Local Campaigners pave the way!

11.06.46am GMT Fri 26th Mar 2010

John Leech MP & local campaigner Bill Fisher outside Kingsway Medical Centre

A campaign by local residents, the Kingsway Medical Practice and the Liberal Democrats to get the City Council to resurface the pavements around the new Kingsway Medical Centre on Fog Lane has been successful.

The new Medical Centre is currently being built and will provide improved facilities for the Practice and patients. It is funded by money from Tesco, who agreed to build the new Centre as one of the conditions of the planning permission for their Burnage store. Lib Dem MP John Leech and local Lib Dem Councillors worked with the practice to keep Tesco to their commitment and the building is now nearly complete.

However, the new Medical Centre looked set to be marred by being surrounded by pot holed and uneven pavements. However, pressure from the Lib Dems and the practice, together with a petition signed by many local people, have helped to get the Council to change their mind. The pavements on Fog Lane, outside the new Centre, will now be resurfaced in time for its opening.

John Leech MP said:

"At first the City Council would only agree to consider the possibility of resurfacing the pavements and it looked certain that this would only happen in some month's time, if at all.

"However, we had learned that the roadway was to be resurfaced by a different team within the Highways Department as part of the building of the new Medical Centre and its associated Highways works. We suggested to them that it would make sense and would save money if they were to resurface the pavements at the same time. We are delighted that they have now agreed to do this and there should be newly resurfaced pavements in time for the opening of the Medical Centre in April"

Liberal Democrat campaigner, Bill Fisher added:

"These pavements were extremely broken up and would have presented a danger to patients, especially the elderly and those with mobility problems. Thankfully, the City Council have now listened to sense and will resurface the pavements. Thanks to all of the local residents who signed the petition and to the staff at the Kingsway Medical Practice who have supported the campaign throughout."