South Ward http://labourreddish.org.uk/

BOWLING GREENS SET FOR CLOSURE AS Highway Improvements ––– at last! CUTS TO PARKS REVEREVEALEDALED After numerous complaints and many In the Council Budget, passed by the Lib Dems in the face requests from your local Councillors, two of opposition from Labour Councillors, a £1m cut to the of the worst roads in South Reddish have Parks Service was approved. As part of this cut we now now been resurfaced. The section of know that 8 bowling greens are marked for closure by Broadstone Hall South from the junction Lib Dems and other cuts are being proposed with the Whitehill Industrial Estate up to for Stockport’s parks. The LibDems are proposing that: the railway bridge had fallen into such a state of disrepair that it was causing * Litter will be cleared up less often, * Broken and worn-out play equipment will not be serious damage to cars. There was also the replaced, potential for accidents with motorists trying to avoid the deepest pot holes. * Broken benches and gates will not be replaced, Likewise, the section of Rupert Street * Most hedge trimming will stop, * Plants and grassed areas will be pruned or cut between its junction with Reddish Road and through to Broadstone Road also had less often, * Fewer staff will be based at parks, become hazardous. Cllr Walter Brett * 8 bowling greens will be closed, Potholes like this are said “I know there * Support for ‘Friends of’ (volunteer groups that a danger to drivers & are many other roads help maintain parks) will receive no support. pedestrians Cllr Andy Verdeille, Leader of Stockport Labour Group, in our ward that are Cllr Andy Verdeille, Leader of Stockport Labour Group, commented on the announcement of widewide----rangingranging in need of attention cuts to the park service: “It’s pretty shoddy that the Lib and the list is

Dems have hidden the detail of their cuts to Stockport’s growing. Central Drive parks in an extremely short consultation survey buried We are actively pursuing more on the Council’s website. We warned that a £1m cut to improvements to our road network but the parks service would lead to huge cuts to facilities this is yet another area affected by the Lib and maintenance. I’m sad to say that we’ve been proven Dem cuts”. right. I, and my fellow Labour councillors, have been Cuts bite across our community contacted by residents complaining that the consultation Stockport Lib Dems have cut another £14 million is still very vague. The Council is asking people to give from the Council’s budget. This is the third year their opinions on cuts without presenting the full facts of service cuts which will total £79m by the and figures.” time they have finished! Since 2011 many Among the bowling greens marked for closure are services have been reduced including school South Reddish Park and Houldsworth Park crossing patrols, youth clubs, flower beds in parks and social services for adults. These are both are well used by South Reddish residents. some of the cuts coming up: * The Children’s Centre to be downgraded to satellite status.

* The Play Development Team in

Heaton Norris to be axed. * Staffing levels at Reddish Vale Country Park to be cut. Reddish parks unde r threat? * Reddish Vale Visitors Centre to be

run by volunteers. Cllr Tom Grundy has been ccontactedontacted by bowlers Also to come affected by the prprooooposedposed closure of 8 bowling greens. * Reddish Library hours to be cut. Cllr Grundy said: “Concerned residents contacted me * Services for Young People cut. about the possible closure of bowling greens they have * Maintenance on parks and open used for years. The greens marked for closure are in spaces cut by a £1m. some of the poorest areas of Stockport. There is also conflicting information being given out. The Council “All this is a direct result of the Tory/LibDem needs to say exactly what they are proposing.” Government and families across Reddish will suffer” said CCClClllllrrrr WWWaWaaalllltttteeeerrrr BBBrBrrreeeetttttt.... Travel Survey to promote a New Rail Service The Friends of Reddish South Station are stepping up Families are £891 worse their campaign for a service through to Manchester off in the new tax yearyear,, Victoria by carrying out a series of surveys with the new figures show train travelling public to provide the evidence that Families will be an average of £891 passengers from Stockport and beyond would use a worse off in the new financial year which service through to Victoria if that service was available. started in April because of tax rises and The FoRSS campaign is now into its sixth year and has held numerous meeting with representatives from cuts to tax credits and benefits introduced Network Rail, Northern Rail and TfMG. They have since 2010 . credible plans, timetables and the support of Andrew Labour analysis of figures published by the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). Gwynne MP, Stockport and Tameside Councils. Evidence These shocking figures show the huge hit that the public would use the service is needed to millions of families are facing. prove the demand for a service and to influence what

services will be delivered when awarding the next franchise. Save our NHS - you can’t The group intend to carry a series of consultations with rail users at stations that now can only travel to trust the Tories or the Lib Manchester Piccadilly about the possibility of a service Dems to Manchester Victoria. Cllr Tom Grundy said “The Lib Dem Health Minister, Norman Lamb, was commitment of this group to see a train service from recently forced to withdraw a set of Reddish South station that would be a real benefit for regulations just four weeks before the all the people of Reddish and beyond is one to be massive changes to the NHS were due to be commended and I hope that they do get the public implemented in April 2013. The regulations support this campaign deserves”. would have opened up the whole of the

NHS to privatisation with the possibility of it being split into many parts. They LIVING STANDARDS SQUEEZED FOR proposals were condemned by 1000 LOCAL PENSIONERS AND FAMILIES doctors, The Academy of Royal Medical Local residents are feeling the squeeze as prices are Colleges, a petition of 600,000 organised going up faster than wages, the economy is flat lining by 38 Degrees and by the Labour Party. and nearly one million young people are out of work. However there are still deep concerns The Labour Party has made several sensible proposals about privatisation, even with the new that could really help create local jobs now, for example amended regulations now coming into using a bank bonus tax to fund a jobs guarantee for operation. young people, temporarily cutting VAT to help get the economy moving again and building thousands more Oppose the Bedroom Tax! affordable homes, but George Osborne refuses to do Tom, Andy & Walter are concerned about anything about it and pretends everything is going to just how many Stockport Homes tenants in plan.Andy, And Tom its & familiesWalter at in a Heaton recent Norris,meeting Reddish South will be affected by the and Reddishabout policingwho are withpaying Tony the Lloyd price with many feeling introduction of the so called ‘Bedroom that the cost of living is more expensive than it was just Tax’. The changes will reduce Housing a few weeks ago. Benefit by £14 to £25 a week depending Cllr Walter Brett added "It cannot on the number of ‘spare rooms’ they take be right that millions are being into account. Many families will struggle to forced to pay more for this pay the extra payments and could be put government’s economic failure at risk of prosecution and even eviction. through cuts to tax credits, child “There are just not enough properties for benefit, maternity pay and the Thank you, people to “down-size” to so tenants will be bedroom tax, while millionaires get George left struggling to find the extra money or an average £100,000 tax cut" face losing their homes” said Cllr Verdeille.

CLLR WALTER CLLR ANDY CLLR TOM ANDREW BRETT VERDEVERDEILLEILLE GRUNDY GWYNNE MP 431 9119 336 0224 431 4791 320 1504 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Promoted by Stockport Labour Party, Lloyd Street, , Stockport SK4 1QP. Printed by Greatledge, Malaga House, Pink Bank Lane, Longsight M12 5GH