Family Canoeing Day

Metrolink Airport Line - Mersey Valley update

The following email has been sent by Metrolink to local Councillors about the work currently underway in the Mersey Valley:

As you are aware, work is underway to build the Metrolink extension to Manchester Airport. The line will extend from the South Manchester line at Chorlton and run on 14.5km (9 miles) of new track over the Mersey Valley and into Wythenshawe crossing the M60 and M56 motorways, continuing through to the town centre and on to Manchester Airport. I am writing to provide you with an update on the construction work in the Mersey Valley area.

Mersey Valley Viaduct
The works have progressed well with the completion of both the piling works and the construction of the supporting pillars. The construction of the viaduct bridge deck is due to start shortly. The viaduct bridge deck work will involve lifting steel beams onto the previously constructed support pillars with a large crane and the casting of the concrete deck.

During these works, the footpaths on either side of the Mersey River have been temporarily diverted as indicated on the attached plan by the dotted red line, the purple line and the green line. The solid red lines highlight the section of the footpath that will remain closed for the duration of the bridge works. Please ensure that you adhere to these diversion routes for your own safety.

In July, the diversion route of the Trans Pennine Trail will alter to allow the bridge deck to be installed. Advance notice of the alterations to the diversion routes will be posted in prominent locations. During the deck installation work residents will need to follow either the orange or purple diversion route, as shown on the attached plan. The dotted red or green diversion routes will be open during weekends and most evenings. However, there will be a small number of closures required in the evenings, these will be kept to a minimum and dates will be confirmed in the advanced notices.

Rifle Road area
Construction work along the Rifle Road area is also progressing well and our contractor, MPT, are expected to start piling works on the Sale Water Park tram stop in the next few weeks. The works are likely to create some noise and vibration. MPT, will be monitoring the levels of vibration during the works. This is to ensure the work stays within the predetermined guidelines.

If you should require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me on 0161 244 1555 or via future.metrolink@tfgm.com

Please feel free to contact me if you wish to discuss it or have any concerns, comments or suggestions. Thanks

Weekly list of Chorlton planning applications received week ending 01 June

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.


099156/FH/2012/S1 11 South Meade Chorlton Manchester M21 8EB

Erection of single storey rear extension, a rear dormer and elevational alterations to provide additional living accommodation

099448/FO/2012/S1 Horse & Jockey PH 9 Chorlton Green Chorlton Park Manchester M21 9HS

Retention and cladding of existing kitchen extract duct and re-alignment of log burning stove flue

099505/TPO/2012/S1 16 Oswald Road Chorlton Manchester M21 9LH

Works to trees

099534/FH/2012/S1 116 Newport Road Chorlton Manchester M21 9WN

Erection of part single, part two storey side extension and single storey rear extension to form additional living accommodation


099394/AOH/2012/S1 Bus Stop Adjacent To Chorlton Park Adult Learning Centre Mauldeth Road West

Chorlton Manchester
Installation of double-sided, internally illuminated advertising panel to bus shelter


099508/TPO/2012/S1 57 Manor Drive Chorlton Manchester M21 7QG
Works to tree


099519/LP/2012/S1 12 Fitton Avenue Chorlton Manchester M21 7HU
Certificate of Lawful Development for the erection of a single storey rear extension to form additional living accommodation

MP delivers for Withington!

Manchester MP John Leech is well used to delivering leaflets but on Friday he will join local Royal Mail postal deliverers on their delivery rounds to deliver post direct to the door of his constituents.

Manchester MP John Leech has accepted an offer to experience life as a postman in his constituency of Manchester Withington.

He will accompany one of the Postal Workers on their delivery round this Friday 15 th June 2012.

John Leech was enthusiastic about the opportunity to gain a unique insight into the challenges of delivering mail in his constituency. He went on to say;

“I’m used to delivering when I’m out campaigning in the area but this opportunity will allow me to see firsthand what a good job our local postmen and women do for the local community.”

MPs across the country are being invited to go out with postmen and women across Great Britain to see the lengths Royal Mail goes to deliver the post.

The purpose of the visits over the summer is to give each MP a unique insight into the challenges of delivering mail to every house and business in their constituency, six days a week.

