Residents succeed - with Labour Councillors help!

Residents of Bretherton Terrace were dismayed when planning permission was sought to build three storey houses on a patch of green land opposite their homes. However, with the help of Cllr Caleb Tomlinson and local Labour activist Cheryl Ledward Lee, a campaign was launched to enable local people to voice their concerns. Caleb and Cheryl spoke to residents and help organise a letter writing campaign to let the Council know what they thought. The Council decide to oppose the plans and they were withdrawn.

Giant Veggie Patch up and growing!

Plans to convert a plot of disused land off Bannister Drive into a community asset have come to fruition. Thanks to the efforts of local people, the local Health Service and the Council a patch of derelict land has been cleared and planted ready for the growing season. Cllr Mick Titherington said “This is a great example of local residents working with the authorities to develop a really exciting project. I will be doing all I can to encourage the success of this scheme.”

Tory Council to write off £1m of Icelandic investments?

Your Labour Councillors have been trying to assess the damage caused to the Council by the decision to invest £5 million of taxpayers money in Icelandic banks. The latest news would appear to suggest that the Council could ‘write off’ almost £1m of that investment in the coming year. Councillor Matthew Tomlinson says “Many people will find it hard to understand that a Council who had £5m invested in foreign banks could’nt afford to give the Women’s Refuge a grant of £9,000. Now to add insult to injury, it would seem that almost £1 million of that money will be lost altogether.”

Shock as Turpin Green plan gets the Go Ahead

Councillor Caleb Tomlinson has told of his shock as a plan to build a convenience store on the old petrol station on Turpin Green was passed by Council staff. Caleb said “I handed in a petition of over 200 names objecting to the plan and was intending to stage a protest at the Planning Committee. However it would appear that no-one on the Committee thought it important enough for them to consider. The plan was passed on the say so of a member of staff without even being discussed in public. I am bitterly disappointed.” Two Leyland East Tories are on the Planning Committee, Cllr Mary Green and Cllr Michael McNulty

Two Tories found guilty of rule breaking

Two South Ribble Tories have been found guilty of failing to declare an interest in items on which their votes were crucial. Cllr Jim Marsh and Cllr Barry Yates (a former Mayor) were both found guilty of voting through a Council grant to a club which they were involved with. This was the second time that Cllr Marsh has been found guilty of an offence against the Members code of conduct.

Parking Fiasco

It seems that the Tories are in total confusion about what to do with parking in Leyland. They were elected on a promise to bring back free parking to the Town. When elected they made parking free on one car park, but not the others. Then they hiked the price up from 20p to 50p. Then, after a massive campaign supported by Labour Councillors, they introduced some more free spaces behind the market. Now they want to introduce some more changes, but wont tell anyone what they are!! Confused? You’re not the only one. Labour Leader Councillor Matthew Tomlinson says “No-one likes paying for parking, but what is even more annoying is being fined because the rules are not clear or constantly changing.”

Leyland kids forced to Chorley baths

As South Ribble Tories refuse to join the Governments free swims for under 16’s scheme, it would appear that local children are voting with their pockets and choosing to go swimming in Chorley where the scheme has been enthusiastically adopted. Whilst Chorley Council announced a huge increase in the numbers of people using their swimming baths, South Ribble were admitting that sales were down. Surprise, Surprise!

Council loses ‘Excellent’ Tag

South Ribble Council, rated ‘excellent’ when last under Labour control, has just been told that it is no longer up to the standard required to retain that rating. Just over two years of Tory control has seen the Council fall off the list of the best run Local Authorities. Interestingly, Chorley retained its place as an excellent Council.

More Tories in trouble.

Tory Councillors Barry Yates and Jim Marsh (again!) appeared before the Council's Standards Committee recently to answer charges of misconduct. The charges related to a Grant Application which was considered by the Eastern Area Committee from a local cricket club. Both Councillors were found guilty of failing to declare an interest in the item, as they had connections with the Cricket Club, and then taking part in the vote which ensured that the grant was approved. This is the second time this year that Cllr Marsh has been found guilty of misconduct by the Standards Committee. His punishment? To undergo further training (again)! Cllr Yates, who has been a Councillor for 20 years and is a member of the Standards Committee himself, was ordered to undertake extra training as well. Perhaps he was away when the Standards Committee did their original training?

An Apology

It has been brought to our attention that Cllr Jim Hothersall didn’t say Kingsfold was like Beirut in his ill fated radio interview with Jeremy Vine on Radio 2. What he actually said was that one of the Councillors for Beirut, oops sorry Kingsfold, had made that comparison. We hope that it wasn’t the always sensible Cllr Best, so presumably it was Cllr Renee Blow. The very same councillor who admitted causing a breach of the peace following an altercation with some children in possession of a dangerous football! Our sincere apologies to Cllr Hothersall!

Councillor fluffs interview on national radio

Tory spokesman on Streetscene issues, Cllr Jim Hothersall, dropped a huge gaffe when he appeared on BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine show. When asked to explain the controversial 'No Carol Singing' scheme, he offered an opinion that living in Kingsfold was like living in Beirut!!! He also claimed that pensioners had been threatened on their doorsteps by Carol singing teenagers. According to Cllr Hothersall, these alleged youngsters, (no doubt wearing hoodies!), have been singing a couple of lines from a Christmas Carol and then demanding money with menaces. That may or may not be true, as yet there is no evidence to say, but that hardly reflects what life has been like in the Lebanese capital for the last 25 years. Nor does it do much to reassure the residents of Kingsfold that, whilst it may have its problems, it is a relatively safe place to live. Nice one Cllr Hothersall.....

Christmas Carols? Humbug!!

Top Tories at South Ribble have been struggling to justify a scheme in Penwortham to discourage the tradition of Carol singing. Residents have been issued with notices which they can stick in their windows advising doorstep carolers that they are not welcome. This despite being able to produce any evidence that any crimes where committed last year that were 'Christmas Carol related'. What next, an anti Valentines campaign!

Tory Councillor admits 'breach of the peace'

Tory Councillor admits 'breach of the peace'. Penwortham Tory Renee Blow certainly hit the headlines this month. Despite having a reputation as being an advocate for law and order and being known as someone who regularly challenges local police on the need to do more in her patch, it was Cllr Blow who found herself on the wrong side of the long arm of the law. Cllr Blow admitted a breach of the peace and was bound over for six months at the Magistrates Court following an incident involving children playing in the street. Cllr Matthew Tomlinson, Leader of the Labour Group at South Ribble said 'I am sure that residents expect better behaviour from their elected representatives. However, it seems the Tory Group on the Council are still happy to retain her as a member.'

Don't mention the Waste Plant!

South Ribble's Tory Cabinet will this week announce big changes to the way recyclable waste will be collected from next summer. Claiming that the changes are as a result of listening to residents Cllr Molyneux, South Ribble Councils Cabinet member for Environmental Issues, failed to mention that these 'significant improvements' are only possible because of the development of the Farington Waste Plant. A development he and fellow Tories were so opposed to that they offered £40,000 of taxpayers money to support a judicial review of the County Council's decision to build it.

Supporting Local Residents

Councillor Caleb Tomlinson and Cheryl Ledward Lee from our Leyland Central team have been out and about talking to residents concerned about proposed development on Bretherton Terrace in the town. After spending Saturday morning knocking on doors in the area, Caleb and Cheryl were able to arrange for over 30 letters of objection to be handed in at the Civic Centre. Caleb was also able to boost publicity for the locals campaign by arranging for some coverage in the Leyland Guardian.