Letter from Parliament

This week has been busy both in Rochdale and at Westminster. On Sunday I took part in the BBC Politics Show with Phil Woolas MP the present MP for Milnrow and Newhey who represents Oldham East and Saddleworth.  This was to talk about the Government’s forthcoming Local Government Bill which gives more powers to local Councils. I was able to point out how as Leader of Rochdale Council in the 1990’s, I had introduced our very successful township model of devolution. I’ve been even more delighted that the current Council under the Leadership of Councillor Alan Taylor and the Liberal Democrats is taking devolution even further which really change for the better the way this Council deliver its services.

On Saturday I had a very busy surgery at Deeplish and Balderstone and then went onto a meeting with Walter Kershaw at his shop on Todmorden Road, Littleborough. I was shocked to see that the windows of his shop were smashed over Christmas and he himself was assaulted. Thankfully the Police have arrested someone but I understand this is part of a wider problem in the area and have written to them to ask if they could attend the next Pennine Township to discuss the problem and what is being done.

On Monday I met some residents on Whitworth Road together with officers from GMPTE and Rochdale Council to discuss the siting of bus stops. Not something MPs should be interested in? Not so. As our Transport spokesperson I’m interested in how Quality Bus Corridors work and want to see them succeed.

On Tuesday members of the Friends of Our Hospital came down to London to take part in a national rally on hospital closures and cutbacks. Councillors Jane Gartside, Ashley Dearnley and Jean Ashworth were there together with Carole Ashworth Lord, Vera Hirst and Angela Slater. Carole Ashworth Lord spoke for us in Westminster Hall and I was very proud of her. It is no easy task to speak before such a large audience. As I told the Granada Reporter the Government try to make out these are local decisions and nothing to do with them. If that’s so why are so many towns in the same boat as Rochdale? I will not apologise for sticking up for Rochdale nor am I doing so at the expense of somewhere else! Bury MPs please take note!

One thing that it important as MP is communicates regularly with you – this is a good way of doing that.  Other ways I do that are via my new web site – www.paulrowen.co.uk.  On this you can find out where my Weekly Advice Surgeries are, my latest campaigns, you can join my Email Group, watch films about my job in Parliament and much, much more – you can even comment on my campaigns or access my latest speech.  We hope in the next few weeks to put surveys on it and copies of my Annual Report and other things.

This weekend I am off to Serbia to take part in a European monitoring of their General Election. I’m part of a large European delegation including other British MPs and Peers. Councillor Angela Coric has given me some advice on the country and I’m looking forward to it. I hope there are no more explosions!