Accident waiting to happen - again at the main traffic lights.

Wigan Council are yet again putting lives at risk with their crazy schemes. The latest one is the lights for a crossing outside Domino's pizza, where there used to be a zebra crossing. 

Many have complained about the traffic chaos there, which itself is an inconvenience to people and could be dangerous to people, but I have seen a real big problem and this is at the main traffic lights cross roads, where, sadly, we have had two deaths already over the years.

The issue, which I witnessed last night, is when traffic signals on the School Lane are on green and traffic go straight across and towards the Church and the lights at the crossing. If those crossing lights are on red, which happened last night, then the traffic backs up and across the main lights cross roads and up School Lane. Then main cross roads lights from School lane turn red the green man then comes on for people to cross Market Street. At this point the main traffic is backed up over the cross roads - blocking it. 

But when people cross Market street as the green man is on and then  green light changes at the crossing at Domino's so the traffic starts moving at the same time as people cross the road - putting lives at risk. Which nearly happened last night. Unless Wigan Council address this immediately they are putting lives at risk. With the dark nights too this does not help. It's a death trap waiting to happen and if by highlighting this we can get it resolved asap then so much the better. I have have written a letter to Wigan Council on the matter and asked for immediate urgent action before we have any incidents there. Whether they do anything is another thing, but let's hope.

We must remember that Wigan Council have got nearly £30m from all the houses that have been built in and around Standish, and are still being built, but they have failed to make any improvements to the traffic infrastructure. They also get EXTRA £5m every year ( approx) from these new houses and Wigan Council needs to stop using Standish as a cash cow and taking millions from us and doing nothing to address issues or make any improvements. 

Protest march and update

Well that was entertaining. So a big thank you to everyone that was able to attend either the walk, meeting or both. Before we get into it I must address the Labour's rent a gobs turning up again - aka the unions and hired people from Birmingham and Liverpool. And there's me thinking the union were meant to be for the working man, not immigrants. I wonder if all their members knew what their subs were going on?  I witnessed a number going in the hotel and getting the little banners out  of there. What was funny was this - and I don't normally lower myself to name calling but this idiot (picture below) gets an exception - this lazy fat so and so. Who drove past us numerous times ranting and shouting expletives and threatening to kill us. When someone said he doesn't even get out the van so how was he going to kill us, his wife held up his disability badge. It was clear that this idiot was just trying to provoke us into some kind of reaction, even though he tried to run me over and missed. 

Picture is of Labour rent a gob that kept driving past and shouting threats and insults. When asked come and say it to our faces - he got his disability badge held up. I know I and others are not going to be intimidated by this lazy scumbag.

What was again interesting is with this Labour's rent a gob lot they held up banners again saying Immigrants are welcome here, but yet they were from Liverpool and Birmingham so of course they are saying migrants are welcome are welcome in Standish as they don't want them on their door steps. Hypocrites!

Back to the important stuff and move away from the entertaining and back to the issue. I have now had confirmation from the Council that once Kilhey Court closes to immigrants the other hotels will still be still taking the immigrants in. Well we know that is Britannia. But we know that there have been issues with these people in there, inc from the big gob above that there are attacks inside the hotel over who's having which clothes. But we must keep the fight on as we know there have been other attacks and one Standish Cllr has even said they meet the police weekly about it and being on or near the line is a no go area now inc in the day time. This is ridiculous that we should now have no go areas in Standish. We must fight to take our village back from anyone that think they can make it a no go area or where residents are unsafe. We will not tolerate this!

Go forward we will get the petition to Downing Street again in December, so please make sure you sign it and tell others to as well. We are getting close to the 2,000 signatures mark now.

Thank you once again for everyone support and yet again the Local Cllr are nowhere to be seen. Mind you with some information about one we  have been told a reason why they are supporting immigrants and not us. We are looking into this. But we know they are backing the immigrants rather than standing with Standish residents. 

Why Labour Cllr Parkinson said she didn't come to the protest

Many residents are upset that none of the Cllrs attended the protest in Standish. This is well documented all over social media. But why many ask? Well last night I heard it for myself.

I guess it important to say that the Cllrs had said both Cllr Parkinson and Whittingham we all don't want them there so we are all on the same page. Important to note this.

