Labour's 'charm offensive ' over its controversial local plan proposals has begun with leaflets being distributed in Ormskirk last week trying to set the record straight and allay 'media myths' about its proposals which have seen overwhelming opposition, not least from this concerned Bickstaffe resident who contacted the busy QLocal newsdesk on Thursday.

He writes: 'I think people should be aware of the underhand way in which the Labour members of the Council have introduced this new Local Plan.

Firstly I should point out that I have always been a Labour voter so my aim is not to discredit them for any party political reason. However, unfortunately one of the ways in which residents may be able to get them to reconsider the ridiculous proposals is to get them to worry about re-election.

The Planning Committee tasked the Local Plan Cabinet Working Group with ‘reviewing the existing Local Plan'. When they returned to the Planning Committee they unveiled the new 2050 Local Plan, and quite rightly the full committee pointed out that the Group had exceeded their remit.

A motion was proposed to this effect and it was defeated by 8 Labour votes to 5 non-Labour ones. The minutes of the Working Group are not available on the web so we don’t know what discussions were held or if a vote was held within that group. The make up of the Group was 5 Labour to 4 Conservative and I have submitted a Freedom of Information request for copies of the minutes of the group meetings.

For reasons known only to them the Labour Party appear to have circumvented normal Committee procedures and discussion to get this new Plan on the table as quickly as possible.'

Will there be many porkies told about the new plan - here's where you can your say: https://westlancs.citizenspace.com/