Housing In Crisis
July 22nd, 2008 by johncameron
A new report from Shelter, the housing charity, says many North West families are making desperate sacrifices to keep a roof over their heads, including spending less on food, selling possessions and borrowing from friends and family.
John Leech MP and the local Lib Dems are backing Shelters new ‘Breaking Point’ campaign, which calls on the government to end the housing crisis.
The plan also calls for mortgage lenders to use repossession only as a last resort, and provide more help and support to homeowners; and for more safeguards for tenants renting privately. Shelter say the Government should review property taxation to make the system fairer, including council tax, stamp duty, inheritance tax and capital gains tax.
John Leech MP said:”Everyone has the right to an affordable and decent place to call home. With many thousands of families in Manchester waiting for their own council house, repossessions soaring, and private sector rents rising, we need to do more to tackle the housing affordability crisis.”I am working hard with Shelter to help the one in four families in the North West that are suffering from stress or depression due to today’s housing costs.Councillor Iain Donaldson, who is the Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Housing in Manchester added:”As local Councillors we know from our advice surgeries and post bags that lack of a proper home is a major problem for hundreds of families in our area alone. Many are living in totally overcrowded and inappropriate conditions.”Gordon Brown has promised to make housing a priority in his Government. Now is the time the Labour government lived up to its fine words and tackled the problem head-on.”
Lib Dems Call for Action as Thefts of Drain Covers Increase Tenfold in a Year!
July 10th, 2008 by johncameron
John Cameron and Iain Donaldson, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Burnage Ward, are calling for swift action to save council taxpayers thousands of pounds in the face of an epidemic of drain cover thefts across Manchester.
Figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats show that the number of thefts in Manchester in less than the first quarter of this financial year stand at a little under 500, compared to a little over 200 for the whole of the last financial year.
Now Councillors Cameron and Donaldson are calling for the Council to take action to stop the thefts happening, instead of waiting for them to happen, as happens at present.
Councillor John Cameron said:
“We always report things like graffiti, broken streetlights and potholes that we notice when we are out and about in Burnage. We noticed that we were reporting more and more missing drain grid covers from the area’s streets. These missing covers are stolen for scrap, which has a high value at the moment. The trouble is that when they are stolen a dangerous hole is left that could cause serious injuries to pedestrians.”
Councillor Iain Donaldson added:
“When we report these missing covers, the City Council replaces them with non-metallic ones, which do not get stolen as they have no scrap value. What we have suggested is that they start to replace the metal covers in areas where there are lots of thefts before they get stolen, not after. That way the City Council would at least be able to accrue the value of the metal to spend on council services, instead of just waiting for the thieves to steal them all. It would also remove the trip hazard being caused for pedestrians.”
Anger as residents miss out on plastic and cardboard recycling collections
July 10th, 2008 by johncameron
John Cameron Liberal Democrat Councillor for Burnage Ward, has slammed Labour run Manchester City Council for failing to introduce cardboard and plastic recycling collections across South Manchester.
After years of calls from the Lib Dems and local people to have the range of materials collected from the kerbside increased to include plastics, directories and cardboard, the City Council is at last taking action - but only in a handful of places.
Councillor John Cameron said:
“If materials like plastic and cardboard, which can be recycled, are put in the ordinary rubbish bin, they end up in landfill sites, which is bad for the environment and costs the council tax payers money, through landfill taxes.
“The Liberal Democrats have argued for years that the Council should encourage more recycling by collecting other materials, like plastic and cardboard. We know that local people want to recycle these things, but the Council have not been making it easy by only collecting glass, aluminium and paper.
“At long last it seems that Labour has started to listen and are bringing this in - but why only to a few areas? It is great news for the people of parts of Whalley Range and Sharston, but what about the residents of Burnage, Withington, Didsbury, Northenden and Chorlton Park?
“After all of these years of delay it is high time that they got their act together and offered a comprehensive recycling collection service across the whole city.”
Lib Dem Councillor for Chorlton Park, Norman Lewis, added:
“It makes no sense that residents of Chorlton who live in the areas covered by Whalley Range and Chorlton Wards will get the improved recycling service, but those who happen to live in the Chorlton Park Ward will not. It’s just not fair.”
Post Office Campaign Gathers Pace
July 4th, 2008 by johncameron
Labour’s latest cynical Post Office closure plans reached a new stage in June when the list of Manchester Post Offices due to be axed was announced.
There was some relief for our area as the Post Offices on Burnage Lane, Kingsway and Fog Lane have all escaped Labour’s axe – for now.
But there was dismay at the news that Ladybarn Post Office on Mauldeth Road and Parrs Wood Post Office on Wilmslow Road are earmarked for closure. Levenshulme Post Office is also facing the axe.
