DESPITE the news a referendum on a North West assembly has been delayed, several sources have urged residents in the area not to give up on the idea.
They argue in response to criticism the assemblies would lack power that, if elected, an assembly could control government spending on such items as housing, some transport links, sports and culture and allow the region to have a more equal share of the budget.
The assembly would also create a partnership between local government, business organisations, public sector agencies, education and training bodies, trade unions and co-operatives plus the voluntary sector of the North West.
It has also been said that creating assemblies throughout England would help the economic, environmental and social well-being of each area.
Tony McDermott, leader of the Labour Group on Halton Borough Council, spoke to the Weekly News about why the regional assembly should still go ahead.
Mr McDermott said: 'I have always been a great supporter of the North West Says Yes campaign.
'The decision changes nothing in the sense that we need our own electoral region now more than ever.
'It has changed nothing except that we have to wait a lot longer.
'The delay is very frustrating, but it makes us all the more determined to go ahead with the plan.'
Mr McDermott added that not having our own regional assembly would be 'desperately unfair' to the area.
He said that the rival North West Says No Campaign would be happy to see more and more investment taken to London and the South East and argues funding in Manchester and Blackpool has already taken a back seat to London's bid for the Olympic games.
It is also believed that money has also been diverted away from homes in the North West.
Felicity Goodey is chair of the North West Says Yes campaign and agrees that despite the setback a referendum should still go ahead in the future.
She said: 'This announcement will not end our campaign for a stronger voice for the people of the North West.
'We look forward to the concerns of the electoral commission being resolved and a new date for the referendum in the North West to be set.
'It is a vote that we know we will win.
'We passionately believe that the people of the North West deserve to have their say and that an elected regional assembly will deliver future prosperity and a real chance to tackle the problems facing our region.'
This view was also shared by Derek Boden, leader of the North West Regional Assembly, who said last week: 'It seems yet again North West citizens are being told what is good for them rather than being asked.
'The North West Regional Assembly trusts North West people to make the right decision and we are calling on the Government to let them have their say at the earliest opportunity.'
