Davenport, Cale Green, Bridgehall, Adswood & Larkhill Archives - Page 3 of 8

Another Council tax freeze for Stockport residents?

Stockport's Lib Dems propose a freeze in council tax for all local taxpayers — Stockport’s Lib Dems propose a freeze in council tax for all local taxpayers

Lib Dems are proposing to freeze Stockport’s Council tax for year 2014/15[/caption]Stockport’s Lib Dem councillors want to freeze Council Tax for Stockport taxpayers for the year 2014/15.

This will be the third council tax freeze the Lib Dems council has delivered in the past four years, despite the unprecedented financial challenges it continues to face.

Lib Dem councillors want to continue helping residents with the cost of living. Cllr Sue Derbyshire said: “We know local authority finances will get no easier, with almost £60m of savings made since 2010 and over £40m more savings needed between 2015 and 2017. However, we have taken the decision to accept the government’s freeze grant this year in the interests of residents, and I call on the other political groups in Stockport to back this freeze.”

The Liberal Democrat budget proposals will be debated and voted upon by all political groups at the Budget Council Meeting on 27th February.

Japanese Knotweed Update

Ann Smith with an example of the Japanese Knotweed on Network Rail land

In the summer, Ann Smith wrote to residents in Davenport and Cale Green ward bordering Network Rail land after a Bridgehall resident had raised the issue of Japanese Knotweed.

If left untreated, the weed can cause damage to nearby property. One resident was refused a mortgage application because of knotweed growing on Network Rail land near his home.

Ann wrote to Network Rail asking for more to be done to manage the knotweed growing on their property, before it becomes a threat to neighbouring residents bordering their land.

Network Rail replied by saying that treatment can only be administered in the spring but that the sites Ann had referred to would now be “added to our noxious weeds database for treatment.” They wrote “we will spray this site as part of our Japanese Knotweed plan that begins in April”.

Ann is now asking residents to let her know if they have seen knotweed on Network Rail land near then so she can press for it to be included as part of Network Rail’s treatment plan.

Our awareness sheet about Japanese Knotweed can be found by clicking here.

Davenport Station Car Park Clear-up

Northern Rail has finally taken action following Ann Smith’s request for a clean-up of Davenport Station car park.

The state of the car park was raised by local residents in a Lib Dem Residents’ Survey. As well as litter and dog fouling, one resident reported criminal damage to a car. Ann asked Northern to do more to keep the site clean and look into better security with measures such as CCTV, as is used in similar facilities elsewhere.

Northern’s response read “Davenport has received some attention recently to improve security… Unfortunately there are no plans to extend CCTV.”

But trees were trimmed or removed and a large number of bushes were cut, and a general litter pick was undertaken.

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.

‘Safer In Stockport’ Summer Campaign

Cllr Sue Derbyshire oversees crushing of 30 illegal bikes

Stockport Council and Greater Manchester Police, working together in the Safer Stockport Partnership, are holding a month long initiative aimed at reducing crime and anti-social behaviour across Stockport.

The ‘Safer in Stockport’ initiative was launched with the crushing of 30 off-road motorcycles that have been seized by the Police.

These motorcycles have been confiscated under Police powers for being driven illegally on public roads, for causing damage to public spaces and for creating nuisance to residents, which is one of the main complaints received over the summer.

Councillor Sue Derbyshire, Leader of Stockport Council said: “We are working in partnership with Greater Manchester Police and its partners to show residents that Off-Road motorcycles are dangerous and cause a lot of noise and disruption to others. This event will hopefully show members of the public that you can have a motorcycle as long as you ride it legally and in a safe way.”

See more about the SSP and the ‘Safer in Stockport’ initiative on their website visit or call 0161 474 3143 or follow on Twitter @SaferStockport.