Avis Gilmore
Labour Party
Milnrow & Newhey Ward
I was born in Rochdale and for over 40 years I have lived in Milnrow and Newhey, 10 years in Milnrow, then in Newhey for 32 years. My daughters were born and raised here and it’s where they went to school. It’s a great place and I wouldn’t live anywhere else.
I worked as a Physiotherapist in the NHS for 25 years before becoming a trade union official for an education union. In both these roles I could only succeed by being an excellent communicator and I absolutely understand the need to respond to issues raised with me. I am committed to keeping residents informed about their own issues and the wider work of the Council.
It’s a pleasure and privilege to be standing as a Councillor for Labour in such a great place but there are things that could be better for us.
The state of our roads is horrendous but having walked most of the streets in both our villages the pavements are equally bad. Pushing a pram, using a wheelchair or using a walking aid is not an easy task. The amount of traffic is already too high and the cause of the multitude of potholes in the roads. The building of new houses such as at Birchinley Manor will only increase these problems. In many areas, particularly in Newhey, the lack of parking means cars are parked on the pavement causing significant damage and obstructions for pedestrians.
When the roads are not congested, we are faced with cars and sometimes quad bikes speeding through our villages. The current speed awareness signs are not resolving this.
There are very few facilities for our young people and this leads to the anti-social behaviour which many of us experience. I would like to see a vibrant Milnrow and Newhey with good shops and well-equipped community areas where all are welcome and young people can engage in positive activities.
We need affordable and social housing in Milnrow and Newhey so our children can live here but not at the expense of our countryside.
All these issues would be best resolved by listening to residents so, as well as my commitment to communicating with residents regularly, I would argue strongly for the reinstatement of the Area Forum.
I am concerned about the environment and air quality especially with the amount of traffic and the motorway bisecting our villages. I believe in a regular, integrated and well-funded public transport system and I am really pleased that control of the bus network will be back in local authority control within the next two years giving us more say over the routes and frequency.
A vote for me is a vote for a strong voice for the residents of Milnrow and Newhey and for a councillor who will make sure our needs are listened to by the Council.
