This week in Denton & Reddish

View this newsletter online

Dear Constituent,

A very warm welcome to Denton and Reddish Weekly News!

I hope that you had a wonderful week, and are looking forward to the weekend. There's lots to update you on both in Parliament and across Denton and Reddish, so scroll down to find out more!

Headlines

Gwynne slams planned suspension of Ashton Metrolink Line

Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has labelled plans to suspend Metrolink services on the Ashton Line – which runs through the Audenshaw and Ashton Moss parts of his constituency – as ‘disastrous for Tameside’.

The move has been announced as part of a new HS2 Bill, which was formally laid before Parliament on Monday evening. The Bill confers the powers required to construct a part of the second phase of High Speed 2, with the aim of linking Crewe to Manchester with a new railway line.

However, it has been revealed that as part of the major construction involved in the project, it is likely that Metrolink services on the Ashton line will be suspended for a significant period of time – probably years – and that a replacement bus service will instead provide access from Ashton to New Islington on the affected line.

Andrew Gwynne has now called on the Government to save the Tameside tram link and pledged to table amendments to the Bill to ensure rail planners think again.

Commenting, Gwynne said:

“The suspension of this service would be absolutely disastrous for Tameside. We all want to cut journey times, but this should not be at the expense of vital tram links.

I will be tabling amendments to this Bill because I do not think that the Government or rail planners have fully realised the impact that this suspension will have on communities across Tameside.
It is essential to keep this line operating, and people in Tameside should not just be fobbed off with a rail replacement bus service – which will no doubt cause massive inconvenience for many and increase travel times whilst simultaneously reducing capacity.

The Government must think again on this, and develop a plan that doesn’t unfairly impede travel for people in Tameside.”

The Government has no plan to solve the energy crisis - My monthly article for the Stockport Express

Andrew Gwynne, Member of Parliament for Denton and Reddish and William Wragg, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Hazel Grove hosted a Save the Tame Valley summit on Wednesday in the heart of Westminster.

Since 2018, the two MPs have worked on a cross-party basis to save much-loved greenbelt in the Tame Valley. In 2021, following their campaign with local Councillors and community groups, Stockport Council’s planning committee rejected the application to extend the Bredbury Industrial Estate into the valley. Next week, an inquiry held by the Planning Inspectorate will start to hear the appeal against this decision instigated by the developer.

William and Andrew were joined by Denton South Councillors Claire Reid, Jack Naylor and George Newton, as well as Stockport Conservatives’ planning lead Cllr Brian Bagnall to discuss the next steps in the battle to stop the bulldozers reaching the Tame Valley.

Gwynne is representing both MPs and their constituencies against the application, will state his case at the hearing which starts on Tuesday.

William Wragg MP said:

“Ahead of the planning appeal, it was great to meet with Andrew and local Councillors to restate our case against the plans to extend the Bredbury Industrial Estate.

This is our final chance to stop these disastrous plans, and I am grateful to all who have helped us get to this stage so far.”

Andrew Gwynne MP said:

“Next week, I will begin to present my statement of case against these plans.

If the appeal is upheld, the impacts on the communities William and I proudly represent will be devastating. This is our last opportunity to make a stand and ensure that the Planning inspector understands that there is simply no case for these proposals.

We will continue to fight against these plans.”

Denton West End Community Library

Cllr Allison Gwynne and I had a lovely visit on Saturday to Denton West End Community Library for their first Coffee Morning of 2022.

This month they’ve joined with Guide Dogs UK who brought down two very special guests: Ella and Aero!

As usual there were lots of lovely crafts, cakes and refreshments. Always worth supporting, and Lyle had great fun!

Andrew in Parliament

WATCH: Ministers can champion the “Towns Fund” beauty contest all they like, but ALL town centres matter.

60% cuts to local government mean places like Crown Point and Houldsworth Square need some TLC. We used to have freshly painted street furniture, hanging baskets, planters and flowers. It matters. It raises civic pride. Not sure the Minister’s answer was even to my question!

WATCH: The Paymaster General has been dragged to the Commons to answer another Urgent Question about Partygate. Now Sue Gray’s report is to be delayed pending a police investigation into possible lawbreaking at Downing Street. Why is the Minister still defending the indefensible?

WATCH: In Westminster Hall we’ve just had a debate on tackling health inequalities across England. I’ve closed the debate for the Labour Frontbench. We’ve had warm words from Government but it can’t be right that inequalities have widened over the past decade directly because of the policies of the same Government. They must do better.

WATCH: At DEFRA Questions there’s a question on Fly-Tipping. It’s a growing problem across the UK, and especially large scale commercial tipping. I ask what extra tools and resources Government will provide to enforcement agencies, and for once it’s a good reply all sides can agree on!

WATCH: On Wednesday night, I got an appalling response from the Education Minister to the structural problems at Russell Scott Primary School in Denton. She has basically said “tough” for calls for emergency funding to sort out the school’s problems. I’ve asked the Leader of the House to take up again with DfE.

WATCH: On Thursday, it was Holocaust Memorial Day, and there was a powerful debate in Parliament. We had very moving contributions recounting living testimonies of the Holocaust, and more recent genocides. I intervened on Bob Blackman to briefly talk about my visits to Yad Vashem.

WATCH: This Friday we have Private Member’s Bills before us. I’m here to support Rosie Cooper's British Sign Language Bill which will finally make BSL an official language of the UK and place it on a legal footing for the delivery of public services.

Andrew in the media

READ: Thanks to the Mirror for covering this incredibly important story on Long Covid, and for asking me to comment in my capacity as Labour's Shadow Public Health Minister. Long Covid is taking a huge toll on over a million people across this country, and the Government must do more to support individuals suffering from the condition.

You can read the full article here.

READ: Thanks to the Tameside Reporter for covering the grand opening of Rice n'Spice in Dukinfield, and event I was lucky enough to be invited to. It's an amazing restaurant, and I wsih them all the very best for the future.

Read the full article here.

READ: In the latest edition of the Tameside Correspondent, I wrote about the importance of our local history, and why we shouldn't be shy to celebrate it.

Read the full article here.

Community Board

🎩 To find out more about the fantastic 'Hats Off To Denton' trail click here.

Local author Leanne Brown has started writing a fantastic series of books to promote, help and raise awareness for mental health in children. Leanne wants to bring these books to schools, parents and organisations to help promote mental health in children.

You can find out more, including how to buy the books, on her website.

Copyright © 2019 Andrew Gwynne, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you either signed up for my Denton & Reddish Weekly Newsletter or are a Denton & Reddish CLP member.

Our mailing address is:
Andrew Gwynne
139 St Annes Road
Denton
Manchester, Greater Manchester M34 3DY
United Kingdom
Add us to your address book

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list