SO exhaustive, not to say exhausting, was Michael Jones’ paean of praise to himself and his council last week, that one hesitates to inject anything like a sour note into the blissful harmony that is clearly Cheshire East. However, I’ll do my best. As Michael Jones well knows, some of the main issues facing our borough have been, and will be, to do with planning: development; over-development; availability of affordable housing; of adequate infrastructure; the preservation of Green Belt; of the character of our towns and villages and so on.

One of the basics that a council has to have in place when these issues are debated is a credible five-year housing land supply statement.

Has Cheshire East had one this past year? Not according to planning inspectors it hasn’t. In case, dear reader, you think all this is all bureaucratic ho-hum, think back to numerous articles you will have read in the Guardian. These have told of a developer appealing against the rejection of his plans because of massive local opposition. The planning inspector however has agreed that the development should go ahead. And one of the main reasons the inspector has given is the absence of a credible five-year housing supply statement by CEC. Michael Jones has often talked about preserving the unique nature of our so-called heritage towns and villages. One of our best hopes for this now is the development of Neighbourhood Plans.

Meanwhile, it would be helpful if Cllr Jones would put more energy into getting the planning process right for our precious towns and villages and less energy into praising himself. Geoff Holman (of no party political affiliation)