Councillor Shah Wazir - Central Ward

I am married to Zahida and have 4 Children. I taught at Hopwood Hall Colleague for 18 years and am proud of my contribution in positively shaping the lives of thousands of young people in Rochdale and beyond. In my limited spare time I enjoy cricket, reading, travelling and music.

Politics:

I have been a Councillor for 7 years - having firstly represented Smallbridge and Wardleworth. Then after the boundary changes in 2004, represented the new Ward of Central Rochdale. I was Deputy Leader of Rochdale in 2004/05 - where I successfully took on the job of Portfolio Holder for Regeneration. Since the Labour and Conservative Coalition in

2005, I have been Deputy Leader of the 27 strong Liberal Democrat Group. I am the Rochdale Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive. I have been an outspoken critic of Labour's failure to deliver the Metrolink and the new Coach Station.

Election:

My colleagues and I have made a positive impact in Central Rochdale. One thing is for sure, you know when it is election time when you receive a leaflet from the Labour Party... more broken promises - that is why we are presenting yet more evidence of our successes since I, Khalid Mahmood, Zulfiqar Ali and local MP Paul Rowen were elected to serve our area. The last 2 years has seen record investment in Central Rochdale. On 4 May you have a simple choice - you can vote for a record of action and a promise of more. Or a Labour Party who can provide no evidence of ever doing anything for our area. The Conservative Party have never won in Central Rochdale!

Campaigning for Health-Care:

The local campaign to save vital services at Rochdale Infirmary in Central Rochdale continues. I recently joined Paul Rowen MP and 65 campaigners at 10, Downing Street, London to present over 30,000 petitions to Tony Blair MP.

I presented the names of nearly 3,000 people in Central Rochdale alone. Tony Blair talks about investing billions in the NHS - but this is the reality. Cuts, cuts, cuts!

I also slammed local health bosses after they awarded their Chief Executive nearly half a million pounds after he took early retirement. This came after he was forced to go by a Labour Health Minister and a damning report into his management style by Professor Albertini. Could you imagine all the extra doctors and nurses this would have bought. It's a disgrace and there should be an enquiry over the waste of your taxes!

Making a difference to Central Rochdale:

Securing an £8 million cash injection in Central Rochdale. One example is 22 new, affordable homes in East Central Rochdale, others include hundreds of homes renovated, pavements and roads resurfaced and a number of play streets that have improved resident's safety and dramatically improved the environment

Securing a grant of £200,000, supported by your local Lib Dem Team, awarded to Wardleworth Community Centre. The money will be spent giving the centre a much needed face-lift and provide state of the art facilities that everyone in Rochdale can enjoy

Following a six-year battle by local Liberal Democrats - Mark Street, Hamer and Jepheys Street, Foxholes in Central Rochdale have been resurfaced and a new fence has gone up outside South Street Nursery School

New safety measures on Halifax Road, Hamer. Following complaints from Lib Dem Councillors - bollards have been put up to stop cars being parked on the grass. This is yet another example of the Liberal Democrats achieving results for our area. Not only have we stopped cars destroying our few green areas but also improved resident's safety. Don't let Labour wreck it!

A new Traffic Management System has now been agreed between local Councillors, local residents and representatives from All Saints Primary School and St Patrick's RC Primary School. The new plan has been pushed through by the Lib Dem controlled Rochdale Township. Highlights of the new safety measures include a one-way system in the area and speed humps to

restrict speeding. A new speed restriction of 20 mph will come into force on Greenbank Road and nearby streets.

Five pledges to Central Rochdale:

I will continue my campaign to bring the Metrolink and a new Bus Station to Rochdale

I will continue to work with my Lib Dem Colleagues and Paul Rowen MP to make a positive difference to residents across Central Rochdale

I will continue to keep in touch all year round, not just at Election Time, unlike Labour who wake up in April every year

I will continue to stand up for local people. Whether that is demanding that more money is spent on policing (bridging the £14million Police Shortfall - in real terms that means more police off our streets) or continue to fight for local health services.

I will continue to be an active, listening Councillor. I pledge to continue my fight to regenerate Rochdale and make it a safer, greener, cleaner, stronger Borough. A Borough with a long term vision!

Don't let Labour wreck it - again.