Fires on Chorlton Ees and Ivy Green

Message from Dave Bishop, Chair of the Friends of Chorlton Meadows:

For a number of years now someone has been setting fire to grassland on Chorlton Ees and part of the Hardy Farm SBI and it has happened again this year during the present dry spell. This is an immensely damaging practice!

It kills countless numbers of over-wintering insects and small mammals and deprives birds of food. After the fires, the burned areas are invaded by Rosebay Willowherb ("Fireweed") which reduces their nature conservation potential.

If you see anyone setting these fires do not approach them but try to get a description.

Weekly list of planning applications we 8 Mar 13

Below are recently submitted Planning Applications in the Chorlton area. You can find out more information about any of the proposals on the City Council's Planning Portal at http://tinyurl.com/yv6lex or by contacting the South Area Planning Group Manager - Roger Hall; Tel: (0161) 234 4536; email: r.hall@manchester.gov.uk . You can also make a Planning representation (in support or opposition) to Mr Hall or the designated planning officer for each application. Please feel free to contact me on (07947383740; cllr.v.chamberlain@manchester.gov.uk) if you wish to discuss any application and please also send me a copy of any representation you make.



101690/FH/2013/S1 53 Vicars Road Chorlton Manchester M21 9JB
Erection of part single, part two-storey side and rear extension to form additional living accommodation

101729/FO/2013/S1 575 Barlow Moor Road Chorlton Manchester M21 8AE
Installation of canopy, balustrading and decking to create outdoor seating area

101816/FO/2013/S1 Copperfields 430 Wilbraham Road Chorlton Cum Hardy Manchester M21 0AS
Installation of extract cowl to flat roof at front of property

101891/TCA/2013/S1 1 The Meade Chorlton Manchester M21 8FA
Works to various trees
  101797/FO/2013/S1 Chorlton High School Nell Lane Manchester M21 7SL Erection of single-storey dining hall extension and link corridor within existing courtyard

101854/NMC/2013/S1 20 Dartmouth Road Chorlton Manchester M21 8XJ
Non-material change to planning permission ref: 099228/FH/2012/S1 to allow reduction in number of windows
  101880/TEL/2013/S1 Vodafone Ltd C/o Agent Central Reservation Of Princess Road Near TheJunction With Barlow Moor Road West Didsbury Manchester M20 2YR Manchester
PRIOR NOTIFICATION - Installation of 15 metre high monopole radio base station following removal of existing monopole

101862/TEL/2013/S1 Vodafone Ltd C/o Agent Grass Verge Of Princess Road Facing St Bernadettes Church Withington Manchester M20 1HH PRIOR NOTIFICATION - Installation of 15 metre high telecommunications monopole and associated equipment cabin following removal of existing monopole

VAT Workshop at Chorlton Library

£700 back in the pockets of millions

Weekly list of planning applications we 1 Mar 13

Below are recently submitted Planning Applications in the Chorlton area. You can find out more information about any of the proposals on the City Council's Planning Portal at http://tinyurl.com/yv6lex or by contacting the South Area Planning Group Manager - Roger Hall; Tel: (0161) 234 4536; email: r.hall@manchester.gov.uk . You can also make a Planning representation (in support or opposition) to Mr Hall or the designated planning officer for each application. Please feel free to contact me on (07947383740; cllr.v.chamberlain@manchester.gov.uk) if you wish to discuss any application and please also send me a copy of any representation you make.

101559/FO/2013/S1 Soap Opera 32 Beech Road Chorlton Manchester M21 9EL
Change of use from Launderette to Restaurant with outside seating (Class A3)

101711/FO/2013/S1 450 Barlow Moor Road Chorlton Manchester M21 0BQ
Change of use of first floor offices to two self contained flats including erection of external stair at side of property and elevational alterations.

101758/JO/2013/S1 Dixys 450 Wilbraham Road Chorlton Manchester M21 0AG Variation of condition no. 2 attached to planning permission 084595/JO/2007/S1 to allow the premises to open until 0100hrs Sundays to Wednesdays and until 0300hrs Thursdays to Saturdays

101802/TCA/2013/S1 38 South Drive Chorlton Manchester M21 8DY
Works to tree
  101782/FH/2013/S1 101 Chelsfield Grove Chorlton Manchester M21 7SU
Erection of part first/part 2 storey side extension, single storey rear extension, conversion of garage and dormers to front and rear
  101705/FH/2013/S1 72 Corkland Road Chorlton Manchester M21 8XW Erection of single-storey rear extension and 3 metre high rear boundary wall

101769/DEM/2013/S1 Former Withington Hospital Cavendish Road West Didsbury Manchester M20 1LB
Prior notification of proposed demolition of redundant boiler room, laundry and associated outbuildings

Welfare Reform drop-in session

Significant changes are being made to the benefits and tax credits system over the next few years because of the Welfare Reform Act 2012.

