Latest West Park Rose out now

The latest edition of West Park Labour Team's local Campaigning newsletter is being delivered to every home in the ward right now.The newsletter is compiled by local Labour volunteers and delivered by local volunteers.We are West Park's ONLY all local, all year round campaigning Party.

Alleyway Surfacing

Alleyway Surfacing
and campaigning for more …..
Your Local Labour Councillors successfully fought for funding from West Park Fair Shares to have some alleyways constructed to adoptable standards in Grange Park Road, Legion Road, Elm Road, Crossley Road, Norfolk Road, Downs Road. Freckleton Road will be financed by the West Park Ward Fund.

We are continuing to press the Council to provide funding for similar work for the Bates Crescent Triangle and behind Clifton Terrace on Prescot Road. As always we will keep
residents informed ….

Queens Park Update

It was a long wait and three years late but the investment Labour originally planned for Queens Park Leisure Centre seems to be
finally on the way – Touch wood!!.

Labour Councillor Robbie Ayres commented ”From Monday 30th March the building will be decommissioned and prepared for handover to contractors, which should occur at the end of May 2009. The final agreement on contracts is expected to be in place by the end of April with appropriate supporting council decisions. .

“The pool will be demolished and the existing sports hall will be refurbished to provide a brand new leisure complex.
The car park will be extended and covered by CCTV cameras. Extra spaced for disabled drivers and cyclists will be provided and the existing landscaping will be replaced and improved. The opening date will hopefully be in 2010 and we will be monitoring the progress of the plans to ensure there are no further delays, local people have waited long enough”

Hazel Grove

West Park’s Local Labour Councillors recently held a meeting with the residents at Hazel Grove following the bombshell announcement that Arena Homes are to review the viability of the popular housing scheme.

Cllr Marie Rimmer commented” Hazel Grove is well established and close knit community of elderly residents and the news has come as a real shock to the residents. Arena have stated the lack of lifts in the buildings, and other issues make the accommodation unfit for purpose. Our view is we should not be losing housing provision for elderly residents and we are liaising with Arena and the Council to try and keep this community together. The residents are understandably very concerned and have elected a small group of representatives. Marie will be asking Arena to involve these representatives and herself throughout the review process. “

St Helens Lib Dem in Facebook storm

A SENIOR St Helens Liberal Democrat Cllr David Crowther has been accused of posting insensitive remarks on the Facebook social networking website about the sudden deaths of two Labour local Labour Councillors.

Labour Group Leader and West Park Councillor Marie Rimmer,said: “I am disgusted and utterly appalled by Cllr Crowther’s comments.

“Mike Doyle and Ken Pinder were not only friends of mine but great public servants to the residents of St Helens.

“Politics at times can be combative but when a person passes away, usually political parties come together to celebrate that member’s contribution to public life. I really cannot believe the insensitivity of Cllr Crowther and demand that he apologises immediately to Cllr Doyle and Cllr Pinder’s widows and family members.”

Thatto Heath Dam

Alarmed residents contacted your Labour Team after seeing JCB diggers and heavy machinery working at Thatto Heath Dam. Cllr Robbie Aryes said “Some residents were worried that a new open access was being constructed at the Dam.We have followed up this issue and discovered the Council are clearing vegetation and installing a new drain to prevent flooding to a property in Dickens Road.The water flow will then be monitored to see if the problem has been rectified. Thank you to everyone who contacted us about this issue”

Xmas West Park Rose now being delivered

The Xmas edition of the West Park Rose-our local free campaigning newsletter is now being delivered in your area.Included is a free handy calender and all the latest news affecting your area.

Clean Bill of Health

Your Labour Councillors would like to congratulate our local hospitals for meeting all standards for hygiene requirements following in depth studies and unannounced spot checks. Cllr Marie Rimmer commented” We know in St Helens what a great job our hospitals do, they have to take flak from local politicians trying to get a few quick headlines for themselves in the press but the results speak for themselves. It’s a great accolade for our local nurses and dedicated hospital staff”

Parking pain goes on for residents

Many residents are still contacting your Labour Team regarding parking problems across West Park Ward.The main areas of concern are Prescot Road,West Park Road,Broadway and the perennial problem of overspill parking from Taylor Park in the Grosvenor Road area.Cllr Marie Rimmer said” We are in constant contact with the Council on all these issues and have asked for action to give residents some peace of mind.It seems the Lib Dem run Council has taken it’s eye off the ball and is concentrating most of it’s efforts in readiness for the expansion of on street parking charges in St Helens early in the new year.”

“We believe the Highways Department has done all it can to ‘encourage’ visitors to Taylor Park to use the Holme Road car park but residents at the Grosvenor Road end are still suffering .We will continue to urge the Council leadership to take this issue, and the parking issues in Prescot Road,Broadway and West Park Road, seriously.”

PICTURED:Cllr Marlene Quinn in West Park Road.

