For the first meeting of 2012 Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley and Broughton, came to speak to us about transport and regeneration.
Mr Stringer started off by explaining how it was clear in the 1980′s that cities with such an industrial influence were not going to survive on its industry for much longer. This was the starting point for the regeneration of Manchester as a city and has made it was it is known for today.
With this regeneration a focus on university graduates was adopted. As many graduates from the Manchester universities and Salford university were migrating to London for jobs, Manchester lost a lot of its potential by its graduates leaving the city to other areas.
With this in mind, Manchester council created many new jobs and cultural achievements; one of which was holding the Commonwealth Games in 2002.
Graham Stringer added that a further way in which Manchester council attracted businesses, culture and graduates is through improving and. most importantly, increasing it’s transport links in and out of the city. This allowed commuters and business opportunities open up to the whole of the UK and the world.
As it stands, Manchester Airport currently had more international links to the world than Heathrow Airport. This shows how much Manchester has progressed globally in all aspects.
Stringer made it clear how much Manchester and it’s surrounding towns and cities has progressed in it’s status worldwide in the past 3 decades.
He also praised Salford University and it’s union in all that it does and all in all, Mr Stringer conducted a lovely meeting and we were very pleased to welcome him in.
In other society news, we’d like to wish our own Steve Mann good luck on his placement down in London. Mann tweets: “1 mans mission still isn’t bigger than the groups combined victories this year ”
Also, massive thanks to Graeme, once again, for being the quiz genius.
In conclusion, a very successful return in 2012!
