Talking Politics by Councillor Rosemary Jones
The cynics tell us there are "lies, damn lies and statistics"! Personally, I've always been interested in the power of numbers; and this factor certainly plays a large part in determining the make-up of Rochdale Council. Then, we are told that there are 30 million cars on our roads. Some might think a fair proportion of them use the A58 through Littleborough every day!
People are living longer and obesity in our children is a "growing problem". In our Borough I'm always heartened by the enormous amount of charitable work that is being done, especially at this time of year as we approach Christmas. In 2005 over 1.5 million children received surprise Christmas gifts in shoeboxes. The other day I visited a school and saw a large pile of boxes neatly stacked waiting for collection. What's all this got to do with politics I hear you ask? But politics is about people and people matter. Recent Remembrance Day services reminded us of the immense debt we owe to those who died in the service of their country.
I'm writing this on the day of the Queen's speech when the PM announced a programme of 22 bills including the Climate Change Bill - one that I'm particularly interested in along with proposals regarding concessionary bus travel and planning reform (something very relevant to Littleborough). Sir Menzies Campbell commented that Sir Anthony Eden will be remembered for Suez and Tony Blair will be remembered for Iraq - one of the tragedies of our time.
But to come back to Littleborough - a delightful place where I have lived and worked for nearly 35 years. My work as one of the Littleborough Councillors is, I believe, about helping people. Sometimes I can make practical suggestions, often I am able to refer the caller to the relevant Council department, always I listen. The Committees are necessary (I sit on 9, plus 4 management boards and 2 governing bodies). The paper work is an essential part of the job, but it all comes back down to people.
I have a dream (to quote Martin Luther King) for Littleborough - in which the crime rate is the lowest in the Borough, where we have our own branch of the Credit Union to remove the burdens of debt that many face, where our streets are cleaner, our lights brighter, our grass verges greener and tidier and where all our children are secure and happy. I have a dream of a new High School, a swimming pool and a village market and also tables and brightly coloured parasols alongside the canal where we can sit and eat strawberries in the summer. I also have a dream of peace and joy at Christmas where we sing traditional carols, eat mince pies and look again at the baby in a manger Jesus, my Saviour; the demonstration of God's almighty love to the people of our world.