Mark Hunter, MP for Cheadle, joined the weekly Heald Green Business Club meeting today.

Mark said "It turned out to be an extremely worthwhile visit, and thegroup struck me as a great example of a successful networking operation.With its thriving membership and regular meetings, Heald Green BusinessClub can only go from strength to strength, and I would encourage anyother local businessmen and women to get involved"

See full article on Mark Hunter's website.


One of the topics discussed was the recent changes to the Waste Disposal Policy. Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) signed the25 year PFI Waste and Recycling Contract with Viridor Laing (Greater Manchester) Limited on the 8th April, 2009. The £631million construction programme is currently creating a network of state-of-the-art recycling facilities over the next 5 years. This Contract is worth £3.8 billion to Viridor Laing and the waste management project will provide a revolutionary integrated solution for the 1.3 million tonnes of municipal waste which the Authority handles each year, and is the first of its kind in the UK on this scale.

Unfortunately there is a 1/2 tonne minimum disposal charge. Whilst we agree that small businesses should pay to use the facilities, the 1/2 tonne minimum charge is too high, many small businesses are being penalised as they do not have that amount of wastage. Mark has agreed to raise this with Viridor on the Club's behalf.

The meeting was particularly enjoyable as fellow HSBC Club member Andrew Grantham from Animals in Tuition gave us a presentation which included club members having the opportunity to handle a python and to see a tarantula skin which has recently been shed!

See the photos taken at this meeting.