Lib Dems delivering fairer tax in tough times

Lib Dems delivering more apprenticeships than ever before

Lib Dems say Twenty is Plenty

With John Leech MP, Lib Dem Transport Minister Norman
Baker MP and Matt Gallagher, Lib Dem candidate to be
Grt Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner
promoting 20mph limits in Central Manchester

Last week Liberal Democrats passed the 20 is Plenty – Saving Lives on the Road motion at their Autumn Conference, which calls for a dramatic expansion of a 20mph speed limit in the UK.


I was delighted to get the oppertunity to attend the debate and vote for the motion. Liberal Democrats have been leading the way on road safety. In Lib Dem-led councils, local speed limits of 20mph have proven successful in reducing the number of pedestrian deaths on our roads.

Moving towards a national 20mph limit in residential areas is the right thing to do to further lower our road fatality rate and it is clear the public are backing this approach.

Julie Townsend, the deputy chief executive of Road Safety charity Brake, said: "Brake strongly welcomes this recognition by the Liberal Democrats that 20mph is the most appropriate speed limit on residential streets.

“Slowing down to 20 gives drivers far more chance to react in an emergency and avoid hitting someone, significantly reducing the threat posed to the most vulnerable road users.”

Chorlton MP announced as Culture, Media and Sport Spokesperson

Last week John Leech MP was announced as the Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Culture, Media and Sport.

John will take up his position as Co-Chair of Lib Team Parliamentary team on Culture, Media and Sport alongside Baroness Jane Bonham-Carter and Baroness Floella Benjamin.

John Leech said, “The Olympics and Paralympics have shown how important sport is in the UK and because of my particular interest in sport I am delighted to be appointed.

I have taken over from Don Foster who had such of wealth of experience in culture and media and I hoping to continue in his footsteps in culture and media and bring additional knowledge from my sporting interests. Don Foster will be a tough act to follow, he must be congratulated on his long overdue promotion.“

John Leech has been a season ticket holder at Manchester City for 28 years and is avid amateur dramatics fan. Despite his busy diary he still finds time to attend (almost) every Man City home game as well as regularly performing for the Manchester Road Players Amateur dramatics Group.

Chorlton Planning applications from late September '12

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.

100510/TCA/2012/S1 7 South Drive Chorlton Manchester M21 8DX
Works to tree

100298/FH/2012/S1 59 South Drive Chorlton Manchester M21 8DZ
Installation of dormer to rear

100326/FH/2012/S1 49 Barlow Hall Road Chorlton Park Manchester M21 7JL
Erection of two storey rear extension including installation of two dormer windows

100446/FO/2012/S1 276 Barlow Moor Road Chorlton Park Manchester M21 8HA
Installation of 2no. 2.4m high, double-leaf pedestrian access gates to alleyway

100509/FH/2012/S1 14 Aldermary Road Chorlton Manchester M21 7QN
Erection of two-storey side extension and part single, part two-storey rear extension to form additional living accommodation

100484/FH/2012/S1 40 Vaughan Road Manchester M21 0YL

Erection of single-storey side and first-floor rear extension to form additional living accommodation together with singlestorey, detached garden store

Friends of Longford Park's Soul and Motown Concert

As part of monthly centenary celebration events the Friends of Longford Park group is holding a 60s night of soul and Motown featuring the band Black and Gold on October 12 at the Longfords, Trafford Athletics Stadium, Rye Bank Road. Doors open 7.30pm. Black and Gold are a 12-piece Lancashire band covering music from Dusty Springfield and Wilson Pickett to Sam Sparrow and Bill Withers. Tickets are £8 and available in advance, call Sonia 864 2414.

Also,  you might be interested to know that Longfords Athletic club Over 50s have started running a keep fit group. The session is held every Tuesday at 11am, first session free then £3 a session. More details can be found at http://50plus-fitness.co.uk

Manchester Lib Dems slam Council’s £425k Alicia Keys concert

Reacting to the news that Labour runManchester Council spent £425,000 on an Alicia Keys’ concert last week, Councillor Simon Wheale, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Manchester City Council, said:

“It is absolutely appalling that Manchester’s Labour Town Hall bosses have committed a monumental, ‘empire state’ scale of spending on one concert whilst putting the future of Sure Start Centres in doubt and whilst saying Lollipop Wardens must be laid off.

The proposal to spend nearly half a million pounds on this one event has not been put before a single Council Committee for discussion or approval. I will be writing to the Chief Executive of the City Council to ask which Labour Executive Councillor gave the go ahead for this crazy decision.

It is unbelievable that hundreds of thousands of pounds are now been spent on one night’s concert – surely with a brilliant star like Alicia Keys and a great venue like the Cathedral, private sponsors would have been queuing up to support MTV with this event without huge spending from Manchester Council taxpayers.”

Marc Ramsbottom, Lib Dem Candidate in the Manchester Central By-Election said: “Liberal Democrats in Manchester have called for a Musical Hall of Fame to be set up to promote tourism based on our musical heritage, on a permanent basis, at minimal cost, within one of our existing or forthcoming facilities. This far cheaper alternative was turned down by Manchester Labour Council chiefs.”

John Leech, Lib Dem MP for Manchester Withington, said: “If the council has £425,000 to spend they should spend it on front line services, or perhaps encouraging Manchester’s music talent.

“To spend £425,000 subsidising MTV, who have 0.1 per cent of the UK market, is a complete waste of money.

“This shows that Manchester’s Labour council has completely the wrong priorities.”

Photo from:http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1589873_manchester-council-spent-425k-on-alicia-keys-cathedral-concert