Brooklands Labour

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!!

2010-04-12T03:27:00.000-07:00

Not much time to blog at election time but just to let you all know that this weekend your Labour councillors were doing what they do every weekend and that's getting out and meeting residents.

Labour's Sue Murphy said,

" The only way you can properly represent the views of local residents is by meeting them and listening to them. Local Labour councillors go to many public meeting with residents, do walkabouts with council officers around the ward and knock on doors all year round. I have to say we don't see much sign of our Conservative opponents when we are out and about!"

IRISH MUSIC AND DANCE FOR SANDILANDS PUPILS AT TOWN HALL

2010-03-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

Pupils from Sandilands Primary School along with children from nine other primary schools in Manchester will be celebrating St Patrick's Day in true Irish style at the Town Hall on Wednesday 17 March with a day long celebration of Irish music and dance.

During the morning pupils will get the chance to listen to and learn the basics of playing traditional Irish instruments including the bodhran, fiddle, tin whistle and guitar. They will also take part in celtic art workshops and will be put through their paces with Irish dancing lessons.

The afternoon session will see all pupils come together for a traditional Irish Fleadh, with dancing and singing. There will also be performances from visiting groups wearing traditional Irish costumes and from some of the skilled workshop leaders.

Labour Councillor Sue Murphy said: "Manchester is home to a vibrant Irish community, and the celebrations in the Town Hall are great fun and give pupils the chance to find out more about Irish culture and traditions by taking part in hands-on activities."

The St Patrick's Day celebrations have been organised in partnership with Manchester Irish Education Group by the award winning Manchester Music Service.

METROLINK BACK ON TRACK

2010-03-08T08:51:00.000-08:00

Good news in the MEN tonight about Metrolink coming to Wythenshawe.

You can read the full story here

Councillor Sue Murphy said ;

“This is great news and shows that the extension of Metrolink to Wythenshawe and Manchester Airport is finally going to happen. The extension of the line will be a massive boost, not just for residents in the ward I represent, but across Wythenshawe and south Manchester.”

WYTHENSHAWE YOUNGSTERS A SURE HIT WITH COMMUNITY

2010-02-15T06:12:00.000-08:00

One thing the Wythenshawe District Youth Forum is sure about is that young people play a vital role in their community.

Over the last year eight members of Shawe Thing Youth Forum, based at Connexions in Sharston, each volunteered more than 50 hours for meetings and 30 hours each for additional events and community projects, all designed to give young people a voice and role in the area they live.

Shawe Thing began nine years ago and has gone from strength to strength, making firm links with other youth groups in the UK and abroad to promote the image of young people in both Wythenshawe and Manchester.

The group is funded by Manchester City Council and helped by staff from its Youth Services department and the Wythenshawe Regeneration team – but it is the Shawe Thing members who make the decisions about projects the group should be involved in.

Last year saw a busy schedule with a wide variety of projects, from attending the Children’s Summit in Germany, to using the group’s funds to buy bedding plants to transform the entrance to a special needs school, and even visiting a local day care centre for old people, where the panel enjoyed showing their elders how to use a Nintendo Wii.

Brooklands Labour Councillor Sue Murphy, Executive Member for Employment and Skills at Manchester City Council, with responsibility for Youth Services, said:

“These youngsters are true community champions and the perfect antidote to the negative image some people have of today’s young people. It just shows that, given a voice, youngsters can have a huge, positive impact on their community.”

CONSERVATIVES DUMP BROOKLANDS

2010-02-02T11:20:00.000-08:00

According to their flash new website the Conservatives in Brooklands had planned a "day of action" on the 13th Feb in the area.

They were going to meet local people and listen to their views .

Well, also according to their flash new website, they have decided to cancel this "day of action" in Brooklands and go and listen to the views of people somewhere else.

The Conservative candidate and her would be helpers have been told by Tory High Command to forget about what the people of Brooklands think and go and listen to the people of Didsbury instead.

Labour Councillor Sue Murphy said

" This is typical of the Tories I'm afraid. They only appear at election times and clearly aren't really interested in what people have to say and helping them with their problems. In fact this time they have gone one better.

It seems now they aren't even going to put in an appearance at all.

You will see from this blog, and the many leaflets and letters we send and door knocking that we do, that your local Labour councillors are the only ones who work for you all year round, election or no election."

NEW YOUTH CLUB OPENS

2010-02-02T06:30:00.000-08:00

A brand new building for Norbrook Youth Club opened in January.

The new building replaces the old Norbrook, which now the Metrolink is confirmed, will be knocked down.

Labour Councillor Sue Murphy welcomed the opening, saying:

“It’s taken a while to get here but the new club, with much better facilities for people in Northern Moor, has been worth the wait. Local people have told us that better community facilities like this and more activities for young people are among their top priorities, so I’m delighted see the club open.’

