Stockport Independent Issue 179

FREE YOUR LOCAL GOOD NEWS-PAPER FREE STOCKPORT www.independentnewspapers.co.uk ISSUE 179 OFFERTON • THE HEATONS • EDGELEY • DENTON BREDBURY • CHEADLE HEATH • HAZEL GROVE • CHEADLE HULME • HEAVILEY • MARPLE • REDDISH • ROMILEY • WOODLEY • HIGH LANE Looking for Flooring Inspiration? Let us help you find the perfect flooring for your home. With great advice, home styling, measure and planning service, plus quality fitting of top brands and designs, youwill be glad you did . Visit our showroom: Tuesday to Saturday or call 01260 224445 for a private appointment Thornycroft Farm, Pexhill Road, Siddington, Cheshire SK11 9JN ● Modern, Traditional & Luxury Carpets ● Natural Wood Flooring ● Laminate Flooring ● Stair Runners & Rods ● Luxury Vinyl Tiles ● Bespoke Rugs & Runners S T O C K P O R T ’ S newly elected rep- resentatives in Par- liament made the need for investment in Stepping Hill Hospital a prior- ity as they headed to Westminster. The state of the Stockport hospital was a major local issue dur- ing the General Elec- tion campaign. Election night saw the Liberal Demo- crats take both Hazel Grove and Cheadle from the Conservatives as part of the party’s national resurgence. Labour successfully defended its Stockport seat with an increased majority as the Con- servatives were wiped from the political map in Greater Manchester. New Liberal Democrat MPs TomMorrison, who won Cheadle, and Lisa Smart, who took the Hazel Grove seat, have written to the new health secretary Wes Streeting about the “appalling state” of the buildings at Stepping Hill Hospital. On their first day in Parliament, they called for “an immediate plan to address the years of failure to invest in the buildings, leading to the current state of the hospital”. They told the minis- ter: “Last year the Out- patients B Department was condemned and has been demolished, whilst in March the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit was temporarily close due to a serious leak coming through the ceiling.” Lisa Smart said: “This is about making sure that in future residents can go to Stepping Hill, ‘Hospital is our priority’ MPs demand urgent action on Stepping Hill and know that their care won’t be compromised by the state of the buildings. “We want a positive relationship with the new health secretary, and we hope that we get a response that shows the new government take this as seriously as we do. We’ll do whatever it takes to ensure that Stepping Hill gets the investment it needs.” The MPs also invited the new health secretary to visit the site. Tom Morrison added: “I was elected with a clear mandate – get the government to fix Stepping Hill Hospital. We need to see delivery, not promises.” Stockport’s Labour MP Navendu Mishra has also spoken of the need for “real investment” in the hospital. He said: “We need real investment in Stepping Hill, either at the same site or at a dif- ferent site.” ● General Election special starts on page two Action call: Lisa Smart MP, leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey, Stockport Council leader Mark Hunter, and TomMorrison MP, at Stepping Hill