So after the meeting I was talking to a couple of residents and when Labour Cllr Parkinson came over trying to say get my facts right about how much she is paid. That figure is £23K she wanted me to say. Put that on top of the other two £14K each you get these lot are costing us £51K a year. Over £4K per month - value you for money - Not especially when they hide from the residents.

Back to the article, one of the resident asked why did she not attend the protest? She said she has to represent either all, or the majority residents views and there were some on that side and then some on the other so she didn't know where to attend. 

WAIT A MINUTE !!! So I jumped in so you are saying that you think the majority of  Standish residents support asylum seekers coming to Kilhey Court and that is why you didn't attend? Realising in a hole she quickly said whilst holding up her arms - I don't know! Again I asked you don't know where the majority of people think. But remember she had said in the meeting we all agree that they shouldn't be housed there. So why the two different views within minutes? Caught out!

Standish Voice - yeah right - continue with their lies

 So last night 18 October 2023 - I went to the Standish Voice (SV) meeting at Alberts private room last night. An interesting night as finally the 3 ward Cllrs turned up. Wow can you believe it? Well it will soon become apparent why.

First of all I have always said, and will, that I will not be how Paul Ogden hides, and uses, Standish Voice for his attacks on me. He doesn't have the cajones, or the moral ethic fibres to do it in his own name. For me SVM is too important to allow or let me use it for any personal comments on others like Paul Ogden.

With out people that had come from SVM there would have only been 16 people there. And they claim they are the voice of Standish. Really? I think not! They will say we have 12,000 followers. 

In part of the meeting Paul Ogden spoke on clarification. He said there had been a number of things put out about them and they should all take what they see on the internet with a pinch of salt. Yeah that would include what they say. 

It is clear that their little group meet and then try and use that to peddle their hate and political propaganda on their Facebook page and website.   Paul Ogden put some lies out about me and I was not having that and challenge him there and then to him. He claimed we were asked to join the Standish Voice committee when it was set up. We were not but even if we had we wouldn't have done it as it was clear as day Paul Ogden set up stop the link road campaign on Pepper Lane to stop the road coming out at the side of his house as it would down value his house. Important to say at the point up until then Paul Ogden had NOT objected to ANY of the houses coming to Standish. Not had he attended any of the public meetings to campaign to stop the houses being built but as soon as a road came out at the side of his house he wanted to move that to someone else. So he started Stop the link road. That then grew into Standish Voice where he uses to campaign on his personal agenda. Shame on him! There he continue to try and get the road to come out elsewhere on someone else door step. So we would never back someone like that or try and prop up any little personal motivated group like SV/

He then said everyone in Standish can comment on their Facebook. No they can't. I know I can't nor can other Standishers that are well respected members of Standish. Again this is so they can try and peddle their labour controlled council propaganda.

I also mentioned Standish Voice hate campaigned against myself when I fenced my land off and he said I was given a right to respond. That is a complete lie! Greater Manchester Police asked me to do a joint statement with them so they could put it on Standish Voice page. They refused and continued to allow, and fuel, their hatred including for people to come to my property and get me. 

Way before the labour council mouth piece came along and this blog started I have always backed up with anything and everything I put on here. Shame Standish Voice and Paul Ogden can't when their peddle their propaganda and hate.

Why I wouldn't be like Standish Voice's Paul Ogden

So I have written about Standish Voice and the founder, Paul Ogden, of this political biased and motivated group under the disguise of a residents group before. Here is a link to that blog post here. An interesting read.

However, yet again Paul Ogden hides behind his little keyboard and behind Standish Voice's name. He does this to attack me personally and probably in the hope that I do the same to him from Standish View Matter name and site. This is what I will not do! I have the cahoonas to use my name. 

With Standish Views Matter (SVM) I will not allow that to be used like Paul Ogden does with Standish Voice. To me SVM is more important than that to me. Unlike Paul Ogden who only cares about himself.

So Paul Ogden, under Standish Voice, has allowed harassment to me and my family. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) even asked me to do a joint statement after they where using the site to encourage others to attack my family, my home and me. GMP wanted the criminality to stop and thought this was a good way. Paul Ogden refused GMP's request and continued to allow it. You have to ask "I wonder why/" I think we all know the reason for that. 

