to pay for someone to lock the barrier and toilet doors each night.