Manchester Lib Dems Election De-Brief 2011

On Saturday 4th March senior Liberal Democrats in Manchester met to discuss the implications of the local election results for the party in the City of Manchester.

The gathering of party activists, including councillors and former councillors considered some detailed analysis of voting patterns, canvassing data and turnout across the City as a first step to working out exactly what the message from the City’s electors was on polling day.

Marc Ramsbottom, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Manchester, told members that “People in this city have given us a clear message. We need to continue to fight against Labour waste in the Town Hall, but we also need to stand up for this City and tell this Government when it has got things wrong.”

“It is clear that Labour have heard the wrong message from the people of Manchester. They have heard that they now have councillors in every ward in this City and believe that that gives them carte blanche to do whatever they please. As the only opposition to Labour in this City is it our duty to challenge that Labour arrogance, and to ensure that we represent the people of Manchester to the best of our ability.”

Figures obtained by John Leech MP show that England’s overstretched rail network has done well out of the spending review.

The figures on the detailed impact of the spending review compared to the last years of the Labour Government show that by 2013 we will spend more in real terms on improving rail services compared to the last year under Labour.

With the Lib Dems in Government, the capital budget for national road and rail projects will be 8% higher in real terms from 2011-2014 compared to 2008-2011.

But rail is the real winner, with a much bigger slice of the funding pie going to making train journeys better rather than doing work to motorways and trunk roads. Four times as much will be spent on rail compared to road from 2011-2014.

Under Labour, the proportion of capital funding for national transport projects going to rail had shrunk by 7% in its last three years in power. Motorway and trunk road projects took up a third of the budget.

Given the ageing train network and the need to give people good alternatives to the car, John Leech MP welcomed the funding shift as “finally a move in the right direction”. He commented: “I’m pleased that despite the economic mess we’re in, the spending tap isn’t being turned off for public transport. These figures show a positive picture, not the doom and gloom some painted.”

He added: “The Labour Government said all the right things about the need to improve public transport, but its actions didn’t follow its words.”

“By the time they left office, they were spending less and less on track and signals, and more and more on blacktop. We need a green economic recovery.”

With the Lib Dems in Government, the old diesel trains between Manchester and Liverpool and out to Bolton and Preston will finally be history. With track and signal improvements, we are going to get the faster journeys we’ve long been waiting for.

Come along to the funday. There are stalls and attractions for all the family.

Rumour has it that the local Councillors, along with the local Residents group, will be sporting costumes from Gorton’s history!

The Greenbank Residents Association have joined forces with Marie Curie Cancer Care to plant daffodils as a dedication to loved ones lost to cancer.

Residents can sponser a bulb at £1 each. All money raised will got to Marie Curie Cancer Care. There will be a “Book of Hope” with dedications. Forms can be got from, and handed in to Mark Dunn at the Blue Bell, who is helping to organise the event.

See you on the 10th at 2pm.

The 100-year celebrations in Gorton continued with a wonderful Rushcart.

The cart process from St James, and then pub-to-pub across Gorton with Morris displays and libation at each and every stop.  The merriment continued with both City and United beating London opponents, before the successful Ceilidh in the evening.  

Future events include

Saturday 17^th October

Gorton 100 Funday 12pm –3pm at Aspinal School

11am Wednesday 11^th November

Remembrance day with children from many schools across Gorton laying crosses at Gorton Cemetery.

6^th December 2009

An event to mark the end of the Gorton 100 year including a candle lit procession and showcasing of the earlier events.

This saturday, from 10.30am til 3.30pm, at Gorton Market, you will be able to get free step counters and walking packs, courtsey of the Ramblers.

Monday was a fantastic day in the celebration of Gorton centenary as we marked the 100^th anniversary of the first Garrett locomotive to be manufactured by the Beyer-Peackock works (now the council’s Hammerstone Road depot). The original engine K1 came back to Gorton, whistles blowing and smoke rising. to within 6 feet of where she was originally steamed up exactly 100 years ago today. It then visited the old boiler house,  Gorton Market, where hundreds of local people enjoyed the sight followed by a moving wreath-laying at Brookfield, before departing to a peal of Brookfield’s bells.  Well done to all involved in the organisation of this terrific event.

089737/JO/2009/N2 New Covenant Church 1, Matthews Lane Levenshulme, Manchester M12 4DP

Variation of condition 3 attached to planning approval reference 074914 to

allow for extended hours of use of church (Mondays to Thursday 09.00 to 20.30 and

Fridays to Sundays 09.00 to 22.00)

090036/FO/2009/N2  New Covenant Church 1, Matthews Lane Levenshulme, Manchester M12 4DP

Proposed extension to car park and new vehicle access/egress with new gates proposed to be set back 8 metres from the pavement.

These applications were submitted to Manchester City Councils planning department in the week ending 8/5/09.  If you wish to object or would like further details please contact the planning department :

 North Area Planning Group Manager – Des Jones

Tel: (0161) 234 4522 email: d.jones5@manchester.gov.uk

Further details of applications are available on the Public Access system

http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/tdc_home.aspx