A Stockport Council survey has shown that 70% of local residents are in favour of building the new A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road.
Working with Cheshire East and Manchester, Stockport Council sent out over 85,000 consultation surveys on the various options for the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road. In addition, the consultation was widely advertised and available online through the website and social media.
The three local authorities will vote on the preferred route being drawn up following the consultation, with a further consultation being held on the preferred route.
The current target is to complete the road in 2017.
The A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road will take traffic off our local roads and generate up to 5,000 new jobs, making an important contribution to Stockport’s economic growth.
The survey responses show approximately 70% in favour of the road, 10% against and 20% having no view.
Bridgehall’s local Lib Dem team have praised the work of Bridgehall Primary school after it was promoted to ‘GOOD’ status by school watchdog OFSTED.
The school had previously been categorised as ‘satisfactory’ following inspections in 2008 and 2011.
But after the inspection at the end of February, school inspectors decided the school had improved to such an extent it was now ‘GOOD’ – just one place behind the highest possible assessment.
Ann Smith, who lives near the school on Sandpipers, is on the school’s board of governors and has seen for herself first hand the transformation of the school.
Ann said “I think I can speak for most people on Bridgehall and Sandpipers that the improvement of the school is a real reason for pride in our area.”
Stockport Academy will get than £261,000 extra money for kids from disadvantaged backgrounds after Lib Dem work in Government
Work by Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government has meant schools in Stockport borough have an extra £6.9 million next year, as part of the Lib Dem Pupil Premium policy.
The pupil premium was one of four policy priorities that the Liberal Democrats put on the front page of their 2010 General Election manifesto.
It is designed to give a cash boost of £900 per pupil straight to children from disadvantaged backgrounds through their schools.
Lib Dems believe that for too long, social background has been a deciding factor in a child’s chances for the future. The pupil premium is designed to help prevent children being held back by poverty and disadvantage.
The extra money will mean schools all around Stockport receiving extra money, including Adswood Primary School which will receive an extra £107,100, Westmorland Primary in Brinnington which will get £234,900 extra, Banks Lane schools which get an extra £83,700 and Stockport Academy, which gets an extra £261,000 for the next year.
Liberal Democrat Schools Minister, David Laws said:
“We are already seeing across the country how the Pupil Premium is making a difference to children’s lives. Extra tuition, better IT resources and closer work with parents are all examples of how the Pupil Premium is being used to support the most disadvantaged pupils and benefit all their classmates too.
“That’s why I’m so pleased that, next year, we’ll be extending the Pupil Premium to another half a million children, and increasing the money that schools get to £900 per pupil.
“This means that, as a result of Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government, more children will get a better start in life.”
Lib Dem policies at local and national level have led to a 60% increase in Stockport apprenticeships
Unemployment figures out this week show another fall in unemployment in Stockport.
Stockport’s unemployment rate is now down to 3.3%. This compares favourably with the overall 4.8% figure for Greater Manchester, the 4.3% figure for the North West and the 3.8% figure for the whole of the UK.
Significantly, youth unemployment is also down. The JSA claimant rate for 16-24 years olds was down 3.9% and the 18-24 age group down 4.2%. The results are good news for Stockport’s apprenticeship work, in conjunction with the Lib Dem policy pushed in government to boost apprentice numbers.
The results of this work mean that 6,290 new apprenticeships have been created in Stockport since 2010, a 60% rise on the apprenticeships created in Stockport under the last government.
Cllr Patrick McAuley joins the Lib Dem group at Stockport Town Hall
Councillor Sue Derbyshire welcomes Councillor Patrick McAuley as new member of the Stockport Liberal Democrat Group at the Town Hall
Speaking after the Stockport Liberal Democrat Group voted to accept the membership application from Councillor Patrick McAuley, Independent Councillor for Manor Ward, Councillor Sue Derbyshire said:
“Since he was elected Cllr McAuley has shown dedication to being an effective councillor but that is very hard to do as an Independent.
“I am glad that he has looked closely at what the Liberal Democrat Group is doing in trying to protect the most vulnerable people and essential services in these very difficult times and has decided to join us to promote the interests of Stockport.”
Following his election to the Group, Councillor Patrick McAuley said:
“It has become clear that the only party prepared to put people first in Stockport, and who embody the principle of “people matter” that I have espoused since leaving the Labour party almost a year ago, are local Liberal Democrats.
“Councillors Derbyshire, Hawthorne and I will be a formidable force as ward colleagues in working tirelessly for the interests of the residents of Manor ward.
“The road ahead is long and there will be significant financial challenges to face but I continue to be impressed by this Group’s approach to inclusiveness in their efforts to reduce the impacts of the economic crisis on our residents.”
A development agreement has been reached for Stockport’s new ‘Office Quarter’.
Stockport Council and Muse Developments have signed and sealed a Development Agreement, marking an important milestone in the development of a high-specification office quarter, next to the train station in the town centre.
The Council bought the Grand Central site last year to bring forward the office-led development, including hotel and improved car parking, as well as an attractive new gateway to the town centre.
National development and regeneration specialist Muse Developments were appointed by the Council as development partner to deliver the project.
Phase One consists of a new 1,000 space multi-story car park and a range of highway improvements, due to be completed at the beginning of 2014.
The new car park will meet increasing demand for parking next to the railway station and encourage more people to take the train. A temporary parking solution for commuters will be provided during its construction.
Phase Two has been masterplanned for the first commercial office building, new public space, a hotel and highway improvements by 2015.
Phase Three will include further office buildings, extension of the open space and further improved accessibility for pedestrians on a phased basis up to 2020.
Councillor Iain Roberts, Executive Member for Economic Development and Regeneration at Stockport Council, said: “The signing of the Development Agreement confirms both parties’ commitment to delivering a cutting-edge new office quarter and commuter destination for Stockport. It is a crucial part of our overall vision for the town centre – attracting jobs, investment and footfall. We’ve worked hard to make sure that it’s self-financing and at no extra cost to the Council-tax payer.”
