Disappointment as Manchester Sustainable Communities Conference Cancelled

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 27th Jun 2006

In early March, just before the local elections and amid much local fanfare from Labour, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott announced that the Manchester would be hosting the third Sustainable Communities Conference next February. Now, just four month later, the event has been cancelled.

Manchester Liberal Democrat Leader Simon Ashley said that the timing of the announcement "stinks", that he was "disappointed" by the decision, and that the decision would harm the local economy.

Cllr Ashley said:

"Maybe I'm a cynic, but the timing of all this stinks. Just before the local elections, the Labour Government promise a big conference to boost the Manchester local economy. Just after the election, they break that promise."

He added:

"Although it is inevitable that some conferences get cancelled, it is a disappointment nevertheless, and will harm Manchester's conference economy."

Ends.....