Paul Ogden has allowed highly libellous lies to be put out against me on his little page and than hid. I am putting this out under my own name and not the Standish Views Matter name. I do this as I say SVM and the issue of Kilhey Court is too important to the residents of Standish, the community and me. 

Paul Ogden should stop using Standish voice for his own little games and gains. But then again that was why he came up with it to help homself!

Labour try to stop Standish residents having their say

On Friday 18 August 2023 it was reported in the local media that the luxuries 4 Star hotel called Kilhey Court in Standish was to close with the lose of jobs to locals and that the hotel would be closing soon. The reason was to house economic migrants.

Local residents are up in arms about this for a number of reasons. One, there is already a loss of a hotel in the village for the same reason. This would be the last hotel that the community could use. Weddings and school proms were held there. All gone now! 

This Labour controlled Council blame it on the Government and say there is nothing they can do. Wrong! Recently both Chorley and Bolton councils had hotels in their respected areas being used for the same reason, inc the well known Park Hall hotel. Both councils entered into discussion with the Government over the matter and both Chorley and Bolton got the Government to move the migrants. So why can this Labour controlled Wigan Council not do the same? Or do they secretly like the idea but just want to try and blame the Government? Maybe they want them here so they can blame the government so more people will vote for them. 

But the residents of Standish have a right too. It is what is right and fair. On the economic migrants side of things there is no support network here for them, so using the hotel and area would be wrong for them.

Local residents are losing jobs because of it. How will they pay their rent or mortgages when economic migrants are being housed in a luxuries 4 star hotel down the road? Is that right and fair? Why are they not housed in this kind of facility? Why are tenants complaining of the state of some of the Council housing issues but they have to put up with it?

The gym will close, so that will put added pressure on other local gyms. People in the community like visiting Worhington Lakes but given what we know what has, and is happening at the Britannia Hotel, just 2.5 miles away, men will congregate there and this will put locals using the local amenities.

The hotel is used for school proms and weddings and these will stop. Where does Wigan Council expect locals to go now?

There have been a number of safety issues with these migrants men harassing high school females and this has been reported in the media and Greater Manchester Police. So by increasing the numbers of these people in the village heightens that risk. Why should locals put up with that risk? Is there any added police to protect our youngsters? No!

I got a call earlier informing me from one of my sources in the Labour camp saying Labour are going mad with the petition and how fast it is growing and they were trying to get it taken down on racists concerns, which it was not. Then a couple of hours later sure enough, as my source told me, the petition was taken down by the service provider. I have made contact with them and i will see if we can sort it out. But on the basis it may not we will not let this Labour controlled council stop you from having your say. 

So what is plan B

So, if we are not going to be silenced then what will we do? Go old school! I am working on paper petition sheets and we will collect them in the centre of Standish, we will go door to door and we will ask residents that want to help to get neighbours signatures on the sheets as well. Whether that is on their street or estate. So if you want to help email garethfairhurst@gmail.com and in the title put help the petition.

It is worth telling you that none of the local Cllrs had signed the petition when I checked before it went down, nor the Labour leader of this Council. If they were opposed like they try and make us believe why not stand with us? Why not sign the petition? Why try and stop the Standish residents having their say? 

Here is a YouTube video with an update too.

So please keep visiting this blog and I will keep it updated.

Standish Voice founder Paul Ogden Come clean

Many residents will have seen articles and social media posts about a fence I put across some land I own. This includes the political motivated Standish Voice. Trust me Labour's trojan horse. But that is for another time and blog post. 

Standish Voice was set up by a guy called Paul Ogden that lives on Pepper Lane, the house next to the new link road entrance. In fact that is why he set it up to stop the road coming out at the side of his house and what he told me and others at the time effecting the value of his property and he wanted to stop the road coming out there. He had not objected to any of the 2,000 houses that got approved by the Tory Government and Labour Council. 

Back to my fence Paul Ogden used his little mouth piece Standish Voice to lie about me and peddle his hatred towards me and used the Wigan Today posts that ran an article about the fence issue. Given that I complained to Wigan Today and they did not want to issue an apology initially but I went external and then they kindly worked with me to resolve my complaint. Here is a link to that clarification and apology. I thank Wigan Today for that. 

