THE HULME TUNE

Royce Road, Hulme, was blocked off today for at least one hour between 5-6pm. Traffic was diverted by police as a few local Hulme residents demonstrated peacefully how they want to see Manchester City Council make the two halves of Hulme Park into one continuous stretch. Their argument is that children going from one side to the other could be in danger of traffic moving quickly along that part of Royce Road.

Parents are concerned about fast moving vehicles even though there are speed bumps and that these ramps won’t slow down boy racers. Yet, children should be accompanied by an adult if they are too young.

None of the demonstrators, however, was admitting as to who was in charge or who exactly organised the event.

Vanessa Hall, mother of a young son, tree surgeon and was elected Hulme Councillor 2003 -2008 for the Green Party, told The Hulme Tune, “As a parent myself, I don’t think its appropriate to have this road going through the park.” Vanessa, Chair of Manchester Green Party and their national spokesperson on women issues, went on to say that most parents think the road doesn’t need to be here.

Other Hulme residents, who live further along Royce Road towards City Road, argued that OAP’s who live local want the 263 bus to come back through St Wilfred’s estate. Last year, after money was spent on new bus shelters and raising kerb heights, the 263 was re-routed to go along Stretford Rd. This means that pensioners on the estate have to walk further while carrying heavy shopping across Stretford Rd at busy times.

Even though the Community Transport bus is available, local residents aren’t happy with the service. One woman, who doesn’t want to be named, told me, “People have to book the Community Transport bus the day before and not on demand as they wanted, then return at an exact time. Bringing back the 263 along Royce Road would benefit many. If Royce Road is blocked off then any hope of its return would be squashed.”

This is what Councillor Nigel Murphy had to say:

Royce Road Blockage - Cllr Nigel Murphy

You can listen to more of the interviews from this demonstration by listening to The Hulme Tune this Thursday 10-11am on ALL FM 96.9

Seriously, it takes a person in power, educated unto ignorance, to come up with the stupid rules which effects those on Incapacity Benefit living independently and wanting to do permitted work.

This Government says you can earn up to £81 a week for 16 hours and not effect your Incap. It seems a good deal.. doesn’t it? But, when you look into it more, you find that this Government takes it back, all but £20 or £5, by stealth again for those who rent their homes.

Yes, I would get to keep the money and benefits; but Housing and Council Tax Benefit is reduced so much that, after working for 16 hours, I would only get to keep £5 after paying FULL rent and Council Tax (don’t remind me). What a load of b*****it.

How dumb can you be and still breath? Which Bright Elected Representative Kingpin (BERK) in the Government stopped any incentive for me, who’s on Incap, to do any paid p/t permitted work at all?

£5 FOR 16 HOURS IS SLAVE LABOUR - WHERE IS THE INCENTIVE IN THAT?

Perhaps this money that this Government gets back goes on MP’s second homes - new kitchens for all + new chandeliers + cleaners + decor+ landscape gardening + maybe we are paying their Council Tax + window cleaning + new fitted carpets + expensive mahogany furniture and 4 poster beds for all 4 or more bedrooms? While some of us on Incap are still trying to keep one single roof over our heads and wondering how we make ends meet! Is this where some of the duty on fuel is going?

Any jobs going in Parliament? I could do with 2 homes and being chauffeur driven or helicopter to work.

Why doesn’t this Government do something more constructive and not obstructive - change this stupid rule?

HELP - that is. Obviously some of the info is private and this would give the council insight to a new strategy and we don’t want to give them an inch… do we?

The good news is, is that the bailiffs cannot break into my flat to take my stuff - it’s illegal for them to do so. Something the council nor Jacob’s doesn’t want the public to know. Each of the bailiff’s visits cost me £24 for the first one and £18 for the next one. Yet, all they can do is stand outside - in the pouring rain, I hope. It will put an extra £44 on the total bill and me, being on Incapacity Benefit, cannot afford this cruel diabolical extra cost by this Manchester City (Mafia) Council. ‘PAY or DIE!!!’ - so to speak.

