stockportlibdems, Author at Stockport Liberal Democrats

Bridgehall Library – open for business

John, Ann and Sue donated copies of their favourite books to the library for Christmas

Following a petition campaign by Ann Smith and Stockport Lib Dems, Bridgehall Library is now open at the Community Centre after its official opening by the Mayor of Stockport at the end of January.

Not only did the Labour councillors for the area vote against the opening of the library, one of them derided it as a so-called “library” just four days after the Library was officially opened by the Mayor of Stockport.

In fact, the Library at Bridgehall offers a ‘full library service’ with more than 2,000 books and DVDs to suit all ages and tastes and free internet access, with trained staff on hand to help people get online.

It had been hoped the library would open for Christmas. Ann Smith, John Reid and Sue Derbyshire each donated copies of their favourite books to the Library as Christmas gifts to mark its opening.

“Despite Labour putting tribal party politics before local facilities, this is a real win for Bridgehall”, said John Reid.

“People are quite angry that they again couldn’t rely on their Labour councillors. They should be backing the library in the ward they represent instead of degrading it to others.

“They should show some pride in Bridgehall.”

Massive Investment in local roads proposed

The £100m investment could transform local roads

Local Liberal Democrats are proposing a capital investment scheme of over £100 million in a once-in-a-generation programme that will see hundreds of roads and pavements properly relaid.

The proposal, which will be voted on as part of the Stockport Council budget in February, will see hundreds of roads and pavements resurfaced across Stockport.

This will be the biggest programme of road repair and renewal ever seen in this borough.

“This scale of investment is not something to take lightly,” said Executive councillor Iain Roberts. “Lib Dems have been working on this for over a year. Every single road in Stockport has been checked more comprehensively than ever before, to ensure we have the data to be able to make the right decisions and spend this money wisely.”

“Because of all the preparation and investigation we’ve done, we know that the cost of that borrowing will be similar to what we’d have to pay to continue our programme of patching roads and pavements to maintain them at their current standard.”

If the Lib Dems can get this proposal through the Council, the road and pavement repairs will be completed over the next few years.

One way for Canterbury?

The Lib Dem Focus team at Canterbury Road

Some of the residents of Canterbury Road are concerned about commuters using their road as a cut-through when Hall Street is busy in the rush-hour.

They ‘ve suggested a one-way system be introduced and the FOCUS team is now writing to all residents to see if this idea is popular.

If there is wide support, traffic engineers will be asked to draw up a scheme for formal consultations.

Grand Central – development update

Cllrs Hawthorne and McAuley at a site visit at the new Grand Central development

Most residents will have seen the multi-storey car park being built next to Stockport’s railway station – the first part of regenerating the Grand Central area.

The Lib Dem Council’s Executive has now approved proposals for the next phase – an office block, hotel and public square, giving a pedestrianised exit from the station.

The development creates jobs in the construction phase, but also jobs further down the line in the businesses that will be based here.

100 Apprentices in…50 days!

Staff and apprentices of Kids Allowed on Buxton Road, with local Lib Dem councillors Daniel Hawthorne and Patrick McAuley

100 apprentices in 100 days – that was the challenge taken on as part of a summer campaign by Stockport Council and the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS).

But this number was reached within JUST 50 days! The Council and NAS will continue to run the campaign until the end of the
100 days to see what figure can be achieved.

Cllr Daniel Hawthorne commented: “I am delighted to see another 100 local young people starting their training and learning skills. This ground breaking initiative will help our young people gain confidence and get their first experience of work, whilst local employers will benefit from apprentices’ new ideas and hard work.”

The Liberal Democrats launched a national ‘A Million Jobs for a Stronger Economy’ campaign this summer highlighting the successes the Liberal Democrats have had in helping to create more than a million private sector jobs since coming into Government and our determination to help create a million more.

The first phase of the campaign is a major apprenticeships drive. The party’s ambition is to double the number of companies offering apprenticeships from 100,000 to 200,000.

See more about the Liberal Democrats job campaign on www.amillionjobs.org.

Vince Cable backs Stockport’s 100 Apprentices in 100 Days Campaign

Vince Cable Backing Stockport Apprenticeships

Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable visited Stockport to support the Council’s new ‘100:100’ Apprenticeship scheme.

The Council, in partnership with the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), launched the scheme to encourage Stockport employers to take on 100 apprentices in 100 days.

Mr Cable was visiting the site of a Kids Allowed centre to be opened on Buxton Road in September. Kids Allowed is a childcare provider with its own Apprenticeship Academy employing 35 apprentices across Greater Manchester and Cheshire. Kids Allowed will be creating eight apprenticeships in Stockport during the 100 apprenticeship ‘window.

Councillor Shan Alexander, Executive Member for Lifelong Learning and Achievement at Stockport Council, said: “Following the great success of our 50:50 Apprenticeship Grant Schemes in recent years, Stockport Council has launched a 100 Apprenticeships in 100 Days scheme with the NAS. This ground breaking initiative will help young people in the borough gain confidence and get their first experience of working for a local organisation which in turn will boost the local economy.”