Paul Ogden and Standish Voice have not set the record straight and apologised to me. Defamation action will be commencing shortly against him but who is this Paul Ogden and why will he not come clean with the residents of Standish? 

Here is a picture of his house before the developments started. 

Notice the extension on the left hand side of his property right on the boundary. This is important fact. That is where his land starts and ends on that side. 

Now look at it today

Notice how he has gained land at the side of his house, This is a wide driveway and gates at the left hand side of the house. When he got the land at the side of his house he got all the driveway and garden done as well. Neighbours tell me new kitchen and new car arrived at that time too. Interesting. this is the guy that said my little group aka standish Voice will stop developments. Has it? No, but he has done very well out of it. 

In a Facebook post I asked him how put as he financially made out of all of the developments in Standish? He refused and said on Facebook he would tell any one in Standish. I asked him as I am a resident and his response is - not telling you! Interesting he is hiding the figure.

So why doesn't he come clean and tell us all, inc me, how much he has gained financially? Maybe that would be a better use of his time rather than spreading hate fuelled libellous lies about me and my family.  

Ranting Ray told to shut up

 Standish Tory Cllr Ray Whittingham has been told to shut up by the Mayor of Wigan Council. Could it be described as an outreach by him in that singular issue? No. But when we look at the wider issues then you see why this is showing that he is losing it and as one Labour Cllr who told me about him and to watch the video you can see why they are all laughing at him.

When a Cllr myself I was never told to shut up by the mayor but if things where done wrong then I would regularly bring point of orders etc and use the correct procedure. But with Ranting Ray he has now been described and compared to Buffoon Bob Brierley, who regularly disrupts meetings - rightly or wrongly.

But what are the issues here? Well Tory Cllr Ray Whittingham  is wanting all Cllrs to have their votes recorded. This is often done to try and embarrass other Cllrs of other political persuasions. But again when I was a Cllr I would often ask for this but the rules are very clear - you need 9 other Cllrs to support your request. The Tory's even voted to have this as a requirement. So when we see Cllr Ray Whittingham ranting at does it matter not having 10? well yes because his party supported the requirement to have 10 Cllrs agree to this. So why is he ranting now after his lot agreed to this? Seems very odd.

As the Tories have had a beating in the polls and only have 2 Cllrs out of 75 and three other independent groups have 9 between them you can see that the Tories will be down to one Cllr next yr and the following local election they will be eradicated altogether in the council chamber. 

Have a look at ranting ray complain about does it matter, when his lot agreed to this requirement and then the Mayor letting him to shut up.  

The matter that was being discussed was to amend the constitution and Cllr Whittingham is the leader of the Conservatives on the Council and he was invited to the committee meeting to discuss the change even before it came to this full council meeting and he failed to turn up, put his comments into it and even send his apologies. What a joke, what a waste of space. Complaining of things he could have had spoken about and possibly change. This just evidences he is not bothered about trying to change things just rant at Council meetings.

Conservative Cllr Ray Whittingham AWOL

So a number of residents have contacted me about the waste of space Cllr Ray Whittingham. With the Cricket Club trying to sell some land for development to help save the club for a while and also help fund a new club house. On those two issues I will come back to that later.

Development an emotive issue and then add into the mix losing the cricket ground, or part off, then you can get residents up set at it. So they asked Conservative Cllr Ray Whittingham for a public meeting and his help as one of their local Cllrs. 

His response left residents speechless. I have seen the messages and I too cannot believe he has not even thought these thoughts but also can't believe he said it.

He has said he is not in charge and there is nothing he can do and not coming to a public meeting and nothing he can do. He also says he's only the messenger so basically shut up! Can you believe it? 

So he thinks that it is ok for him to collect his £14,000 a year Cllr's salary to be a messenger only and not help or represent residents. What a disgrace. 

I will help residents all I can and got some ideas and if Tory Cllr Ray Whittingham has gone AWOL on residents then I will be happy to help. 

