Christmas event on Chorlton Green

I would like to thank everyone who helped organise the community event on Chorlton Green on Sunday 9th December. The event was organised by the Friends of Chorlton Green Group, and Council officers from ward co-ordination, environment and events teams all assisted, along with Police Community Support Officers and the Community Network. Residents, officers and councillors swept leaves, planted bulbs, made Christmas decorations, sang carols and enjoyed refreshments. The Christmas Tree which was funded by a Council CASH grant lit up the proceedings. Hopefully this will now become another successful annual event in Chorlton.

Speaking Up for Ryebank Fields

Chorlton Labour Councillor Sheila Newman, continues to support local efforts to turn Ryebank Playing Fields into a Village Green.

The campaign to bring Ryebank Fields into community use, and to stop them being developed on, is gathering pace as we near decision time. Most local residents want the authorities to give the scheme the go ahead and to stop any development on this unique piece of land.

Sheila attended the formal inquiry on 26 November and gave evidence in support.

Sheila said:

“Ryebank Fields is a valued green space in Chorlton and we want to keep it that way. It benefits the area to have the space open to the local community. That’s why we’re doing all we can to support the campaign.”

Council Says No to Tesco

Local Councillor Sheila Newman, Labour's Lucy Powell and Chorlton residents celebrated on Thursday, 22 November after the Council’s Planning Committee voted unanimously to reject the planned Tesco Express on Manchester Road.

Labour’s Sheila Newman said:

“I’m absolutely delighted with the decision taken by the council committee. I have been working with local people and local shops to make a strong case against the proposed Tesco and I’m really pleased that the joint efforts of the community have paid off.”

Speaking to the Planning Committee before the vote, Sheila said

“Chorlton has a thriving local economy with a wide variety of independent shops. This is what makes Chorlton such a unique place. A supermarket in this area could jeopardise their viability and that’s why I and so many local people are opposed to this development.”

Over 50 local residents attended a site visit by the Planning Committee to the proposed site. This took place before the meeting, in response to a strong request by Sheila. The Committee received nearly 200 letters of objections from local people, an unprecedented number of objections.

Call For a Moratorium on Bars in Chorlton

With 22 bars opening in Chorlton in the last few years, Chorlton Councillor Sheila Newman has called for a moratorium on bars there.

Sheila said “Chorlton has an amazing array of exciting and innovative businesses. I particularly welcome the large number of independent businesses in Chorlton, which contribute so much to its unique retail offer.

"However, many residents have complained to me recently about the increasing number of licensed bars opening in the area. Whilst some bars are welcome, too many can tip the balance of an area and make it less attractive to residents and the general shopper.”

The Council's Employment and Skills Scrutiny Committee met in Withington recently and one of the items they considered was the South Manchester Regeneration Framework report, which lays out ideas for the development of South Manchester over the next 10 to 15 years.

The report suggests that a bespoke plan should be drawn up for the Chorlton District centre. Sheila commented “I very much welcome this but have called for a moratorium on any new licensed bars until these plans are drawn up. Chorlton should remain a vibrant retail centre but to achieve this we have to plan for the future, encourage investment and ensure a balanced retail offer. Let's put bars on hold until we decide what the area needs.”

Make Chorlton a Plastic Bag Free Zone

Councillor Sheila Newman is launching a campaign to make Chorlton a plastic bag free zone. A number of traders in Chorlton already use paper bags and supply re-usable bags to customers. She applauds the recent initiative of the ‘Little Green Bag’ - a unique and ambitious joint venture between Manchester City Council, a major retailer, and the fashion buying students of Manchester Metropolitan University - in a bid to make shopping an altogether more green experience.

Sheila says,

“This is an issue that has been raised with me many times and customers in Chorlton are ahead of the game. A number of independent traders already offer alternatives. There is a growing problem with plastic bags and their impact on the environment. I want to encourage all the retailers in Chorlton to offer re-usable bags.”

Cleaner, Greener, Safer Chorlton

Chorlton Labour Councillors Sheila Newman and Val Stevens work all year round with residents, council officers and the police to create a cleaner, greener, safer Chorlton

On the 14th May a Beatsweep was held in the Keppel Road area. This involved Council officers and the police cleaning up the area and giving crime prevention advice to residents.

During this Beatsweep the following took place:-

16 instances of graffiti removed
6 Parking tickets issued
3 Untaxed vehicles removed
20 poop scoops handed out
1.5 tonnes of rubbish removed from passageways
400+ properties leafleted with crime safety advice

Councillor Sheila Newman said “It was great to see the Council and the police working together to improve the environment and reduce crime. Many residents have told me how pleased they were with the work done on that day.”

On 22nd June another BEATSWEEP took place the CHORLTON GREEN AREA with police and council officers working together to reduce crime and clean up the environment. The Youth Service Youth Bus was also in the area to inform young people about positive activities they can take part in.

Alleygating schemes are now progressing on Cheltenham, Reynard, Nicolas and Newport Roads. There were delays with these schemes because of the need to get 100% consent from residents. The law has now changed and these schemes are progressing well. Alley gating schemes are supported by the police as they help to reduce crime in an area.

£2.75 million to extend and refurbish Brookburn Primary School

Brookburn Primary School, Chorlton is set to benefit from £2.75 million pounds’ investment to extend and refurbish the present school buildings, creating a bigger and better school with first class facilities for teaching and learning.

The money will be used to provide additional teaching space, with potentially four or five new classrooms planned; a new multi use games area; and a new frontage and main entrance to the school complete with new administration offices.

The refurbishment will include a full re-wire of the existing building; new boiler plant and controls to the heating and hot water systems; internal remodelling and redecoration; partial window replacement; and improvements to landscaping and playground areas.

It also means that pupil capacity at the popular school will be increased from 315 to 420 places over the next six years - with the first additional pupils being admitted this September into the school’s reception year group.

Councillor Sheila Newman, Manchester City Council’s Executive Member, Children’s Services, said: “It is really good news that the funds are now available to refurbish and extend this popular and successful school.

“Brookburn already provides an excellent education for local children but with these new facilities pupils’ educational experience will be even better.”

Two temporary classrooms are being provided from September to allow the building work to go ahead. The building contractor for the project is Bramall Construction and the architects are Ellis Williams.