Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin MP

Jim Dobbin MP

It’s a nice change not having to travel down to Westminster on a Sunday evening. However I have a packed diary of meetings and events to deal with around the constituency and I aim to take full advantage of the time I have up here.
Castleton Carnival parade avoided the threatened downpour. It is to the credit of local voluntary organisations led by local man Frank Cryer that the event is so successful each year.

The hard work that goes into these local community events is always unseen but needs to be recognised. Frank was telling me he was due to have a hip operation the next week. I wish him a speedy recovery and a well earned rest.

I took the opportunity to spend two days driving around the entire constituency to check out the massive capital investment that has taken place over the past twelve years.

For example the Phoenix Centre in Heywood will be opened this November and begin to provide much needed provision in Heywood. This has been possible due to public and private investment and has benefited from the 52 million pound investment as part of the New Deal which I helped to secure for Heywood.

The new Sports Village will also benefit from these funds.

The New Deal for Communities was the concept of John Prescott when he led local government and how well it has worked.

I met Middleton Town Centre manager Jim McMahon during the week to discuss the progress taking place in Middleton. I like to keep up to date with the continued development taking place. The planning for Middleton’s new town centre began during my time as a councillor and I am very aware how much of it depends on the financial package agreed with Tesco’s at that time.

There will also be a new facility in Middleton which is not before time.

I congratulate Jim and the Middleton township led by Councillor Peter Williams for the success of the Market in its new central location. When I visited it was buzzing. All the local shops will eventually benefit from these changes.

Parking is still an issue and will have to be addressed as part of the changes.

I had a useful meeting with Peter Rowlinson, Head of Planning, to discuss the need for urgent regeneration in Castleton. There is an exciting future ahead which should enable Castleton to replace some of its economic losses incurred by the closure of Woolworths, Whipp and Bourne and Corus.

The proposal to extend the East Lancs Railway through Castleton would provide an exciting opportunity to support jobs. This is something I have been pushing for since I became part of the East Lancs Railway board over twelve year ago.

We also discussed the possible Heywood relief road which would take much of the HGV traffic going to and from the distribution park, away from residential areas. Heywood Distribution Park is one of the best organised and secure distribution parks in the country. This will be the subject of intense consultation.

On 1 August, Trufford Park on Langley was awarded Green flag status. Pat and Ron Donald, Tom McClure and their colleagues have done a sterling job around the bowling green. The parks are very busy over the school holidays and it is good to see families enjoying themselves there when the sun shines but even the weather didn’t spoil the well deserved celebrations on the Saturday.

I was also a guest at Norden Cricket Club as they hosted the John Willie Lees Wood cup final. It was a beautiful sunny day and it was a good opportunity to relax and chat with local constituents whilst watching a great game of cricket.

I attended the earlier part of Rochdale Safer Communities Partnership event at the Middleton Campus of Hopwood Hall College. This was a Young People’s Community Cohesion event. Inspector Gary Hall, Head of Middleton Police introduced the event which was attended by young people from across the borough. Everyone enjoyed meeting together and participating in different cultural activities and learning from each other. It is important not to stereotype young people but to give opportunities like this. I was impressed at the understanding that took place between the different groups and the police.

At the weekend some of my family took part in a charity fund raiser at Gelderwood Country Park in Ashworth Valley. This was the second event organised by the site owners Peter, Joyce and Paul Chadwick with the help of Ken Davis and Rochdale Rotary Club and was in aid of Rochdale Hospice and the Myasthenia Gravis Association. This is a neuromuscular disorder that two of my grandchildren were born with. It was supported by Roch Valley Radio and Rochdale Music Service under the direction of Laura Clark. The Red Arrows made a surprise appearance on their way to Blackpool. We had the Blackpool Town crier who entertained us with lots of singing, musical treats and funny stories and told us that the Red Arrows would be in Blackpool only six minutes after they had flown over the Garden Party.

Joyce Chadwick celebrated her birthday that day but she didn’t sit back and take it easy. Instead, she and her team produced a lovely spread of sandwiches and cakes with refreshments and happily the sun shone. Everyone who attended was generous and both charities will benefit from the proceeds. Thank you to the Chadwick family and to the Deputy Mayors of Rochdale and Bury who both attended. It was a great way to end the weekend.