REGENERATION IS FAILING TO LISTEN TO LOCAL PEOPLE - RAMSBOTTOM

2.09.41pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 22nd Apr 2005

Cllr Marc Ramsbottom, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Manchester Central

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Manchester Central, Cllr Marc Ramsbottom, has criticised New East Manchester for failing to listen to local people.

His comments came at a recent public meeting in Beswick, where he was questioned about the benefits that regeneration would bring to east Manchester.

"Some of the changes in East Manchester are very positive", he said, "but what concerns me is a lack of willingness on the part of so called regeneration experts to listen to local people", he said.

"There is too much concentration on new buildings and not enough on preserving our communities and neighbourhoods. At the end of the day it is the people that live in our area that matter and they have a wealth of knowledge and experience that should be listened to more. I don't see enough of that happening", he added.

He quoted recent examples of forcing out allotment holders in Openshaw without proper consultation, and also plans to demolish peoples homes in east Manchester, some of which are perfectly good houses.

"Demolishing perfectly good homes when improvement or renovation is what local people want makes no sense. We are told that people don't want to live in terrace homes anymore, but the reality is that not everyone can afford to live in £150,000 homes that are being in east Manchester. We need a balance, and we need more affordable homes for people who are first time buyers and also schemes to help people get on the property ladder". He said.

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