Chorlton High School and Southway Housing Trust are working together to help parents and carers if they are concerned about the effect the changes will have on their families. Together, they are hosting a drop in service for families and parents who may need support.

On Thursday 21st March, from 5.00pm to 8.00pm, staff from Southway Housing Trust, Parent Support Advisers and other support staff will be available in The Green Room to offer guidance and advice on the following:

* Money management and budgeting

* Making benefit claims and ensuring you are receiving your

* full entitlement

* Employment and training opportunities

* Registering for rehousing

Parents will have access to IT facilities, the internet and one-to-one support during the drop in. Refreshments will also be available.

Labour playing politics over Mansion Tax

John Leech has today accused Labour of playing politics with their opportunistic opposition day motion on a Mansion Tax. He went on to say he supports a mansion tax but opposes Labour’s attempt to play politics with the issue.

John Leech said,
Actions speak louder than words and Labour have more front than Blackpool promenade. They had 13 years to introduce a Mansion Tax and consistently refused to back our mansion tax. The Lib Dems have taken more than 2 million people out of paying income tax altogether, unlike Labour who scrapped the 10p tax rate in 2007, leaving millions of people on lower incomes worse off.

The Manchester MP went on to say,
“I believe that, in difficult times, it is reasonable to ask those in multi-million pound houses to chip in a little more. That’s why I have long campaigned for a Mansion Tax first proposed by Vince Cable that was included in the Liberal Democrat election manifesto. I will not however support a meaningless Labour motion designed exclusively to play cynical party political games.”

The Coalition has tabled an amendment to Labour’s motion, which allows Liberal Democrats to express their support for a mansion tax while also recognising Conservative opposition to it and criticising Labour’s record on taxation in office.

Vince Cable said: “The Liberal Democrats will not support a Labour motion designed exclusively to play cynical party political games. Parties should be judged on what they deliver on fairer taxes, rather than what they say about them. In Government, Labour refused to back our mansion tax.

The Mansion Tax is a Liberal Democrat policy to create a fairer tax system. The Liberal Democrats designed it and were the only party to make it a manifesto commitment in 2010. It would be levied at a rate of 1% on properties worth over £2 million, paid on the value of the property above that level

Recent Chorlton Planning Applications

Below are recently submitted Planning Applications in the Chorlton area. You can find out more information about any of the proposals on the City Council's Planning Portal at http://tinyurl.com/yv6lex or by contacting the South Area Planning Group Manager - Roger Hall; Tel: (0161) 234 4536; email: r.hall@manchester.gov.uk . You can also make a Planning representation (in support or opposition) to Mr Hall or the designated planning officer for each application. Please feel free to contact me on (07947383740; cllr.v.chamberlain@manchester.gov.uk) if you wish to discuss any application and please also send me a copy of any representation you make.


101623/FH/2013/S1 72 Nicolas Road Chorlton Cum Hardy Manchester M21 9LR Erection of single-storey side and rear extension to form additional living accommodation

101635/FH/2013/S1 3 Abbotsford Road Chorlton Manchester M21 0RJ
Erection of two-storey side and rear extension to form additional living accommodation

101641/FH/2013/S1 105 Ivygreen Road Chorlton-cum-Hardy Manchester M21 9FX
Erection of two-storey side and part single, part two-storey rear extension to form additional living accommodation
  101175/FU/2012/S1 1 Railway Terrace Chorlton Manchester M21 0RQ Retrospective change of use from shop (class A1) to cafe (class A3) with outside seating area

101404/FH/2013/S1 6 Westfield Road Chorlton Manchester M21 0SP
Erection of single storey rear extension with cellar to form additional living accommodation

101451/FO/2013/S1 Coriander Restaurant 485 Barlow Moor Road Chorlton Manchester M21 8AG
Installation of a new shop front

101454/FU/2013/S1 Coriander Restaurant 485 Barlow Moor Road Chorlton Manchester M21 8AG
Creation of outside seating area