Who cares if I become homeless - AGAIN! They certainly don’t.

What if Manchester City Council made me homeless? Well, the council would give me a newly built flat within a month and £500+ worth of goods from DWP benefits and then another Council Tax bill to welcome me back with.

If only this Government could invest in helping us heavily, poor, over council-taxed souls on to a new brighter positive path to better mental & physical health and further educating all into university for free and thus freeing our minds from the torment of stresses, anxieties and depression due to Council Tax payment withdrawals, with the threat of an unscheduled house clearance courtesy of Manchester City Council.

Then moving, with forward thinking, to the beams of endless possibilities of career opportunities. Therefore, gloriously transforming our ignored human existence from parasite to contributor? Which previously awaited those that were privileged and exclusive, having parents on such high incomes that they can afford to pay all of their 2.4 off-springs’ University fees 10 times over.

I did go to the CAB in Hulme, after all. They were very nice and, more importantly, very helpful indeed. I may be able to get even more money in unclaimed benefits.

In the meantime, all this is costing YOU the council tax payer even more money as the administration cost to local government mounts up. Which leads to higher council tax rates next year and a deficit in this year’s council budget. All thanks to Gordon (Ebenezer) Brown, our very own Sheriff of Nottingham, and now he’s Prime Minister. Give it to the poor in one hand and take it back with the other - tighter than a Russian economy.

By now it must have cost the council more money than the £112.33 owed. Not my problem, as the cost to this council increases every month.

Dear Government,

It would have been cheaper to the British tax payer if you gave those on Incapacity Benefit FULL Housing and Council Tax Benefits.

Signed.. ME

Will I pay it… maybe.. eventually, when it cost this council more and more money in the administration costs alone.

I can’t wait until Manchester City Council takes a man with a disability, on benefits, to court to face jail. Prisons are over crowded, so they’ll release him by letting him off. Then he doesn’t have to pay the council tax bill at all .. He won’t have to do the time.. and YOU pay the cost in legal fees, on both sides, and this resulting in increased council taxes. When people do come out of prison, they get a new home, benefits and money for household items and re-decorating, incentives to get more education (I hear) and a social worker to help them claim every penny from the Government - British tax payer, again, footing the bill.

Hopefully, this Government or the next one may see clearly that there needs to be a change to give those who have a disability on Incap full H&CT Benefit. To live independent lives - not having to go back to living with aging parents, to be a burden to them, or ask a friend to put them up and risk their Housing Benefit being stopped.

Why did the Government introduce the Council Tax in the first place?

I rang the MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL bailiffs this morning and had to leave a message. I told them that I had been awarded Council Tax Benefit. I also told them that I am unwilling to pay, seeing that I refuse to steal the money or pay it in installments, and that they can come and take my goods away.

If they take my old furniture and other things, I can then apply to the Department of Work & Pensions and put a in a new claim for new furniture. To replace the junk the Manchester City Council bailiffs will take.

The real loser here is the tax payer. All thanks to either incompetence of Manchester City Council’s Council Tax Unit not updating Jacobs Certified Bailiffs or this Government wanting to make the poor very poor indeed.

Either way.. if I am still paying my council tax, then why am I being victimised by this council? If it really is a Manchester City Council error, then it is the British tax payer that will, in the end, foot the bill. Why should I worry and make my condition worse over this? This type of thing can make even the healthiest person sick and I am sick & tired of this Sheriff of Nottingham style Government treating us poor like this. They’re not going to put me in an early grave!

Do you remember that time when a certain council took a pensioner to jail over this? This was the Government again, making sure that the poor, the needy, the vulnerable of our society is worse off - without a voice.. until the press got wind of it. Well, I, too, have a voice and I’m going to SHOUT!

