Talking Politics by Councillor Alan Taylor

12.47.57pm GMT Mon 29th Jan 2007

Councillor Alan Taylor 'Talking Politics' with Sir Cyril Smith.

Councillor Alan Taylor is the Leader of the 30 strong group of Liberal Democrats who control Rochdale Council. Here is Alan's Talking Politics Page that will appear in local newspaper The Rochdale Observer.

Well, I got well and truly collared last week as I attended a meeting of AGMA (Association of Greater Manchester Authorities) as ever, I car shared with Roger Ellis, the excellent Chief Executive of our Council. The meeting in Bury started early and we agreed to drive up together. The meeting was to discuss the idea of Congestion Charging and featured the Leaders of all 10 Authorities in Greater Manchester. These meetings are usually really positive and this was no different. This one had more of a focus on it than usual because the contentious issue of Congestion Charging was on the menu. Yes, it's true all 10 Council Leaders travelled by car which was picked up by a local paper. They ran this as a front page headline on Saturday and I had to explain that because of poor public transport I travelled by car. That just illustrated my point though - public transport needs to be improved before congestion charging comes in. That is why at my meeting with Councillor Brian Millard, the Lib Dem Leader of Stockport Council we agreed to that 4 key tests need to be met -

They are (a) Significant investment in public transport (b) Congestion Charging must not undermine the competitiveness of Town Centres including Rochdale (c) The businesses in Greater Manchester must be on board and (d) That any Congestion Charging must be relevant to where congestion actually is. We forced the AGMA Leaders to accept this and wait with baited breath the next developments. This Council has to be strong on this issue as it's key to getting the investment from the Transport Innovation Fund to get the Metrolink at the heart of our Town. People who are against congestion must understand that not discussing this is not an option if we are to get the Metrolink in the heart of Rochdale.

I communicate regularly with our Town's MP Paul Rowen and we have already had a meeting to discuss our response. We work together on all sorts of issues - this includes transport and other campaigns that may benefit Rochdale. This includes the appalling funding crisis in Greater Manchester Police which you will here more about in the next few weeks. Another big campaign is the campaign to save vital services at Rochdale Infirmary. Paul has worked hard with people like Councillors Jean Ashworth and Brenda Kerslake our excellent members from Smallbridge and Firgrove and with the rest of the Friends of our Hospital. I find the comment from the new Labour Parliamentary Candidate disgraceful and it just goes to show he is an outsider who has a lot to learn. Contrast his lazy attack on Paul Rowen, with Paul's non stop campaigning. He has organised protests on the streets of Rochdale, collected thousands of petitions, and met Minister after Minister and a whole lot more. The Labour Candidate has shamed his party locally and is now trying to defend the indefensible. This is Labour Government policy, the same policy that has led to half-hearted campaigns from Labour MP's including Jim Dobbin, David Chaytor and Labour Ministers including Ivan Lewis and Hazel Blears. You can read more about our campaigns at a our newly revamped website - www.rochdalelibdems.org.uk

Councillor Alan Taylor