Councillor Alan Taylor - Healey Ward

1.06.30am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 21st Apr 2006

Councillor Alan Taylor is Leader of Rochdale Liberal Democrats - having taken over from Paul Rowen MP, following his election to Parliament. Since then Alan has led the 27 strong Liberal Democrat Team to the verge of controlling Rochdale for the first time ever. Alan said, "We are campaigning across the Borough - over the last year we have worked harder, in more places then ever before. We have an excellent selection of candidates from all walks of life, young and old."

Alan is an experienced political operator - he was formerly Agent for Sir Cyril Smith MBE - where he ran a number of successful campaigns for the Liberal Party in Rochdale. He was Campaign Manager for former Rochdale MP and now Leading Member of the European Parliament - Liz Lynne MEP. Alan then took a break from politics - running a local greengrocers. He got the bug again in late 2002 - and was elected with a significant majority in the Healey Ward. In the General Election - he worked alongside Electoral Agent Dave Hennigan. As Paul Rowen MP's Campaign Manager - he played a huge part in delivering the big swing that made national news and delivered the Rochdale Parliamentary Seat back to the Liberal Democrats. Alan was elected Leader of the Liberal Democrats in 2005, after successfully demonstrating his Leadership skills Chairing the Rochdale Township in 2004.

Alan Taylor has been an active Councillor in the Healey Ward since being elected. He deals with a large amount of case-work - If you live in Healey and Alan hasn't helped you - you will probably know someone who has. Even Sir Cyril Smith contacts Alan if people ring or write to him because he knows Alan will get things done.

Alan is a Leading Environmental Campaigner and has gained a reputation for keeping his promises. For example in 2004 - the local Liberal Democrats promised to oppose any Planning Applications that would increase congestion in Healey. They have been as good as their word - opposing applications across the Ward. The latest being the plans for 69 houses on Shawclough

Road, which because of Liberal Democrat objections has been withdrawn. Alan has also been a Leading Campaigner against development on Healey Dell. Alan was responsible for the Council agreeing to look at more evidence from Independent Bodies like Leeds and Manchester Universities.

Alan has actively been campaigning against Anti-Social Behaviour in Healey. He recently wrote the groundbreaking Liberal Democrat Motion that went through Council on banning the over the counter sale of fireworks in the Rochdale Borough. Alan started his campaign in 2004, whilst Chair of the influential Rochdale Township Committee. This has now been taken up in

Parliament and Alan is seeking the support of all Greater Manchester Authorities, to create a by-law that could be a significant step towards ending the nuisance of the anti-social and dangerous use of fireworks. Alan said, "We do not want to be killjoys but we needed to take action. We are the first authority in Britain to successfully pass this motion."

Another example of Healey Liberal Democrats keeping their promises is on cutting traffic congestion - a huge problem in Healey. Two years ago - the Liberal Democrats said that something needed to be done about traffic jams on Whitworth Road and Shawclough Road. Since then, Councillor Alan Taylor has been working with local Highway's Officers and Regional Bodies to find a long term solution to this problem. Alan said, "We do not believe in quick fix solutions that will just move traffic another hundreds yards down the road. I want to see a permanent solution to the problems on these roads." A detailed audit requested by Alan has shown that one of the main problems is the bottleneck at the bottom of Whitworth Road. It has shown that many people from Whitworth choose to use Shawclough Road to avoid the congestion on Whitworth Road.

Over two million pounds has been earmarked for work on widening the bottom of Whitworth Road, redesigning the John Street Roundabout and introducing traffic lights that will 'read' congestion. Alan Taylor said, "The work will start this year, it's been a long time coming but we're delighted to secure, not just the money but the commitment to reducing congestion. The next stage will be to improve Shawclough Road and the rest of Whitworth Road. Initial suggestions are to

replace the mini-roundabouts and redesign those junctions with the traffic lights that read congestion. Alan continued, "I can assure you that any plans will be open to full consultation before anything is decided."

3 reasons to vote for Councillor Alan Taylor on 4 May:

(1) Alan Taylor will continue to work for a better, greener, cleaner, fairer and safer Rochdale.

(2) Alan and The Liberal Democrats will work to keep Council Tax as low as possible, in stark contrast to decades of Labour Mismanagement.

(3) A Liberal Democrat Council will be a listening Council. We believe in putting you, the customer first.

Alan Taylor and Healey Liberal Democrats will continue to put your problems first.