Latest news from Bolton West and Westminster
Posted by Ruth Kelly, MP for Bolton West, at 16:36, Fri 25 July 2008:
Bolton West
Fire at Armstrongs
Following the recent fire at Armstrongs in Horwich, I have asked the Environment Agency to investigate the storage practices at the site and how they can ensure a similar incident does not happen in future.
Planning Application
I have met with the Blackrod and Horwich Environmental Action Group and been in contact with residents regarding planning application 80089/08. This application proposes to change the usage of the Dickinsons site into a new waste treatment facility.
I have been in contact with Bolton Council to ensure that local feelings are taken into account before this matter is decided on 7th August.
Transport
The main news locally has revolved around the Transport Innovation Fund package for Greater Manchester. The extra investment in public transport would mean that in Bolton there would be a bus service, running every 10 minutes during the day to and from Bolton, through Farnworth and Kearsley and Manchester city centre, and the relocation of Moor Lane bus station will be brought forward and be rebuilt as a state-of-the-art gateway into Bolton, close to the existing train station.
Rail stations including Lostock, Hall i’th’Wood, Bromley Cross, Blackrod, Westhoughton and Daisy Hill will be refurbished and a much needed new platform will be built at Lostock station. There will also be an increase in the capacity of peak time trains and the extension of Horwich Parkway park and ride facility. Local bus service improvements across Bolton include improved services to the Middlebrook employment area.
Health
There has been a drive to get residents of Bolton who are over 45 checked for heart disease. The Big Bolton Health Check has been a huge success and I was glad to help to publicise the initiative by having my own free health check along with other Bolton residents.
The event in Victoria Square was well attended with almost 200 people queuing outside the temporary marquee, and 580 people tested during the day. The Big Bolton Health Check will run throughout the town and look to test over 46, 000 people between now and next March in helping to dramatically reduce heart disease, the number one cause of premature death in Bolton. It is next travelling to Great Lever and will be available in supermarkets, barber's shops, bookmakers and pubs.
Education
Following an announcement from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, Rumworth School, located in Armadale Road, will become a Specialist School for Communication and Interaction. The school already has a number of prestigious awards and accolades under its belt and I am sure that achieving specialist status will enable them to achieve even more and build on past successes.. A state-of-the-art media suite will be established to improve facilities for pupils.
I am delighted that the dedication and commitment of the Headteacher, Bill Bradbury, and all of the staff at the school have been rewarded by this announcement.
Deputy Headteacher Kevin Wilkinson, began fundraising last year and efforts to raise £20,000 by the school paid off, thanks to £10,000 from the Peter Harrison Foundation and £10,000 from the Rumworth School Group and the Forresters. In return, the DCSF has awarded the school with a £100,000 grant and £60,000 a year for four years towards running costs. The money will be spent on building a media suite that will house a video recording studio to help improve and enhance pupils’ communication and interaction skills.
Big Lottery Fund
I was delighted to hear that several worthwhile projects in Bolton have been successfully awarded funding. The organisations who received funding were; Good Companions, who provide opportunities and activities for disabled people, Full of Beans Breakfast Club, and Johnson Fold Community Primary School, who will use the award to create a gardening and environmental area for children and their parents.
The Big Lottery Fund is the largest Lottery distributor and aims to bring real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need. Awards are granted to organisations in the public, private and the third sector focusing on the difference that funding makes. I am urging more community groups to apply for Big Lottery Fund awards to strengthen and build upon the successes of the many schemes which serve local people.
Local Hero
I was pleased to congratulate Olympic hopeful Harriet Bullough who lives in Bolton, upon hearing of her success at being selected to receive funding from the ‘Lloyd TSB Local Heroes’ programme. The nationwide scheme, which has been launched by Lloyds TSB in partnership with SportsAid, will provide up to £1,000 to 250 emerging young sportspeople each year across Britain in the run up to London 2012.
Harriet hopes to compete as a diver and lists Dame Kelly Holmes as her sporting hero. She undertakes a rigorous schedule of training 6 times a week in Sheffield for one and a half hours a session. I wish her every success in her sporting ambitions and I hope that she makes it all the way to London 2012.
Events
I have recently attended a cultural event for Refugee Week, which highlighted the diversity of communities across the constituency. I also visited a riding school for disabled children last Friday and I was impressed with the enthusiasm of the children and staff at the centre.
Westminster
The main news from Westminster has centred on the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the National Health Service. Since 1997, Labour’s investment in the NHS has trebled to £100 billion. This has paid for 38,000 more doctors, 80,000 more nurses, over a hundred new hospitals, new community health centres and the shortest waiting times since records began. The Next Stage Review The Prime Minister has asked Lord Darzi to lead the Next Stage Review, to set a new foundation for a personal health service that gives patients more rights and control over their healthcare, and empowers staff, to ensure the highest quality of care for all. The Next Stage Review has been a clinically-led local process. Proposals for service changes are being developed and agreed locally, based on the clinical evidence and the needs and preferences of the local community.
The Review aims to give patients even greater influence over the services they use by guaranteeing choice and access to the most clinically and cost effective drugs and treatments. It also seeks to make healthcare more personal by ensuring that everyone with a long-term condition has their own personalised care plan and by piloting personal health budgets.
The NHS Constitution
The draft Constitution sets out the key principles and purpose of the NHS, reaffirming our commitment to a service which is for everyone, paid for out of taxes, based on need not ability to pay, without discrimination of any kind
It sets out in one place the rights and responsibilities of patients and staff, bringing together existing legal rights with pledges and commitments about the standards of service the NHS will provide.
The government will set out in the forthcoming NHS Bill that the Constitution will have to be renewed every 10 years. There will be an obligation for all NHS bodies and private and third sector providers supplying NHS services to take account of the Constitution in their decisions and actions.
Creating a work culture
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions James Purnell has set out his vision for more choice in the welfare system for customers, providers and local areas. Whereas there used to be whole towns and communities out of work, now the challenge is much more localised. Every area has different problems which require individual solutions. It is vital for the government to devolve power to the local level, so that cities and sub-regions can develop their own solutions to local problems.
James Purnell announced that the government is extending the 15 City Strategy Pathfinders for a further two years, until 2011, with a further £5 million to continue to build their capacity. Greater Manchester is included in the list of the 5 City Strategy Pathfinders which will receive a further £5 million to continue to build their capacity.
The Department for Work and Pensions has been instrumental in ensuring that public, private and voluntary work together. From Autumn this year more power will be given to Job Centre Plus and advisers, in certain areas, will be given greater flexibility to focus their time and support where it can have maximum impact, in a more personalised service.
The DWP has already adopted a “black box” approach paying providers by results to get the unemployed and inactive back to work. This is a demonstration of how public service reform can empower the front line, trusting providers to do their job, within a framework of accountability for results.
Best wishes
Ruth Kelly
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