Kieran A P Heakin
Labour Party
Healey Ward
I am privileged to stand for Labour in the forthcoming elections on the 22 May. As a local resident, I care for the local issues that are important to you.
I am working hard, alongside Councillor Shaun O’Neill to resolve many issues raised by residents in Healey, Syke and Shawclough. These include;
The Toxic Mess at Turner Brothers – We need urgent Government action to sort out the asbestos-ridden TBA site. It will cost millions to decontaminate the site. We need Rochdale Council to hold talks with the government to secure the funding - from the Environment Agency and the EU – to make the land safe.
This problem been going on for years and residents are fed up with all the delays.
The problem is far too big to be solved locally and we need government and EU assistance to remove the contamination. I would like to see the land eventually turned into an urban park for everyone to enjoy.”
Pot Holes and Road Repairs – We demand that Healey, Syke and Shawclough gets its fair share of the £10 Million that Rochdale Council has allocated for road repairs. We need a loud voice on the Council to ensure we get our fair share. We need to repair the damage caused by too many bad winters.
Road Safety – We need to ensure that our roads are safe for all users and pedestrians. We need to keep the traffic moving in the mornings, but we also want to make them safe for all users. We need further road calming measures and better signage for the area. We need to review the traffic management systems on Whitworth Road and Shawclough Road, as these always have an impact on all the other roads.
Home Security – Local residents need to work with the Police and other organisations to make our communities safer. Homewatch schemes are ideal for keeping all members of the community involved and informed. Home security information needs to be passed on from the police to local residents so we can all act on recent, relevant information. We need to be kept informed of local rates of street crimes, vehicle thefts, youth nuisance, household thefts and home security issues.
Leisure and Sports – We need to ensure that Rochdale Council is playing its part in keeping open the green spaces. Too many green spaces are being allowed to be built on. This increases pressure on local roads and local services. We need the open spaces for leisure. We want to be able to carry on walking through the parks and footpaths. St Wilfred’s Field should be developed for all members of the local community to use and enjoy – not just another housing estate.
Footpaths – We have many local footpaths in Healey, Syke and Shawclough. However they are sometimes not used a lot because they have been allowed to fall into disrepair. We should keep up the maintenance on the footpaths so we can all continue to enjoy them.
Local Services – We want Rochdale Council to continue to maintain good local services. Our local schools should be the best that Rochdale can provide. We want to carry on using the libraries, swimming baths, etc. We must not let standards slip. We know it is a challenging time for the economy, but we all still need good quality local services.
Finally – on a personal note, I have lived in Shawclough for 25 years. I have been a headteacher for 30 years. I enjoy playing squash at the Cricket Club and watching The Dale.
I sincerely hope that you will cast your vote for me on the 22 May. Only the Labour team in Healey, Syke and Shawclough works hard all year round for you.
