Rochdale by-election: Conservative candidate Paul Ellison sets out his plan for Rochdale

The Conservative candidate in the Rochdale by-election has said his plan would be to ensure his community has a voice in the heart of Westminster on issues that matter to them most.

Paul Ellison, who runs his own landscaping company, has been volunteering and campaigning across the borough for over 30 years, something he said sets him apart from the other candidates vying to be the next member of Parliament for Rochdale.

 

 

He said: “For over 30 years, people have seen me out in the community, from creating Rochdale’s Got Talent during lockdown to making the borough a horticultural success through a large number of Royal Horticultural Society in Bloom initiatives, I have always looked to make the town a better place and a place to be proud of.”
 

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He added: “If elected, whether I am here in Rochdale or at Westminster, my plan would be simple - to ensure the people of Rochdale have a voice that they know will be heard by their MP and that their MP will always put the voice of the people first and foremost, when representing them outside the borough.

“Sometimes the image of Rochdale outside the borough is a negative one, which really frustrates me as there is far more to our hometown than is portrayed by others at times. I see so often hard-working people in the community helping one another, I see businesses investing in our high street, creating jobs, and I see those taking a stand for doing what is right.”

To help serve the people of Rochdale and to make it a place to be proud of, Paul said he would focus on several key areas: supporting growth for the town centre, ensuring that Rochdale gets its fair share of new NHS funding, making sure the police have the right tools to crack down on crime and anti-social behaviour.

He said: “People who know me know that I am someone who prefers action over words and, for those who don’t know me, I am looking forward to showing you my passion for Rochdale.  I have been truly honoured to meet and work alongside so many people over my years, so many of whom share the desire to do what is right. 

“It is with that enthusiasm and desire to champion the people of Rochdale that I am standing for election on 29 February and thank everyone for their support.”

 

Paul’s six point plan for Rochdale:

Supporting growth for our town centre. 

Rochdale has had over £400 million invested into the town centre, including one of the largest Future High Street Fund allocations in the country.  We have seen the development of the Riverside retail area, along with a new hotel and accommodation bringing people to the town, complemented by a food and drink offer to relish. 

It is vital that we support the high street and our businesses and I’ll be working hard to ensure that opportunities aren’t missed, such as looking parking provision and the roads around the centre, which I know is a concern.

 

A healthy town

There is no doubt that the Covid pandemic hit our NHS and most of us felt that impact to ourselves and our families. to what is always a huge concern for people and something that can have implications for our working lives, our family, our future and our ability to contribute to the prosperity we all want and deserve.  With 6100 new doctors and 16,800 new nurses in the last year alone, we are committed to cutting waiting lists and improving healthcare and I will make sure we get our share and that our local NHS Primary care, our GPs, pharmacists, wider health care providers and, crucially, patients and carers, are listened to. 

 

Our community, our voice

The people of Rochdale are who make it is the great place it is and I see this each and every day, but sometimes we are let down. We have seen the issues around drug crime and grooming gangs, which hurt people and hurt the town, we have seen poor housing and have been saddened by the tragic and unnecessary loss of a young life in our community.  Mistakes have been made by organisations who we should trust, and often because of one thing – ordinary everyday people not being listened to by those who should.

I want to move forward in a positive way, recognise where improvements are needed and, whilst I am sure this can be done.  I will be vigilant and ensure that everyone has a voice, through me if necessary, and that the people of Rochdale are never overlooked, no matter who they are.

 

A safe, clean and green environment for everyone

Antisocial behaviour, littering and a concern over crime too can wear away at a community and I have been proud to have seen the impact that communities can have in coming together to make our streets a cleaner, greener and safer place to be. We have seen our town gain national recognition as best Small City in RHS In Bloom on the back of volunteers, business and council working together. I firmly believe in supporting people looking to come together to make a positive change, provide resources and empower people to take action to make a place they and they families can enjoy.

 

Supporting our young people

I was fortunate to have people mentor and inspire me as a young person and I often see the enthusiasm and talent in our young people when working online them in the community.  Supporting our young people is good for everyone and now, more than ever, they can access different routes to success, traineeships and apprenticeships and our newly introduced T Levels, that offer A level equivalent qualifications for those who want to learn more in a workplace setting. I want to encourage our local business to see the benefits that young people can bring in the exciting careers of the future.

 

Rochdale a town to succeed!

I have lost count of the number of times people have come to our town and said to me how different it is to the perception they had of it, with its beautiful green spaces, diverse businesses, stunning architecture and fascinating heritage.  I want those who haven’t been here to recognise Rochdale as a place to visit, to enjoy our hospitality, to employ our talented workforce.  I’m proud to be from Rochdale and will continue to showcase what we can offer so that we can all be proud of a successful, prosperous town.