Just a quick reminder that the deadline for Network Rail’s “Action Stations” survey on local station facilities is the end of December – click here to fill in the survey.
There is a lot of work to do at the local stations that are within Worsley & Eccles South constituency or serve some local residents - Walkden, Moorside, Swinton, Eccles, Patricroft and Irlam – and the more local people who fill in the survey, the louder our voice will be heard!
It only takes a few minutes to complete, and there’s a prize draw for everyone who takes the time to finish.
The next meeting of the Walkden and Little Hulton Community Committee takes places this coming Monday, 30th November. It is being held at James Brindley Primary School on Parr Fold Avenue in Walkden, and the fun and games start at 6pm.
There’s a presentation and discussion on the draft Core Strategy, including the Council’s proposals to build 1000 homes on green field land at Burgess Farm off Hilton Lane, and all local residents are welcome to attend and take part in the discussion. Hope to see you there!
Network Rail are currently consulting on their investment plans for railway stations across the country. Our local stations – Walkden, Eccles, Patricroft and Irlam – are all in need of significant investment, and I’d encourage all local rail commuters to complete the short Network Rail “Action Stations” survey to make sure that their views are heard!
Click here to take the “Action Stations” survey!
The weather may have been cold, but there’s been a warm welcome on the doorsteps as I’ve been out and about with colleagues talking to local residents.
On Saturday morning we were out in Walkden, listening to the concerns of residents – discussion topics ranged from potholes to St George’s to the excellent new community-right-to-buy policy announced by David Cameron last week. I’m very grateful both to local residents for the warm welcome we received and to my friends and colleagues who helped out.
This evening I braved the wind and rain with Antony Yates – our excellent local campaigner for Barton ward – to talk to local residents in Peel Green about Labour’s daft plans to bulldoze over the Barton Moss green belt. Residents in Peel Green are rightly furious that they are not being listened to by the Labour Council – once again it is only the Conservatives who are standing up for local people.
It was a privilege to attend the Remembrance Sunday service in Walkden this morning – a chance to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in serving their country. We will remember them.
The parade and service was extremely well attended, and I’m sure the whole community would want to extend their thanks to the organisers for their hard work in ensuring that the parade was a sucess.
I am delighted with the decision of the Schools Adjudicator to keep St George’s open. As a local Councillor I have consistently argued that it is a successful and excellent school at the heart of the local community, and there is no reasonable justification for closing the school down.
This is a great victory for all the parents, pupils (past and present), staff and local community members who have worked so tirelessly and for so long to keep their school open. They have shown true commitment to the local community and I am thrilled that there efforts have been rewarded.
Questions must now be asked about the judgement of our Labour Councillors, and particularly the lead member Cllr Warmisham and leader Cllr Merry. They have been told consistently that this was a wrong and unreasonable decision, but instead of being big enough to hold their hands up, say sorry and change their minds, they have pressed ahead regardless. They have caused three years of unnecessary heartache and hassle for the St George’s school community only to end up back where they started.
I could not wish to meet a more committed and community-focused group of people than the school community at St George’s, and I am immensely proud as a local Councillor that they are part of our community in Walkden and in Little Hulton.
I’ve just spoken to Mr Harte at St George’s, who has given me the wonderful news that the Schools Adjudicator has ruled in favour of the school – St George’s is staying open!
This is fantastic, fabulous, amazing news. I’m so thrilled for all the parents, pupils (past and present), staff and community members who have worked so hard for this. More information as soon as I get it.
Our local communities are very lucky to have such committed “Friends” groups for our local stations. I attended the Friends of Walkden Station meeting again yesterday evening – they are doing a fantastic job. We also have well-established and hard-working Friends groups at Eccles and at Irlam stations.
I’m delighted that a group has also been established at Patricroft station – you can view their website here and they are also on Twitter.
The next Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting in Walkden South will be held on Tuesday 10th November at 7.30pm. The meeting will be at the Guild Hall Community Centre, Guild Avenue, Walkden (please note this is a change from the originally advertised venue).
All local residents are welcome to attend the PACT meetings to discuss policing priorities with the local neighbouring policing team.
Update 04/11/09: Please note that I have been advised of a further change of venue, and that this meeting will now take place at Walkden Royal British Legion, Wilfred Road, Walkden.
Housing Targets Should Not Be Imposed On Communities
There’s an excellent article by Harriett Baldwin on the Blue Blog about the Government’s ludicrous imposition of housing targets on local communities. Harriett is the Prospective Conservative MP for West Worcestershire but her comments are equally applicable here in Salford.
Here in Salford, the Government – through the imposed Regional Spatial Strategy – has demanded that we plan to build over 30000 new homes over the next decade and a half, regardless of the consequences. The net result of this is Council proposals to build on inappropriate greenfield sites like Burgess Farm as well as flood the City Centre with flats that no-one wants to buy.
That’s why it is so important that local residents have their say on the draft Core Strategy and make it clear that they do not think that these proposals are suitable for Salford.
A Conservative Government would take an entirely different approach. Conservatives would abolish the top-down imposition of housing targets and hand control over development back to locally accountable councillors. This would allow for organic, windfall-type development as well as community-led affordable housing to develop once again in the local area in response to demand.