30th August 2025
Local Liberal Democrat MP Lisa Smart is facing questions from campaigners who fear she may be supporting a return to public life for former councillor Mark Weldon.
Mr Weldon was the executive councillor responsible during the development of the controversial Vale View Primary School in Reddish. The school was built on land known to be contaminated, and its cost spiralled from an initial £5.5 million budget to nearly £12 million, according to a Manchester Evening News report from the time (MEN, 2010).
The project has long been a source of anger for local residents who feel their concerns about contamination were ignored.
Concerns about Mr Weldon’s judgment resurfaced when campaigners highlighted a photograph taken at the school’s turf-cutting ceremony. The image shows Cllr Weldon breaking ground as children, wearing hard hats and high-visibility jackets, sit on the grass nearby. The site contained brown asbestos, arsenic and lead and other hazardous material, and Weldon should have known the risks.
“This wasn’t just poor decision-making, it was reckless,” said one campaigner. “To use children in a photo opportunity while disturbing toxic ground is indefensible.”
Lisa Smart has been criticised by some residents who believe that overlooking Weldon’s past involvement in the project would show a lack of accountability.
“This is about responsibility,” said another resident. “Before anyone talks about giving Mr Weldon a second chance, we need answers about why the project doubled in cost and why our children were put at risk.”
The Romiley Gazette approached Lisa Smart for comment on whether she is supporting Mr Weldon’s return, but no response had been received at the time of going to press.