101535/FO/2013/S1 Ivy Court Beech Road Chorlton Manchester M21 9FL
Erection of timber arbour to communal garden area
  101490/FO/2013/S1 3 St. Annes Road Chorlton Park Manchester M21 8TA Change of use of ground floor retail shop into residential use to form additional living accommodation in association with the existing first floor flat; change of use of rear store into granny flat; and associated elevational alterations
  101497/FO/2013/S1 Post Office 127 Egerton Road South Chorlton Cum Hardy Manchester M21 0XN Erection of single storey rear extension to form additional retail space and elevational alterations to front to form separate entrance to first floor flat
  101625/FH/2013/S1 225 Kings Road Chorlton Cum Hardy Manchester M21 0XG Erection of single-storey side extension, part single, part two-storey rear extension to form additional accommodation, together with erection of single-storey detached garage and 2 metre high boundary wall

101652/FH/2013/S1 176 Brantingham Road Chorlton Cum Hardy Manchester M21 0TS
Erection of two-storey rear extension to form additional accommodation, and including juliet balcony

License Application: The Laundrette, 32 Beech Road

I have received notification that an application has been received by the City Council for a New Premises Licence for The Laundrette, Basement And Ground Floor, 32 Beech Road, Manchester, M21 9EL.

A summary of the application is as follows:


Proposed trading hours for the provision of regulated entertainment

Films:
Mon to Sun 0800 to 2300

Live music:
Mon to Sun 1600 to 2200

Recorded music:
Mon to Sun 0800 to 2300

Proposed trading hours for the supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises only:
Mon to Sun 1200 to 2300

Proposed opening hours for the premises:
Mon to Sun 0800 to 2400

If you have any comments, you can make these directly to The Licensing Unit (e-mail: premises.licensing@manchester.gov.uk) or write to: The Licensing Unit, Regulatory & Enforcement Services, Premises Team, PO Box 271, Manchester, M18 8YU by 4 April 2013. The Licensing Authority may only consider a representation relating to the effect of granting of a licence on the licensing objectives, which are: Prevention of crime and disorder; Public Safety; Prevention of public nuisance and the Protection of children from harm.   As a local Councillor I can make representations to support local residents; as can John Leech MP (leechj@parliament.uk; 434 3334). If you wish for us to do so, please let us know and send us a copy of any representation you may be making.

Energy Auction News

Did you miss out on signing up to the Energy Auction in January? Well here’s some good news – there’s another chance to make big savings because the whole process is being repeated on the 9 April!




That’s the day that the next online energy auction will take place: UK energy providers are given the chance to supply people across Greater Manchester who have signed up to the scheme, and bid for your custom by offering their cheapest energy deal.



The best-value provider will then be chosen and that deal will be sent out and offered to everyone who’s signed up this time. There’s no obligation - once you receive your offer, it’s your decision whether to accept or not.



Fill in the online form at www.gmfairenergy.com (please have a recent energy bill to hand because they’ll need to estimate your annual energy use and spend) or take your latest energy bills to your local library and ask about energy switching.



There were some amazing savings made in the first energy auction: one dual-fuel customer was offered a staggering saving of £892 per year, another resident was offered £770, and deals were also made available for people on prepayment meters for the first time, with one resident being offered a saving of £295.



Remember: the more people who sign up, the better the savings will be so don’t delay – you need to register by 8 April 2013.



There is a full explanation of the scheme at www.gmfairenergy.com



After 9 April, everyone who has signed up will be contacted within two weeks by iChoosr and offered an energy tariff based on their usage, which will outline how much they’ll save by switching.

License Application: Dixy Chicken, 450 Wilbraham Road

I have now received notification that an application has been received by the City Council for a Premises Licence Variation for Dixy Chicken, 450 Wilbraham Road.

