Council and TfGM ‘slow to place car chargers’
I WISH to draw the attention of Manchester’s tax-paying public to a disgraceful performance by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).
You may be aware that the government is attempting to switch us to the use of electric-cars only, with which there are several problems. A large problem is the provision of public charging points, principally for the use of those who will not be able to charge from their home supply – which will be a sizeable proportion, including those who live in flats and terraced houses.
To encourage the installation of these the DfT gave Manchester – in the name of TfGM – a £3m grant in March 2018 for the installation of 50 ‘rapid’ chargers, to be located all around Manchester – for the use of its 1.3 million car-owners!
For example, the Trafford Centre, with parking for 11,500 cars, was to receive four charging points. All the points were to be completed ‘by end of 2019,’ as confirmed by letter from Andy Burnham when I queried the progress of this work.
But actually TfGM has not started work on any of these points, and according to its latest email to me, is not intending to start work on the first of these until the autumn, without any forecast of a completion date.
This is a deplorable performance for which the Manchester tax-payer is paying, but my attempts to whistleblow on this disgraceful level of performance has met with the usual answers from TfGM and also the mayor.
Would any other Manchester taxpayer like to add their voice to my complaints?
The government’s policy will rely on a suitable provision of charging facilities for those poor people unable to charge from their home supply, otherwise the policy will be socially divisive and extremely disadvantageous to the working classes, who rely on their petrol and diesel cars to provide them transport, and without which their lifestyle would be much diminished and made more difficult.
TfGM’s performance does not bode well for this to be achieved. John Thorpe, Manchester
A big thanks to our NHS
OUR wonderful NHS has just reached its 72nd birthday.
I’d like to give a heartfelt thanks to all our nurses, doctors and hospital workers for their dedication and outstanding service they provide, day in and day out, to the people of Greater Manchester.
During the coronavirus pandemic they have put their own lives on the line to look after us. I would also like to pay public tribute to all the carers, voluntary workers, emergency workers and council staff who have worked so hard helping others during the crisis.
It has been so heartwarming to see.
We are not yet out of the woods so we all need to stay vigilant and keep safe.
It’s important that we observe the social distancing rules to help stop the spread of the virus.
By and large people are a sensible lot and by keeping safe and supporting our brilliant NHS we will get through this.
The best birthday present we can give the NHS is to stay safe and keep our distance to beat the virus.
Coun Faisal Rana, Rochdale council
Someone else’s fault
I AM sure many residents and visitors to Manchester will be delighted to hear that at least a portion of the grotesque concrete carbuncle that is the ‘wall’ in Piccadilly Gardens will be coming down (M.E.N, July 3).
I will admit to being a little confused by Coun Pat Karney’s statement though: “These two walls have blighted Piccadilly Gardens for the last decade and they should have been pulled down years ago.”
If only he would enlighten us who was in charge of Manchester council when the wall went up in 2002, and who has been in charge since 2016, when promises were made that it would come down.
If he were to do so, then we might have some idea of who to hold responsible. Or does he want us to ‘Labour’ under the illusion that someone else is to blame?
Someone else always seems to be to blame in this city.
Marc Hudson, Moss Side
Credit place of our birth
MY brother and I spent our childhood on Grey Mare Lane, Bradford, and find it so annoying that this area is called Beswick time and time again in your paper.
The Domino Club referred to was the old Princess cinema on Grey Mare Lane, Bradford, and not Barmouth Street, Beswick, as you state. The Colliery was called Bradford Pit, and the police station on Mill Street, was Bradford Police Station. Beswick started further down Ashton New Road near the Don Cinema.
Please give Bradford the credit for the buildings that were in its area and not Beswick
J and D, via email
GMP is doing a great job
WELL done to everyone at GMP on the massive drugs haul. You’ve got the majority of the public’s support.
Keep up the good work.
Carl, Middleton