Stockport Liberal Democrats

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.

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.