Housing benefit changes to hit Leyland residents

If you listened to the media you might think that the Tories changes to Housing Benefit were only going to affect London. Not so. Recent figures suggest that hundreds of thousands of people could be around £9 a week worse of and that over 800 people in South Ribble would be among them.

Tories running scared?

People are asking why the Tories delayed announcing the resignation of Irvine Edwards until it was too late to organise an election for a replacement. Is it because they don’t have another Tory willing to stand? Is it because they think the voters of Earnshaw Bridge won’t give them another chance? Or is it that, in their heart of hearts, they are far more interested in what happens in Penwortham, Longton and Hutton than they are about Leyland?

Tories lose their FIFTH Leyland Councillor

Irvine Edwards’ resignation means that the Tories have now lost five of the councillors who were elected to represent the people of Leyland in 2007. Four have resigned altogether from the Council and one has moved to another party. When you add to that the fact that one of their remaining councillors has missed 12 out of the 19 meetings they should have been to this year, it doesn’t seem as though Leyland is high on the Tory agenda….

Labour speaking out for you

Whilst you may not have the representatives you deserve at the Civic Centre, Labour activists are ‘out & about’ in Earnshaw Bridge. Community activists Bill Evans and Sue Prynne have been delivering leaflets and knocking on doors in recent weeks. Bill, who lives on Leadale Road, said “There is no doubt that the Tory’s have let our area down. I don’t think the residents of my road have seen any of them since the last election!” If you want to contact Bill or Sue, call 07785546396 or email sue.prynne@yahoo.co.uk

Earnshaw Bridge abandoned by Tories!

Former Tory Councillor Irvine Edwards (you may never have met him…) has announced his resignation from the Council. Mr Edwards, who actually lives in Much Hoole resigned due to ‘ill health’. Unfortunately for his residents, Mr Edwards waited to hand his resignation in until the deadline which would allow an election for his replacement had passed. (Local election laws stop you from having a by election so close to the full council elections next May). It can surely be no coincidence that Mr Edwards handed his resignation in ON THE VERY DAY that marked that deadline!!! This means that the people of Earnshaw Bridge will be under represented at the Civic Centre for the next seven months. What a poor ending to your period as a councillor.

A Level Playing Field?

The ConDem government has announced a ‘crack down’ on Benefit Fraud. And quite right too. It is thought that Benefit fraud and accidental overpayment amount to around £5 billion pounds a year. We presume that there will be a similar ‘crack down’ on their friends in big business which, according to EU figures, deliberately underpaid VAT by a staggering £18 BILLION last year alone.

Tory MP in ‘job’ controversy

It seems our new MP has already come to the attention of campaigners who work to make sure everyone is paid the minimum wage. Every councillor at South Ribble received an email stating that an advert that Mrs Fullbrook had issued calling for an unpaid volunteer to work in her London office contravened Minimum wage legislation. With all that has been said in the last few months about MP’s conduct wouldn’t you think they would be very careful not to attract adverse publicity??

More success for Labour campaigners

Councillor Caleb Tomlinson, who represents Leyland Central ward, helped local residents off Chapel Brow who ere concerned about the possible development of yet another takeaway in the area. Caleb was able to provide them with advice and help as they tried to oppose the development. He also brought in the local press to add support to their campaign. The residents were delighted when the plan was dropped.

Residents organise Fun Day & BBQ

Matthew Tomlinson & Mick Titherington, Councillors for the Golden Hill ward attended a family fun day at Northbrook Primary school on Haig Avenue. The event was organised by the Broadfield Residents Association. There was a Brass Band, a BBQ, a chance to learn some circus skills, several other stalls and a guided tour of the Giant Veggie Patch. Mick said “Although I was awful at the circus skills I had a terrific time! Despite the weather plenty of people turned out and the Veggie Patch has really come on in leaps and bounds! Well done to everyone concerned!”

Chief Executive leaves South Ribble

South Ribble Council’s Chief Executive, Jean Hunter has announced her resignation. She will be leaving to join South Cambridgeshire Council in the near future. Labour leader Cllr. Matthew Tomlinson said “Jean will be a huge loss to South Ribble. She has been Chief Executive for a considerable time and the Council has changed so much under her leadership. We in the Labour Group wish her every success in the future.” Meanwhile the Tory leadership of the Council have set up a Committee to decide what do now.

Rented houses under threat

The Prime Minister’s latest ‘off the cuff’ announcement that people who live in rented houses shouldn’t expect to be able to live there forever has got their LibDem partners in a tizz. Mr Cameron’s bright idea could lead to an elderly couple who have paid their rent for 20 years or more and brought up a family in ‘their home’ being forcibly evicted when it was decided the house was now to big for them. The LibDem Deputy Leader was quick to point out that “This is not LibDem policy” Maybe Nick should be having a word with his new best friend.

We’re all in this together

This seems to be the rallying cry of the Tory millionaires who dominate Cabinet at the moment. We can’t help but think that ideas such as scrapping the Child Trust Fund, raising the retirement age, abolishing free swimming for pensioners, scrapping free milk for children at nursery, reducing access to Sure Start and raising the age at which you can claim a free bus pass will have more impact on the less well off than it will on any millionaire! Perhaps what they should be saying is “We’re all in this together….it’s just that you will be in it deeper than we will!!!

Something must be done!!!

Our new Tory mp has wasted no time in calling for ‘something’ to be done to reduce the number of accidents on South Ribble’s roads. “Hear, Hear.” that’s what we say. Now that her Party controls Parliament, the County Council and the District Council, surely decisive action can’t be far away. We’re not sure that announcing the beginning of the end of speed cameras is a great start though.

Why would you trust these men?

In the run up to the General Election, the Tories denied ‘scare stories’ that claimed they were planning to put VAT up. Both David Cameron and William Hague made categorical promises that a rise in VAT was not in their plans. Indeed, David Cameron explained to Jeremy Paxman why they were not going to do this. “I think you’ll find that it (VAT) is a regressive tax in that it hurts the poorest the most….” Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, who spent the entire election talking about the Tory tax bombshell went even further when he said, just three weeks before the election, “The LibDems will vote against any proposed rise in VAT” It appears that hurting the poorest the most seemed more attractive once they were in power!! Shame on them.

Health Secretary to visit Leyland

The Health Secretary, Andy Burnham MP, is to visit leyland on Saturday 13th March. He will be opening David Borrow MP's campaign offices in Towngate at 2pm and will be speaking to local residents about Labour's plans for the NHS.