Wendy Cocks
Labour Party
Spotland & Falinge Ward
Dear Fellow Residents of Spotland and Falinge
I am your Labour Party candidate asking for your support in the local elections on 5 May 2016.
I will be joining our Labour councillors, Surinder and Cecile Biant.
With your support we will be working hard for Spotland and Falinge. In the spirit of co-operation, as the history of this borough can attest to, I believe we can work together for the betterment of Spotland and Falinge.
I have worked with older people for more than 20 years and learnt so much from them, just as I have done from people, friends and neighbours in Spotland since moving to Rochdale. I work from home for a national charity concerned with housing and older people. I volunteer as a Street Pastor in Rochdale as well as getting involved with Rochdale’s Multifaith Partnership and the Rochdale Borough Community Energy group.
Since the Conservatives have been in charge nationally we have witnessed the deconstruction of local authorities by the Conservative austerity agenda. Their drive to shrink government in favour of big business is forcing more people into poverty and creating more and more inequality in this country. They are not supporting the smaller and family run businesses or those of us outside London and the South East. In Rochdale, we have suffered more cuts than most local authorities while wealthier areas in the South have had increases.
Devolution may seem to be something that is happening to us but it does give more power to us here and I want more people to get involved. We have seen some of the proposed changes to health already – 7 day access to GPs, a re-organising of hospital services and there is more to come. We need the voice of Spotland and Falinge people directing these and future changes. Let’s work on them together.
I am a committed community activist who is keen to serve Spotland and Falinge alongside Councillors Surinder and Cecile Biant as a part a strong and influential Labour team.
In Spotland and Falinge, Rochdale Labour:
- Has given funding to deliver the first comprehensive assessment of the Turner and Newell site in Spotland and Healey.
- Is increasing the number of computers available in libraries – including Spotland – so more people can have local access to the internet for homework, job searches and applications
- Has created a new cemetery so Rochdale people can be buried in Rochdale.
- Has approved a new, safer crossing patrol on Sandy Lane which will be used by Oulder Hill and Redwood school pupils and anyone else.
My ambition as a member of the Labour Team in Spotland and Falinge is to be active as your councillor and be the strong voice of our community.
No other party can claim to have such a strong voice on the Council.
