A new direction for Bury South

Last Thursday night I welcomed Andrew Lansley MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Health  to Bury South.  This was his second visit to Bury this month.  He began the evening with a visit to Oak Lodge Nursing Home on Bury New Road and then went on to Whitefield Golf Club where he spoke to over 60 medical professionals about his and David Cameron’s plans and vision for the future of health care.  It was a most informative evening and everyone present was given an insight into what the health service would look like under a Conservative Government.

On Thursday night I attended the Groundwork Awards at Bolton Town Hall as a guest of O2.  As a director of Six Town Housing I was delighted to have been present when they won an award and were also nominated for many other categories.  Congratulations also go to all the winners and indeed all those who were shortlisted and won certificates.  It was a real eye opener to see the vast amount of work that goes on in the community.

Last night I attended a service at my synagogue to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Whitefield Hebrew Congregation.  We were honoured by the presence of the Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks, and I was especially delighted because my daughter Danielle was one of the 8 recipients of the Chief Rabbi’s Award for Voluntary Services.  Well done to all the winners who have all carried out at least 100 hours of volunteer work and have all completed the Leadership Training Course.

There is much talk of getting people out of their cars and on to public transport but people will only do that if they feel safe and it is affordable.

 We hear today of yet more rises in rail fares some as much as a 15% increase. For years, Labour has subjected commuters to a toxic combination of fare hikes and massive overcrowding. It is high time they started to deliver on their many promises on tackling overcrowding to relieve commuter misery and start delivering better value for money.

 Here in Bury we have the metrolink in which a massive investment has been made recently in upgrading the line and commuters spent months of inconvenience not being able to travel across Manchester City Centre whilst essential repairs were carried out.  The service when it works well, does just that works well, but all too often it breaks down causing misery to hundreds of local residents.  Not only is reliability an issue but also safety especially at night and during these dark nights and mornings I have spoken to many people who are literally frightened to use this.  Only the other night I was talking to one resident who told me of a frightening experience when out with her family travelling into Manchester during the early hours of the evening.  Youths were shouting and swearing and spitting and she felt very intimidated.  It has certainly stopped her from using the service.  Where are the transport police and if the police are called all they do is move the youths on for a few minutes and as soon as the police have gone they come back.  So come on metrolink let’s spend money on also tidying up the stations, making them well lit, secure and safe and attractive to use.

This week is Interfaith week and to mark this I attended a breakfast this morning at the offices of Deloittes hosted by the Council for Christians and Jews.  Around 30 people attended and it was a most interesting event giving me the opportunity to meet people from around Greater Manchester.  I sat next to Rev Duncan Myers the University Chaplin for Salford University.  These events and others similar to this which will be held this week and indeed throughout the year are vital to keep dialogue going between all the different faith groups.

On Saturday night I attended the 40^th Anniversary of the Pennine Wayfarers Rambling Club – I was there on my husband’s ‘family membership’ ticket. I did actually go once but it rained so much we only managed to walk from the car park to the pub before getting drenched and ended up having to stay there to dry off for the next 2 hours!

Yesterday I spent the morning delivery my latest leaflet.  It was a lovely morning and gave me the opportunity to meet many residents out and about in their gardens.

Off tonight to a meeting of governors at Phillips High School.

I started off the weekend by going to my synagogue in Whitefield which was  attended by civic guests including the Mayor and Mayoress of Bury who I was delighted to welcome to their first visit to the synagogue.   

Yesterday morning I attended the service at Heaton Park Congregational Church and joined the march to the Cenotaph on St Mary’s Road in Prestwich.  The service was as moving and poignant as ever and it was good to see so many people of all ages not only in church but at the Cenotaph.  Days like yesterday just reinforce how important it is that we do not forget those who gave their lives so that we can live in the freedom we do today.

I was saddened to hear yesterday of the sudden passing of Lord Leonard Steinberg.  Our paths had passed many times during my life firstly from being a teenager and becoming friends with his children on holiday to meeting up with him later in life when I worked at Manchester Jewish Federation when he became President and more recently in my involvement with the Conservative Party.  He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.