Keep up to date with the latest news from around Denton & Reddish
This week in Denton & Reddish
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** Dear Constituent,
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A very warm welcome to this week's edition of the Denton and Reddish weekly news.
I hope that you've had a great week. There's lots to update you on across Parliament and Denton and Reddish, including the Queen's Speech and a fantastic classic car show in Denton's Civic Square!
Denton and Reddish continues to stand with the people of Ukraine.
I’m supporting the British Red Cross's humanitarian effort in Ukraine along with Team Denton South ([link removed]) (who set up the gofundme page) and Cllr Allison Gwynne ([link removed]) . Please donate if you can to the fundraising page.
We hope that every donation will in some way help the people of Ukraine at this extremely traumatic time.👇
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Headlines
** Gwynne meets with Minister in bid to save vital tram links
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Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, this week met with HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson to call on the Government to change its plans to mothball Metrolink services on the line through Audenshaw.
The move to suspend the line was announced as part of a new HS2 Bill. The Bill confers the powers required to construct a part of the second phase of HS2, linking Crewe to Manchester with a new railway line. However, as part of the major construction involved in the project, the Government is planning on suspending Metrolink services on the Ashton line for a significant period of time – possibly years – with a replacement bus service providing access from Ashton to New Islington.
Gwynne has held a number of discussions with Transport for Greater Manchester, and is urging the Government to work with TfGM to develop an alternative approach to the proposed suspension.
Gwynne is being supported in his calls by Angela Rayner, and Jonathan Reynolds, MPs for Ashton-under-Lyne and Stalybridge and Hyde respectively. Rayner wrote to the Secretary of State last month, but according to Gwynne received an ‘extremely disappointing’ response from the Minister.
Gwynne has pledged to continue to put pressure on the Government to think again.
Commenting, Andrew Gwynne said:
“The suspension of this service would be nothing short of disastrous for people across Tameside. These tram links are vital for local communities, and fobbing people off with a rail replacement bus service simply won’t do.
We all want to cut journey times, but the Government needs to develop a construction plan that doesn’t impede travel for people in Tameside. I simply don’t buy the Government’s argument that there is no alternative to these damaging proposals.
In my meeting with the Minister, he agreed to share information with TfGM, and look at possible alternative solutions. I’ll keep pressing him to do more. Angela, Jonathan and I will also be writing to the Secretary of State, following the extremely disappointing response that Angela received earlier this month”
Pictured: Gwynne meeting with Minister Stephenson earlier this week.
** Gwynne unveils VE Day mural alongside Friends of Reddish South Station
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Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, joined the Friends of Reddish South Station on Sunday to unveil a new mural to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.
The unveiling of the mural, which should have taken place two years ago, was delayed due to the impact of COVID-19 restrictions. The commemorative artwork was designed by children from 1st/4th Reddish Scout Group.
A number of Beavers, Cubs and Scouts attended the event, and Gwynne was joined by Reddish South Councillor Janet Mobbs. Attendees were also treated to a performance by The Belle Vue Brass band.
Friends of Reddish South Station is a community campaigning group which was founded in 2007, and aims to restore Reddish South Station to its former glory. The station is one of the quietest in the UK, with only one return journey scheduled per week. FORSS is campaigning for the station to be properly reopened, with a regular passenger service from Stockport to Manchester Victoria via both Reddish South and Denton, an aim that Gwynne supports.
Commenting on the event, Andrew Gwynne said:
“It was an honour to be invited by Friends of Reddish South Station to help unveil this extraordinary mural, and I’m really grateful to the children from 1st/4th Reddish Scout for devoting so much time and effort to creating it.
Within the context of renewed hostilities in Europe, this mural serves as a poignant reminder that the victory won 77 years ago is fragile. As we celebrate the end of the Second World War in Europe, our thoughts and prayers remain with Ukraine.”
Pictured: Gwynne at the event with Cllr Janet Mobbs and members of 1st/4th Reddish Scout Group.
** Gwynne responds to Queen's Speech
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Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has commented on the Government’s upcoming legislative agenda, as announced by Prince Charles in the Queen’s Speech on Tuesday morning.
