The week that ended......31 January 2016

So here we are at the end of January. Wow that's gone fast. Christmas was ages ago, well at least a month ago...lol.

OK I guess this weeks' blog post should be the usual titled the week that ended should be the fortnight that ended... as I didn't get round to write the blog post with so much going on.

The first thing i would like to say is my thoughts go out to Terry Wogan's family as I have heard that he has sadly passed away. I would like to say to them...... (Blank). I used to love watching Blankety Blank growing up.

I guess the first thing people are talking about in Standish is the Deal. Wigan Council's latest PR spin propaganda. In short it means you will pay an increase in your Council Tax, even though Wigan Council say on their Deal literature that they will freeze Council Tax. Then after they have raised the Tax they want residents to do jobs they would have done, like litter picking every week or staff libraries. So they don't want librarians now. They do a great job for me.

So at the Q&A which should have been for 90 mins of time for residents to question to be able to get to ask the Labour Leader of the Council and Chief Executive a question. Residents were upset that the fact that the first 50 mins was taking up by being spoken at when they turned up believing they could ask the question. Then the Tory candidate hogged the Question time and stopped residents asking questions. Then on social media both the Tory and Labour Candidate for the forth coming local election in Standish said I said nothing. Well this is true. given that there was so little time for genuine residents to ask I did not want to take THEIR time up, which the Tory candidate did. The Labour candidate didn't even ask a question. If you want to read more about the event see this blog post. My Council surgery this week was people turning up that wanted to ask a question and wasn't allowed due to the limited time. I will be asking, and have, asked the question that residents wanted to ask.

During the last Council meeting that also took place in the last 2 weeks I raised the issue of why has Wigan Council given millions to a developer for a piece of land that they sold them for £1. Rather than trying to explain their thought process and reasoning why they sold 175 cares for a £1 and then gave millions of your tax payers money to the developer the Labour Leader stood up and said he will sue me now for telling people about the deal. What has the Council to hide with people knowing about this? One wonders and the very thought going through your head at this time is also my thought too. For more on that story click this link.

Also this weekend Labour ave put out desperate lies and deception to try and win the local election in May. Here is one part of my response . Another candidate from last year and questioned a resident on Twitter saying what have I achieved  as a Cllr. I am guessing they only think that big projects count and being a Cllr is all about being in the paper saying I do this and I do that. Yes it is important to say things what I am up too and this is why I have the blog. However for me being a Cllr is about the little things more than the big things. For example an elderly lady contacted me last year about being in the wrong type of accommodation and lonely. I was able to get her into a place that would be better for her. I did help and she emailed me 2 weeks ago with this below.

Last year I emailed you when I was desperate for accommodation an with your help I got a lovely one bedroom flat at X. My life has improved so much and this place is a lovely place to live.  I have had many happy hours here and made good friends and would like to thank you for your assistance

For me that is what being a Cllr is about making a difference to people's every day lives but also standing up for Standish and fighting against all these houses etc. I have changed the name of the accommodation and put X in it's place.

If anyone sees any of the Labour or Tory lies and you want to ask me just email me at garethfairhurst@gmail.com . As for my response to the labour leaflet yes it is coming - to every house soon.

I guess Labour and the Tories are trying to start the election before they have even started.

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Labour Lies or Deception? Or both?

So if you live in Standish you will probably have had a Labour propaganda leaflet. The Question there is so much wrong with it, it is untrue. You would have thought that Labour would try and get people to vote for them in May by trying to say what a great job they do. But as they don't do a good job and they know it, we know it and more worrying for them is they know that the people know it too. So what's the strategy to try and get round this? Keep up the "Don't Blame the Council." Labour are always blaming someone else and it is never their fault, they say.

So here is one of the things wrong with their leaflet. Below is a bar chart and words on the leaflet.

So if you read their blurb Labour says that only their candidate and Labour can beat the Tories. Not being too rude but how think are labour? If you look at their chart, yes their chart it is clear that the Standish Independents beat the Tories, so demonstrating that Labour statement is false. But also the Standish Independents.

Then in the same chart they have me coming in 4th place behind the Standish Independents, Tories and Labour. But as we all know I am a Standish Independent Cllr and we won. But below is Wigan Council Election page for the result is below. As you can see I am not even on the ballot paper. So what on earth are Labour harping on about that their local candidate beat me. I wasn't even standing in the Local Elections.