Labour Party send candidate from Bryn

STANDISH RESIDENTS BEWARE OF LABOUR'S TRICK 

So with the local elections soon to get in full swing parties are choosing their candidates. This year you will have a chose of 3 candidates to choose as all 75 Cllrs are out and have to start again because the ward boundaries have been changed - due to Standish becoming so damn big with all the new houses the Labour control council and Tory Government have imposed on us. 

So labour cannot find 3 people in the ward or neighbouring wards and had to bring one of their councillors from Bryn as he is due to get kicked out spectacularly because the independents will win all three seats there as this lad as done nothing but take his money and run. he is over 12 miles away from Standish. What can he do? He has done nothing for Bryn as many residents say. One Bryn resident said, Good riddance to him, what a waste of space!" 

So who is he?

Sam Flemming a lad that goes to university, so not does he not live in Standish nor anywhere near here he is at Uni. In the past when Labour have done this kind of trick with a lad call Murphy ( can't remember his name) and a bloke from Beech Hill standish residents send a responding message to Labour - Get lost! 

Why are Labour doing this?

They believe the Tory's are so unpopular nationally they can parachute anyone one in with a red rosette in.

The Standish Independents will only field local candidates and you will not find us doing what Labour are doing bring someone in from bryn. what a disgrace and desperate state of affairs for Labour to have to do this.

Labour finally realise they have let children and residents down.

 Last week 2 cars where involved in an accident and one ended up in a front garden near to a primary school in Standish. Naturally, speed is presumed as ending up in a garden doesn't happen at low speeds. 

For years, Standish Independents have called for safety measures including a crossing at St Maries primary school. So not doing much the labour Cllr and the 2 other candidates have now started the despicable tactic of campaigning at a primary school gate 

The first thing myself and others thought of is safeguarding. I have asked the Labour Party if they do DRB checks on their candidates prior or at selection? I await their reply to date no response.

The thing is I am glad they no agree with us that there is an issue but here is the thing. Wigan Council is controlled by Labour so if a Labour Cllr for Standish can't simply ask for something and has to resort to things like us, the opposition, have to do it begs the question what are they doing? Do they have any say in their party? 

Also, when opposition Candidates, Cllrs and political parties do petitions Labour say they do not count. So If we go off what Labour say about petitions why is their Labour Cllr doing one? Political stunt to try and get re-elected just before the local elections? Seems to be the case to me. 

But the real, and to be fair the only question, is why has Labour allowed this position ro come about and will they put a safety measure in place? 

Bryn residents be warned!

Bryn residents need to be on their guard for  a charleton. This is Gary Wilkes. This guy used to be a Cllr for Bryn and fell out of grace with residents when their fought to stop major development in the area only to find out their Local Cllr Gary Wilkes was not only voting for the houses but fighting for them too.

When I asked Gary what on earth he was doing? His replied I want me kids to have these houses! Where are they going to live? He was only thinking of himself and not the residents at large.

Gary used to be a member of the highly popular independent group - Community Action Party. Then internal fall out meant a number left, Gary being one of them. Then he went and joined with a Cllr who was kicked out/ left the Labour Party and who had set up Independent Network. This wasn't Independent at all it was Labour that were not wanted.

Gary Wilkes has said he is going to stand as an independent but if elected he will jump over to the kicked out Labour supporting Independent Network. If he wants to be one of them why not just stand that way at the local elections in May? Reason he wants to try and hoood wink residents in Bryn that he is someway connected to the highly popular truly independent Cllr Steve Jones. 

In fact independent Cllr Steve Jones is working hard behind the schemes to stop a road that would for a development that Gary Wilkes voted for. Shocking! In fact when he was a Cllr he voted with Labour the vast majority of times. If you want a Labour Cllr just vote Labour. If you want an Independent Cllr that looks after the ward don't vote for the 

So people in Bryn should not be tricked or hood winked and don't vote for the charleton that is Gary " I am in it just for myself" Wilkes. 

Labour Cllr's sell out Standish residents

So Labour are meant to be for the working man and look after local residents. If true then that would be ok. Then we have a local charity called Standish Charity, which is meant to be for the benefit of Standish Residents. Got to be a good thing.

