£150 million investment in Hulme

Tony and Nigel overlooking the Birley Fields site. This site will be developed by Manchester Metropolitan University as a new campus. The campus, projected to cost £150m in total, will house staff and students in education, health and social care programmes and research. 80% of local residents supported the plans following last years consultation and an impact assessment found that the new campus would add £29.2m to the local economies something that the Green Party opposes.

Change we can see in St Georges

Tony and Nigel visit the City South Housing Trust redevelopment in St George’s. The tower blocks are undergoing over-cladding and overroofing work which will improve the energy efficiency of the flats, a £100,000 grant from the Department for Energy and Climate Change will be used to install solar roof panels. These improvements along with many others projects across Hulme could not have happened without the creation of City South Housing, something that the Green Party opposed.

Community Garden continues to grow

Hornchurch Court Community Garden has been transformed in to an award winning garden thanks to hard working residents and the help of a CASH grant supported by your Hulme Labour Councillors. Local Cllr Nigel Murphy said “This just proves what can be done when a community gets together. I’m so pleased that the CASH grant has made it possible. I urge other community groups to apply for them this year.”

Local Businesses Saved by Hulme Labour Team

Local businesses, on Stretford Road, which have served the local community for many years have been saved by the interventions of local Labour Councillors Nigel and Mary Murphy. The businesses including Buzzrocks, The Post Office and a local chemist, faced closure when their landlord told them that they were putting their leases up for sale at an auction in London. Nigel and Mary ensured that the shops were withdrawn from the auction and that the local businesses were given the first chance to buy. Farida Aderson of Buzzrocks said “The local Labour Councillors are committed to the maintenance of local services and the priorities of the local community, we knew we could turn to them when we were faced with such a dilemma.” Celebrating the victory, Cllr Nigel Murphy said “It was vital that these local facilities stayed open for the residents of Hulme. Now that that the shops are owned by local business people, we know that they will be able to serve Hulme for years to come.”

For Manchester and St George

Manchester’s St George’s Parade is taking place this Sunday 25 April 2010 with a cavalcade of floats, bands and performers that will make England’s patron saint proud.

The parade will begin at Varley St in Miles Platting at 11.30am before snaking its way into the city centre along Oldham Road and Oldham Street to Piccadilly Gardens where the Lord Mayor of Manchester will take a salute.

The parade will then continue on its way along Newton Street, Great Ancoats Street, Butler Street and Bradford Road before returning to Varley Street for the finish.

There will be a viewing area in Piccadilly Gardens for those with disabilities so that everyone can have a good view of the celebrations.

This guaranteed fusion of colourful, noisy and flamboyant fun for all draws thousands of visitors of all ages every year and the parade isn’t the only attraction. From Friday 23 April until Sunday 25 April, the special St George’s Day market will be in Piccadilly Gardens, and the St George Festival will be held in Albert Square, 11am-6pm.

The St George Festival in front of the Town Hall will include musical and theatrical entertainment, costume characters & performers, an English themed pub, arts and crafts and various food and drink stalls and a special treat for Saturday only, a display of Rolls Royce cars - the ultimate English motor - from vintage vehicles to the current day.

Hulme Councillor Nigel Murphy said: “The celebrations for St George’s Day are growing every year in Manchester. As well as the parade and the markets, for the first time this year there is also the St George Festival ensuring the celebratory atmosphere spreads right across the city centre.”

For more information visit on the parade - http://www.stgeorgesparade.org.uk/

For more information visit on the festival - http://www.stgeorgefestival.net/

Internet Safety for Parents - Open Session

Greater Manchester Police, FutureArtists and the Zion Arts Centre will be delivering an up to date look at social networking for beginners. Aimed at the parents of young people who frequently use social networking sites on the internet such as ‘Facebook’, the information session will answer the key questions such as what is a social network and how can you make sure your child is safe online.

The first half of the session will be delivered by Greater Manchester Police and will be an informal introduction to internet and social networking safety

aimed at parents. The second half of the session will be lead by Mark Ashmore and Jenny Inchbald from ‘FutureArtists’ showing you how social networks and internet tools are a thing to be embraced and played with, and how the whole family can get involved.

If you have any concerns about your child using the internet and want to know more then the partnership of Greater Manchester Police, the Zion Arts Centre and Future Artists hope to be able to help. If this event sounds like it would put your mind at rest, then please book a place by emailing info@zionarts.com or call 0161 226 1912.

Manchester Promise - Jobs

Labour nationally are showing that in Brown, Darling and Mandelson, we have the right team to tackle the global downturn. The UK economy is now growing in line with the Chancellor’s predictions, outpacing our international competitors, and producing the biggest increase in employment for 12 years.

Manchester Labour, working with our many partners, has also ensured that our city has survived the worst ravages of the recession in far better shape than other UK cities.

But damage has been done. People have lost jobs. And even before the recession, too many Manchester people weren’t in work when they could and should have been.

Manchester Labour will do everything it can to make sure Manchester is working. Already we are well on the way to a thousand unemployed residents being employed through the Future Jobs Fund. We have supported hundreds of long-term unemployed families into work. The Council now has over 500 apprentices, but we will do more.

* We promise to continue bringing new investment, new jobs to the city. Green investment for sustainable jobs!

* We promise to prioritise Manchester residents for all entry-level jobs at the City Council.

* We promise to continue putting apprenticeships and the skills pledge at the heart of the Council’s employment practice.

* We promise to give unemployed Manchester residents the skills and support they need to get back into work.

Easter egg recycling easier than ever

Hulme Residents tucking into Easter eggs this weekend are being reminded it is now easier than ever to recycle the packaging.

The silver foil from the eggs, along with plastic bottles, glass and cans, can now be placed in brown recycling bins which are due to be collected from homes across Hulme next week.

Meanwhile, cardboard packaging can be placed in blue bins, which is due to be collected the following week.

Since new services were introduced last year, 220,000 households across the city now benefit from am alternate blue week/ brown week collection system.

Cardboard and silver foil from Easter eggs generates around 4,500 tonnes of waste in the UK each year, according to statistics from WRAP (Waste and Resource Action Programme), although manufacturers have now begun reducing the amount of packaging they use.

Local Councillor Nigel Murphy, said: “Hulme residents are keen recyclers, and they should find it easier than ever to recycle packaging from their Easter eggs this year.”