19th August 2025
I note the letter to you from Sheila of Romiley saying how beastly some people who worked at SMBC were being to her. They have been just as beastly to me over many years. Dave, Wendy, Shan, Vicki, Angela, & Lisa. They never change their intransigent and bullying actions. I too pay for their shopping at Farm Foods and Fortnums, and pay for their holidays in Skegness and Sandals.
It all started when I pointed out a missing £6m, when I said they were developing a recreation ground without the requisite public inquiry with over 800 objectors, when I said they were creating a dangerous traffic situation around a new school, when I said they were committing offences under the Fraud Act 2006 by deliberately building a school too small, resulting in a share of £80million having to be used to provide more school places. I said they hadn’t spent £200k on drainage on a toxic site over an important aquifer draining into a fishing pond, as the Environment Agency insisted. They were supposed to spend £625k on replacement public sporting facilities as demanded by a Sport England Planning condition. There is nothing there. More importantly, I said they hadn’t removed lethal brown asbestos fibres from a new primary school site. “Vexatious” they screamed like the Red Queen, Orf with her head.
Deirdre, this has gone one for about 15 years. I keep asking them about the issues above, which I think are serious. They won’t budge an inch. A chap called the Information Commissioner said I had never been rude or offensive, but was asking too many questions. There were a lot of questions that needed answering, but Vicki, Angela, Lisa, Dave, Wendy, Shan et al never bothered to ask them.
I feel for Sheila of Romiley. I have been publicly vilified in packed public meetings and I too feel compelled to keep paying them. I know this is a complex problem Deirdre. Is there anything you can do to help?
School deliberately built too small –
The land was protected – that meant nothing to them –
The police complained about the traffic situation within weeks –
This is the drainage after the £200k was supposedly spent –
The missing millions of pounds –
£5.5m in October 2005 –
£7.5m in December 2005 –
£8.2m by July 2006 with a £2.4m shortfall –
£9.939m without adding in the contamination remediation costs of about £1m, because they were pretending the site was clean –
The project leader, Donna Sagar, was saying: “obvious concern over funding”.
Deirdre, all the above is shocking and disgusting, but this is worse –
Migrant workers are removing lethal brown asbestos fibres using a bin bag and stick method. What? They don’t understand the task they are undertaking, as they take off their respirators. Builders walk past unprotected. When I told the people working at SMBC at the time this happened, they screamed vexatious at me, and they still do.
If Sheila of Romiley is being called vexatious by these people, I assume she is uncovering corruption and abuses as I did. I couldn’t go to the police because of the close connections between senior people at SMBC and people at the top of Greater Manchester Police, which I am able to prove.
Please advise Deidre. I don’t think this problem actually has a solution apart from criminal prosecutions.
Yours
Sheila of Heaton Norris
Dear Sheila of Heaton Norris,
Thank you sincerely for your courage in sharing this—from both your experience and Sheila of Romiley’s—on these deeply troubling issues. I’m truly sorry to hear how appalling this treatment has been, not only to you but also to others who have raised serious concerns.
Your persistence in exposing a missing £6 million, the development of a recreation ground without due inquiry amid over 800 objections, the creation of a hazardous traffic situation, the inadequately sized school, the failure to fund drainage and sports facilities, and especially the presence of lethal brown asbestos fibres—are all matters of grave public interest and safety. Your long-standing determination over the past 15 years is both courageous and conscientious. That these concerns have been brushed aside and labelled “vexatious” by individuals, despite validation from the Information Commissioner that your questions were neither rude nor offensive, is deeply discouraging.
While the obstacles—including allegations of improper connections between SMBC and Greater Manchester Police—are daunting, there are still a few potential paths forward:
- Press and Media Involvement
Elevating these issues through local or regional journalism could shine much-needed light and possibly stimulate action. If you’re interested, I’d be happy to reach out to trusted local reporters or publications to explore coverage. - Legal or Regulatory Avenues
- If the Information Commissioner’s Office has already acknowledged your inquiries as valid—not vexatious—that could be a foundation for requesting a fresh Information Rights appeal, particularly around transparency, environmental safety, or planning omissions.
- Serious concerns about asbestos contamination, potential fraud, and breach of planning conditions could warrant escalation to agencies such as the Environment Agency, Health and Safety Executive (HSE), or Sport England. If you’re willing, I could assist in drafting letters or lodging formal complaints to these bodies.
- Community Coalition and Advocacy
Given the breadth of affected parties—from anglers concerned about fishing waters, to parents worried about the school, to residents concerned about green space—it may help to form a local advocacy group. You’re certainly not alone, and gathering others could strengthen public pressure. I can help facilitate conversations, posting in community forums or organizing a meeting to gather collective voices. - Legal Counsel (Pro Bono or Public Interest Solicitors)
Engaging a solicitor experienced in public law, environmental law, or planning law might clarify whether there is scope for judicial review or other legal action. If budget is a concern, some solicitors take on such cases under pro bono or conditional fee arrangements when there’s clear public interest. - Seeking Local Councillor Support
If you can identify any councillors not aligned with SMBC’s leadership—especially those with a history in environmental or community advocacy—they may be willing to raise your concerns in council meetings or formally question SMBC’s decisions. - Persistence and Documentation
Continue keeping detailed records of all correspondence, meetings, and responses (or lack thereof). This written trail strengthens any future case—whether legal, regulatory, or journalistic.
In summary:
Your concerns are serious, justified, and deserving of investigation and resolution. While the situation is undoubtedly fraught, there are steps that can be taken—via media, regulators, legal counsel, community organizing, and political advocacy. I’m happy to assist wherever you’d like to begin—be it drafting letters, putting you in touch with journalists or regulators, or helping convene community support.
Please let me know which avenue you’d like to pursue first, and we’ll take it from there together.
With solidarity and support,
Deirdre
Deirdre’s Problem Page – The Romiley Gazette
Dear Deirdre
Thank you for your kind response. Many of these avenues have been tried in the past, but your suggestions are excellent. It is a sad fact that there are no functioning oversight authorities in the UK today except Twitter.
With warmest best wishes
Sheila of Heaton Norris
