Emma Hezelgrave-Whitworth
Middleton Independents Party
South Middleton Ward
Hi,
I’m Emma Hezelgrave-Whitworth and I'm standing for election as your Councillor in South Middleton Ward for Middleton Independents Party.
It’s coming up to a year since the residents of Middleton elected five Independent councillors to represent them on Rochdale Council.
A rejection of the status quo, whereby Local Labour considered the whole of Middleton their patch – we won a third of the Middleton Council seats and what a shock we caused.
I'm writing to ask for your support in my bid for election as your Middleton Independents Party representative on Rochdale council.
I’m not a politician and Middleton Independents Party isn’t a party of national politics like Labour. We’re a party of like-minded people who all live in Middleton and who care passionately about our town, several, like me, having worked in the community for many years.
Over the last 12 months, our Independent Councillors have worked tirelessly towards making our community a better place for all, and they’ve achieved so much.
If elected, I'll work hard for you and fight for the issues that matter most to our community. I’ll always put your needs first and I’ll do my very best to make South Middleton a better place for all of us.
This year, the local election is on Thursday 4 May, and this is our chance as a community to change things for the better, so please vote Emma Hezelgrave-Whitworth for Middleton Independents Party, sending a clear message to Local Labour that our community wants and needs change which won’t come if Local Labour have no opposition.
Thank you for your support, and I look forward to serving you as your councillor.
Here's some of what MIP Councillors have achieved since May 2022:
- Helped protect our spaces with the removal of graffiti
- Had numerous failing streetlights and road signs fixed to improve safety and visibility
- Reported issues with poor landlords to council officers, this helps make sure standards in rented properties are maintained
- Made sure urgent items such as safety barrier damage and dangerous paving were reported outside office hours
- Worked with interested parties to help resolve vegetation and infrastructure issues
- Helped with the provision of SEND needs in local schools
- Reported problems with slippery paving and worked to implement solutions such as regular cleaning and gritting in icy weather to help stop falls and slips
- Worked closely with residents to stop anti-social behaviour
- Attended many council meetings to support our community
- Worked closely with Middleton Police, Rochdale Safety, Youth Services and our local PCSOs to make our community a safer place
- Demanded action to stop antisocial behaviour, speeding vehicles, illegal tobacco and vape sales to support child safety
- Worked with the council’s Environmental Management Team and residents and opened footpaths and improved our green spaces
- Reported vermin issues and had them treated
- Organised litter picking equipment for groups and worked hard to report, deter and detect those responsible for fly tipping
- Worked with the Highways Department to report and follow-up on pothole problems and repairs, footpath, kerb, step repairs and improvements for maintaining public rights of way. Road and pavement issues are always high on our agenda
- Worked with the council’s arboriculturist to remove diseased, dead or dying trees and overgrown bushes, to help make our community a pleasant and safer place
- In partnership with a national charity, we've had a ‘Catastrophic Bleed Kit Emergency Box’ installed in the town centre. We’ll work to secure funding to roll these out across Middleton and the whole of Rochdale Borough
- In discussion with Rochdale Youth Services to create additional youth provision in Middleton
- We spoke up strongly regarding the proposed Local Labour Middleton Master Plan and the impending transport issues that are likely to be caused by narrowing roads, blocking existing roadways and earmarking council car parks for potential development. Having listened to resident’s feedback, we’ve proposed an alternative to Local Labour’s Master Plan and we’ll push for changes that will benefit, not hinder Middleton’s progress
Best Wishes
Emma Hezelgrave-Whitworth
