Lib Dems select local Councillor Mary Di Mauro to stand in Wythenshawe and Sale East by-election.

Promoting Small Business Saturday with Mary

Local Liberal Democrats have tonight (Sunday January 26th) selected Northenden Councillor Mary Di Mauro to be the Liberal Democrat Candidate in the by-election following the death of Labour MP Paul Goggins.

Mary was a secondary school teacher for ten years. She lives in Northenden village with her husband and two children. Mary has represented Northenden ward on Manchester City Council since 2010.

Mary Di Mauro said: "I am very proud to have been selected to fight Wythenshawe and Sale East for the Liberal Democrats in the by-election. I have lived locally for 20 years and have always stood up for this area on Manchester City Council. I am standing in this by election because I want to be a strong voice for local people in Parliament."

"I'm not backed by big business or trade unions. I am a local person who wants to help the area in which I live. Families around here need someone who understands their concerns and their problems."

Local Manchester MP John Leech said: "I'm delighted that Mary has been selected to be the Lib Dem candidate in this by election. I know what difference a hardworking, local MP can make. I have known Mary for years and she will be a fantastic representative for local people and their families. Wythenshawe and Sale East needs an MP who knows the issues and understands our area."

"People in Wythenshawe need a positive alternative to Labour. Gordon Brown crashed the economy and Ed Miliband has no ideas for sorting it out. In Government the Lib Dems have cut taxes for working families – people in our area have £700 a year off their tax bill thanks to the Lib Dems."

"Locally, Labour are getting their priorities all wrong – cutting vital services in Manchester whilst spending millions on refurbishing council buildings and wasting hundreds of thousands on public art in East Manchester.

"Despite their hype, UKIP aren’t a safe alternative. All the experts agree that their policies would hit British jobs hard – putting up to 3million British jobs at risk. Even they admit their policies are “nonsense”. Now, just as the economy is starting to recover, is not the time to put this many jobs at risk."

Chorlton supporters hit back at 'high burglary' tag

Yesterday I put up a post refuting claims that Chorlton is the UK's Burglary capital. This article appeared in today's Manchester Evening News in response to yesterday's media reports:

Chorlton NOT Burglary Capital

A number of residents have contacted me about alarming media reports suggesting Chorlton is the burglary hotspot of the UK. Residents often tell me that burglary is a major concern to them. This is a crime that always comes up in meetings with the local Police and I know it has been one of their local priority for a number of years. However crime statistics show overall crime is down in Chorlton including burglary.

The figures that have been reported are a massive distortion of the truth because they only reflect the number of insurance claims for burglary. Chorlton is an area where most people have household insurance and consequently they use it if they are unfortunate enough to experience a burglary. Many parts of Manchester are blighted by more burglaries but fewer residents have (or claim) on their household insurance so they are not represented so highly in the figures that have been reported.

Chorlton's Police Inspector, Paul Kinrade, sent me the following message today following the reports:

Burglary is undoubtedly a major challenge for my team, however there are far worse areas, within Greater Manchester, with significantly  higher burglary rates.  

The reality is, that overall crime, including burglary,  within your ward, has reduced, over the last 12 months, compared to the same period in 2012. Burglary is an onerous crime, which leaves an indelible impact on the victims, this is why it has and with always be one of my top priorities. 

We have made some significant arrests over the last few weeks, of individuals who have been preying on Chorlton residents. On a daily basis, I have staff out on the ground in both an overt and covert capacity, policing the area. 

Please ensure that you disseminate the reassurance message to the Chorlton community, it's a great place to live and my neighbourhood team are doing everything possible to ensure that it continues to be. 

These statistics give the wrong impression of our area. Chorlton is one of the most vibrant parts of Manchester and I know so many residents care about and get involved in the community. However I will make sure I continue to raise resident's concerns about burglary when I meet Police officers so that tackling burglary remains a top priority and we don't reappear in these statistics! If there's anything I can do to help or if you would be interested in setting up or getting involved in a Home Watch scheme please get in touch with me.

