Calling all budding DJ's and Singers ( 16 - 18 years old Age )
Spare time on your hands and unemployed ( 16 - 18 years of age )? interested in Music, DJing and sound recording? Then why not sign up for the sessions at Trinity House just off Platt Lane. For more details and to reserve your place call Louise from Music Stuff or email Louise Johnston mailto:louise.musicstuff@virgin.net. Sessions start from March
12th tel no 0161 2238700

Who’s Kidding Who?

The most unprincipled opportunistic political party to walk this earth has surpassed it's usual hypocrisy in its latest leaflet hitting the streets of Manchester Gorton. It now seems that Lib Dem Cllrs Jackie Pearcy and some other one whose names escaped me are claiming they are opposed to road pricing. Well I think they need to speak to their own leadership team in Westminster ( including Junior shadow transport spokesperson John Leech MP) and the rest of their Lib Dem colleagues throughout the North West (including your own leader in Manchester Cllr Simon Ashley).
Just to remind the rather forgetful Lib Dem Councillors in Gorton North here are some useful quotations from their own colleagues and their policy documents.

What the Lib Dem's say about Congestion Charging

Lib Dem's call for "the rapid introduction of a national road user pricing scheme to tackle congestion"
(Passed. Lib Dem national Conference 20th September 2006.)

"I am in favour of a congestion charge in peak times"
(Cllr Alan Taylor, Lib Dem Leader of Rochdale Council – 24th January 2007)

"Liberal Democrats believe road user pricing is essential"
(Lib Dem national policy document)

"We remain committed to a scheme of road user pricing that would charge vehicles according to their use of congested roads"
(Alistair Carmichael MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary – December 2006)

"The Liberal Democrats are not opposed to congestion charging in principle"
(Cllr Simon Ashley, Leader, Manchester Liberal Democrats – 24 January 2007)

What Labour Says

"Improvements in public transport have to be in place first"
(Cllr Richard Leese – Manchester Evening News, 11th January 2005)

"We have been very consistent on our position with congestion charging. For Greater Manchester, the investment in public transport has got to come first"
(Cllr Richard Leese – Manchester Evening News, 29th November 2005)

"Investment in public transport infrastructure has to be in place before we will consider it (congestion charging), and we will not consider it if it damages the economy"
(Cllr Richard Leese – Manchester Evening News, 21 August 2006)

"Public transport in Greater Manchester is not good enough and so the first priority is to improve it. No other measures will be introduced until we have not only delivered the necessary investment in trains, trams and buses, but also have greater control over how they operate"
(Cllr Richard Leese – North & East Manchester Advertiser, 8th February 2007)

What the Tories Say
§ "The Conservatives were ‘sympathetic’ to road pricing"
(George Osbourne MP, Shadow Chancellor

Better housing for Fallowfield - See for yourself

Councillor Peter Morrison is encouraging tenants to visit the newly opened show home at 191 Wilbraham Road.
Speaking at the launch Cllr Morrison stated, “over the coming months tenants will continue to be consulted on the proposals to create a local not for profit housing company called City South Manchester. The show home will give tenants an insight into the level of investment that can put into homes through the new housing company".

The show home will be
open at set times of the week, including
early evenings and weekends.
For more information, call the
Transfer Project Team on 834 1618
or email

housing.investment.options@manchester.gov

Action for Fallowfield Library

Following a spate of anti social behaviour incidents we are working together with Manchester Libraries, the Police and the Crime and Disorder Team to deal with a small minority of youths who were intent on causing trouble.
As reported in last weeks South Manchester Reporter the anti social behaviour included racist threats towards door staff and an alleged assault.

A number of youths have been identified and will be banned from the library with immediate effect.

All CCTV images are being reviewed by the police.
The newly appointed Police Community Support Officers will have a strong presence in the area.

Anti Social Behaviour legislation will be applied to both the culprits as well as the parents and carers.

Cllr Peter Morrison said: "this is a well used resource and community facility, we are determined to ensure that this small minority of young people are dealt with firmly for the benefit of decent library users".

Better Education - Wilbraham Primary Success

Wilbraham Primary School has hit the top ten as one of the fastest improving
schools in the country.
Cllr Mike Amesbury stated: "This is wonderful news for the pupils and teaching staff at the school, I commend the dedication of the Head Teacher Tim Hatcliffe and his team ".
The Government League Tables rank schools across the country according to the proportion
of youngsters who achieve level four or higher at Key Stage 2 tests. The school was placed eighth in the League
Table.

Manchester MP's should speak up for Manchester

Not content with talking down our schools and teachers, criticising the Police with debatable figures on crime, John Leech MP is now poo pooing the decision to locate the Super casino in East Manchester. I suppose he is at least being consistent with his opposition to major regeneration projects.The Lib Dems opposed the Commonwealth Games, the regeneration of Exchange Square and now the creation of at least 2,700 jobs in East Manchester.
click the link below
www.johnleech.org.uk/

SUPER QUIZ NIGHT

Thursday March 1st

St Crispin's Social Club, Lloyd Street South, Fallowfield, Manchester.

7:30pm

Only £5 including hotpot and pleasure of knowing that the money will be used to keep the Lib Dems out of Manchester.

email cllr.m.amesbury@manchester.gov.uk for tickets.

Crime down in Fallowfield

At our last Local Area Partnership meeting the Police gave councillors and local residents an update on the latest crime figures for our area. Robbery, burglary,vehicle crime and anti social incidents were all significantly down when compared with this time last year.
Some notable arrests have been made which has had a major impact on the reduced figures. The Respect pilot with its multi agency approach and additional police hours undoubtedly had a positive effect. My colleague Cllr David Royle is leading the charge to get a permanent Respect Fallowfield initiative.

Please support us.

Calling all budding young film stars

My colleague Cllr Peter Morrison has helped to secure money to commision Reel Manchester to train young people and parents in drama skills, culminating in a film production in and around Fallowfield.
This is great news for our area helping to fill the hsitorical void in terms of youth provsion . If you are a budding actor, script writer or film prodcucer then contact Jacqui at Reel Manchester on 0161 2264487 or email info@reelmcr.co.uk
Visit http://www.reelmcr.co.uk/ to see past productions througout greater Manchester.

A Listening Labour Council

A number of constituents emailed me (or generally grabbed me in the street) to protest at the ill conceived idea to extend car parking charges in the city( up to to midnight weekdays and all day Sunday ). Your protest didn't go unnoticed and forced a rethink , which goes to show that Manchester Labour does listen.

BMX Track for Platt Fields Park

I have given my support in principle to plans to build a national standard BMX track in a disused area of Platt Fields Park. Two of the biggest issues highlighted by local residents in the ward have been anti social behaviour closely followed by lack of youth facilities. The two are in my opinion interlinked so I welcome any proposals to offer positive activities for young Mancunians.
The proposals are out for consultation at the moment and must of course go through the planning process, a prerequisite of my full support is to maximise free access to young people and ensure that the site is secure causing minimum disruption to local residents.
To view the plans and get a flavour for the arguments for and against please visit the Friends of Platt Fields Park Website http://www.plattfields.org/bmx.htm .

Your views will be most welcome

Please email me at cllr.m.amesbury@manchester.gov.uk

Manchester Clarion

Manchester Clarion