It was the first time that the Queen has missed the event since 1963, with mobility issues meaning Prince Charles read the speech in her place. Prince Charles was accompanied by Prince William and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Written by the Government, the Queen’s Speech opens the Parliamentary session, and is an opportunity for the Government to lay out their key legislative plans for the upcoming year.
Commenting, Andrew Gwynne said:
“This speech was paper thin and shows a concerning lack of urgency from the Government. We are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, we’ve got inflation at a record high, fuel bills skyrocketing, and families wondering how on earth they are going to put food on the table.
In this context, it is mind-boggling that the Government didn’t use this opportunity to announce an emergency budget, which would give people up and down the United Kingdom the support that they deserve. The Government could have announced a Windfall tax on big energy companies, and slashed money off people’s energy bills. Instead, we got very little in the way of substance, and more references to ‘levelling up’ which seems to be the Government’s go-to phrase when it runs out of ideas.
On levelling-up, we’re still seeing a real lack of ambition. Under the Tories plan, major decisions will continue to be made in Whitehall, with communities being made to compete for small pots of money managed by Tory Ministers. I’ve experienced this first-hand, constantly having to apply for various grants and funds from central Government, and being forced to fight for basic support for schools, town centres and green spaces.
On health, which I take a particular interest in as Shadow Public Health Minister, there was an overdue announcement to overhaul the Mental Health Act. Yet the Government still fell short of matching Labour’s plan to invest in an additional 8,500 mental health staff, to treat more patients and drive down waiting lists. I was also concerned that the Government gave no indication of how it planned to address the massive workforce shortages in our NHS, which are exacerbating sky-high care backlogs.
An absence of leadership, ideas and solutions has left this rudderless Government treading water. The Tories need to meet the demands of the time, or step aside.”
Click here to read more of this week's stories ([link removed])
Andrew in the constituency
** Classic cars and wonderful weather in Denton's Civic Square 🚗
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On Sunday, Cllr Allison Gwynne ([link removed]) and I went over to Denton’s Civic Square today to see the Tameside Car Collectors’ show of classic cars.
The weather was absolutely fantastic for it, and there was a good range of vehicles from the 1920s to the 1990s on display. Click here ([link removed]) to find out more about upcoming Tameside Car Collector events.
** A fantastic Spring Fair at St Elisabeth's Church 🍰
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It was lovely to pop across to St Elisabeth’s Church in Reddish for their Spring Fair on Saturday. The sun was shining and there was plenty of stalls, entertainment, food and refreshments.
I can neither confirm nor deny I bought cake...
Andrew in Parliament
** War Graves Week 🕯️
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On Wednesday, I went to a Parliamentary event ahead of War Graves Week (21st-28th May).
Organised by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission ([link removed]) , the week encourages the public to explore the stories of those commemorated by the CWGC, and celebrates the dedication and expertise of the CWGC staff who work to keep their memories alive.
Across Denton and Reddish there are nearly 350 individuals who are commemorated with war graves or memorials, including 140 within the Willow Grove Cemetery in Stockport.
You can discover more at [link removed] ([link removed]) 👈
(I also got to meet the wonderful Susan Holderness (Marlene) from Only Fools and Horses!)
** Supporting a trans-inclusive ban of conversion therapy 🚫
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❌It was also good to show my support in parliament for a trans-inclusive ban on conversion practises.
There should be no loopholes around the abhorrent practise of conversion therapy. Enough is enough, a full ban is needed.
** #BanSnaring 🐾
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I'm proud to be supporting League Against Cruel Sports ([link removed]) ' parliamentary campaign to #BanSnaring ([link removed]) .
Snaring is a cruel, outdated practise, which is still frequently used within the UK. A snare is a thin wire noose set to trap animals, and the current legislation is far too vague, with animals suffering as a result.
Andrew in the media
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📺 WATCH: This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. I spoke with Gloria De Piero ([link removed]) about my own struggles with mental health, and why the Government must focus on driving up our mental health workforce.
I also talked a little bit about the local elections, and the work that we need to do over the months ahead.
Community Board
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To access the full survey click here ([link removed]) .
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. ([link removed])
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Andrew Gwynne
139 St Annes Road
Denton
Manchester, Greater Manchester M34 3DY
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