Manchester council spends £70m on agency staff in six years

This article appeared in today's Manchester Evening News about information I've obtained showing the Council has spent £70,000,000 on Agency staff over the last six years (click picture to make it larger):

At a time when the Council is laying thousands of workers off and imposing harmful cuts on Manchester communities; it is hugely wasteful for them to be spending millions on agency staff. This is just the latest example of Manchester Labour making the wrong choices with our money.

Chorlton MP John Leech said: "If there is a full time job to be done a worker should get a full time job with proper workers rights, using agency staff doesn't save money and doesn't give the workers the rights they deserve."

The figures for each year are:

01.04.2007 - 31.03.2008 - £14,408,317
01.04.2008 - 31.03.2009 - £17,014,007
01.04.2009 - 31.03.2010 - £16,455,400
01.04.2010 - 31.03.2011 - £11,577,246
01.04.2011 - 31.03.2012 - £10,960,207
01.04.2012 - 31.03.2013 - £2,798,038 in addition to the £9,813,022 spent on Temporary staff

Licence Application: Morrisons, 435 Barlow Moor Road, Manchester, M21 8AU

I have received notification that an application has been received by the City Council for a new Premises Licence at: Morrisons, 435 Barlow Moor Road, Manchester, M21 8AU. This is the premesis that was formally the Blockbuster Video.

A summary of the application is as follows:

Proposed trading hours for the supply of alcohol for consumption off the premises only:
Mon to Sun 0600 to 2400

Proposed opening hours for the premises:
Mon to Sun 0600 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,PO Box 532, Manchester, M60 2LA  by 14/02/14. The Licensing Authority may only consider a representation relating to the effect of the grant of the 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; 0161 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.

Happy Returns Swap Party - 25 January

December '13 Planning Application

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.


104518/VO/2013/S1 Site Of Existing Car Park Serving Hough End Playing Fields Junction Of Princess Road And Whitchurch Road Withington Manchester
Erection of two-storey (10.7m high) building to form leisure centre, incorporating two swimming pools, a fitness suite, a dance/community space and two squash courts, together with a 200-space car park, pole-mounted lighting, landscaping, creation of new vehicular access/egress on Princess Road and realignment of National Cycle Route 85

104504/FO/2013/S1 Chorlton Central Church Barlow Moor Road Chorlton Manchester M21 8BF
Elevational alterations including entrance canopies, new ramps and steps, together with hard and soft landscaping, new entrance gate, external seating areas, external play space with 1.8m high fencing and cycle parking


104147/FO/2013/S1 2 Vincent Avenue Chorlton Manchester M21 9GR
Erection of single-storey rear extension to ground floor flat

104424/FO/2013/S1 418A Wilbraham Road Chorlton Manchester M21 0SA
Demolition of existing petrol filling station (PFS) and redevelopment to provide a new petrol filling station facility comprising of canopy/forecourt, ancillary sales building with ATM, underground storage tanks, associated parking and other ancillary works.

104464/TCA/2013/S1 16 South Meade Chorlton Manchester M21 8EB
Works to tree - proposed felling of a Silver birch

104480/FH/2013/S1 12 Marmion Drive Chorlton Manchester M21 9JD
Erection of a single storey rear extension

104482/FH/2013/S1 23 York Road Chorlton Manchester M21 9HP
Formation of a roof garden on an existing flat roof with associated external staircase, balustrade and fencing

104526/FH/2013/S1 79 Claridge Road Chorlton Manchester M21 9WQ
Erection of a single storey detached building to form ancillary residential accommodation following demolition of existing garage.

104527/FH/2013/S1 40A Edge Lane Chorlton Manchester M21 9JW
Erection of a three storey rear extension and a single storey rear extension to form additional living accommodation.
  
104437/FO/2013/S1 Site Of The Former Oakwood High School (lower) Darley Avenue Chorlton Cum Hardy Manchester
Erection of 97, two-storey, two, three and four-bed houses with car parking, landscaping and boundary treatment works and including an electricity substation.