Category: Blog

Unsung Hero Awards 2011: Vote for the champions of Lostock

If something positive’s going on in Lostock then Roy Jolly will be involved.

That’s the opinion of Councillor Mike Cordingley who nominated Roy for his community work.

Roy is a member of Lostock Partnership and the current chair of Lostock Tenants and Residents Association.

He was also featured earlier this year in the Advertiser for his campaign to get the work on three unfinished roads completed after years of neglect.

Mike said: “Roy has been an active member of the general volunteering community of Trafford serving on the Trafford Partnership and other capacities. He’s still taking an interest in Lostock issues, recently campaigning for road resurfacing works in his former neighbourhood.

He’s been involved in fun days, inter-generational activities and essentially if it’s going on in Lostock, Roy will be involved in it.

“He moved to Urmston about three or four years ago but is as heavily involved in Lostock as ever.”

Unsung Hero Awards 2011: Vote for the champions of Lostock

A get-together organised by two teenage boys is more than just a quiz night for its elderly attendees.

It’s a chance to get out of the house and make friends.

Luke Winstanley and Edward Howells have been nominated for the monthly night they organise at Lostock Youth Club.

The boys were nominated by Maureen Reilly, chairwoman of Lostock Partnership, who said: “Many of the older people say that they feel lonely and isolated and Luke and Edward felt that they would like to make a difference.

“They decided to hold a monthly quiz night in the youth centre and applied for a grant to fund this.

“They then publicised the quiz nights and encouraged three younger members to help them at the quizzes. Between them they produced quiz sheets, bought refreshments and prizes and recruited a DJ.

“The quiz nights have really attracted older people and are getting more and more popular.”

Luke, 17, of Mount Drive, Urmston and Edward, 15, of Barton Road, Stretford, also work as youth leaders and encourage other teenagers to undertake voluntary work.

Maureen added: “Both these young men deserve recognition for the excellent voluntary work that they do which is always done with a smile and good nature.”

The Guardian newspaper is hosting a video piece from Labour’s new Shadow Health spokesman, Andy Burnham on the NHS reforms and how they threaten the very existence of a national health service.

We’re due to debate a motion at Council tonight on HS2. Both Conservatives and Labour have submitted motions in support. We’ll probably remit the Labour motion that I drafted to avoid duplication. I was interested in the Westminster Hall debate that took place this very morning. I think the arguments in favour of HS2 are irrefutable.

I’m hosting the video of the debate below.

Today’s Manchester Evening News Story on the Battle to stop Trafford General Hospital being sold to private sector should surely ring alarm bells for all citizens of Trafford. We’ve all seen the shocking lowering of standards and treatment meted out at Winterbourne View, a private run hospital for adults with learning difficulties. The treatment has been described as torture.

It’s scandalous that private companies are hovering like vultures to take over Trafford General, the birthplace of the NHS. We hear that Circle Healthcare with its Hedge Fund backers are waiting to see whether the moves to have Trafford Healthcare Trust taken over by a neighbouring trust can materialise. The problem is that they would also be taking on Trafford’s £8m debt.

There is a serious threat that a private company will be the only willing provider. I’m appalled at the deafening silence emanating from Trafford’s Conservative Council. It’s shocking that Park Hospital could be handed over to these City Spivs. We have to stand up for Trafford.

Labour is leading the campaign to save Trafford General. Councillor Jo Harding is co-ordinating with Kate Green to hold a meeting on 30th June at Urmston Library (although I think this will be too small) to listen to residents and stakeholders.

Andrew Lansley should be putting a stop to any possiblity that any NHS hospital will be run by private companies. Let’s put a stop to this madness

I was really pleased to see this press release from the Local Government Association.

Councils back call for greater involvement in railways

LGA Media Release – 23 May 2011

Responding to the McNulty report’s call for local authorities to have more involvement in rail franchises, Cllr Peter Box, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Economy and Transport Board, said:
“The LGA has consistently campaigned for greater involvement of councils in decisions about the new rail franchises and it is very pleasing to see this sensible and necessary reform recommended by the McNulty report. We hope the Government will now put this recommendation into action.

“The report recognises that many of the problems with our rail network arise from decisions being taken centrally without the engagement of the passengers, residents and businesses, who will be affected by them most.

“If we are to have a railway that is fit for the future, we need it to operate more efficiently, we need to target investment to where it is most needed and we need to find new ways of raising that investment. More local accountability, and a stronger role for councils, is crucial to all three.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS
1 The McNulty report on the future of railways recommends: “greater localism with more involvement in England of local authorities and/or PTEs, with local decision-making brought more closely together with budget responsibility and accountability.”