A summary of the application is as follows:


The application seeks to extend the terminal hour for late night refreshment, which is the only licensable activity permitted by this licence. The current and proposed hours are as follows:

Trading hours for the provision of late night refreshment:

Current hours: Sun to Thur 2300 to 0100, Fri and Sat 2300 to 0200

Proposed hours: Sun to Wed 2300 to 0100, Thurs to Sat 2300 to 0300

Opening hours for the premises:

Current hours: Sun to Thur 1100 to 0100, Fri and Sat 1100 to 0200

Proposed hours: Sun to Wed 1100 to 0100, Thurs to Sat 1100 to 0300

Seasonal variation

The application also requests seasonal variations as follows:

New Year: 2300 on 31 December to to 0400 on 1 January

British Summertime: One additional hour on the night the clocks go forward

Sundays preceding a Bank Holiday Monday: terminal hour of 0400



If you have any comments, you can make these directly to The Licensing Unit (e-mail: premises.licensing@manchester.gov.uk) or write to: The Licensing Unit, Regulatory & Enforcement Services, Premises Team, PO Box 271, Manchester, M18 8YU by 2 April 2013. The Licensing Authority may only consider a representation relating to the effect of granting of a licence on the licensing objectives, which are: Prevention of crime and disorder; Public Safety; Prevention of public nuisance and the Protection of children from harm.


As a local Councillor I can make representations to support local residents; as can John Leech MP (leechj@parliament.uk; 434 3334). If you wish for us to do so, please let us know and send us a copy of any representation you may be making.

Viewpoints Column about Mersey Valley Wardens

This is the article I wrote for the Manchester Evening News earlier this week:

"In Manchester we are so lucky to have miles of open green space either side of the River Mersey. The Mersey Valley forms the lungs of south Manchester and allows hundreds of thousands of residents to enjoy nature on their doorstep; not to mention providing a haven for local wildlife. This has been made possible by the hard work of the Mersey Valley Wardens who manage the area for Manchester and Trafford Councils. Council cuts are putting these wardens and our ability to enjoy the valley under threat.

Manchester City Council is proposing to cut a massive 75% (or £150,000) from their contribution and Trafford are proposing to withdraw their £92,000 contribution entirely. If these cuts are accepted then it is very likely the Warden Service would be disbanded. In Manchester the proposal is to manage the vast open areas in Chorlton, Didsbury and Northenden as part of the Neighbourhood Teams which already look after Manchester parks. The Warden Service does a great job despite already being cut down to its bare bones over many years. We have seen the impact this has had such as a reduction of biodiversity in some areas. It’s worrying what damaging impact further cuts will have.

The Neighbourhood Teams do good work in urban parks, but they are not experienced in looking after countryside sites and they won’t be able to maintain the sites to levels people expect. The Wardens have built up decades of expert skills and knowledge to ensure people can safely and freely use the natural spaces in the valley and their specialist knowledge is required to manage the local biodiversity. For example the wardens have been critical in: maintaining nature reserves, providing education to members of the public and local schools, maintaining life saving equipment, working with local friends groups and managing flood risks. In Chorlton the wardens regularly assist a youth group by picking up canoes from Debdale Park and manning a safety boat which allows them to safely go out on the lake at Chorlton Water Park. Without this help these local young people would not be able to enjoy the valley in this way. The loss of the wardens would be a false economy. The valley provides huge enjoyment to those who use it and is vitally important for public health. It has enormous environmental value too by providing an area that wildlife and vegetation can flourish; helping us to tackle climate change.

Part of the Wardens’ responsibilities is to patrol the area and enforce laws and regulations. By removing the wardens there is a real threat of lawlessness. In the past the Mersey Valley has suffered from a variety of types of anti-social behaviour, including off-road motorbikes, fly-tipping, vandalism and attacks on birds and animals. It took a lot of work by the wardens and police to make the area safe for residents to enjoy (especially for families and children) and the proposals make no mention of how this will be maintained. Greater Manchester Police are unlikely to have resources to ensure the area is regularly patrolled and as result we could see a rise in crimes being committed in the valley which is bound to put people off using it.

I’m worried that Manchester Council are making a short sighted decision that could hurt this natural environment and our ability to enjoy it yet won’t save as much as predicted. If the Neighbourhood Teams take on the responsibilities the cost is still likely to be around £80,000. Once the Council realises all the statutory responsibilities it would be responsible for this could be significantly more. The Wardens’ expertise ensures the valley is managed in a cost-effective way.

There is strong opposition to the Councils’ proposals in the local area and residents are actively campaigning to save the wardens. My colleagues and I have handed in a petition of around a thousand signatures against the proposed cut and we are working to save the wardens. The Liberal Democrat alternative budget which was submitted last week includes proposals to retain funding for the Mersey Valley Warden Service. This means every single Manchester City Councillor will be given the opportunity to vote to save the Wardens when the budget is brought before full Council.

Please let your local Councillor know what you think about the proposals and how it will impact on you; and if you live in Manchester encourage them to vote to Save the Wardens!"