The local Lib Dems have already collected thousands of petition signatures opposing Labour’s Post Office Closure plans. Now they are launching a further campaign to oppose these two closures.
John Leech MP said:
“Labour say that these closures will save money and that people can just use other post offices. However, this ignores those who do not have easy access to transport and the fact that these post offices help to sustain local shopping areas.”
Councillor John Cameron said:
“We must get them to change their minds and keep all of our post offices open. Please sign our petition to save Ladybarn and Parrs Wood Post Offices.”
John Leech MP will present the paetitions to Number 10 Downing Street in two weeks time.
Labour Hike Pest Control Charges
July 4th, 2008 by johncameron
Manchester Liberal Democrats are calling on the Labour run City Council to reverse their decision to hike charges for pest control, just when problems with infestations are on the increase.
The Council are proposing an 18% increase in charges for treating mice infestations, a 25% increase in the cost of dealing with wasps nests and a 164% increase in the cost of tackling “other pests” including beetles and other vermin. Councillor Iain Donaldson said: “These inflation-busting increases are excessive. This is an essential service that helps local residents to keep their homes free from pests, rodents and vermin. Increases of up to 164% will hit everyone hard, especially low-income families.”
Calling All Veterans!
July 4th, 2008 by johncameron
Councillor Rod Isherwood is calling on all fellow services veterans to claim their medals. Rod said:
“If you are a services veteran you are entitled to a medal to mark your contribution to our country. Contact John Leech MP’s office on 0161 434 3334 and an application form will be sent out to you. You will need to supply your name, address, date of birth, service number and details of the service.”
We Need Easy Access!
July 4th, 2008 by johncameron
The local Liberal Democrats are campaigning to restore low floor, easy access buses to the 44 bus route along Parrs Wood Road.
Previously, all the buses on the 44 route were easy access, which allowed disabled and elderly people, along with those with push chairs, to get on and off easily.
Then minibuses were put on, which had steep stairs, making if difficult or impossible for many to use the bus.
Councillor Iain Donaldson said:
“We wrote and complained about the situation to the Greater Manchester Transport Executive, and there are now some easy access mini buses on the 44 route. However, we want to see all low floor buses, so that those who have push chairs or mobility problems can go catch the bus safe in the knowledge that they will be able to get on.”
UEFA Report Leaves Unanswered Questions
July 4th, 2008 by johncameronLiberal Democrat Councillors in Manchester have welcomed a Council report into last month’s staging of the UEFA cup final in Manchester but believe that some questions remained unanswered by the report.
Manchester Lib Dem Leader Cllr Simon Ashley said:
“I have met senior Council Officers and told them we agree with some of the key recommendations in the report:
that Piccadilly is an unsuitable venue for a large event;
that there should be ticketed entry to control numbers;
that there should be better communication with city centre businesses and residents;
that there needs to be better signage, more toilets, bins and better and quicker cleaning.”
Cllr Ashley added:
“However, I think the report fails to answer three questions:
1) Why weren’t more viewing screens made available throughout the City when number estimates kept increasing, to better disperse the crowd numbers?
2) Did the U-turn on the communications strategy on the 8th of May (when instead of saying ‘Don’t come without a ticket’, the city said “Everyone welcome”) contribute to the increased visitor numbers?
3) Was the decision making process transparent and did the organising committee rely too much on intelligence and information received from Strathclyde Police and Glasgow Council?”
Cllr Ashley concluded:
“This report isn’t perfect but is a good start. Manchester needs to learn the lessons of the Uefa final so that the people of Manchester can regain the confidence they have lost in its Council bidding for future events.”
Manchester Lib Dems Welcome Labour U turn on C-Charge Referendum
July 4th, 2008 by johncameronManchester Liberal Democrats have welcomed Council Leader Richard Leese’s proposal to hold a Greater Manchester-wide referendum on proposed public transport improvements including an element of congestion charging. A referendum, if agreed by Council Leaders across Greater Manchester, would take place after consultations on the funding bid end in October.
Manchester Liberal Democrats have consistently called for a referendum on this issue. Recent polls that showing that 86% of respondents supported having a Greater Manchester wide referendum before introducing a Congestion
Charge.
Lib Dem Leader Cllr Simon Ashley said:
“Manchester Lib Dems have been arguing for a long time that we need a referendum on such a critical issue. I am glad that Labour Council Leader Richard Leese has finally come round to our way of thinking.”
Cllr Ashley added:
“This announcement, if agreed by the ten Council Leaders, means that we can have a proper debate about the Tif bid and congestion charging. This is a victory for the people of Greater Manchester.”