You may think, ‘Why doesn’t he write to his MP, Tony Lloyd?’

Glad you asked! I did. All he did was write to the HB&CTB and all they did was to send an officer around to check that it was really me living here - he did nothing to bring it to Parliament and try to change the way Councils and the DofW&P takes back the money given to the poor. Twice when I complained to Tony Lloyd MP all I got was a visit from HB&CTB. When I ring him, his secretary is very rude to me.

1 in 5 people in the North West claim Incapacity Benefits. That’s 1 million people out of 5 million - that is a lot of voters.

I’ll laugh at the next letter I receive from Jacobs as well.

Bailiffs from Manchester City Council called at my door while I was out this morning. They want to seize £112.33 + costs in goods. This is supposed to be unpaid council tax. As a person with a disability, I am still trying to pay my council tax bit by bit as best I can out of my benefits. Yet, the heavy handed council wants blood - my Hi-Fi at least. It’s not the council’s fault though. It is the way this Government treats those who are poor by reducing Housing and Council Tax benefit and causing more hardship.

Under New Labour, fuel prices in gas and electricity have risen and benefits rises have not taken these sharp rises in to consideration for those who rent property. To cap it all, New Labour have reduced H&CT benefits, so that councils are forced to charge Council Tax to those who are on Incapacity Benefit. This makes life more harder for those who are mentally ill, injured or have a disability effecting the type of work they do.

As far as I know,H&CTB is means tested. Which is a convenient way of this Government taking back some of the money its paid to the poor. It’s like giving aid (which benefits is) to poor people over-seas then charging a hefty export duty and fee on the food and shelters. Instead of money they take the food back and replace it with cheaper unhealthy out-of-date products. This is what happens when our benefits are reduced by stealth! Where do we get the money from? Steal, beg or wait for repossession?

If the bailiffs take my computer then I’m not able to pursue my dreams of getting back into work through the voluntary work I now do. No PC - no reports (radio and website).

New Labour also has prevented those wanting further education to get into university and do media courses by charging the FULL price for lessons.

So, which is worse - New Labour or Conservatives?

If the bailiffs break the door down - how will I pay for that?

They had better be careful, as some of the stuff I’ve got doesn’t belong to me and if they take that then they are stealing by robbing other people’s property.

I don’t even remember it being this bad, not even under a Thatcher Government.

It’s a Labour victory in Hulme for Emily Lomax, pushing the Green Party off the ward. This makes all 3 councillors Labour representatives in Manchester City Council.

It looks like the Green Party tactics of having their party member, grey beard and clip board, stood in Hulme Library taking numbers or addresses, did not deter voters from wanting to see red for Hulme. Even so, Steven Durrant (Green Party) was a close second being only 50 votes behind Emily Lomax.

This is Emily’s first victory as a Labour Councillor candidate. In 2004 she was Labour candidate in Didsbury West but did not win. This time she joins her colleagues, Nigel Murphy and Mary Murphy, to represent our regenerated area.

In an interview for my ALL FM show last year, I did ask Emily if she thought of changing her surname to Murphy to see if that would help. Well, maybe not. Hulmers have now put their confidence in her. I may post the interview again or, better still, ask her for a new one!

Hulme Ward

Electorate: 10485 Turnout: 21.7

Meanwhile, the Lib Dems hold on to the City Centre seat and its another Labour victory in Moss Side. This, however, doesn’t reflect the country’s results as a whole. The Conservatives are relishing in a national majority overall win.

Let’s hope that Reds beat the Blues in Moscow on the 21st May. For many United fans, this could be the only result that counts.

I am fed up of the red tape involved in CRB checks. Every time I volunteer where children or vulnerable adults are involved the organisation has to spend more money and more of my time in obtaining another CRB check.

I join a charity - CRB check… 3 months later help a youth project - CRB check… help a school holiday club - CRB check… and so on. One should be enough for it’s duration. If another one is needed then the charity/organisation/school concerned should have that option.

