MP SLAMS THE MISLEADING COUNCIL OVER MERSEYBANK LIBRARY

4.01.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 29th Jun 2010

John Leech MP and local Councillors have joined forces in slamming the Labour run Manchester City Council over their desperate attempt to mislead the public over their decision not to fund a new outreach library and community care development on the Merseybank Estate.

John Leech MP commented

"I am extremely disappointed in the Labour Councillors in particular Mike Amesbury for his desperate attempt to mislead the public. The facts are that the Library was burnt down for which the Council received a substantial amount in insurance payment and it has taken several years to get to this stage. We have been trying to improve Merseybank shops, community centre and the library for many years and the council has failed to give the financial support required."

Councillor Norman Lewis added "The Labour council needs to come clean on their failure to provide much needed resources on Merseybank, pulling the plug on this investment will jeopardise the whole scheme and reduce the chances that Southway Housing will be able to secure the funds to go ahead with the project. Mike Amesbury should apologise for trying to mislead people over the reasons why this project is not going ahead."

The leader of the Liberal Democrats in Manchester Cllr Simon Ashley has written to Sir Howard Bernstein to ask why a Labour Councillor was allowed to use the Press Office to make public his review of the decision. Cllr Ashley has also asked Sir Howard to review whether the press release is truthful or political party in nature.

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ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE BELOW:

MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL

NEWS RELEASE

28 June 2010

Merseybank library on hold

A new development for the Merseybank area of Chorlton is under review following funding cuts announced by the Government.

Plans were in place for a new outreach library and community care development to be created for Merseybank, with a portion of the funding due to come from Manchester City Council. In light of recent budget cuts however, the city council is currently unable to make any financial commitments.

Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's executive member for culture and leisure said: "We're obviously very disappointed at how the Government cuts are already impacting on our neighbourhoods and residents.

We have worked extremely hard in the past few years to extend our library service to all corners of the city so to now be unable to continue with our efforts is extremely frustrating. We will be reviewing the situation over the coming months and will hopefully have more positive news once this has been completed."

The Merseybank development is also dependent on funding from the Housing and Communities Agency and Southway Housing, the housing association that manages Merseybank.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Claire Donnelly, Manchester City Council Press Office tel:

0161 234 1010