Youth Matters

Following conversations with your Labour Councillors extra staff from the Youth Service have been deployed to West Park ward to help engage young people who are congregating on the streets in positive activities. Cllr Marlene Quinn said “The vast majority of kids are good kids and working together with the local youth service we can ensure they play a positive role in our community.”

Thatto Heath Park

Members of West Park’s all local Labour Team spent a morning collecting bottles and beer cans from the shrubbery at Thatto Heath Park recently.Three carrier bags of cans and bottles were collected for recycling.

Cllr Marlene Quinn said ”We know there is an ongoing problem with drinking in the park, you only need to look at the amount of beer cans in the bushes to understand the issue. Please contact us if you spot any areas littered with cans and bottles.”

Queens Park Leisure centre

Residents are reeling from the news that the Kids’ paddling pool and Squash Courts are to close at Queens Park Leisure centre. Local Labour Councillor Robbie Ayres commented “Despite all their hype the Lib Dems running the council have put no extra money into the capital funding programme for leisure and any improvements will have to come via increased revenue at the door. One saving grace is the Lib Dem led Council has belatedly taken the advice of St Helens Labour MP Shaun Woodward and bid for money made available by the Labour government to extend free swimming for all over 60’s and under 16’s right across the Borough. “

Latest West Park Rose delivered

West Park Labour Teams latest Rose newsletter is being delivered across the ward right now.The Sept/Oct 2008 edition features news from Taylor Park/Thatto Heath Park. News about Queens Park leisure centre,school transport to Cowley and the issue of dumped used syringes.

Local news by the local team for local people.

A load of rubbish

Residents are again contacting your Labour Team about the amount of rubbish collecting in local Alley Ways around West Park Ward. Recently we’ve followed up reports of rubbish in alleys at the rear of Chamberlain Street and Gladstone Street.

Cllr Marlene Quinn said” This is an ongoing problem we are working hard to try and address. Disabled residents have also contacted us with concerns that they no longer have adequate assistance with their wheelie bins, with other residents complaining about bins not being emptied in over five weeks, this is all since new contracts of employment were issued by the Lib Dem /Tory Council to permanent employees, along with the Council now using agency workers on refuse collection and street sweeping.. A fine mess they've made of the service you could set your clock by when Labour managed the Council”.

Proud of the NHS

Our National Health Service is 60 years old on 5 July 2008, so let’s celebrate one of Britain’s most treasured institutions, that’s touched the lives of hundreds of millions of people.


Have your say on our NHS at http://www.labour.org.uk/proud/home

A very special resident

Cllr Marie Rimmer and Cllr Marlene Quinn had the privilege of marking the 104th birthday of Mrs Chadwick , a regular at the ever popular "Luke Inn" at St Luke’s on Knowsley Road. Marie said "it was fantastic to be part of Mrs Chadwick’s birthday celebrations, what a great example Mrs Chadwick is to us all.”

Still think you know the Lib Dems?

TRANSPORT COSTS

For those unable to travel by public or private means Adult Social Care and Health operates a dedicated transport service. This not only allows people with disabilities to travel around but also ensures they can attend Day Centres that provide social and leisure activities and to gain important life and workplace skills. This year The Lib Dems and Tories have increased the cost per journey from £1.12p to 2.50p per trip. A whopping increase of 123%!!!!

Still think you know the Lib Dems?

Think You Know The Lib Dems?

Portland House

The pioneering Portland House in Newton-le-Willows was one of the first of its kind in the country and provides specialist 24-hour support for older people with dementia. It has been a great success after the previous Labour Council and Villages Community Housing first developed the centre.

This year the Lib Dems & Tories on St Helens Council are putting the charges at Portland House up from £84.95p per week to £178.92p per week.

Still think you know the Lib Dems?

Robbie gains West Park from Lib Dems

Local Labour Campaigner Robbie Ayres wins West Park with a whopping 679 vote majority. Robbie has been part of Labour's local campaign team for the past year.

Robbie commented" I'd like to thank everyone who voted for me, working with Marie and Marlene I'll do my best for our area"

Labour made 2 gains in St Helens from the Lib Dems.The Lib Dems failed to take any of their targets.

the results

Ayres Robbie (Lab) 1493
Barton Richard William (Con) 329
Evans David (Lib Dem) 814
Swindells Eric John (BNP) 331

Lib Dems relegate Liverpool

It took them a few years but the Lib Dems have finally managed to ensure Liverpool is rated the worst council in the country.The people of Liverpool deserve better.

Official: Liverpool city council is worst - yes, the WORST - in the country

LIVERPOOL has been named and shamed as the worst performing council in the country.
The city finished bottom of the national list.

It was one of only two English authorities to receive a one-star “inadequate” rating.
The only other, Rutland, finished above Liverpool because its prospects for improvement were better.

Liverpool’s humiliating performance in this year’s comprehensive performance assessment (CPA) was blamed on the council’s handling of taxpayers’ money