Labour Councillor Glynn Evans added: ‘I’d like to particularly pay tribute to the volunteers who worked so hard to make the new club a reality – and all the time continued to provide sessions for young people in a building that was well past it’s best.’

The Club isn’t just for young people – there are also activities such as bingo and chair-based exercise for older people.

· Sessions for Juniors (school years 4,5,6) are on Mondays at 6pm, and for Seniors (years 7,8) are on Wednesdays.

LISTENING TO PEOPLE IS WHAT COUNTS!!

2010-01-24T11:59:00.000-08:00

Your local Labour councillors and the rest of the Brooklands Labour Team want to know the views of local residents. As Councillor Sue Murphy says:

"You have to listen to what local people are saying and take their views into account if you want to represent them properly. We always help people as much as we can but we need to know what is going on in the local area. Residents provide us with this information and it is a vital part of our work as councillors. And a part, incidentally, that we all enjoy"

Last Saturday Councillors Sue Murphy, Glyn Evans and Sue Cooley were joined by Labour MP Paul Goggins and other members of the Brooklands Labour Team to undertake a residents survey.

Sue Murphy said;

" We spoke to dozens and dozens of residents who told us their views on a range of issues that affect them locally. We will be following this up with action"

WINTER CONDITIONS- A MESSAGE FROM YOUR LABOUR COUNCILLORS

2010-01-07T06:24:00.000-08:00

We would just like to let you know that Manchester City Council have enough stocks of salt to grit the primary routes and there are teams of Street Scene Operatives out shovelling snow in District Centres.

Prioritised gritting outside Sheltered Housing and Childrens Centres has taken place.

Side roads can't be done as the Councils eight gritters are working flat out on primary routes and also the grit salt needs to be churned into the ice by car tyre use or heavy footfall.

Attempts are being made by council staff to telephone vulnerable elderly residents to check they are OK and would urge all residents to keep any eye on their neighbours in this bad weather.

For further information on the situation in Manchester you can check the councils website here

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2009-12-31T10:29:00.000-08:00

Labour Councillors Sue Murphy, Sue Cooley and Glyn Evans , along with the rest of the Brooklands Labour Team ,would like to wish all residents a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year !!

OFF ROAD!! - FOREVER!!

2009-12-14T06:59:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, Brooklands Labour Councillors Sue Murphy (pictured left) and Sue Cooley took part in a bike crushing event to warn parents not to buy off road bikes for Christmas.

They have been working with Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Police alongside other partner agencies and residents to rid the streets of dangerous and illegal off-road bikes and they're stepping up that work as Part of the Keep Christmas Happy Campaign.

Sue Murphy said: "Residents regularly raise the issue of the noise and nuisance of illegal off-road bikes,and we wanted to warn parents that if they buy these bikes for Christmas presents and they're ridden illegally they could be confiscated and crushed. We hope the bike crushing will drive home the message that there are no public places in Manchester where off road bikes can be ridden legally"

Sue Cooley added “These bikes are noisy, disruptive and dangerous. Together with the police, we are working to get them off the streets and open spaces of Manchester and we would urge parents not to buy them as Christmas presents. Most people have got the message that there is nowhere in the city to ride off road bikes – it is illegal to ride them in parks, open spaces, on the streets or on pavements in every part of the city - but there are some who are still flouting the law. Any motor bike that is being ridden on the road without being taxed and insured is illegal. "

Your Labour Team are working hard to make sure that we remove them from the streets.

YOUTH CLUB - UNDERWAY AT LAST

2009-11-25T07:03:00.000-08:00

Earlier this year, local Labour Councillors along with Paul Goggins MP were delighted to be asked to be part of a ceremony to mark the beginning of building a new Youth Club in Northern Moor. It’s a replacement for Norbrook Boys and Girls Club, which is being demolished to make way for the Metrolink line.

Councillor Sue Murphy said:

‘Volunteers and people involved with Norbrook have worked hard to try to provide activities for young people in a poor quality building, and the new building will mean more and better things for young people. Local people have told us one of their top priorities is more for young people to do – especially at night and weekends – and we’re still going to be campaigning for even more facilities right across Brooklands, Baguley and Northern Moor.^

SUPPORTING ACTION ON CARBON EMMISSIONS

2009-11-10T05:57:00.000-08:00

Following on from our earlier blog post, Friends of the Earth visited the Brooklands Labour Councillors at their advice surgery.

They brought postcards that local residents have signed, asking us to put pressure on the City Council to reduce CO2 emmissions. After speaking to Ali from FoE, we're going to make sure that we do our bit to press for a 40% reduction target.

Sue Murphy said: 'The council have already signed up to the 10:10 campaignto reduce carbon emmissions by 10% next year - and we think they should go even further. We're pleased to support Friends of the Earth and their campaign. It's good that so many local people took time to let us know how strongly they feel about this.'

