Councillor Marc Ramsbottom, leader of the Liberal Democrat group within Manchester City Council, was interviewed by MCFly in early February (see full transcript only now posted here). In a wide-ranging discussion that took in Manchester Airport’s future, ward plans and how to create a “low carbon culture”, Cllr Ramsbottom advocated as much local (ward-level) control of decisions and budgets as was practicable, a “jobs and growth” agenda and improved transparency of decision-making in the Council.
On the Airport, 55% owned by Manchester City Council, Cllr Ramsbottom told MCFly “First of all, the airport is an hugely important economic driver. Not just for the city, but also for the Greater Manchester area, the North West and for the north of England. It’s probably the most economic driver in terms of transport hubs that the region has. We’re not about to say “it’s a dreadful evil thing, we must try to curb it.” That would be wrong. But any development, or any plans to develop the airport has to be done in a way that is sensitive, and respects the environmental as much as possible.”
You will have a further chance to hear how a Liberal Democrat-run Manchester would be greener by attending the MCFly pre-election hustings on Tuesday 17th April, at the Friends Meetings House.
This interview follows an interview with Council Leader Richard Leese. An interview with the Green Party secretary will follow shortly.
Marc Hudson
mcmonthly@gmail.com
MCFly welcomes criticism – what questions didn’t we ask? What questions should we have asked differently? What killer-facts should we have brought to the table? We are all ears…
Apologies to Cllr Ramsbottom for the delay in finalising and posting this transcript.
manchester climate monthly 
I think that Cllr Ramsbottom is right, Manchester is run by just two people and they’re not very good listeners and most, so-called, ‘consultations’ in this city are are just meaningless ‘box ticking’ exercises (the Council’s favourite modus operandi). And it’s going to get worse because in the forthcoming local elections the voters will punish the LibDems for the Tory’s excesses in government and we will end up with a 100% Labour Council. As Cllr Pat Karney put it recently: “Manchester is not just a Tory-free zone, but we are heading for a Lib Dem free-zone too.” I fear that such an outcome will be bad for local democracy and bad for the local environment too!
We’ve just had confirmation that Marc Ramsbottom himself will be the Lib Dem panellist at the Tuesday April 17th hustings! Hope you can make it Dave!
It’s a shame you didn’t ask about his attitude towards cycling vs driving.
The LibDems in Manchester will jump on any anti cycling/pro car issue to gain political advantage http://jackiepearcey.mycouncillor.org.uk/2011/04/06/hyde-road-cycle-u-turn/ is just one example.
One of Ramsbottom’s own leaflets last year was encouraging people to complain about people cycling on the pavements whilst he rants on and on about drivers having to pay for parking in the city centre on Sundays – http://marcramsbottom.org.uk/en/article/2011/529197/12-930-that-s-how-much-the-council-makes-in-one-day-from-sunday-parking-charges. He doesn’t have to put up with the impact of all the cars in the City Center, us residents do!
It is a shame I didn’t. And me a keen cyclist too! Oh well, you live and learn. I hope this question comes up at the climate hustings on Tuesday (not Wednesday, as some muppet wrote) 17th April, 7.30pm sharp start, Friends Meeting House. I’ll be cycling there. Cllr Ramsbottom (who is on the panel) will almost certainly be walking!