Bano

Postal voters – you can return your ballots straight away

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Electors in Whalley Range ward who chose to vote by post have started to receive their voting packs from this morning, although some (especially those who have registered quite recently) may not receive their pack until next week. The pack contains two ballot papers this year and you can vote for Labour candidates on both of them – Muqaddasah Bano as councillor for Whalley Range ward, and Andy Burnham as Mayor of Greater Manchester.

Bano says “You can complete and return your ballot papers straight away – you don’t have to wait for May 6th. I hope you will vote for me and Andy, but whoever you choose to support, please don’t forget to return your postal vote”.

Eco-Takeaway Campaign launches on Facebook

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Bano with some containers made from bagasse

The Whalley Range Eco-Takeaway Campaign has now launched a new Facebook page @WhalleyRangeETC.

Muqaddasah Bano (Whalley Range Labour candidate in the local election on Thursday 6 May) says “If you’re a customer of any of the takeaway food outlets in or around Whalley Range ward, please visit the page and add your comments to the very short survey there. We want to start by gathering as much information as possible before talking to businesses about the possible benefits of offering more environmentally friendly packaging options”.

One option is an agricultural by-product called bagasse – it’s made from material left over from juice extraction. It’s fully compostable and costs about 5p per carton more than polystyrene.

‘Ramadan mubarak’ from Bano, Aftab and Angeliki

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Councillors Aftab Razaq and Angeliki Stogia join with the Whalley Range Labour candidate Muqaddasah Bano to give their best wishes to everyone in our area who is observing the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins shortly. Bano adds this message:

Muslims around the world pray at this time that our faith is strengthened and our souls purified through exercising ‘sawm’ and ‘salat’ (fasting and daily prayers). We’ll pray to Allah to bestow politeness in our words and prosperity in our resources, so that we can donate more to His people. We believe that Allah will always be with us if we try to spread love and affection.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 2020 and the start of 2021 have been very difficult for all our communities in Whalley Range –  with many going through difficult times and sadly losing loved ones. I wish and pray that this Ramadan brings better and happier times for us all. If you are observing the fast this month, I wish you a happy Ramadan, and if you are not, do please wish us good luck and give us your support.

Marking International Women’s Day in 2021

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Bano and Angeliki this morning

Across the world on 8 March every year for over a century, women have come together to both celebrate and push forward the struggle for gender parity.

Inevitably, due to the pandemic the nature of the occasion had to change this year. Labour candidate Muqaddasah Bano and Councillor Angeliki Stogia decided to meet by the statue of Emmeline Pankhurst in St Peter’s Square, Manchester to mark the day together.

Bano, who will be standing for Whalley Range in the election on 6 May, says “I pass this statue on my way to work in the city centre. It’s called Rise Up Women and I think it is very inspirational. I have campaigned for many years on the issue of domestic violence, and gender equality is very important to me. I would like to show solidarity with women everywhere on International Women’s Day”.

Latest Whalley Range road improvements start soon

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Angeliki and Bano inspecting the current state of Yarburgh St road surface last week

As previously reported, Manchester City Council have been taking advantage of reduced traffic density to press ahead with essential road and pavement repairs during lockdown. Next up in Whalley Range is Yarburgh Street, with resurfacing work starting next Monday 1 March.

Muqaddasah Bano, Whalley Range Labour candidate in the local elections on 6 May, says, “The Councillors have been listening to concerns raised with them by local drivers and cyclists, and we know that this road is in quite poor condition now. This work is very good news for all users”. Whalley Range councillor Angeliki Stogia adds, “The project is part of the massive £100m investment which the Council is making to improve our pavements and roads across the city. This brings benefits to all – pedestrians and cyclists as well as motorists – and I’m pleased that Yarburgh Street will soon join the list of resurfaced roads in our area”.

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