 So this Labour leaflet is it just lies or are they trying to deceive you? Or more probable both! Either way Standish Residents see Labour for what they are - DESPERATE!!!!

Residents lambast Wigan Council at their meeting

So Wigan Council held their, "THE DEAL" meeting in Standish tonight. This was where they would be rolling out the idea of how they will ask volunteers to do jobs that they would do normally for free, but still collect higher Council Tax.

So the idea was that it was a 90 min Question and Answers by the Labour Leader and Chief Executive and they would be asked questions by the residents of Standish and they would answer them.

So first thing first, the first hour, aprox, the residents were just talked at. Then the Q&A session started and it was only about 30 mins. In this section it was clear from residents that they were not having any of the baloney from the Council. Why do I say this? Residents repeatedly asked - will you just answer the question that we have asked? Then when the Council tried their prepared spin (answers) that were not relevant to the question residents had asked - so they said we don't believe you. What do you do for your money? was another question. Then after some time the residents just shouted we don't believe you - it is all a PR stunt this! So it is clear that residents were not buying into the spin the Council were saying. Another great comment from a lady was the Council is taking away the natural beauty of Standish. I guess if the Labour lot want to try and even be considered for voting for them in May they will have to try and convince people that it is the Tory's fault.

The Labour leader tried to blame the Tory Government for all the houses coming to Standish, which in part is true, but then said the reality is the more houses we get in Standish the more Council Tax we collect as a Council. So there we have it - the truth from the horses mouth!

I have always said the Council were collecting £25m+ from all these houses, and that is growing, but the Council have tried to deny this in the past but tonight confirmed they will only be keeping £5m in Standish. So when I have said for years on this blog and leaflets that we are being ripped off because there is more money than the £5m.

The the final insult was when they asked for people to volunteer to wear a high visibility jacket and hold a speed camera and catch people speeding and then report those to the council. Will residents want to do this? Why do we pay our taxes? The Council want us to do all their jobs and the police;s job and still pay for it - crazy!

Proof how Council are biased towards Labour Cllrs

If any of you read the local paper or visit the council site or have see any of their communications you may see how the council put out that opposition Cllrs are really bad and naughty. It is the ones that challenge and dig into things that the council don't like. People like me. Another one is Hindley Independent Cllr Bob Brierley.

The Council keep using the Labour Standards Committee to keep finding opposition Cllrs guilty of trumped up things and then turn a blind eye to Labour cllrs.

In the last few days yet more evidence of this as come to light. Hindley Independent Cllr allegedly called a Labour Cllr a name. He says he didn't but has apologised to the Cllr for any upset about the word he thought he may have been called. Council says this is not good and are now going to waste 000's investigating him and sending him to a hearing which only Labour Cllrs will sit on.

This so called named calling took place nearly 18 months ago and the council have sat on this until now so they can find him guilty just before his re-election, this May.

Now a Labour Cllr threatened an oppostion Cllr and said they could arrange to have them put in hospital. Now the Labour biased Council say that this is OK and the Labour Cllr concerned doesn't have to apologise as they did nothing wrong.

Many residents will see the second element a lot worse than the first and wonder why the Labour cllr hasn't been sent to the Standards Committee? Also the Labour Leader told an opposition to go and take an overdose. Again no issue and no problem with that.

the biased and double standards in this Council is shocking and shows the corruption goes to the core.

The week that ended......17 Jan '16

What a week. Two massive legends passed away. First we had David Bowie and with Lazarus coming out just a few days before that was very spooky. If you haven't seen that video or heard the song here it is. Remember this came out just a few days before he passed away. It's like he knew. He was one of the biggest music stars. I loved the fact he flew into London in 2014 with his family and did the sights with no one recognising him.

Then later in the week we had Alan Rickman. I know that many people will know him for the harry potter films but he stared in so many it is hard to choose. I have read that his performance in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves was so good that they cut some of Kevin Costner's scenes.

So in the week we had the Full Council meeting and after I informed people about the wasting of tax payers millions Labour's Leader Cllr peter smith best response was I will sue you. Really? Now for all his faults he has been the leader of Wigan Council since 1992 and therefore he has seen a few heated debates and normally he can come back pretty quick and quite good. This response demonstrates one or two things. He is now past it as the leader of the council, a few Labour Cllrs agree with me on this too - privately of course.