I believe it’s over cautious and is waisting charities time and money and putting off volunteers. Now we can ask the Priminister to just have the one.

Please pledge your support at:

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SingleCRBcheck/

NOTE: This is not a secure site to be giving private info out online. The British Government should know better. The risk is yours!

By changing the system so that the information from one enhanced CRB check is held in one central location, with copies available,this would create a more cost-effective and efficient way of updating information to ensure the safety of children and adults that CRB checked individuals are working with.

Why make life difficult for work that isn’t paid?

Open wide your wallet, if you’re on Incapacity Benefit, when you first visit an NHS dentist. But why? Because this Government has made it more difficult for us genuine Incap claimers to get free treatment.

This is discrimination!

When I eventually found a “willing participant” (NHS dentist), they go and hit a nerve by extracting £15 from my wallet for sitting down for 2 minutes. But I’m on benefits - I protested. The receptionist told me that this Government changed the rules. So that now, us Incap claimers have to apply for a free treatment certificate.

This meant that I had to pay £15 out of very little and go without just to satisfy a Government that wants to pay £160 per MP per day for just turning up at the Houses of Parliament. In real terms that is nearly my fortnightly money and they get that a day for doing nothing. Then they get paid £60,000 p/a for closing down a primary school in Hulme after promising not to, not policing our streets at night and taking money back off drug addicts that would probably steal the deficit or have to have another sex customer at 1am.

Then they wonder why crime as gone up! Why do MP’s dream of such demoralising schemes?

Can we pay this kind of MP £200 a day just to stay at home?

I asked the receptionist could they wait until I got the certificate. People on other benefits only have to tick a box and they can walk out. “No” was the reply. I had to pay £15 and then go beg outside McDonald’s, so I could feed my Council Tax demand and 3 utilities.

Did I complain? Too right!

When I did complain to Tony Lloyd MP, his secretary was very very arrogant and rude towards me. Next time I’ll have video evidence. She raised her voice and talked over the top of me when I was telling her what the problem was with this Government. Then she said that they are not the Government. Could have fooled me? Then she treated me with contempt. Me, a floating voting mail elector in their constituency, treated like sh**. But we voted her party in. Well, someone did. I tried to vote for someone else, but had a problem with the mail-voting system - I forgot to post it.

This is how we are treated by this Government, as 3rd class citizens. No free education at all - we have to beg for it. Free NHS by redemption & certificate. That’s how I see it.

1-in-5 they say. Good! That’s a 5th of the voters that can change the Government and bring about a positive attitude towards people who are sick and even more stressed by this discrimination.

Someone get me a Human Rights lawyer - please?

- by Paul Summer

I did write to Tony Lloyd MP about the NHS dentist crisis in Hulme, he wrote back saying:

… I would like to draw your attention the extra funds being invested for additional dental activity in Manchester..

Ok, has anyone seen or experienced this investment? Me neither. Maybe it’s Didsbury, Heaton or Hale Barns. I haven’t seen the like in Hulme. He didn’t say additional NHS dental activity though - written by a true politician!

Laura Roberts, Chief Executive of the Manchester Primary Care Trust, wrote to Tony Lloyd MP:

A patient can access a dentist anywhere in the country for treatment..

Could have fooled me! Which country is she talking about? This one? Obviously, she must be a private patient and not NHS. Even though the statement is true for those who can afford to go private and pay dental charges and it may be the PCT’s dream, but it’s only part of the true picture.

Well, Laura, this is not the experience of thousands living in Manchester who cannot get hold of a dentist on the NHS. When a dentist shuts the door in the face of the poor, we try other dentists only to be told, “Sorry, we’re not taking any more NHS patients now.” Then another shuts its door and the problem worsens. Does she realise the reality of how bad the situation is? It may look good on paper, but are dentists buying in to it?

