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Hello and welcome to this week's edition of the Denton and Reddish weekly news.
A reminder too that this Sunday the clocks go forward, meaning we lose an hour of sleep, but take another step towards summer and sunshine (one can only hope...).
There's some lovely local events taking place this weekend, including the Worker Bee Market tomorrow. Scroll down to the community board to find out more!
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In May, I'll be taking to the skies in a Wing Walk for 9-year old Florence. Florence has a rare life-limiting degenerative condition called #GM1. We're raising money for Florence and her family to make wonderful memories. If you can, please click below to donate. |
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Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has called for an end to the Tory sewage crisis and backed Labour’s plan to clamp down on discharges ruining waterways.
Gwynne has long called for further action from the Government to tackle discharges and industrial waste. Studies show that the River Tame, which runs through Tameside and Stockport, is one of the most polluted waterways in the world. Most recent figures show that in 2021 there was 81,588 monitored spills reported by United Utilities in 2021 alone.
Gwynne met with Jim McMahon, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for the environment, and punk singer turned environmental campaigner Feargal Sharkey in Parliament earlier this week to discuss Labour’s plans to tackle the crisis.
Labour has committed to:
- Introduce automatic fines and compulsory monitoring for water companies.
- Toughen up the sanctions for filing water companies.
- End systematic discharges by 2030.
Commenting, Andrew Gwynne said:
“This Tory sewage crisis is destroying our precious waterways, and doing untold damage to our local environment. Labour is the only party with a plan down to clamp down on this unacceptable practise.
“It was great to meet with Feargal and Jim, and we spoke a lot about the serious problems in the River Tame, and why it’s time to get tough on failing water bosses.
“I have no doubt that the next Labour Government will end systematic discharges, and take serious action to protect our environment.”
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Pictured L-R: Jim McMahon, Andrew Gwynne and Feargal Sharkey in Parliament earlier this week.
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Following OFSTED’s judgement that Denton Community College is reclassified as an “inadequate” school, which is the lowest rating possible, the town’s MP is urgently seeking assurances for pupils and parents about the next steps.
MP Gwynne has asked for separate urgent meetings with Tameside Council (DCC is currently a Local Education Authority-maintained school), Ministers and Officials at the Department for Education and OFSTED, in order to set out his concerns, and the anxiety of parents about the next steps, and the plans for rapid improvement.
Andrew Gwynne said:
“The OFSTED findings were shocking and unacceptable. Those responsible have let this community down badly. Every child has the right to a good quality education and every parent has the right to expect their child is safe in school. It’s clear there are serious failures in both areas at DCC.
“Given this is, for many Denton families, their only realistic choice for a local school, we need to see rapid improvements, as children only have one chance at this. I won’t accept drift from any quarters. This school needs to start performing better. And quickly.
I also want to ensure that any new Academy Sponsor for DCC is chosen quickly, and is the right fit for the school to turn things around. I want to ensure the best interests of the pupils and parents are uppermost when these decisions are taken, and that the new management is held fully to account to get swift improvements in behaviour, standards, safety and educational outcomes.”
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 WATCH: During Avanti's 'improvement plan', the provider had the highest proportion of trains running more than 15 minutes late on record.
The Government has today decided to give Avanti a six-month contract extension.
It's mind-boggling. I can't understand why the Government continues to reward Avanti's failure!
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WATCH: Fraud crimes are on the rise, but less than 0.1% make it to court.
It's estimated that fraud costs the UK between £130bn and £190bn a year, but the Government's fraud strategy has still not been published (despite being promised over a year ago).
In Home Office questions, I ask the Minister what action he is taking to clamp down on these crimes.
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WATCH: We now have the highest tax burden of any government since the war.
I ask why the Tories have chosen to freeze income tax thresholds for working people (effectively an income tax rise) whilst letting non-doms opt out of our tax system.
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WATCH: Today we have the final debate on the Spring Budget.
This Tory budget was nowhere near bold enough to tackle the problems facing local people. Instead, it was just more of the same.
Over the last 13 years, people across Denton and Reddish have seen their living standards decline and regional inequalities widen.
So much for levelling up...
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WATCH: A damning report into the Metropolitan Police has laid bare deep and widespread failings in the force.
In light of this review, the District Commander of Stockport has been clear that he expects the very highest standards from his police officers.
I ask the Home Secretary what action she is taking to ensure that lessons are learned from this review across the country.
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 READ: Thanks to the Tameside Reporter for covering my thoughts on the launch of the fund for victims of the Horizon Scandal.
I also pay tribute to the exceptional work of my constituent, and former sub-postmistress at Dukinfield Post Office, Della Ryan.
Read the full piece here.
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