Following claims made by Cllr Paul Moss on Wednesday 22 October, we note the following:

• Stockport Liberal Democrats made an empty gesture when offering to abstain on any motion brought by us to the council chamber against development on Reddish Vale Country Park. The decision to build or not to build on the Vale was always going to be for the consideration of the quasi-judicial Planning & Highways Regulation Committee. In making this offer we believe the Lib Dems were merely seeking to deflect attention from their incompetence and mishandling of the matter.
• Paul took part in a detailed Stockport Labour Group discussion where it was unanimously agreed that individual councillors should be free to decide their own position on proposals to build on the Vale. This was in acknowledgement that the differing communities we are elected to serve hold differing views.
• Stockport Labour Group’s Reddish North and Reddish South councillors continue to oppose development on any part of Reddish Vale Country Park.

Paul was deselected by Labour Party members in the Reddish North ward on Friday 26 September. His appeal against this decision was heard in line with national Labour Party rules. The appeal was dismissed on Wednesday 22 October.