Published November 16th, 2008
Errwood Road Crossing Victory
After years of pressure from the Liberal Democrats and local residents, the City Council has at last put in a pedestrian crossing at the junction of Crossley Road and Errwood Road.
The Lib Dems raised a petition of local people calling for a crossing and handed it in to the City Council, who have listened at last.
Councillor Iain Donaldson said:
“This is a junction of two busy roads. People need to cross to get to the park and fields, as well as to the local schools, shops, bus stops, etc.
“We have been telling the City Council for years that they need to improve the safety of the junction for pedestrians, especially children and older people. “We are delighted that they have listened at last and made the crossing much safer for local people.”
Published October 23rd, 2008
Lib Dems to Use Freedom of Information in Fight To Save Post Offices
The Labour-controlled executive of Manchester City Council have agreed a disappointing report into the feasability of the Council intervening to keep the 5 Post Offices shut this year in Manchester, including Parrs Wood Post Office on Wilmslow Road and Ladybarn Post Office on Mauldeth Road, open. After voting in favour of a Lib Dem Motion at a meeting of the full City Council two weeks ago which called for every effort to be made to reopen these 5 Post Offices, Labour seem to backing down from that promise.
Commenting on the Post Office agreed by the Labour Executive, Lib Dem Leader Simon Ashley said,
“This report does not do what the Council motion I proposed asked for. The Liberal Democrats will be calling this report in for further Scrutiny. The Post Office made the Council sign a non disclosure agreement, which meant that Councillors have not seen any detailed figures for how much it would cost to save these Post Offices.”
During questioning, Labour Councillors confirmed that a subsidy in the order of £1million over three year would be needed, and that the Post Office had specifically excluded the Parrs Wood Branch, as its reopening would affect nearby Post Offices.
Lib Dem finance spokesperson Cllr Simon Wheale added,
“The Post Office, in stopping the Council even considering re-opening Parrs Wood, has acted outragously. The Liberal Democrats are going to use Freedom of Information requests to try and get more detailed figures. Once we have that, we will do all we can to find the money in the Council’s budget to save these Post Offices.”
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 October 9th, 2008
Lib Dems welcome Council Post Office pledge
Manchester Liberal Democrat have welcomed a pledge by Labour Council Leader Richard Leese that the Council will investigate the viability of the Council subsidising Post Offices closed in the city since 2003, as well as 5 Branches earmarked for closure by the Post Office in August in Levenshulme, Didsbury, Ladybarn, Harpurhey and Crumpsall.
The Labour Group supported the Liberal Democrat motion on Post Offices at October’s full City Council Meeting.
Manchester Lib Dem leader, Cllr Simon Ashley said:
“I am happy that the Labour Group supported our motion. It offers a lifeline to the 5 Post Offices earmarked for closure in August, and the chance to re-open 23 branches closed by the Post Office across the city since 2003.”
Burnage Councillor John Cameron added:
“Our motion doesn’t write a blank cheque. It allows Council Officers to investigate how much subsidy is needed to keep these Post Offices open, and come back with a plan. This is good news for those campaigning to keep local Post offices open.”
Published August 14th, 2008
Decision to close local post offices is ’shameful’ say Lib Dems
Manchester Liberal Democrats have condemned the announcement that two post offices in South Manchester are going to be closed despite a huge local effort to save them.
Despite a Lib Dem petition that gained the support of over 1,500 local residents, which John Leech MP presented in Parliament, and massive local opposition to the decision, it has been decided that both Ladybarn Post Office on Mauldeth Road and Parrs Wood Post Office on Wilmslow Road are to close.
Responding to the news of the closures, John Leech expressed anger and disbelief, stating that ‘it is shameful that Post Office Ltd and the Government have completely disregarded the views of local people and have decided to go ahead with the closures of Ladybarn and Parrs Wood post offices.’
‘It is devastating news for the subpostmasters and a real blow for the hundreds of local people who have made representations in the strongest terms possible to the consultation team, and supported the campaign to save the post offices. This decision will hit the most vulnerable the hardest, with the elderly being particularly badly affected. It is yet another blow to them under this government at a time of rocketing bills and increasing fuel poverty.’
Addressing the public consultation, he continued, ‘the whole idea of a public consultation should be that it offers a genuine chance for the people who will be affected by a decision to have their say in a constructive debate on the issue. Unfortunately, in this case the consultation has been farcical and one-sided with a real lack of feedback on the part of the consultation team. It appears that there was never any intention to reverse these closures, and that is absolutely appalling.’
Councillor John Cameron added:
‘We knocked on hundreds of doors to collect petition signatures against these closures. We did not meet a single person who was in favour of the closures. Why have a consultation if people’s views are going to be ignored?
‘The Labour government have presided over these closures. The Labour-run City Council have twice refused by back our demands that they take meaningful action to save Manchester’s threatened Post Offices. Labour must now act or the effects on our loacal communities will be devastating.’
Published August 13th, 2008
Success for Local Primary Schools!
Councillors John Cameron, Iain Donaldson and Rod Isherwood and John Leech MP have hailed recent results from Ladybarn, St Bernards, Mauldeth Road and Green End Primary Schools. All three have received very good OFSTEAD inspection reports in recent months. Ladybarn and Green End Primaries have been working together in a ‘federation’, with one head teacher for both. John Leech said:”These reports show a great achievement by the staff, parents and pupils of all three schools. Congratulations go to all concerned.” Councillor Iain Donaldson, who is a school governor at Green End Primary said:”Green End has had some major problems in recent years, but the federation with Ladybarn and the dedication and hard work of all the staff have really paid off.” Councillors John Cameron and Rod Isherwood are school governors at Ladybarn Primary. John Cameron said:“Ladybarn Primary has been classed as an ‘outstanding’ school. This is no more than it deserves. Everyone at Ladybarn has worked exceptionally hard to achieve this.”
Published July 22nd, 2008
Housing In Crisis
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.”
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 July 4th, 2008
Post Office Campaign Gathers Pace
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.
Published July 4th, 2008
We Need Easy Access!
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.”
