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As your local MP, I can help you with, or offer advice on, issues such as; benefits, immigration, tax, the NHS, child maintenance and education.
I would love to hear from you about what you think my priorities should be as your MP and what matters most to you.
Please use the contact form to get in touch with me. Please remember to provide as many details as possible, including your name, address and full details of your issue.
From Monday 30th of November, people in Edgworth, Turton Bottoms and Chapeltown will have a direct bus to Ramsbottom, Holcombe Brook and Hawkshaw. No more changing buses.
Links like this matter for small towns and villages like the ones here in Rossendale and Darwen. These buses help people get to work, to college and to appointments without needing a car.
The new 236 runs between Rawtenstall and Bolton. It also calls at Balladen, Edenfield, Stubbins and Bromley Cross. Saturday services start on the 5th of December.
It’s an extra service, run by Vision Bus for the Lancashire Combined County Authority. It does not replace the 480.
This is down to the residents and local councillors who kept making the case, and to everyone who filled in a survey or responded to a consultation. Thank you. I was glad to add my voice to theirs.
The full timetable is in the comments. ...
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Today we remember everyone from Rossendale and Darwen who gave their lives in service, and those who serve today.
This morning I joined the service at St Peter's Church in Darwen, and I'm attending further events across the constituency today.
In Darwen yesterday, the Royal British Legion and the Mayor's Office led the service on the Market Square, where I laid a wreath. Thank you to the local Scouts and Cadets for such a strong turnout.
In Stacksteads on Friday, the Stacksteads Countryside Park group brought together residents, the Mayor of Rossendale, Liz McInnes, and pupils from three local schools.
In Parliament this week I planted a cross in the Field of Remembrance on behalf of everyone in Rossendale and Darwen.
We will remember them. ...
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Our towns were built by people who made things. Paint and wallpaper in Darwen, slippers and footwear across the Rossendale Valley, and plenty of firms are still making things here today.
On Tuesday I spoke in the Budget debate in Parliament about making sure we keep those jobs and about bringing more of them back.
If we make more things in more places, we can deliver secure, well-paid jobs close to home. But that only happens if we judge success by more than the national growth figures. For too long, towns like ours were left on the sidelines while the headline numbers looked fine.
That's why I brought together the Reindustrialisation Research Group, now more than 90 Labour MPs. We've set a target of a million more jobs making things by 2035.
There's a lot in this Budget for Rossendale and Darwen, but we also need to talk about what isn't fixed yet.
Energy costs are pushing out good manufacturers, firms that could compete and win on a level playing field. The group asked for the scheme that cuts electricity costs for some manufacturers to cover all of them. I understand the pressure the Chancellor is under, but this is unfinished business and I'll keep pushing on it.
And I asked Lancashire County Council again to agree to a mayor, so our towns can make the most of what's on offer.
I'll share more videos from the speech over the coming weeks. You can read or watch it in full through the links in the comments. ...
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Six months of Pride in Place in Rossendale, and we're seeing results across the Valley.
A new bike track at Zona Moller. New netball courts at Marl Pits. Waterfoot Wakes. Better facilities for American football, grants for new local businesses, and support for leisure and active travel.
Every one of those started with local people, groups and organisations who know their part of the Valley and put the work in to make it happen. Thank you to all of them, and to my fellow members of the Rossendale Pride in Place Board.
There’s plenty more to come over the next 10 years, and I’ll keep sharing it as it happens. ...
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Cheaper energy, help for our high streets and backing for people starting a business. There’s a lot in this Budget for Rossendale and Darwen.
To get the most out of it, Lancashire needs a mayor. Businesses and community leaders have made that case, and a mayor would mean more decisions about our county being made here in Lancashire.
So in Parliament I urged Lancashire County Council to listen to them and agree to a mayor. The offer is on the table. Let’s not leave it there. ...
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On Thursday, people living around Olive Lane Park came together at St James Church in Darwen to talk about the park’s future.
The council, the police, the fire service, Together Housing and local councillors all joined us as well, alongside Proffitts CIC, who are working with the council on this. Many thanks to St James Church for having us.
We want a fresh start for Olive Lane Park. But this isn’t just about new play equipment or a new field. It’s about working together to deliver the changes which residents have been asking for across Darwen East. With Pride in Place, we have the opportunity to start doing that.
Local residents are the people who know what needs to be done to improve Olive Lane Park. Proffitts CIC’s survey is open now, so I encourage everyone who lives nearby to take this opportunity and respond through the link in the comments. ...
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My casework team and I deal with dozens of cases from constituents like yourself every week - 16,000 since I was elected.
If you are struggling with an issue you just can't seem to get resolved, don't hesitate to contact me with your full name, address and the nature of your problem.
My office phone numbers are:
01254 476410 for Darwen
01706 489387 for Rossendale
You can also contact me through a form on my website:
www.andymacnaemp.com
Or you can email me at:
[email protected] ...
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What a fantastic couple of days for Rossendale's volunteers.
Civic Pride Rossendale have come home from the North West in Bloom awards in Bolton with Gold for Rawtenstall in Bloom. On top of that, Rawtenstall was named best large town in the whole of the North West. That's the result of a whole summer of planting, weeding and litter picking, in all weathers, by people giving their own time.
And it wasn't only Rawtenstall. Bacup in Bloom took Gold too. Sparrow Park, Rossendale Youth Zone, Bacup Pride and the Stacksteads Countryside Park group all came home with top awards. Jan Czugalinski was also recognised for his outstanding contribution to North West in Bloom.
Every one of those awards belongs to the volunteers, partners and sponsors behind them. Thank you, and congratulations to you all. You've given the whole valley something to be proud of.
If you'd like to be part of next year's effort, you'll find a link to each group in the comments. ...
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Here’s what yesterday’s Budget means for Rossendale and Darwen.
Around 43,000 households here in council tax Bands A to D will get £100 towards their energy bills, paid straight into bank accounts in January.
The 5p fuel duty cut has been extended and rates frozen until next July. That's especially helpful in Lower Darwen and Rossendale, where we are still working to get commuter train services up and running.
Shops, pubs and leisure businesses will see their business rates frozen in real terms for two years, and more small firms will pay none at all. Pubs and live music venues get an extra 20% cut on top.
In Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen Council has been allocated £1.55m to bring derelict buildings back into use.
What's more, Lancashire is finally set to get an elected mayor. I've been working alongside councils and fellow Lancashire MPs to make this happen, and last week I signed a joint letter to the Chancellor to put the case directly to him. I'm really pleased that the Government has now committed to this. It means more decisions about our towns, our transport and our jobs made here, by people who know the area.
Alongside the mayor comes Good Growth funding and Capacity and Capability funding, which can help us make the case for projects like the Rawtenstall rail link and a new station for Lower Darwen.
This is a package of short-term and long-term measures which will give us real help to get through this winter as well as driving forward the long-term change our towns need.
I’ll keep pushing to make sure Rossendale and Darwen get their fair share, and I'll keep working with my Reindustrialisation Research Group to ensure we're doing everything we can to secure good jobs close to home. ...
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