Tag: Bidston & St. James

Reasons to vote Liberal Democrat in Bidston & St. James – Day Three

We have listened to local people and campaigned on their behalf to solve local problems. As a result of numerous campaigns over years in the Bidston area over road safety a traffic island was put in in Worcester Road. After numerous fatalities on Boundary Road, white lines were painted down the middle between Worcester Road … Continue reading “Reasons to vote Liberal Democrat in Bidston & St. James – Day Three”

We have listened to local people and campaigned on their behalf to solve local problems.

As a result of numerous campaigns over years in the Bidston area over road safety a traffic island was put in in Worcester Road. After numerous fatalities on Boundary Road, white lines were painted down the middle between Worcester Road and Upton Road, calming the traffic and making it easier to cross to Tam O’Shanter’s Urban Farm.

On that subject it was a Lib Dem Mayor and councillor that accepted Tam O’Shanter’s annual rent of one pine cone to Wirral Council. On Flaybrick cemetery we made sure the boundary wall was repaired and flytipping was cleared away.

Residents (both the disabled and those who can’t afford private transport) called for more bus stops near Tescos. We consulted with local residents affected and had the original proposed site of the bus stop moved when a resident complained and said it would affect parking outside her house. Many other bus stops have been repaired after we’ve brought the vandalism to the attention of Merseytravel.

Residents in the area of Birkenhead Park station and Christ the King complained about antisocial behaviour and crime. We brought their concerns to the police and the residents in that area now feel safer walking the streets after the community mobile police station was stationed in Keightley Street last year and this year.

In Bidston village, people were concerned that the abandoned pub was frequently set on fire. They wanted it demolished, but were unsure why it was taking so long. We investigated and told them why.

On the Beechwood speeding traffic was a major problem with cars crashing into walls, barriers and causing misery for local residents. We campaigned to get things changed and there is now a 20mph zone at a dangerous bend and many other road safety measures.

We have a record of success in campaigning to improve the lives of local residents. We do this because we are unlike the other candidates in this campaign based locally. It is our community, it is the area we live in and we wish to see it improve. Our campaigns are based on the issues that local people tell us about.

We live and work in Bidston & St. James all year round.

Reasons to vote Liberal Democrat in Bidston & St. James on May 5th – Day Two

There are four choices you face in Bidston & St. James on May 5th. Your choices are Lib Dem, Labour, Conservative or UKIP. I will be voting for the Liberal Democrats.

UKIP came 5th last year with just over 3% of the vote. They are on course for coming last this time. The Tories didn’t even manage 11%.

Last year 78% of people either voted Lib Dem or Labour. Under our first past the post system if you vote Conservative or UKIP your vote won’t count but just help Labour to get elected.

In 2007 Labour’s candidate Harry Smith got elected with 1,384 votes. Last year the Lib Dems got 699. Only ~7% of voters will decide the result.

If you vote Liberal Democrat on May 5th:-

a) if you voted Green or BNP last time, voting Lib Dem will force Labour to work harder.
b) if you voted Labour last time but Lib Dem this time it will reduce Labour’s majority by 2.
c) if you voted Lib Dem last time, thank you but we need you to vote Lib Dem again.
d) if you voted Conservative last time, Lib Dems work with the Conservative Party and a vote for the Conservative candidate will just result in Labour being elected.
e) if you voted UKIP last time, a vote for the UKIP candidate will just help Labour. Please consider voting Lib Dem.

Under our first past the post system, the winning candidate only needs about 39% to win.

Postal voters should be getting their vote in the next fortnight, please let me know if you don’t receive yours and I will do my best to help. Last year, like many residents I didn’t receive my postal vote and had to be given two postal votes (local and General) on polling day. I hope this year things will run smoother.

Reason to vote Liberal Democrat on May 5th – Day One

The local Labour Party website has often provided me with amusement in the way things are put. However today was even more interesting.

All of its pages now look like this (the login page for WordPress).

So reason #1 to vote Lib Dem is that we can manage to run a website.