Now the issue that I talked about was so topically the response was this one here. This is where I have shown Labour up for giving millions away for nothing. the article I wrote originally says £8m - I got it wrong as I was not allowed in the debate. The real figure was £10m. The old saying it is easy spending others money is so true in Wigan.

Wigan Central got voted best pub of the year, so well done to Patsy and her team. Good on yer.

In Appley Bridge rumours are a foot that the planning application for the burning plastic plant has been withdrawn. Great news but as one resident said they may well come back with an amendment plan. very true.

The snow arrived at the end of the week and many people built snowmen and had snow ball fights no doubt. Maybe it was the cold that got to the Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn head. Seriously is this guy for real. It is Labour's policy to keep fossil fuel in the ground. Great green policy there. But then it is also Labour's policy to open the pits again. So once they do that but are keeping the coal in the ground what will the pit workers actually be doing? Then came the idea of he will keep Trident subs. Again a great defence policy - only thing is he doesn't want them to carry warheads. This guy can't be all there with these policies surely?

I have read that Which? has revealed that many of the big 6 energy companies are letting people down with their customer services as well as may be not being the best for price. With the cold weather now here it is a good time to check if you can get a cheaper deal. Use a site like http://www.mybillexpert.co.uk/ . This site compares all the different tariffs and suppliers. Some of the comparison sites only show the company that you can switch too. My Bill Expert doesn't do this but even shows the ones you have to go direct with. Great ethical policy.

OK enjoy the snow and if you need us you know where we are.

Why is Standish getting nearly 2000 homes

One of the most asked question to us as Ward Councillors for Standish is why are we getting nearly 2000 houses when Wigan Council agreed to allow 1000? The answer is shocking and worrying but it is important to realise why we are in this situation.

The Standish Independents will work to highlight the loophole and strategy and fight it as this shouldn't be allowed as it is unfia rin communities like Standish

The week that ended....10 Jan '16

Everyone is now back in the swing and business as usual. So here we have the blog post series of the week that ended....

So first of the bat is the closing date for the Rectory Lane planning application which has gone in, Here is the story. Should anyone who has not sent their objection in please let me know and pass them to me ASAP.

Wigan Hospital told people to stay away, unless it was an emergency. That should always be the case with Hospitals and whilst on one hand it gets me that the hospitals have to say that but when I have had the unfortunate need to be in there myself it gets to me where people have gone and A&E is  not the place for them. I think I have wrote about the time I was in and a drunk just wanted a bed to sleep on. When they tried to discharge him he said if I choke on my own vomit and die my family will sue. Ahhhhhh!!!!!!

We then had a media circus because a cricketer asked a reporter out live on air and then there was this big Media story. For me had she just said no I am out of your league or you have no chance concentrate on cricket then the humiliation of being knocked back live on air would have put him in check.

The funniest thing and line was said on TV this week. This was on Come Dine with me. There was a seriously competitive guy on there and then he lost. He then said to the Winner - his biggest rival - you have all the grace of a dump truck reversing - with no tyres on! So funny what does that even mean? I was asked to appear on the show in 2013 and maybe next time I should go on and say they have the grace of a dump truck going forward with tyres on :-). Seriously for those that saw it was laughing I bet. Here is clip if you missed it.

National politics back we had Labour's re-shuffle. It must be the longest in history taking 36 hours to do. Hours after it was finally announced then 3 of the ministers quit. Labour really are imploding.

Local Politics and Labour are wanting to change the rules -AGAIN - to suit them. They really do have North Korea Kim Jong-un as their mentor.

Surgery was a busy one for us with a number of residents wanting help with flooding issues and the immigrants at the Britannia are also a concern again for residents. If it wasn't so sad it would be funny but a couple rang the Council on Boxing day concerned that their bungalow would flood. So they rang the Council for help and advise. Wigan Council's response was fill a couple of pillow cases with soil and put them at your back door. Really is this the best we can do?

With regards the immigrants the about of people are sick of reading that they only get £5 per week but yet all have mobile phones and designer gear on. Also it has become clear that they are going into gardens on Almond Brook Rd and taking selfies of them in a nice garden and they must be then emailing them back home saying look what you are missing.

