January 2010

Dear resident,

First of all, Happy New Year! I hope that you had a relaxing and joyful time over the festive period and were lucky enough to spend time with loved ones.

Sadly, as my mother passed away just before Christmas, it was not such a good time for me this year but as ever I did enjoy the chance to spend a little more time with family and friends. Thanks to all of you who have been in touch with messages of sympathy – they are much appreciated.

With a New Year comes new challenges and let me start out by saying that I am just as determined as ever to continue to deliver results for our community and overcome the many obstacles we face. Let me begin by bringing you up to date with some of the things I have been out and about doing recently:

• Just before Christmas I was delighted to welcome Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg to join me at Stepping Hill Hospital after inviting him to come and see for himself the new world-class neo-natal unit and childrens’ services. I am proud to be the MP for an area with such outstanding health services on offer: http://bit.ly/7O6fXa

• I am spearheading the national campaign, now backed by over 100 MPs, to stop bankers from abolishing cheques in Britain. The proposal will have serious repercussions on the country’s most vulnerable – particularly elderly, disabled and housebound people – not to mention many businesses. Consumer group Which? have backed my campaign along with the country’s leading Business organisation, the Federation of Small Businesses, and I have heard from people all over the country in full support. It is surely about time the bankers that taxpayers bailed out put the interests of customers before their own – learn more here: http://bit.ly/6Hxxxs

• I’ve been pressing Gordon Brown to keep his promise to abolish prescription charges for people with long-term health conditions. I have signed a special parliamentary motion putting pressure on the PM and am determined to see the Government deliver on this promise: http://bit.ly/5T4nsg

• Along with a cross-party delegation of MPs, I met with Defence Procurement Minister Quentin Davies to try to retain jobs at Woodford for as long as possible. Unbelievably, it looks as if the Government will give extra orders to the US instead of local workers: http://bit.ly/4TuuOT

• Stockport Council continues to be short-changed by central government and is now face a funding shortfall of £3.5 million from government over the next two years. In a special Commons debate I challenged the Local Government Secretary over the injustice taxpayers in Cheadle are facing: http://bit.ly/82CV1n

• Revealed: I uncovered the scandal behind the Government’s glib promises over Stockport Railway Station – Government headline grabbing has meant that we have all been misled over our local station: http://bit.ly/6C5wNR

• Gatley Youth Group were the latest of many groups that have made the trip to Westminster for a tour round the Houses of Parliament and the opportunity to put me on the spot in a Question and Answer session. It is always a pleasure to welcome local groups to parliamentary and I’d encouraged others who are interested in doing the same to contact me directly: http://bit.ly/4N0LAE

• My research into official figures showed that a quarter of drink drivers in Greater Manchester have previous convictions for drink driving – I am calling for stronger action to combat this problem and protect drivers and pedestrians alike: http://bit.ly/7fq8Mf

• I invited Transport Secretary of State Lord Adonis to come and see for himself the poor conditions at Cheadle Hulme Railway Station and how we need to see the station improvements, particularly to allow disabled access: http://bit.ly/8oCaZH

• Wolstenholmes law firm in Heald Green, established in 1818, has been closed down and five solictors have had their licenses suspended. Many local residents have money and/or documents held by the firm and are extremely distressed. My battle to deliver justice for those people: http://bit.ly/6j3ir7

As always I am eager to hear your views and if you have any new issues that you would like me to take up either locally or in Parliament please get in touch. You can contact me either by email; telephone on 0161 486 1359; or write to me at Hillson House, Gillbent Road, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 7LE. I also have twice-weekly advice surgeries on Mondays and Fridays, and can make home visits when requested. Please just call to make an appointment at your convenience.

Again, a Happy and successful 2010 to you and your family!

Best wishes,

Mark Hunter

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