Unlike Labour, local Lib Dems work hard all year round on communicating with the public through many means to suit them whether email, website, leaflets, phone or personal visits. Why don’t you vote Liberal Democrat on May 5th?

Census 2011 – Forms in post and on way

Census 2011 – Forms in post and on way

Census 2011 in post and on way (picture of being delivered to a letterbox)
Census 2011 in post and on way (picture of being delivered to a letterbox)

Census forms are in the post and should be with residents of Bidston & St. James in the next few weeks. For the first time Census forms can be filled out online on the Census 2011 website. In fact, the government prefers this method as it saves time deciphering people’s handwriting. Each Area Forum has had a presentation on the Census. Members of the public have had various common questions which I will attempt to answer here.

  1. Is filling out a census form compulsory?
    A. Yes, it is. The legal requirement to complete a census return, for England and Wales, is set out in Section 8 (1) of the Census Act 1920 and in the Census (England and Wales) Order 2009, Census (England) Regulations 2010 and Census (Wales) Regulations 2010. People can be fined up to £1,000 for not completing it. However, there is help. As well as help and guidance online, the census can be provided in many languages (if English is not your first language), audio tape, large print and other formats (eg braille) for people with disabilities.

There is also a census help line on 0300 0201 101 (calls charged at local call cost) available 8am to 8pm (Mon-Fri), 9am to 4pm, (Sat-Sun) and 8pm – 8pm on the weekend of the 26th/27th March.

  1. Can you refuse to answer census questions?
    A. As with earlier censuses the question on religion in voluntary. However all other questions are compulsory.
  2. What if I’m away on holiday on 27th March, do I still need to include my details?
    A. People need to be included where they usually live, whether they are resident on the 27th March or not. If you are staying at another address in the United Kingdom (UK) on census night you should be included as a visitor on the questionnaire for that address.
  3. Why are the questions on the English Census form not in numerical order; is there a missing question?
    A. The missing question relates to the fact there are different questions asked for the Census in Wales. Those receiving the census form in England are not asked a question about the Welsh language, so it looks like there is a missing question on their census questionnaire even though there isn’t.
  4. Will the information be kept private?
    A. The information will be compiled into statistics. After 100 years (as in earlier censuses) the information will be made available to the public. Information provided as part of the census will be kept confidential.
  5. Electoral roll (details of who can vote) is sold to marketing companies (for those who don’t opt out). Will census information be sold in the same way?
    A. No, it’ll be kept confidential, however the statistical information based on returns will be provided free of charge.

If you have any questions about the Census, please leave a comment and I will do my best to answer it. Filling out the Census forms is important as Wirral Council and government departments are given money based on the information given in the Census. If just a few percent of Wirral people don’t send back their form it could lead to millions of pounds lost out by Wirral to spend on its residents.

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Planning Committee – decision tonight on application about land adjacent to 290 Upton Road, Noctorum

Planning Committee – decision tonight on application about land adjacent to 290 Upton Road, Noctorum

Planning Committee – decision tonight on application about land adjacent to 290 Upton Road, Noctorum

                                          

A decision will be made tonight at Wirral Council’s Planning Committee about the new house on Upton Road.

I notice although the recommendation to approve it hasn’t changed, an extra condition 8 has been added (compared to the previous report was on this planning application). This extra condition is:-

"Prior to the occupation of the dwelling hereby approved,the south-facing landing window and east facing bathroom window shall be obscurely glazed and non-opening above 1.7 metres in height and shall be retained as such thereafter."

Hopefully this should satisfy the two who objectors (although I got the feeling talking to them they were against the principle of a house being built there at all). Even if it was turned down tonight as the previous application was approved (and is valid) it would still probably be built. This plan just asks for a further bedroom and bathroom.

Separation distances and privacy are important things to be considered; the former has been on the mind of the Planning Committee ever since in a case nearby to Upton Road someone was awarded compensation because a plan was approved without due regard given to them. I look forward to tonight’s meeting.

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