Liberal Democrats Force Labour and Conservatives To Back Calls To Save Ipsley Meadow.
March 3, 2021 8:00 AM
By Redditch Liberal Democrats
By Redditch Liberal Democrats
In the two weeks since Liberal Democrats in Redditch spoke to local media outlets, including the Redditch Advertiser and BBC Hereford and Worcester, calling for the council to abandon their plans to turn Ipsley Meadow into a cemetery, Labour and Conservative Councillors and candidates have been forced to publicly state their opposition to the plans.
Liberal Democrat campaigner, Andy Thompson said "It's been crazy to watch a whole cabal of previously ambivalent political candidates from the two main parties jump on the 'Save Ipsley Meadow' campaign train after Mark Tomes got the press to run the story. With elections just round the corner, Mark's work has made Ipsley Meadow a political hot potato and forced candidates of all hues to publicly back the campaign to save the meadow".
The publicity generated by Mark has had an almost instant impact. The Council announced on Monday (1st March) that the breaks had been applied and committed to a full review of all options. The leader of Redditch Conservatives, Cllr Dormer is now on record as saying he 'shares the concerns' of local residents and deputy leader, Cllr Rouse, is now backing the proposed review of the plans for cemetery provision in Redditch. Labour candidates, having being very quiet on this issue are suddenly pledging their support for the campaign to save the meadow.Unlike the two main parties, who have only embraced the issue when there is an election looming, Redditch Liberal Democrats have been campaigning on this issue since they lodged an objection back in September 2020. Since then Mark has listened to the concerns of local residents and worked with those in Ipsley Meadow Preservation Society who accepted his offer of help. He has been working hard to raise awareness of the issue and drum up objections from local people and has launched online campaign, inviting local people to add their name and join in the fight to save the meadow.
The fight to save Ipsley Meadow is far from over and our campaign continues until the plans are dead in the water.
