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Party leaders make their election pitches

29/ 4/2008

THE leaders of the three main parties on Rochdale Council have made their election statements - see them here ...

CONSERVATIVE - Ashley Dearnley:

WE HAVE listened to people throughout the borough and believe our policies reflect your concerns.

Under Lib Dem control, council tax increase is an unacceptable 3.8 per cent, one of the largest in the North West, compared to Conservatives proposal of a 2.5 per cent rise.

We also proposed extra discount for the over 60s which Lib-Dems refused to support.

Although council tax has risen, services are judged to warrant a loss of one star rating.

We have been reduced to a two star council and in adult care services, providing help to the most vulnerable, we are reduced to one star. Sadly, this makes Rochdale one of the worst performing councils nationwide.

It’s hard taking pride in a dirty town. Conservatives will introduce an extra street sweeper for each of the 20 wards of Rochdale. It’s acknowledged there is less crime and vandalism in cleaner areas.

Roads and footpaths have been neglected for years.

Recently the council paid out £2.5M on claims from people tripping on uneven pavements. Conservatives will divert money away from gimmicks like People’s Champion and invest in basic street repairs.

There are 60 people’s champions anyway, they are called councillors.

Conservatives will fight for extra police on the beat, while continuing our co-operation with all political parties striving for better health services.

Post offices are at the heart of communities, opposition to their closure will continue. If the Lib Dems lose just two seats, Conservatives will have the balance of power, we will then insist on a common sense council costing the taxpayer less.

LABOUR - Allen Brett:

WE ARE listening and most of us have been out on the doorstep since the middle of March – listening.

Our budget showed that we know you wanted a lower council tax.

The Labour Government gave the Lib Dem Council an extra £3M which they are wasting on bureaucracy. We wanted the money spent on cleaning your streets and getting rid of grot spots.

The other great concern is our roads and footpaths which need repairing not patching. Our budget put £500,000 into this service. Once again the Lib Dems rejected this.

My ward of Balderstone and Kirkholt has the boundary with Oldham, one side of Thornham Lane (Oldham) has a zero council tax rise while our side is 3.8 per cent.

We even suggested a further 2 per cent reduction for pensioners on top of reducing it to 3.5 per cent.

These are local elections but we do have a Labour Government, so we will take some of the blame also some of the credit for the new national bus concessionary scheme.

Our pledge is to help, we can not make promises as we are not in control. When you tell us of youths gathering then we report it and vote for more resources.

We do not promise to cure all society’s ills. Your votes count as three gains will see no overall control.

We would have fewer councillors’ allowances and abolish free parking for councillors.

This is a pledge but you can turn it into a promise by voting Labour.

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT - Alan Taylor:

TWO YEARS ago we took control of our council for the first time and during that time we’ve continued to deliver on our exciting programme of change and improvements.

Our manifesto which you can see at www.rochdalelibdems.org.uk demonstrates our achievements and sets out our priorities.

Gordon Brown will be keeping an eye on the election results in our borough. If Labour regains any seats, it’ll send a clear message that you agree with his policies that have damaged us.

These include the disastrous decision to axe key services at Rochdale Infirmary and the Government’s post office cuts which they reveal shortly.

We are busy implementing change in our town. Rochdale is on the up and we are delivering real solutions to the problems you face.

These include delivering more police officers, cleaning up our environment by abolishing Labour’s charge for bulky waste collection, scrapping the charge for disabled parking and much more.

We are delivering on our promises and overseeing a £1.4billion injection into our schools, town centre, housing, street lighting and much more.

Your Lib Dem council also worked with Paul Rowen MP and is overseeing the extension of Metrolink and our new bus station.

All this is being done while implementing the lowest council tax increase for a generation. Labour and the Conservatives talk tough on this, but have failed to deliver when in charge.

Three years ago, politics in Rochdale was a national embarrassment. Labour and Conservatives went into coalition and since then they have voted on every major issue together.

It is likely that if given the opportunity this week they will do so again.

Don’t let Labour get away with this negativity, remember their decades of neglect.