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Macc - theatre of the absurd

Vic Barlow
11/ 6/2008

WHEN it comes to the absurd you can always rely on Macclesfield folk. If you thought Cheshire County Council had gone ga-ga spending a reported £60K of your money removing just four newts from Fallibroome High School you are not alone.

Sir Nicholas Winterton was sufficiently incensed to raise the matter in a speech to the House of Commons: "Is that a sensible way to spend taxpayers’ money?" he asked. At £15K a newt it was a fair point.

Nick Winterton is ‘out of touch’ screamed a Macclesfield newt expert, claiming Sir Nick would not have even raised the issue had they been tigers.

Call me an old sentimentalist but had there been four tigers padding around the grounds of Fallibroome High School I think someone might have mentioned it.

"Please, Miss, there is Bengal tigers in the playground."

"No, Timothy, there ARE Bengal tigers in the playground."

You’d notice wouldn’t you? You wouldn’t need Sir Nick to point it out.

According to our local newt expert taxpayers are gagging to re-home newts at £60,000 a pop, so, if you’d care to contribute simply send me cheque for £15,000 made out to ‘cash’ and I will have a newt named after you and ensure it sends you a personalised Christmas card.

(Note: several weeks ago I invited Jones Homes to disclose how much they’ve spent on newt relocation but have yet to receive a response)

The views expressed on this page are Vic Barlow's and not necessarily those of the Express

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