https://theromileygazette.substack.com/publish/posts/published

18th January 2026

Residents are questioning the integrity of Stockport Council after a planning application for Padden Brook was advertised at the wrong location, raising eyebrows and stirring community frustration.

Sheila Oliver, a long-time local resident, sent a sharply worded email to council planning officer Vicki Bates, demanding immediate action to correct the error. “I, like Mr Parnell, am learning law from a lawless council,” she wrote, expressing her exasperation at what she sees as a lapse in proper procedure.

The council has since amended the planning application online, but Ms. Oliver stressed that more must be done to restore public trust. Her recommended steps include acknowledging the mistake, withdrawing and re-advertising the application, extending the consultation period, notifying misled residents, and implementing safeguards to prevent similar errors in the future.

The controversy has already drawn attention from local politicians and MPs, including Cllr Angie Clark, Cllr Mark Roberts, Cllr Rachel Bresnahan, Edward Davey MP, Daisy Cooper MP, and Layla Moran MP, all of whom were copied into the correspondence.

Residents fear that such administrative slip-ups could undermine fair consultation processes and leave communities in the dark about developments affecting their neighbourhoods.

Stockport Council has yet to release a public statement addressing the issue, leaving locals eager for clarity—and reassurance—that this won’t happen again.

31/03/2025 12:15

I forgot No 6)

Prevent Future Issues – Review internal procedures and implement safeguards to reduce the likelihood of similar errors occurring in the future.

Sheila

From: Sheila Oliver [mailto:sheilaoliver@ntlworld.com]
Sent: 31 March 2025 11:34
To: Vicki Bates (vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk)
Cc: Lisa Smart – Enquiries (enquiries@lisasmart.org.uk); cllr.angie.clark@stockport.gov.uk; cllr.mark.roberts@stockport.gov.uk; cllr.rachel.bresnahan@stockport.gov.uk; edward.davey.mp@parliament.uk; emma.curle@stockport.gov.uk; Zoe Allan (zoe.allan@stockport.gov.uk); edward.davey.mp@parliament.uk; daisy.cooper.mp@parliament.uk; layla.moran.mp@parliament.uk
Subject: Padden Brook false location deliberately put on application

Dear Ms Bates

The application has been amended to Padden Brook on the planning page for this week’s validations.  This is the action that should be taken:-

If a council advertises an application at the incorrect location, they should take the following steps to rectify the issue:

  1. Acknowledge the Mistake – Recognize the error and assess the impact it may have had on public consultation and procedural fairness.
  2. Withdraw and Re-advertise – Correctly advertise the application at the proper location, ensuring compliance with statutory notification requirements.
  3. Extend the Consultation Period – Provide an extended consultation period to allow affected parties a fair opportunity to comment on the application.
  4. Notify Interested Parties – Inform any individuals or groups who may have been misled by the incorrect advertisement, ensuring they are aware of the corrected details.
  5. Record and Report the Error – Document the mistake and any corrective actions taken to maintain transparency and accountability.
  6.  

I, like Mr Parnell, am learning law from a lawless council.

Yours

Sheila