Your local MP Mark Hunter
| Published: 15th February 2008 16:14 |
Your local MP Mark Hunter
Hi everybody, welcome to the first of my regular contributions to this website. I'm delighted to have been asked to make frequent postings and hope that what you read here will be of interest to local residents. It's designed to keep you updated on what I'm doing in the constituency.
A couple of particular highlights from the last week included a climate change event hosted by Cheadle Hulme Methodist Church and a visit to the Cheadle Hulme Health Centre.
The climate change event included an exhibition with presentations from local schools and a town hall meeting style discussion. I was invited to speak during the meeting and had the opportunity to discuss the effect of climate change on the world as well as our local community, the importance of engaging young people with climate change, and the ways in which we can tackle climate change internationally, nationally, in our local communities and as individuals. I had the chance to talk about the Climate Change Bill which is currently passing through Parliament and in particular the need to make it more effective by including annual targets for emissions and adequate reporting back mechanisms in the bill. I also spoke about the need for tougher environmental policies including a switch to green taxes - which aim to increase the proportion of ‘green taxes' as a proportion of the GDP, by taxing bad things like pollution more and good things like work, less.
The event was a real success - people from all over the local community were there to support this important campaign and to join together to discuss how we can help to tackle climate change.
This week I have also visited the health centre in Cheadle Hulme. I was contacted by staff there last month who were concerned about the state of the centre. When I examined the site last month I was shocked by the building - rain water had leaked through the flat ceiling and had shorted out the electrics leaving the centre without heating and lighting for several weeks.
Following my visit I asked Stockport PCT to take urgent action, they did so fixing the defective heating and lighting systems. I then returned this week with Stockport PCT Chief Executive Richard Popplewell so that he could see for himself the state of the centre.
After seeing the centre all parties agreed that a new health centre is the real answer to this problem, but the stumbling block is funding. The health centre is due to be replaced but only within the next 4 to 5 years because the money isn't there. I am therefore now going to write to the Secretary of State to ask for the extra finances to allow the centre to be replaced and quickly, and I will continue to keep you updated on the situation.
Thanks for now and see you next time
What do you think?
You will need to sign in to post a comment to this article. if you do not have an AboutMyArea account, you can join now for free.
I have read you comments re visit to Cheadle Hulme Health Centre.
Whilst I totally agree with your comments, I wish to ask the following.
When the new build project starts, will it be the intention of whover, to take on board the thoughts and useful comments of local users of the health centre.
I also wonder what all the money given to the Centres is for. My understand of the annual budget, is that some is also for the up-keep of the structure and re-build if required. Is this not the case, especially with the huge extra amount they now get ?
One thing you did not mention, is car parking. I assume you must have visited when the centre was quiet. If you go during most visiting hours, you will find it is a total disgrace. If it was not the fact that Doctors do not keep to their appointment times, many would be late. I have had a situation where I could neither park in the designated parking area, nor on the road side nearby.
An adequate Car Park must be provided, now and one when they re-build.
Your comments would be appreciated.
I have been a resident of the area for over 30 years.
Kindest Regards
I. Whitworth
Joined: 04 Mar 2008Posts: 1
Thank you for your email.
Emails are treated in the same manner and with the same level of importance as other constituency communications by post, telephone and fax. My office receives a considerable number of letters and emails every day, so please accept that this has to be prioritised and you will be sent a full reply as soon as possible.
Please note that I am not permitted under parliamentary protocol to take up issues on behalf of non-constituents, so if you are writing as one of my constituents could you please ensure that you have included your name and address.
Yours sincerely
Mark Hunter MP
Joined: 28 Feb 2008Posts: 2
However, I am at a loss to understand if I will receive a reply, as you go on to imply I may be a non constituant and thus you are not allowed to reply.
I am at a loss to understand this comment, as to attend the Cheadle Hulme Practice, I would have thought only those of your parliamentary area would be allowed to attend. And of course I am one of them and if you check your records, you will find my name .
To follow up on your request for a full address, I find quite remarkable. We are all told not to disclose all our details over the internet and yet you appear to insist, to meet parliamentary protocol.
I find it quite incredible that I can be asked to risk security, when I read daily of the broken protocol by politcians, for their own gains.
Is it not safer for you to check the electoral register, which I assume is on your computer, if he or she wishes to discuss a matter with you over the internet.
I Whitworth
A Local Constituant
Posts: 21Please could all comments dealing with personal individual addresses be addressed via Mr Mark Hunter's office at 3 Gillbent Road, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 7LE and could comment/posts please stay focussed on the main issue here - that of the Cheadle Hulme Health Centre.
Thank you.
Posts: 2