News from Charlotte Atkins

Labour MP for Staffordshire Moorlands

February 2009

Charlotte Atkins MP welcomes Sailability’s victory

Commenting on Rudyard Sailability’s victory at the Planning Appeal, Staffordshire Moorlands Labour MP Charlotte Atkins said: “This is a brilliant result. The swift response means Sailability's case was extremely strong. All Sailability needed was a fair hearing and an unbiased assessment of the full case without the misinformation and prejudices demonstrated at the planning committee hearings of Sailability's planning applications.

“It is a disgrace that Sailability had to go all the way to a Public Inquiry to get that. That is because we could not rely on the Tory dominated planning committee to give us a fair judgement. The planning department has frustrated Sailability at every turn, creating much added stress and grief for Sailability members who already have difficult enough lives to live.

“This is a victory for common sense but we must look at why it has taken nearly four years to get justice for Sailability. As a Trustee of Sailability, who became a member of Sailability to better champion this particular cause, I could not be more delighted. It is a fantastic victory. I cannot wait to see the new boat store built so people with disabilities can access the wonders of Rudyard Lake on the same basis as their able bodied friends and colleagues.”