News Andy Burnham MP for Leigh

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16/09/2009 - Andy Burnham MP says

In the 80s and 90s, long term youth unemployment went up and up. During these tough times Andy Burnham MP is determined that we don't lose a generation of our young people to unemployment or lost opportunity because of the global recession.

Andy Burnham MP is calling business, charities, community groups and councils to support young people during these tough times.

Andy Burnham MP said, "I'm determined that we never again repeat the failed policies of the past - which is why I supported the Government in investing £5 billion to help people get back into work quickly. This is paying for more opportunities for people of every age and real help now, right when people need it."

"But I know young people in the Leigh area leaving school or university will be concerned about the state of the jobs market and what they do next. So I'm calling on business, charities, community groups and the council to support young people during these tough times. I want organisations across Leigh to give a jobless young person a chance."

"The Future Jobs Fund is a billion pound fund aimed at creating jobs for unemployed young people. I want organisations across Leigh to get their bids in for the 100,000 jobs available."

“I'm determined that we will not lose a generation of our young people to unemployment or lost opportunity because of the global recession.”

07/09/2009 - Bickershaw – Work to start on transformation of derelict coalmine

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has given the green light for the multi-million pound transformation of a former colliery site to start this Autumn.

Funding will now be released from a £19.14 million pot to enable major regeneration work to commence at the Bickershaw Colliery site near Leigh, which closed in 1992 and is now part of the HCA’s National Coalfields Programme – a major regeneration programme designed to breathe new life into derelict coalfield communities across England.

Derelict land will be used to create 650 homes, a 40 berth canal boat marina and 2,750 sq m of employment space, which will include high quality food and drink venues. Bickershaw South was announced as a Carbon Challenge site in November 2007 – a government initiative aimed at accelerating the building industry’s response to the 2016 target for all new housing to be zero carbon. To help achieve this, a 2MW wind turbine is proposed to provide energy for the development.

The North West Development Agency will invest the funding on behalf of the HCA. Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA, said: “With the release of this funding, we will be able to fully remediate the site and create an attractive prospect at Bickershaw for future private investors. I am delighted we can make progress on a project which is important in securing the economic future of Leigh.”

Later phases of the site re-development will include the creation of a country park, 18-hole golf course, driving range and an outdoor activity centre at Bickershaw North, known as The Rushes. It is hoped funding will be secured when the economic climate improves.


Deborah McLaughlin, regional director of the Homes and Communities Agency, says: “We are delighted that work is to start on the Bickershaw South development, which represents a major priority for the HCA. Our significant investment in infrastructure works demonstrates HCA’s commitment to delivering mixed–use regeneration in deprived communities, as well as providing a boost to local construction employment.”

The news follows an intervention by Andy Burnham MP who believes it will signal a local ‘jobs boost’ for Leigh. Andy Burnham and Ian McCartney MP met with previous Housing Minister, Margaret Beckett MP and presented a robust case for work to restart on site as well as protecting local construction jobs.

Andy Burnham MP said, “I have always seen this development as a crucial step in the ongoing regeneration of the Leigh area. When I heard news of the delay at Bickershaw South I was very worried about the impact on local jobs and I urged the minister in the current economic downturn to release funds to ‘kick start’ work so that construction jobs could be protected. In these difficult times work starting on site would be real help now and would signal a major boost for the Leigh economy and the local construction industry.”

02/09/2009 - Local MP signs up to Climate Pledge

Andy Burnham MP is today adding his name to the campaign to try to cut the country’s carbon emissions.

The campaign 10:10 has been devised by the people who made the climate change film the “Age of Stupid”; a powerful call to arms for all those who want to save the planet.

10:10 gives individuals, schools, businesses and local authorities the chance to do their bit to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions by working out how they can cut the amount of CO2 they produce by 10% in 2010.

Andy said, “I’m signing up to the 10:10 campaign because it gives me a chance to really show I can make a difference on a personal level to tackling climate change. People are already making an effort but signing up means that effort is visible. Everyone in the Leigh area who signs up can be part of a big national effort – all of us pulling together to prevent global warming."

“It’s also a chance to send a message to all those politicians meeting in Copenhagen at the end of the year to agree a deal on how the world can stop runaway climate change. Britain’s Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband will be representing the UK and the more UK citizens make their voice heard the better he can argue for an ambitious deal. China and the United States need to know that we in Britain really care. Each one of us who signs up is making a commitment personally – world leaders in turn must work as hard as possible for a deal that will leave the planet safe for our children and grandchildren.”

Anyone can sign up to 10:10 here. http://www.1010uk.org/

The UK has pledged to cut CO2 emissions by 32% by 2020. The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan sets out how this will be achieved, through renewable energy, cleaner fossil fuels, changing the way we travel, greater energy efficiency in homes and in businesses.

To find out more about the international climate change talks go to www.actoncopenhagen.gov.uk

In the past year 1.2 million homes have received some form of insulation as a result of the government’s Carbon Emissions Reduction Target. This programme is being upgraded to make 20% more money available for energy saving measures for homes.