Published October 9th, 2008
Re-open Our Allotments!
Manchester Labour Party have been slammed for refusing toallow the former allotment site at Parrs Wood to be returned to use as allotments, even though the council have not been able to sell the land.Before they were closed the Parrs Wood allotments were used by many in Burnage and Didsbury.
Councillor David Sandiford, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Didsbury East, proposed a motion at a packed meeting of the full City Council in Manchester Town Hall, calling for the Council to reverse their previous decision to sell the 3 acre site and instead revert the land to house 50 allotments.
However, the Labour Councillor in charge of leisure refused to agree to do this.
Councillor Sandiford said:
“There is a large and unfilled demand for Allotments in South Manchester. According to Council officers, the waiting list for Manchester’s allotments is greater than 700. People waiting for an allotment can and do wait over three years for an allotment in their own area.
“Everyone accepts the positive aspects of allotmenteering - keeping healthy because of the physical work that one does in growing crops, contributing to a sustainable lifestyle, the social aspects, the educational aspects, and being able to have access to a fresh supply of good food.”
Councillor Sandiford, who used to have an allotment in South Manchester when his family was younger, added:
“This three-acre site is big enough for 50 full size allotments. It would make an excellent contribution to the needs of the local community. The decision to sell the site was taken by the Executive of the Council. That is why the motion calls on the Executive to rescind that decision.”
The motion was seconded by Councillor John Cameron, who represents Burnage Ward, which is near to the Parrs Wood allotment site.
Councillor John Cameron said:
“Land owned by the City Council should not be seen simply as a potential sum of money to be realized through its sale. It should also be seen as an asset that belongs to the people of Manchester and which should be used for their benefit now and for many years to come. Selling off assets such as this land may appear to offer a quick buck, and we all recognize that the Council needs money for the provision of services. However, like the sale of school playing fields, this also represents a short-term gain at the expense of a long-term loss. When you consider that the Council has not even managed to sell the Parrs Wood allotment site, the argument for removing it from sale and returning it to use as allotments becomes even more compelling.”
Published August 13th, 2008
Labour Side with Mobile Phone Giants Against Local People
John Leech MP has blasted Labour MPs for siding with phone company giants rather than residents over the power of communities to stop inappropriate phone masts. There are fewer restrictions on planning applications for phone masts, making it difficult for planning permission to be refused.The Liberal Democrats in Parliament moved an amendment to the Planning Bill which would have meant applications for phone masts would have required full planning permission like applications for new buildings. But Labour MPs, including all three Manchester Labour MPs who voted, voted against the call and Conservative MPs did not bother voting at all. John Leech MP said after the vote:“Manchester’s Labour MPs had the opportunity to side with local communities or with giant phone companies,” said John Leech MP “It is extremely disappointing so see that they have decided to back powerful multinational companies rather than the people they are supposed to represent. “The change the Liberal Democrats proposed in the House of Commons would have given residents a fighting chance to stop inappropriately sited phone masts but Labour decided to block it. They should be ashamed of themselves.”
Published July 10th, 2008
Anger as residents miss out on plastic and cardboard recycling collections
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.”
Published June 4th, 2008
Labour Waste Tax Payers’ Money
The Labour run City Council have paid out compensation to people who have tripped on broken pavements a staggering 1,473 time since 2000. The average payout is £3290.John Cameron said:“Labour’s policy of only patching up the worst potholes is a false economy. They should properly resurface all the roads and pavements that need it. They could have used the £5M of taxpayers money that they have thrown away since 2000 to do the work.”
Published June 4th, 2008
Keep Our Area Green!
A number of mature trees on plot of land behind Burnage Lane have been felled by the land owner. Shawbrook Meadow was an area of Woodland which was a habitat for bats, woodpeckers and other birds. John Cameron and the Lib Dems are working with local residents, Council Officers and the Forestry Commission to try and get the owner to replant trees on the site to replace the destroyed habitat. John said: “Shawbrook Meadow was one of the last small pieces of woodland left in the area. It is terrible that this habitat for wildlife has been lost. We will explore every possible means of getting new trees planted here.”
Published June 4th, 2008
Cleaning Up Our Area
The passageway leading to Ladybarn Park from Northbank Gardens has been cleared of litter, weeds and graffiti, after local residents asked Councillor John Cameron for the area to be tidied up. John took part in the clean up and said afterwards: “Thanks to everyone who took part in improving this popular route to the park. It looks so much better now.”Do you know of a grot spot or place where there is dumped rubbish, please let us know - you can use the ‘Report a Problem’ page on this website.
Published June 3rd, 2008
Labour Failing On Recycling
New recycling figures show that Manchester is still failing to make the necessary increases. Compared to the same period last year, the figures show that Manchester has made no progress at all in terms of rates for “dry recyclables”, such as paper, metal and glass. In fact the figures show Manchester moving slightly backwards in this category.
Lib Dem Councillor for Burnage, John Cameron, said:
“It is unacceptable that Manchester has made no progress in dry recycling rates over the last year, while other Greater Manchester Councils are recycling more, or making dramatic progress in improving their recycling rates.
“Thousands of homes in Manchester still have no doorstep recycling collections at all and yet the Labour-run Council is resting on its laurels. Everyone knows how important it is to recycle more of our household waste to fight climate change, reduce the amount of landfill and to save money for council taxpayers. It is high time that Labour start to take this issue seriously.”
Notes:
Total Dry Recycling for Manchester, Quarter 4 2006/07: 32429 tonnes
Total Dry Recycling for Manchester, Quarter 4 2007/08: 31657 tonnes
Published June 3rd, 2008
Labour’s Recycling Cuts
Liberal Democrat Councillor John Cameron has condemned the decision of the Labour government to slash funding for the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), which promotes recycling, by 30%.
Funding for other environmental organizations, such as British Waterways and Keep Britain Tidy, has also been cut by the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs.
Councillor Cameron, who represents the Burnage Ward, said:
“Climate change and the lack of landfill sites make it crucial that we recycle as much of our waste as possible. WRAP have provided funding in the past for various schemes to promote recycling across the UK, including Manchester. It is crazy for the government to slash funding for this at a time when they are hiking up landfill taxes on local authorities year on year.”
“Yet again Labour are talking about taking the environment seriously, while their actions show that the opposite is true.”
Notes:
DEFRA has announced a 30% cut in funding for the Waste and Resources Action Programme, from £59m to £43.2m.
British Waterways has its funding cut from £48.5m to £34.1m.
Natural England, which looks after conservation and wildlife, faces a £5m reduction to £176m.
Encams, which runs the Keep Britain Tidy campaign, has had its budget frozen.
Published June 3rd, 2008
Liberal Democrats Call for Green Houses
Liberal Democrat Councillor for Burnage, John Cameron, is calling on Manchester City Council to encourage residents to reduce their household waste by requiring all new houses built in the city to come equipped with a home composter.
Speaking at the Communities and Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Cameron asked the Head of Planning to change the Planning rules for new developments to require the property developers to provide composters for houses with gardens.
John Cameron said:
“Home composting is the most efficient form of recycling there is, as the material does not need to be collected. The City Council should use its Planning powers to require property developers to provide home composters for all the new houses they build. That way all residents of new homes will be able to compost their garden waste, as well as other material, such as cardboard and vegetable peelings.
“This would help Manchester to improve its recycling rates, which are far too low. Another advantage is that it would not cost the Council Tax payers a penny, as the developers would foot the bill.”