THIS TIME THE SUN SHONE

2009-11-01T12:15:00.000-08:00

If there is one thing you can rely on in this country it is the unreliability of the weather. Last Saturday we were out and about talking to residents on Brooklands estate in the rain, this week it was mild and with lovely sunshine. Councillor Sue Murphy said;

"We met a lot of residents this week and were able to listen to their points of view and ideas to improve the area. My fellow councillors Sue and Glyn and I will be taking up the issues people raised with us and hopefully we will see some progress on things people are concerned about. "

Sue added , " The only way we can really properly represent the people round here is to listen to what they say, and that is what we do."

If we missed you on Saturday and you want to get in touch with us then contact Sue Murphy at cllr.s.murphy@manchester.gov.uk

NORTHERN MOOR ON T'INTERNET

2009-10-27T10:15:00.000-07:00

A new website has been launched for Northern Moor.

The site is primarily for the many "not for profit" organisations that serve the local community. It serves as a Community Noticeboard, where you can find details of regular activities or special events, read a blog, or start your own.

Local Labour councillor Sue Murphy said,

"This is a much needed and exciting development which I urge residents to use.This is another example of the fantastic community spirit that exists in Northern Moor and myself and my fellow Labour councillors are committed to keep working to make the area even better"

The address of the website is www.northernmoor.org

CANVASSING IN THE RAIN

2009-10-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

A rainy Saturday morning was probably not the best time to do a residents survey on Brooklands estate but thats what we did. Councillor Sue Murphy and Paul Goggins MP along with the Brooklands Labour Team were out knocking on doors and talking to residents. I think some of them thought we were a bit odd doing it in the rain but you could say that if you don't do things in the rain in this country then you wouldn't do very much!!

Lots of interesting conversations with people. A range of subjects discussed and by the time we were done it had stopped raining.

If we missed you and you want to contact Sue then email her at cllr.s.murphy@manchester.gov.uk or email this blog and we will reply as soon as possible. You can email the blog on brooklandslabour@hotmail.co.uk

PETROL STATION ON ALTRINCHAM ROAD - ACTION DEMANDED

2009-09-07T04:51:00.000-07:00

Sue Murphy the Labour councillor for Brooklands Ward said "

We've had a lot of complaints about the derelict petrol station on Altirincham Road. The site had been sold for retail units, but it looks as if it's going to be a while before they are built. So, we've asked for immediate action - and got agreement that the petrol station will be demolished before the building work starts. That way if there's a delay at least the site will look better.

Sue Murphy added 'It's a real eyesore, and because it's on the main road looks even worse. We've pushed for the site to be demolished and cleared and for that to happen as soon as possible, even if building work isn't going to start for a while.'

The picture shows Brooklands Labour councillors Sue Murphy, Glynn Evans and Sue Cooley at the site of the derleict petrol station.

NORTHERN MOOR SPEAKS FOR ITSELF

2009-08-27T04:32:00.000-07:00

It's been a very busy week in Northern Moor. The pre-programme publicity for 'The Duchess on the Estate', which painted Northern Moor as dirty, crime-ridden and full of hoodies and thugs made local people very angry.

The three Labour Councillors took part in a public meeting, and helped residents organise a protest on the day the first part of the programme went out.

More than 200 people came to show what Northern Moor is really like - and to prove that community spirit is alive and well.

The next day, Allan Beswick of Radio Manchester broadcast his three hour breakfast show from Sale Circle, and the two Sues (Councillors Sue Cooley and Sue Murphy) were interviewed. Sue Cooley said 'Just before we went on air I had a brain wave. I thought that if the BBC could give us cameras, we could make our own film that showed people what Northern Moor is really like. So I was cheeky and asked Allan live on air. And he agreed!'

Then followed five hectic days of filming - with the help of Radio Manchester. The film we made was showcased at The Manchester College on Tuesday morning.Speaking after the film was shown, Sue Murphy said 'The film showed the Northern Moor I know - a strong community, with local people prepared to work hard to make their area a better place. I'm glad the BBC agreed - and gave us the chance to stand up for local people and our area.'

You can see the films by clicking here

BROOKLANDS SUMMER FAIR

2009-08-18T05:31:00.000-07:00

Brooklands had a Summer Fair on the 8th August and all three of the Brooklands Labour councillors were there to join in the fun. The event was a roaring success and very well attended. It was blessed with good weather and opened by the lovely "Molly" off Cornonation Street who stayed for ages, signing autographs, having her pic taken and chatting to people.

Events varied from bands to hook-a-duck.

Bouncy castles were popular with the little ones and there was even ferret racing!

On a more serious note, local Labour councillor Sue Murphy took time out from the fun to recieve a petition from Friends of The Earth demanding action on climate change (pictured).

Sue said" The event was a big success and thanks should go to all the organisers and volunteers who have done a fantastic job."