Jacksons Boat Footbridge

Manchester City Council will be constructing a new disabled access ramp and steps on the Manchester side of Jacksons Boat Footbridge.

The current arrangement makes access difficult for cyclists and near impossible for wheel chair users and prams to use without assistance.

The works will start on the 17th of February and be completed by April.

The Council will keep the bridge open for the majority of the project but it will be necessary to close the bridge for a few days to enable certain works to be undertaken safely.

The closure dates will be:
19/2/2014 to 21/2/2014 and 17/3/2014 to 20/3/2014

If you have any questions please let me know.

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!"

Update on campaign to save Mersey Valley Wardens

At this morning’s Full Council meeting I asked Cllr Rosa Battle (Exec member for Culture and Leisure):


“If the Council's draft budget proposals are accepted what are the implications of the disbanding of the Mersey Valley Countryside Warden Service for the future of the Mersey Valley? In particular how does the Council intend to maintain sites such as Chorlton Ees, Ivy Green and Chorlton Water Park and to protect Wildlife?”

Sadly the response was very disappointing and did not elaborate on the Council’s long term plans for the Mersey Valley. Cllr Battle did not go into any detail other than to say that this is a budget proposal that is currently being consulted on. She said that following the Consultation a report will be brought to the Council’s Executive Committee and Council where the final budget will be set.

I subsequently raised concerns that the consultation has failed to properly inform and consult with residents and Friends Groups. I also asked how the plans will ensure the Council continues to meet its statutory duties to the Mersey Valley. Cllr Battle simply said that there has been a meaningful Consultation and the final recommendation to the Executive will ensure the Council continues to meet its statutory responsibilities.

In light of Cllr Battle’s response it is important that we are able to show the strength of feeling about the loss of the Mersey Valley Wardens. Please try and encourage as many friends and family to sign the online Petition (also available to print off): http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/merseyvalley

The petition will be handed in as part of the consultation process.

If you can, please also respond directly to the Council’s Budget Consultation (http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/200024/consultations/5921/budget_consultation_2013-2015). The Deadline for submissions in 20 February.

Save the Mersey Valley Wardens

Chorlton Lib Dems have slammed the Labour Council’s proposals to cut funding for the Mersey Valley COuntryside Warden Service that looks after natural sites along the Mersey Valley like Chorlton Water Park, Chorlton Ees, Ivy Green and Hardy Farm.

I understand that the City Council’s budget proposals mean that the service is likely to close down in April. A cut of £150,000 from Manchester Council along with Trafford Council’s lack of a payment commitment mean that the service is unlikely to survive. The City Council are conducting a consultation but if the budget proposal is not amended the service is likely to be run down between now and the end of March.

Chorlton MP John Leech said: “This short sighted proposal is likely to see the Warden Service disbanded. It could have serious implications for the local environment and wildlife.”

Photo by Ted Harris 
http://twitpic.com/byt3rs

For every £1 the Council can’t find to save our wardens, they have found £10,000 to buy an airport in Essex. You have to question how committed the local Labour Party is to protecting the environment.

Please sign our petition to Save the Wardens:

http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/merseyvalley