BBC NEWS ITEM 1

BBC NEWS ITEM 2

These BBC reports are from as long ago as March & June of last year! Why wasn’t anything radically done then? Even after the BBC reports, the Government thinks its new reforms, which more dentists are refusing, still look workable - through rose coloured glasses, perhaps.

Though I do agree that a lot of greedy dentists were drilling & filling healthy teeth, just to get more money from the state. Yet, if they got struck off for their malpractice then that alone would be a deterrent.

I will contact Karen O’Brien, Manchester PCT, to discuss this fantasy of theirs; that we can access a dentist anywhere in the country; but, in reality, access on the NHS is denied in many practices or they are too full to take on any more NHS patients. Notice how Laura Roberts ommits those important 3 little letters, N.H.S., in her sentence ? Hmm, I wonder why?

Laura Roberts goes on to say:

As the PCT has had numerous letters relating to the issue of access we have now invested £1million for additional dental activity for ‘units of dental activity’ including sedations and domiciliary for Manchester. The process began at the end of November to identify “willing providers” and the additional capacity will be in the city for January 2008.

What does “additional capacity” mean? Does it mean they will build more dental surgeries that will refuse to treat the NHS patients? More “units of dental activity” - is that more ‘private patients only’ surgeries she’s talking about? She didn’t say, units of NHS dental activity.. sorry, meant to say.. units of “willing providers”.. to be politically PCT.

Access = Where patients are treated by dentists on the NHS.

Sedations = When they give you gas to put you to sleep or use local anaesthetic.

Domiciliary = A residence; a home. (or) To provide with often temporary lodging.

Willing Providers = Rare & close to extinction - dentists who treat NHS patients.. won’t be that long of a list in my experience.

Maybe, if I used the Freedom of Information Act, I can access how they have or are spending this £1million. More importantly, where?

Further more, Laura Roberts sent me a (out-dated) list of

…dental practices which are currently (emphisis mine) providing NHS dentistry within the Manchester area.

The top one on this list, Hulme Dental Surgery, has stopped treating NHS patients for quite a while now and Kathe Lock Access Centre will extract teeth only if it’s an emergency - no other NHS treatment otherwise. We could always go back to the old fashion way, “OK, dad! You can slam shut the door now!”

From 2006 to 2007 the PCT spent a mere £888k on improving dentists - NHS only I hope. Why now spend money on those refusing NHS patients? They, on their website manchesterpct.nhs.uk, say that they made:

..improvements to dental facilities to deliver higher decontamination standards. The schemes cover GDP premises as well as the Community Dental Service and their facilities within PCT properties.

I can just imagine… £888K to spring clean dental surgeries of those radioactive, glo-in-the-dark, dentist masks. Only joking! I’m sure it was money well spent on bleach.

So, what will £1million buy us in Manchester today? One city centre surgery, equiped with state-of-the-art dental gear, near Urban Splash perhaps? Where is this facility being built? If anybody knows.. just secretly tell me and I’ll let everybody else know after I’ve tried it, otherwise I may not get access to the £1m live-in sedating dentist.

This £1m dental surgery, will they be “willing providers”? - Oh, I can’t wait to ask that one!

How many Polish dentists could we fly over for £1m?

What is your experience of NHS dental treatment in Hulme or Manchester? Please leave your comment.

Disclaimer: The views expressed on this page are entirely those of myself and are not neccessarily the views of MCIN or ALLfm.

My email to Tony Lloyd MP is identical to the post directly underneath this one.

On 23/01/2008, Tony Lloyd MP wrote:

Dear Mr Ridyard,

Tony Lloyd MP has asked me to thank you for your email, which is currently
receiving attention.

Kind regards,

Liam

(my reply)

Please thank Tony Lloyd MP for me, I do appreciate the work that he does and the time he takes to take my cases up with the various Government departments. I’m sure that this Government would never want to breach people’s human rights and break international laws concerning humanitarian issues.