Letter from Parliament

This week has been schools half term and I’ve had a number of 'visitors' from Rochdale to the House of Commons including Neil and Heather Williams and Jane and Jeff Winnard. I’ve known them all for many years and it is always a pleasure to be able to show fellow Rochdalians my place of work for part of the week. 

On Monday I was sad to say goodbye to Sister Audrey, one of the Franciscan Sisters based in Sussex Street. After ten years working in Rochdale and nearly thirty working in Kenya she has decided to 'retire' to Burnley.

I also visited Rochdale Football Club where I was disappointed to see Rochdale football club players having to train on the side of the pitch. When I was Leader of the Council eighteen months ago I managed to broker an agreement between the Council and the club for the Council to provide a training pitch (paid for by the Club!) at Bowlee, Middleton.  I am hugely disappointed with the delays and prevarication by Council Officers. Steve Parkin, the manager of Rochdale AFC, has been very patient on this issue. Nevertheless the delay is a disgrace and I’ve told Councillor Peter Rush, who is the Council’s representative on the Stadium Company, my feelings.  

Talking of sporting issues, last Friday I met Brian Ashworth and Craig McAteer of the Leisure Trust. I reminded them of what we had agreed about charges for Rochdale Swimming Club at Central Leisure and the fact that the Council last year did not support joint funding with the Rugby League of a Sports Development Coach for young people. I am taking this matter up with Richard Lewis, Chief Executive of the Rugby League and hope the Council will support this post next year.

On Monday night I Cchaired the Civic Society AGM. This small group does an excellent job. It was good to see Dorothy Greaves back in harness. 

On Tuesday I was able to question the Health Secretary about the extra costs and extra ambulances needed if A&E is downgraded at Rochdale Infirmary. I was prompted to raise this after a 21-year-old constituent who was attacked in Whitworth had to wait 50 minutes for an ambulance to arrive. When it came it had come from Preston yet the Infirmary and Rochdale Ambulance Station is less than a mile away. A sign of things to come?

This week the Police and Justice Bill returned to the Commons after consideration in the Lords. I supported the Lords amendments about extradition to the USA. We’ve seen with the 'Enron Three' what can happen with this one-sided treaty. The lack of action on the ITV reporter who was killed by American soldiers in Iraq shows how one-sided the treaty is.

Finally, I’ve tabled an Early Day Motion on future funding of the Rochdale Canal. I’m told that £600,000 of maintenance has been cut this year and British Waterways faces a cut of £65 million in the next five years. I hope we can get an all party meeting to see the Environment Minister David Milliband MP about this issue.