Rodney Isherwood

Lib Dem councillors Iain Donaldson, John Cameron and Rod Isherwood successfully opposed a planning application to turn a shop on Burnage Lane into a take away.

Iain Donaldson said “There comes a point where there are too many takeaways, which are shuttered up during the day and can cause litter and late night noise problems, and not enough choice in local shops.  In this case a takeaway would have caused parking and traffic problems as well.  We are pleased that these concerns were heeded.”

 The Labour-controlled executive of Manchester City Council have agreed a disappointing report into the feasability of the Council intervening to keep the 5 Post Offices shut this year in Manchester, including Parrs Wood Post Office on Wilmslow Road and Ladybarn Post Office on Mauldeth Road, open. After voting in favour of a Lib Dem Motion at a meeting of the full City Council two weeks ago which called for every effort to be made to reopen these 5 Post Offices, Labour seem to backing down from that promise. Commenting on the Post Office agreed by the Labour Executive, Lib Dem Leader Simon Ashley said,

Councillors John Cameron, Iain Donaldson and Rod Isherwood and John Leech MP have hailed recent results from Ladybarn, St Bernards and Green End Primary Schools. All three have received very good OFSTEAD inspection reports in recent months. Ladybarn and Green End Primaries have been working together in a ‘federation’, with one head teacher for both. John Leech said:”These reports show a great achievement by the staff, parents and pupils of all three schools. Congratulations go to all concerned.” Councillor Iain Donaldson, who is a school governor at Green End Primary said:”Green End has had some major problems in recent years, but the federation with Ladybarn and the dedication and hard work of all the staff have really paid off.” Councillors John Cameron and Rod Isherwood are school governors at Ladybarn Primary. John Cameron said:“Ladybarn Primary has been classed as an ‘outstanding’ school. This is no more than it deserves. Everyone at Ladybarn has worked exceptionally hard to achieve this.”

Councillor Rod Isherwood is calling on all fellow services veterans to claim their medals. Rod said: “If you are a services veteran you are entitled to a medal to mark your contribution to our country. Contact John Leech MP’s office on 0161 434 3334 and an application form will be sent out to you. You will need to supply your name, address, date of birth, service number and details of the service.”

Saturday saw the ‘Love Burnage’ free family fun day at St Margaret’s Church on Burnage Lane. The weather was great and loads of local people attended and had a great time. There was music, dancing, stalls and free cream teas.Councillors John Cameron, Iain Donaldson and Rod Isherwood, together with John Leech MP, all went along and had a great time.

John Cameron said:

“This was a fantastic event that really brought local people together. Well done to all at St Margaret’s, who worked really hard to make it happen.”

Councillors Jon Cameron, Iain Donaldson and Rod Isherwood thank the police and council officers who worked quickly and efficiently to remove the travellers who illegally camped on Cringle Fields again this year.A lot of hard work is being done by the Friends of Cringle Park and Fields Group, Burnage Multi Agency Group and the Parks Department, with the support of local Councillors and John Leech MP, to improve the facilities on Cringle Fields. It is important that the good work being done locally continues to be built on so that the fields can continue to bring pleasure and organised recreational activity to all our community.We would also like to congratulate the Friend of Cringle Park and Fields on their very successful Fun Day on Sunday, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all those who attended.

The long awaited improvements to the shopping area around Lane End Road and Burnage Lane has finally got underway, following constant pressure from Lib Dem MP John Leech and local Lib Dem Councillors John Cameron, Iain Donaldson and Rod Isherwood.The scheme, which includes a parking bay for local residents, new street furniture and improvements to the pavements around the shops, has been funded through money obtained from Tesco as part of the planning permission for their Burnage store. However, there have been long delays in the work starting.John Leech MP said:“The Lib Dem team have continued to raise the issue with the Council, to keep it at the top of the agenda and make sure that it got off the ground.”Councillor John Cameron added:“These improvements should be a great benefit to local people and will also make the shopping area more attractive, which will help the local shops to thrive. We are looking forward to seeing the results when the work is finished.”

RESIDENTS of a Burnage road have been suffering from an identity crisis - thanks to Royal Mail.

People living on Dahlia Close know that they live in Burnage, the road is right next to Burnage Community Centre, on Burnage Lane, but Royal Mail kept telling them that they lived in Levenshulme.

Since Dahlia Close was built about 18 months ago the residents have asked for their addresses to be changed on bills and official letters to Burnage.

But they were told this was not possible because ‘Levenshulme’ was the official address according to the Royal Mail.

The Royal Mail told a resident that for this to be changed she had to provide them with letters of support from the local authority, parish council, regional office of Postwatch, national office of Postwatch and her MP.

Liberal Democrat councillors wrote to the Royal Mail to tell them they had made a mistake.

Councillor Rod Isherwood said: “To say that Dahlia Close is in Levenshulme is absolutely ridiculous. It is next door to Burnage Community Centre, Burnage Library, Burnage Health Centre and Burnage Multi Agency Group.”

John Leech MP, whose constituency includes Burnage, contacted the Royal Mail as soon as he heard about the problem.

He said: “The residents had been trying to get this sorted for months, but no-one was listening. I told the Royal Mail to check the postal addresses for nearby streets and they realised their mistake.”

The word ‘Levenshulme’ will now be deleted from the Royal Mail’s record for Dahlia Close.

Off-Licensees who continue to sell alcohol to under age youths in Manchester should be stripped of their licence according to Burnage Councillors Rod Isherwood and Iain Donaldson.

New laws will pass the control of alcohol licenses in the City from the Magistrates to the City Council in November, and the Liberal Democrat Councillors on the Social Strategy Overview and Scrutiny Committee have called for tough action against rogue traders. Cllr Isherwood drew the committee’s attention to the fact that many of the recent prosecutions were of small traders and expressed the hope that “the big boys will also be checked out.”

Cllr Donaldson stated, “If a licensee is a regular offender then they should lose their licence. The fines that have been imposed in recent years have clearly not been sufficient to deter some offenders from continuing to sell to underage youths.”

Following the Liberal Democrat intervention, the Social Strategy Overview and Scrutiny Committee will review the City Council’s policy on Off-licenses prior to it coming into force in November.

Cllr Isherwood added, “I welcome the fact that Labour have taken on board this important Liberal Democrat initiative.”