THE ALDERLEY Edge bypass saga just gets stranger and stranger.

The Government have now abdicated all responsibility, referring the £40m decision to the North-West Regional Assembly.

Now, forgive me if I'm wrong, but wasn't that the tier of Government Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott tried to foist on us?

In fact, I seem to recall his patronising comment that it would cost the people of the North-West less than a 'bag of chips a day'.

On Tyneside, he probably compared it to 'a little fishy on a little dishy,' but whatever it was no-one wanted him or his assembly.

So negative was the response, Mr Prescott cancelled all plans for a referendum on the subject saying the proposed postal ballot (previously heralded as a resounding success) was 'too unreliable'.

The Deputy PM skulked off back to Westminster with his 'bag of chips', his 'little fishy' and his Regional Assembly and that was the last we heard.

As far as anyone knew the whole issue was dead and buried by popular request.

So, how come such an important project as the Alderley Bypass is now in the hands of a rejected, unelected band of bureaucrats? What happened to democracy?

Apparently this 'assembly' has 70 paid staff and a budget of £3.5m. Doesn't it make you cynical to learn that an organisation resoundingly rejected by the public has already been introduced by the back door?

It must be extremely irritating for Government Ministers when their grandiose schemes are rebuffed by the electorate.

Imagine what's going to happen if we fail to vote the way the Government want on the new EU Constitution.

They'll just introduce it as they go along. Remember 30 years ago when we thought we were simply voting for a common marketplace for European goods?

There was no mention of Brussels interfering with our judicial system, undermining our laws or any loss of Parliamentary power, but that's what happened.

So now, an assembly firmly rejected by taxpayers, will determine how to spend £40m of taxpayers' money.

Is it any wonder the turn out at elections is so apathetic?

  • THE views expressed on this page are those of Vic Barlow and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Express.