Lots of things to talk about

Posted By: Robin Parker
Date Posted: 26/05/2007

1) I suppose the first thing, given the diaries and community debate, is to say that Middleton Township has followed Heywood’s lead and rejected the fortnightly non-recyclable bin collection. Equally, we are unanimous in wanting to make recycling work. The problem is the officers are starting from a position of community mistrust caused by their failure to deliver so far. Many of my constituents on Langley have complained to me that the voluntary ‘green’ collection isn’t working, as they dutifully put out their recycling materials but the vans fail to turn up. So will it be any better with the special bins? We can only hope. The weekly non-recyclable is what really matters to people and you cannot more contrast the comments by Wera Hobhouse, who thinks the Pennines has worked wonderfully, and Jean Ashworth, who doesn’t. Who should we believe? Jean, of course, because she lives there and presumably has been taking the flak.

2) The policy of Environmental Improvements to Council Estates was presented to Township. Much ado was made of this by the turn coat during the West Middleton campaign and I quote from the Focus:

‘The Liberal Democrats have allocated £7.5 million for improvement to the environment on Council Estates across the Borough. We will plant trees, landscape and help make Langley a better place to live…This money, much of which will be spent on improving our environment is welcome and shows our commitment to you’.

Below the text is a picture of him shaking hands with Wera, the Environment Portfolio Holder. The reality, as confirmed by the officer Thursday night? It is money destined for the tenants of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing. The amount allocated to Langley? Zilch. A disgraceful lie from a disreputable candidate, endorsed by a dishonest Party.

3) So we are going to get a wonderful centralised academic sixth form college for the Borough, but it is in Rochdale. Small comfort to the residents of Middleton whose status is now being correctly described in a resolution by Peter Williams as a ‘Secondary Modern Town.’ The cobbling together of a piecemeal patchy policy of post sixteen provision in Mid almost looks as though it was knocked up over breakfast and sells our students short.

4) But it wasn’t all bad this week. I took a phone call from Rina, the Mayor’s Officer, asking if I could cover for the Mayor on the 22nd June. It is the 25th Anniversary of the Falklands war and there is a service in Manchester Cathedral. As my head began gearing itself up for that she went on to say ‘but we think the Mayor should attend that so would you mind opening Middleton Festival?’ There is a Fairy Godmother.