So this charity, Standish Charity has a former Labour Cllr that lives in Shevington running it. He has nothing to do with Standish. Bit odd but then he was always a control dictator when he was a Cllr before being voted out. He has nothing to do with Standish and when he was the chair of the planning committee on Wigan Council he would vote for more houses for Standish. Then there are two more Labour Cllrs on this charity trustee board. Labour .Cllr Debbie Parkinson and Labour Cllr Mike Crosby

Former Labour Shevington Cllr John O'Neil signed off the deal to allow Standish residents to be ripped off

Standish Labour Cllr selling Standish residents out why did she allow this? Why did she not stand up for Standish Residents

This charity owned a number of freehold for a large number of houses in Standish and would collect the ground rent for them. Nothing wrong there so far. But then they have sold these leases to an investment company for about £30 each. This investment company are asking for residents of these houses to pay up to £750 or higher I hear for the resident s to buy them for their own houses. 

Why did these Labour Cllr's sell these leases to an investment company? Why if they wanted to sell them , which would be fine, why did they not offer the Standish residents for the £30? Why did they sell them knowing that this investment company would do what they always do put a profit on for them? If this charity is meant to be for Standish residents why did they do this to Standish Residents? This shows they don't care about Standish residents.

On another note I have asked for the last 6 years account for this charity and they did provide them to me and when I look through them they have only helped 1 person. Strange, very strange.

So here we have proof that the local Labour Cllrs do not care about residents and doing deals like this to sell Standish resident s out. - Shocking and disgraceful!

Shevington Labour Cllr Mike Crosby co-signed the deal off completing the sell off to investment company 

Greater Manchester Police settle civil case before court hearing.

 

Last November I reported how former Cllr Robert Bleakley, who was taking GMP to court for false arrest, won his case. That story is here. He was one of 4 arrested by GMP on false allegations by former Donna Hall - Chief Executive of Wigan Council. She was sacked by Wigan Council after she cost Wigan Council hundreds of thousands of pounds and being lambasted by a high court judge for calling an unlawful election which was stopped just hours before the polls opened. Unprecedented. The Council allowed her to say she retired - bless. but she was told go or we sack you. That in my books is being sacked! That blog post is here.  

It has been reported this week that yet another Cllr - Cllr Bob Brierley - has settled his civil case against GMP when again under false allegations - I will come to in a bit about these - GMP arrested him unlawfully. Whilst GMP has not admitted liability they have paid out taxpayers money to settle. It has been reported that he was released from Police investigation because Donna Hall retracted her allegations against him and others. That is a lie. Why do I say this? Well I was one of four that was arrested and detained - unlawfully and when after over a year there was not one bit of evidence GMP told her that we were going to be released from police investigation. She was devastated and when she had to accept that the police had not found one bit of evidence and dropping it she had to try and save face again and retract the allegations. The Police investigation cost nearly one million pounds on her lies.

It is great news that another person has beat Donna Hall's mates - GMP and took on the corrupt police force. Well done Cllr Brierley.

So that leaves former Cllr Franzen who case goes to court soon and then my case. Hopefully we get one case to court and the public get to see and hear all the corruption. 

Higher in this post I talk about false allegations by Donna Hall, these inc that someone had damaged her car in the council car park, there is CCTV but no footage was every presented to GMP to show any one around her car. Then she says someone went through her bins.....lol..... no evidence of that but her rubbish was a communeral one so it would be impossible for any one to see her rubbish in with everyone else. Then - listen to this one - someone had cut her car tyre just enough to explode on the motorway when it was doing 70 mph. Whilst if anyone cut a tyre the technical numerical mathematics sum required to work out the exact depth and length of a cut so that it would explode at 70 mph would be impossible. 

Another issue in all of this is the number of these false allegation took place in lancashire - where she lived- so why was GMP involved? Because she had a very good and close friend high up in GMP. One that would do favours for her. Infact previously this officer had called round to threatened Cllr Bob Brierley. He had done this in uniform and GMP had to discuss his conduct in that matter and he should not have done it and do not do it again.    

Let us hope that these unlawful actions of Donna Hall and or Wigan Council using GMP as a private police force ends now. We can live in hope and good luck to Peter Franzen the next to have a court date on this matter. Let the truth out is what I say.