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

St Teresa's

West Park’s Labour Team congratulated everyone involved in providing community activities at St Teresa’s Community Centre on Devon Street after they were successful in obtaining a grant of £7000 to help restore the centre. The Community centre caters for young people and the elderly. Cllr Marlene Quinn, who has been working with the Community Centre and offering advice on ways to access funding, commented” the commitment shown by people who help out at the centre is first class. The recent appeal for old mobile phones raised over £300 and the Centre are looking to apply for a further grant of £500 to help with youth activities. The Community Centre is making a real difference in the local community and it’s a privilege working with them ”

Mick Manning ,who helps at the centre, said “A simple phone call to West Park Labour Team asking for help in fund-raising pointed us in the right direction, we are now reaping the rewards. We bought a new pool table for the kids with the money from the old mobile phones and we still want more old mobile phones to help raise funds”

The Big Lib Dem Lights out-Again!!!

For the second year running the Lib Dem/Tory alliance running the Council has cut funding for street lighting. Labour’s Marlene Quinn said “Street lighting is an import factor in reassuring the public and deterring crime. We will continue to expose the Lib Dem/Tory cuts at the Town Hall and fight for our area.”

Robbie joins post office fight

Labour Campaigner Robbie Ayres has joined Cllrs Marie Rimmer and Marlene Quinn and local residents in the fight to try and save Cambridge Road Post Office from closure.

Robbie said ”To close this post office would be a catastrophe for the local community ,particularly local pensioners .The nearest Post Office would be the main PO on Bridge Street. The Bridge St office is always very busy with endless queues. If we lost Cambridge Road post office this would also have an adverse effect on the many shops in Cambridge Rd. The Post Office consultation on the proposed closure lasts six weeks and ends on December 17th. Your West Park Labour Team have delivered thousands of leaflets around the Newtown area urging people to write to the Post Office Consultation Team”:

Latest West Park Rose delivered

The Xmas edition of West Park Labour Team's Rose newsletter is now being delivered.This is the third ward newsletter since last May's local elections and includes news about your Labour Team's local campaigns in your area.

St Teresa's Scoops Award

St.Teresa’s Catholic Primary School has become the first school in St. Helens to achieve a Second Green Flag award from the national ENCAMS Eco Schools Campaign. The Devon Street school was initially awarded the prestigious Green Flag in May 2005 for its ongoing work and commitment to the environment.

Well done to all pupils,parents and staff!!!

Newtown Planters

The removal of several planters around the Newtown area recently took place.These included planters in Devon,Sidney,Bronte,Exeter and Grafton Streets.

Labour Councillor Marlene Quinn said "Many residents had complained that the planters were a focal point for litter and anti social behaviour in the area.Several residents had plants shoved through their letterboxes that had been uprooted from the planters"

Labour's Care Boost

The quality of life for older people in St. Helens care homes will improve as a result of a £225,000 refurbishment fund from the Labour Government. This is St Helens’ share of a national £67 million investment in England’s Care Homes by Labour.

Improvements will include:

Replacing worn-out carpeting or floor coverings to reduce the risk of falls.

Upgrading dining rooms.

Upgrading residents’ bedrooms and bathrooms

Improving gardens or outside spaces used by residents, to encourage outdoor exercise.

Alterations that would give the residents greater privacy.

Providing information technology that benefits older residents, such as access to internet and email.

Local Labour Councillor Marlene Quinn said” By distributing this funding to almost 7,000 care homes throughout England Labour are aiming to improve the lives of tens of thousands of people and their families. This is good news for our care homes in St Helens ”

Latest West Park Rose Delivered

The latest edition of West Park Labour Team's community newsletter is being delivered to every home in West Park Ward right now.Local news, by local people for local people....

Labour Slams Town Hall Lib Dem Spin

Labour has slammed the Council’s Lib Dem Leadership for their ‘pass the buck’ attitude and excessive spin.

Cllr Marlene Quinn said “Whenever bad news or a tough decision needs to be explained to the people of St Helens the Lib Dems offer up an anonymous ‘Council spokesperson ‘ to comment. But when a good news story breaks, usually involving money from the Labour Government, Lib Dems are literally falling over themselves to get their name attached to the story. It’s just the sort of irresponsible ’leadership’ we’ve come to expect from the Lib Dems and we will continue to hold them to full account on behalf of local residents.”

Sign Of The Times

A new street sign was fitted in Lynn Close after residents contacted Marlene and Marie.Do you know of a local street sign in need of repair or replacement? Contact labour@westpark.org.uk

Phone Mast Blast

Cllrs Marlene Quinn and Marie Rimmer have joined local residents in objecting to the proposed placement of a mobile phone mast on Prescot Road near Carmel College.

Marlene said”It is proposed to situate the mast in a high density residential area with large numbers of students of Carmel Sixth Form College accessing transport in the vicinity of this mast. There is still an issue regarding mast impact on health. We have notified residents in the area of our objections and concerns”

Ravenhead Plans Rejected Again

The revised plans to build 400 new homes on the former glassworks site in Ravehead have been rejected . West Park’s Local Labour Team has lead the campaign against this unsuitable development from day one.

Labour Councillor Marie Rimmer commented “Ravenhead’s already congested roads simply couldn’t take hundreds of extra vehicles and the congestion along Prescot Road would have worsened. We’d like to thank all the residents who contacted us about this important local issue and we will continue to monitor the situation”

Marlene wins West Park

Local Labour Campaigner Marlene Quinn won the election in West Park, gaining the seat from the Lib Dems, with a thumping 591 majority,a swing to Labour and Labour's highest vote in any ward across St Helens. Marlene Quinn said" Labour's majority went up in West Park as did our share of the vote. This is a victory for the community of West Park Ward and I will work just as hard in the council chamber as I do in our local community.I'd like to thank everyone who supported me and the many people who sent genuine messages of support during the campaign"

Marlene Quinn Labour Party 1741

Conservative Party 174
Liberal Democrat 1150
Community Action Party 50
BNP 220

Taylor Park Boathouse

Marlene Quinn tries out the specially made celebration cake at the recent opening of Taylor Park’s new café with local residents and people involved in running the café from St John’s Ravenhead. It was Marlene’s suggestion that St John’s be involved in operating the café in Taylor Park. Marlene said “The opening is a credit to all the people from St John’s Centre, The Friends of Taylor Park and everyone else involved. I’m sure our local community will make good use of this excellent new facility. The service is excellent and all the produce is affordably priced. Over the past couple of years the park has been transformed with new facilities and the numbers of people using the park has increased substantially. It’s a real success story for our area and St Helens.”