Kate Clegg
Liberal Democrat Party
Littleborough Lakeside Ward
Address
123 Brown Lodge Drive
Littleborough
OL15 0ET
Kate Clegg- Littleborough Lakeside
I am delighted to have been selected to stand for Littleborough Lakeside for the Liberal Democrats. I live in Smithybridge with my husband and two children and I work as a lecturer in criminology and criminal justice.
In 2018 I jointly set up the Littleborough and Smithybridge ‘Save the Greenbelt’ Campaign, which vehemently opposes the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework proposals to build houses across in the Green Belt. The campaign has showed me how poorly Rochdale council is being led by this Labour administration.
I felt I had to stand to give the community a councillor who will truly listen and serve the constituents, and be given the chance to think and vote freely. I fear that another Labour Councillor for Lakeside, despite what they say now, will only be pressured and whipped into voting for the GMSF.
Let me be crystal clear- I will continue to oppose any development on our green spaces and fight to preserve the well used green spaces that improve the health and wellbeing of residents.
Now- I am not against building new homes and will support building on brownfield sites (such as the former Fothergill and Harvey textile mill), so long as the homes meet local need (affordable first homes and retirement homes). There is also an urgent review needed of social housing in the borough- which is totally different to affordable housing.
I also feel it is important to maintain the identities of our villages are they are not lost to urban sprawl. Hollingworth Lake is described as the ‘jewel in Rochdale’s crown’ and visitors are attracted to its Pennine village location. I’d like to build tourism and conservation in the lake area, not housing estates. The Lake could be the gateway to the proposed South Pennines National Park- a scheme I am totally behind.
But being a good local Councillor is not just about a single issue- I would love to see Littleborough Lakeside lead the way in the borough for an improved recycling scheme and a reduction in single use plastics.
Enabling people to safely walk and cycle around the area is also paramount- especially on school routes, and I will lobby for improvements to cycle routes and for better public transport through the reintroduction of a bus route between Littleborough and Milnrow.
Recent events at Smithybridge crossing just go to demonstrate the need for an immediate review in safety- especially with the introduction of new rolling stock that has been promised. Littleborough and Smithybridge will be even more attractive for people to live once the Leeds- Manchester links are improved and we need to make sure we are infrastructure ready.
Through talking to constituents on the doorstep, it is clear that people would like to see changes on the council and for changes in the way in which councillors serve our community. We don’t want a “Town Hall Councillor” who isn’t seen in the ward, nor do we want an elected member who just turns up for events. Littleborough Lakeside deserves an active, energetic and enthusiastic representative who will be visible, approachable and available all year round. I am committed to the long-term future of Littleborough Lakeside. If you want a councillor that will listen and represent you with honesty and integrity, then I will not let you down.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss any issues or concerns.
Email: KateClegg@email.com
Vote Kate Clegg on Thursday May 2nd.
