News Andy Burnham MP for Leigh

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21/11/2008 - Andy Burnham MP backs national campaign for affordable warmth for all this winter

Andy Burnham has backed an annual drive by fuel poverty campaigners to raise awareness of how energy efficiency measures can make homes warmer, cheaper and healthier to live in; and what assistance is available from the government.

Andy said, “I am delighted to be able to support the Warm Homes Campaign 2008. This winter is going to be a difficult time for many households in the UK. Fuel bills have rose so improving energy efficiency is a powerful and sustainable way to bring people’s energy bills down and make homes healthier to live in. The most important message of this campaign is that there is help out there for vulnerable households. I urge everyone to contact the Warm Front team on 0800 408 2095 to find out if they are eligible for funding.”

Andy is one of many MPs, MSP and Welsh Assembly Members across the UK who have pledged their support for the annual Warm Homes Campaign - organised by fuel poverty charities National Energy Action (NEA) and Energy Action Scotland (EAS) - to raise awareness of the problem of fuel poverty and the various grants and schemes that are available to vulnerable households struggling to heat their homes.

The campaign aims to cut the number of excess winter deaths and reduce cold-related illnesses by raising awareness of the help available to people who cannot afford to heat their homes in winter. The Campaign, which runs from 18 November to 1 December, is organised in association with eaga, and supported by the newly formed Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Cold and damp homes affect people’s health and wellbeing and are linked to serious cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses. The elderly, young children and people with disabilities are particularly at risk. There were nearly 27,000 Excess Winter Deaths linked to cold homes in 2006-07 in the UK.

Jenny Saunders, Chief Executive of NEA, said, “1 in 5 households in the UK will face poor health, isolation, debt and worry due to fuel poverty this winter. In the light of recent punishing energy price rises, this winter promises to be one of the most difficult in a long time for so many households."

“Our message is simple. It doesn’t have to be this way and there is funding and advice available to help households make their homes more energy efficient, cheaper and healthier. Making people aware of the support that is available is half the battle.”

Paul Varley, Divisional Managing Director at eaga said, “Warm Homes Campaign provides an important opportunity to raise awareness of fuel poverty whilst also making people aware of the help that is out there. For low income households help is at hand through a range of measures. For example, making sure they’re claiming the benefits they’re entitled to through Benefit Entitlement Checks, making their homes more energy efficient, and there’s lots of cheap and even free ways of doing this, and of course, by maximising grant availability through Government Schemes such as Warm Front.”

Visit www.nea.org.uk for more information

Warm Front in England is the primary source of grants for energy efficiency improvements for vulnerable households. Warm Front offers grants of up to £2,700. For more information about Warm Front call freephone 0800 408 2095. This scheme only covers owner-occupiers and private sector tenants.

eaga is the UK’s largest residential energy efficiency provider. The company is a leader in the provision of innovative and sustainable services, products and solutions that address the environmental, social and energy efficiency objectives of Government and the private sector both nationally and internationally.

Fuel poverty is defined as the need to spend over 10% of household income on fuel costs to maintain adequate warmth for health and comfort.

Warm Front is a scheme funded by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) which provides grant contributions to make houses warmer, healthier and more energy efficient. If you are in receipt of a qualifying benefit, own your own home or rent if from a private landlord, you can claim a contribution of £2,700 towards central heating, loft and draught proofing or £4,000 towards oil based systems.

19/11/2008 - Gold at Golborne - New railway station set to open

New rail services are set to run between Wigan and Manchester via Golborne from 2013 as part of Greater Manchester's Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) proposals.

The proposals include funding for a new rail station and funding to support the operation of the rail services. A partnership would be developed which would see the operational costs of the services funded through TIF between 2013 and the summer of 2016, and costs from June 2017 onwards funded by the DfT, subject to basic investment criteria being met.

Lord Peter Smith, Leader of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities and Wigan Council, said: "We agreed the funding for a new station at the time we finalised the TIF package for the forthcoming referendum. This latest development around the operation of the new rail services is a further significant step forward which gives us all confidence that this important element of our infrastructure will be in place by 2013.

“We must remember however, that none of these vital improvements will be possible if the TIF package doesn’t go ahead. It’s all or nothing."

Up to £14 million would be invested from re-allocated Local Transport Plan (LTP) funds, if TIF gets a ‘Yes’ vote in December’s referendum. This is just one example of rail improvements in the area:

Other Wigan proposed changes to rail include new and improved services including extra carriages on peak-time commuter trains and station refurbishments at Wigan Wallgate, Atherton, Hindley, Ince, Pemberton, Bryn, Gathurst and Appley Bridge stations as well as more park and ride spaces at Atherton station.

Leigh, said to be the largest town in England without a railway station, is set for significant investment in public transport with the TIF package including a new express bus route running from Leigh through Salford to Manchester operating on a separate track to general traffic ensuring much quicker progress. TIF would deliver more seats on trains running through Atherton and increased capacity on trains travelling through Bolton. There would also be a multi-million pound refurbishment of railway stations including improvements at Hindley.

Leigh MP Andy Burnham welcomed the announcement. He said: “This is the news we have been waiting for."

“I have campaigned in support of a new railway station in Golborne since my election in 2001 and I want to thank all those who signed petitions and put pen to paper in support of a rail station for Golborne. The fact a clear way forward to include this in the TIF proposals has now been agreed is fantastic - all we need now is a yes vote to seal the deal."

"The importance of high quality rail services between Leigh and Manchester cannot be overstated and it will be even more important should the TIF package go ahead."

“It is very good news for the Leigh area and will help give people choice and easier access to jobs.”

Golborne a former pit village houses 15,000 people located astride the West Coast Main Line (WCML) in Greater Manchester. A surge of recent housing developments has heightened the need to re-open the station there along Britain’s busiest line. It is close to Lowton and Ashton-in-Makerfield, two other areas with high numbers of commuters - but poor transport links. The decision to reopen Golborne station is the culmination of a 26 year campaign championed by amongst others local-born Brian Simpson MEP and the Rt Hon Ian McCartney MP.

Further information can be found at www.gmfuturetransport.co.uk

18/11/2008 - Boost for Leigh's Post Offices

Local Post Offices received a boost as the Government awarded the contract for the Post Office Card Account (POCA) service to the Post Office. The news will be welcomed by local post offices who rely on the business people picking up their pensions or benefits through the Post Office Card Account brings into branches. Around 8,300 people in the Leigh Constituency have a POCA.

Andy said, “This is great news for the post office. I am delighted that the government has listened to what I have been saying on behalf of local people. I would like to thank everyone who has stood up for local post offices and made their voices known on this.”

“With the financial crisis that started with the American banks now being felt here in Britain, people are feeling worried about their finances. Post Offices are often the only providers of banking services in local areas so this vote of confidence in the post office is very welcome."

"This is the right decision for Leigh's Post Offices."

The Government has decided to award a new contract for the continuation of POCA directly to the Post Office. The National Federation of Sub Post Masters had said that, without POCA, 3,000 Post Offices would close.