Andy Burnham has set out the key points in his 'contract for Makerfield' ahead of the crucial by-election next week. The Greater Manchester mayor could make his return to Parliament following the crunch vote on June 18, and has made no secret of his Labour leadership ambitions if he wins the seat.
In a bid to win votes, Mr Burnham this morning shared a 30-second clip on social media outlining the key points he would focus on if elected as the new MP. The points included better access to healthcare, saving a local library and building a new link road. Read his seven points in the 'contract' below.
1. Build new flooding infrastructure
Mr Burnham said he will work to build the flooding infrastructure the area 'desperately needs'. Speaking at the Manchester Evening News Makerfield hustings earlier this week, he said the new infrastructure will make sure 'no home in this constituency is internally flooded'.
2. East-West link road built
Mr Burnham said he would get new road infrastructure built, including a new East-West link road. This would ease congestion in local town centres, he said.
3. Fight Winstanley Hall development
The Labour candidate said he would fight the Winstanley Hall development. The plans to restore the historic Tudor manor house would mean 400 homes being built on nearby green belt land.
4. Clear the Bickershaw waste tip
Mr Burnham has said he would work to clear the Bickershaw illegal waste tip. The dump is one of the largest illegal dumps in the UK, containing around 25,000 tonnes of rubbish.
5. Better affordable housing
Mr Burnham said he would work to build the homes that people can truly afford, council homes and less on the green sites.
6. Better access to healthcare
The mayor said he would create a new GP service and pharmacy for Hindley Green and a new health centre for Orrell. He previously said at the M.E.N hustings how primary care is 'crucial' and how he wanted to address the problem of a village without a 'permanent GP solution'.
7. Save Ashton library
Mr Burnham has vowed to 'save' Ashton library if he becomes MP. He recently announced that a £1million funding boost had been secured for the library which has been closed for nearly two years.
