It’s been a week of good news with this week’s visits and meetings across the constituency.

Firstly, it was wonderful to join the grand re-opening of Hattersley rail station. Improvements include a new ticket office, new waiting areas with workspaces, and an accessible toilet. Hattersley rail users deserve a great experience and I’m delighted to see this investment come good. A big thank you to Babs Allen and everyone at Friends of Hattersley Station for their hard work to get us here.

I continue to push for works to make Hattersley and other local stations (including Mossley, Flowery Field, Newton, Hyde Central, Hyde North, Godley and Broadbottom) fully step-free and accessible to all passengers regardless of disability.

Of Greater Manchester’s 90 odd stations, a shocking 55 remain inaccessible, which is just not good enough, when transport it so integral to ability to work, study, socialise and maximise life opportunities. Of this list of 55, Hattersley has been agreed as the 16th priority for works, behind Flowery Field which is priority 8, Newton for Hyde which is priority 9, and Mossley which is priority 13. Alongside many others I continue to lobby Government and Transport for Greater Manchester to hurry up in resourcing and delivering these necessary improvements. I continue to be impressed by the campaigning work of local student Nathaniel Yates who has done wonders in highlighting the urgency of achieving a step-free transport network.

Secondly, it was lovely to join St Paul’s Church in Stalybridge on Thursday for their Place of Warm Welcome. Come down any Thursday for a free hot drink or soup lunch – and some good company – in a warm place. 5 A Day greengrocers kindly provide the vegetables, and students from Copley Academy for cook the soup from them, which I can confirm was very tasty. Initiatives like this remind us that we need a more caring and effective government which reduces fuel and food poverty, but in the meantime, Place of Warm Welcome provides much needed community-building.

Finally, it was very useful to catch up with Anton McGrath, Chief Executive of the Stamford Park Trust academy chain, at Ashton Sixth Form College. The Stamford Park Trust runs the College as well as Longdendale and Rayner Stephens secondary schools. Improving educational attainment and standards is so important to Tameside’s future. I am pleased that both schools are heading in the right direction. Of course, we’re not there yet but it was good to discuss welcome changes to the learning environment, and the improvements in areas like behaviour.

Decent infrastructure, strong communities and ambitious education- three important priorities I will keep fighting for.