HUNDREDS of people have signed a petition criticising Cheshire West and Chester Council’s failure to consult the public over the sale of County Hall.
The 350-name petition, which will be presented to Parliament by city MP Christine Russell, calls for the affair to be scrutinised by the Select Committee for Communities.
The council insists it was not obliged to consult and said the sale of County Hall to Chester University for £10m will help regenerate the city.
Petition organiser Reg Barritt, of Hartington Street, Handbridge, said: “Of those I have approached 60% have signed and over 85% have at least been sympathetic to the complaint.
“Just 1% have objected to the petition and have been fully supportive of CWAC’s behaviour in this affair.”
He added: “CWAC has a Statement of Community Involvement that promises all the consultation we have been denied.”
Mr Barritt said Ms Russell MP, who also has concerns about the sale of County Hall, would formally present the petition to Parliament within the ‘next week or two’.
Council spokesman Ian Callister said: “As we have stated many times, this authority regards the sale of County Hall to the University of Chester as a vital first step in the regeneration of the city.
“As regards consultation, there was no requirement on the council to consult with the public simply because County Hall is an administrative building and not a building providing a direct service.”
The council is due to move into its new home at the HQ building, overlooking the racecourse, in June.