We say welcome to the Orrell Independents

So many know me for being the Cllr for Standish and my blog posts. Given that Orrell Labour Party has chosen a former Cllr who had to quit as she was living in Ireland for 6 Months when she was a Cllr and she did not do anything, include attend any meetings. What she did do though was to take her Cllrs Allowance which is the region of £6k. People in her ward were outrage that she mad moved out of the Country never mind out of Wigan but still carried on taking her salary.

It was myself that caught her out and made her resign. Now she is married and has taken a new surname she is hoping, along with Labour, that no one notices. So when I disclosed this then people in Orrell contacted me and now they have done a leaflet in the Ward and here is their new blog.

Good luck to them and if you live in Orrell why not get involved in getting rid of the corruption.

New comparison website Gas and Electricity

A little away from politics but hopefully useful to use is a new comparison website to help you save money.

Whilst there are already a number of these websites out there - there are a number of things that is useful with this site.

First of all for those that don't use the internet or trust internet sites for comparing their energy bills or they simply want to talk to a UK person to discuss, then this site has a freephone number. This number is available Monday - Friday 9am till 5pm.

Secondly, for those that use the site then this site is easy to use and jargon free. So often people say the large sites out there are too confusing. Also it is quite laborious to get to the results. This new site is quick and easy. It has a easy and fresh design and easy to use.

Thirdly, unlike all sites this site will also show you all the results. Even the ones that you can not switch with them The good thing with having all the different suppliers is you see what is best for you.

Finally, it has top tips on how to get the best results for you and make sure you get the maximum saving.

So what is this great new site I hear you all say....lol....Here it is mybillexpert.co.uk .

Why not have a look and see if you can save money if you are looking to around for gas and electric prices.

***WARNING CAR THEFTS***

This is blog post is just to warn people of a car theft on Wigan Rd over night of the 2nd January and 3rd January. Also on the same night a possible car theft were carried out.

Be wary if your car alarms goes off over a night period. Even if you turn it off and then reset it and then it goes off again.reset the alarm again. One thing that the possible thief are after is for you to get sick of putting the car alarm back on and therefore keep it off. Then the thief can break into the car without any deterrent.

Labour Party imploding after reshuffle

So after Jeremy Corbyn's first re-shuffle it is clear that what people thought of his leadership and that is Labour will implode.

His first reshuffle must have been the longest one in British political history as it was something like 36 hours to complete. News is creeping out that this was because Jeremy Corbyn was brow beating people into doing what he wanted them to do. Now it is quite reasonable for some people to say this and it is certainly an argument for someone that says that they want one party and one voice etc slogan.

However, there are a couple of things why that can't be said at this time. First of all Jeremy Corbyn said he was starting a new age of politics where people can have a different opinion and that is how things are achieved. Getting people different views, debating and then getting the best answer. This is something that I would say yes that argument is a good one but you can't then turn to your team and say I know what I said to the public but you have to agree with me.or else. That is some one that is two faced.

Also when Jeremy was a back-bencher he quite often defied the Labour Party Whip and voted against Labour and Tony Blair. Whilst I can see why someone would vote against Tony Blair you can't be a rebel and then try to block rebels out when he was one and also he said he wanted this kind of things whereby people have differing opinions.

Since the sacking and reshuffle  of shadow cabinet ministers there have already been 3 shodow ministers resigning their positions within the shadow cabinet. It is clear that the start of the imploding of Labour has started. The next question will be how long will this complete implode last?

I would say it could be all over for him by the middle of May. After the May's local election if Labour fail to get local Cllrs elected. I would believe that the wolfs will turn and they will be out for blood, and that is Jeremy Corbyn's.

Whilst this is the National Party issue for Labour it is interesting that local Labour voters have said that they don't like Jeremy and have said that as Labour traditional voters they can't vote for the Tories and they want to get rid of Jeremy Corbyn they are thankful that there is myself standing as a local independent.

Time will tell how Labour does in the Local Elections across the country in May but I guess it will be the start of the end.

Time running out to object to Rectory Lane Planning App

So here we are with another planning app. This is land east of Rectory Lane Farm. The planning application number is A/15/81740.

This application is another large scale and will see, if passed, houses all the way down to the Railway Line. The picture is of the site before Xmas and it is a bog. With the recent floods that we have seen  you can only worry where will all the water go that is in this field go?

If you want to see the application here is the link for it here.

The closing date for your objections is the 8th January and we, as the local Cllrs, have called this in before the planning committee and objected to the plans as well.