Library works belong to people of Manchester

You may have seen an article in the Evening News about Manchester City Council’s decision to dump 300,000 of Central Library’s works as part of their £170m refurbishment. Last week I raised my concerns with the Head of Libraries and I am pleased Chorlton MP John Leech has joined me in slamming this decision.

Manchester City Council have made the move to dispose of 300,000 works, almost a third of its collection, stating that they are no longer needed.

The items will be given to an outside company which will sell, give away or pulp the works.

Chorlton MP John Leech has written to Manchester city council urging them to reconsider their decision,

“First and foremost these books belong to the people of Manchester and should not be given away to a private company”

He went on to say,

“The city of Manchester has a vast literary history and with the libraries of Manchester’s three universities under stocked, it just seems like a massive travesty to see so many works going to waste.

The works should be offered up to Manchester Libraries like the struggling Barlow Moor Library in my constituency, the Universities and above all the people of Manchester who own these books”

I am waiting for a reply from the Head of Libraries about whether the Council have offered the surplus stock to other Manchester Libraries.

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.


099403/FH/2012/S1 22 Patterson Avenue Chorlton Manchester M21 9NB 
Erection of a part single/part 2 storey side extension and a 2 storey rear extension to form additional living accommodation

099409/FO/2012/S1 10 York Road Chorlton Manchester M21 9HP
Creation of a self contained flat in  basement making 7 flats in total, including alterations to elevations, provision of lightwells and alterations to the car parking and landscaping

099445/TPO/2012/S1 Jackson Court  Ryebank Road Chorlton Cum Hardy Manchester M21 9LX
Works to various trees

099356/FO/2012/S1 Arrowfield Road Estate Chorlton Park Manchester M21 7UP
Environmental improvement works to the Arrowfield Road housing estate including multiple boundary fences, communal spaces, footpaths and green spaces

099447/AO/2012/S1 529 Wilbraham Road Chorlton Manchester M21 0UE 
Installation of non-illuminated high level banner advertisement to front elevation

098949/FO/2012/S1 South West Manchester Cricket Club Ellesmere Road Chorlton Manchester M21 0SG 
Erection of 6.1m high ball-stop mesh  fencing at the rear of 267a to 269e Brantingham Road

099363/FH/2012/S1 24 White Moss Avenue Chorlton Manchester M21 0XT
Erection of single storey conservatory to rear


099044/FH/2012/S1 17 Manor Drive Chorlton Park Manchester M21 7QG 
Erection of a single-storey side and rear extension

099358/AO/2012/S1 Siemens Plc C/o Agent  The REEC Building  Princess Road/Barlow Moor Road Manchester M20 2UR
Installation of two non-illuminated Siemens logos to the Renewable Energy Engineering Centre

099359/FO/2012/S1 St. Ambrose RC Primary School  Princess Road Chorlton Park Manchester M21 7QA
Erection of single storey extension to existing primary school

Only one Council apprentice out of 231 comes from Chorlton

This article in today's Manchester Evening News focuses on a document I requested in March outlining where Manchester Council's "Manchester People into Construction" (MPIC) apprentices reside. The MPIC Scheme was developed in 2008 to place young Manchester residents into employment opportunities with contractors "that sit on the City Council’s construction framework". The figures from South Manchester are well below their fair share. Out of 231 apprentices just 15 (6.5%) are from South Manchester:

Just one of the 231 apprentices comes from Chorlton Ward, Chorlton Park (1), Burnage (3), Didsbury East (0), Didsbury West  (2), Fallowfield (1), Levenshulme (1), Northenden (0), Old Moat (3), Rusholme (1), Whalley Range (0), Withington (2)

Manchester Council has said that its construction projects like the £170million refurbishment of the Town Hall and Central Library will create jobs for Manchester People. However the figures show that the jobs on offer are not benefiting people across Manchester. It is wrong that only 15 apprentices out of 231 come from South Manchester and only one comes from Chorlton.

The apprenticeships on offer should benefit people from across the City more equally and I'm concerned that potential apprentices are not hearing about the opportunities available. The Government is doing a huge amount to promote and create apprenticeships and the Council needs to ensure that it is doing its share. I've asked the Council to look at this anomaly and at how it can better promote the apprenticeships on offer to South Manchester Residents.