High Peak Liberal Democrats

Michael Harrison

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Election Address

I have been your Borough councillor for the past 8 years. I am seeking re-election and am asking for your support in the local elections which will be held on May 5^th.

I have lived in the area for almost 40 years, first in Chinley and then in Chapel since 1978. My wife Pat & I have raised 4 sons in this beautiful area and they have all gone to the local schools, receiving an excellent education and joined in the Scouts and other organisations which helped them to become well grounded and useful members of society. We are very proud of them all and our 8 grandchildren.

I took early retirement following 40 years in engineering, working in the pump industry. I travelled widely during that time, visiting over 100 countries, and spent that last 6 years of my career working in the United States, although we never gave up our home here in Chapel.

Since I was first elected in 2003 I have worked very hard to represent the people living in the Chapel East Ward. I have tried to help anyone who needed assistance and have been successful in solving problems for a number of local residents.

I have also been on the Planning Committee for the past 8 years and this has given me a real understanding of the planning process and the needs of the area. I have to say that I am currently very concerned about the future of the beautiful area in which we live.

There are currently proposals to build a large number of new homes here in the Chapel area over the next 15 years. These are to meet imposed government targets without the evidence to support the targets. Unless we do something about it there is a real danger that many of these new homes will be built on green field sites. I am against this and believe that, if new houses must be built, they should sited on previously developed sites before any green field sites are used.

However I am also concerned about the lack of affordable housing in the area. Our young people are unable to buy homes here and are forced to move away or live with relatives. Something has to be done to help them stay in the area to raise the next generation. No new affordable houses have been built in Chapel since the Hayfield Road development was completed in 2006. This is unacceptable.

To help address these concerns I have encouraged the establishment of 'Chapel Vision', a forum to allow local residents to have their say on the future of Chapel and help produce a local Plan which will provide the evidence on which future decisions for Chapel should be based. After all, we live here and we know what is needed.

I also joined Chapel Parish council in 2007 and I have been its Chairman since May 2010. I have taken a keen and active interest in local leisure facilities and have promoted improvements in local parks such as Needham's Rec., Ashbourne Lane, and Chapel Memorial Park. A new 'Friends of the Park' group has been established and they have recently been successful in getting lottery funding for a new Multi Use Games Area in the Memorial Park. This major project should be completed by mid -late 2011 providing more things for our young people to do.

These are very exciting but challenging times for Chapel. I believe that what we need are experienced local people to take responsibility and ensure that Chapel's interests are considered and protected. I live in Chapel, and have the experience and knowledge required to ensure that your interests are protected, and the beautiful area we live in is safeguarded against unsuitable over-development.

I am a Liberal-Democrat by inclination but I firmly believe that party politics should have little part to play in local affairs. What is more important is for local people to stand up for local people. I have done that for the past 8 years.

For these reasons I ask for your support on May 5^th. I won't let you down.

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Chair - High Peak Liberal Democrats 2010

High Peak Borough Councillor - Chapel East Ward - elected May 2003 - serves on the following Borough Council Committees:

• Development Control Committee
• Development Plan Select Committee
• Joint Consultative Committee

Represents the Borough Council on the Chapel-en-le-Frith Regeneration Committee.

Chair - Chapel-en-le-Frith Parish Council