Standish Cllrs fail residents again

Some years ago just off Almond Brook, there was a block of flats that were built too tall. The then Cllr George Fairhurst fought with Wigan Council to get them to impose the planning conditions. At the time that Wigan Council agreed with then Cllr George Fairhurst but warned him that the developer would appeal and the council would lose and have costs imposed against them, but said if that is what the Cllr wanted then they would do it. 

Former Cllr George Fairhurst said that is not what he wanted or expected but wanted the Council to fight for the residents. The developer appealed. A public inquest was heard and in the end, the planning inspectorate agreed with George Fairhurst and Wigan Council that the flats needed to come down.

Fast forward to now and another development is too high and residents are angered at this. The developer applied for retro planning permission to keep them at the new height and the planning committee agreed with them. So now we have an overpowering too high development that breached the original planning permission and residents are upset that the council did not do what George Fairhurst fought for all those years ago.

The 2 Tory and 1 Labour ward Cllr failed to get the council to enforce the original planning application and all the while residents will suffer this new planning application now. The Cllrs did not fight for residents and simply did nothing. But then again at least one of the Tory Cllrs have voted for more houses in Standish anyway, which is a disgrace! 

Read the article here about the latest failings by the ward Cllrs and Wigan Council here.  

Panto season begins at Wigan Council with corruption and unlawful actions.

 

So we are getting ready for panto season shortly and they’re in full swing in Wigan. This year's production is named, ”His he or his he not a Cllr?” O yes he is - o no he's not. 

For those that do not know, in 2019 Cllr Steve Jones said he was going to resign in the future. He even put a future date to make it clear. The then Chief Executive Donna Hall said she could decide if he had resigned and she decided he had. Fast forward a few months a not one but 2 high court judges agreed with Cllr Steve Jones he hadn’t resigned. So after that she had to go.

So after that, you would think that the council would make sure this doesn’t happen again, and fast forward to June 2021 and Steve thought he had just been elected with a huge majority and he was running a couple of local charities. After a decision to step back from the charities he thought was he should step back from a Cllr and run a by-election and let the people decide as he didn’t want them to think he was pulling the wool over their eyes. A politician with morals.

The rules are very clear and discussed at the previous high court hearing and all parties agree once a Cllr resigns that is it. No one can change their mind, no one can refuse to accept it. It is done! A by-election was called and the people vote for the next Cllr and job done. Not hard.

So when Steve Jones resigned in June that was it. From that very moment he sent the email he was a member of the public. But the Chief Executive with the legal officer in the council and the deputy leader and leader all agreed to let him change his mind and the chief executive spoke and emailed him and said think about it over the weekend and let me know next week. Wrong – illegal action. But at that point, it wasn’t too late to say sorry Steve we have to call a by-election. Then Steve said well if you are ok with it then fine with it then ok. And so the chief executive and all the exec at the council said yes you can be a Cllr again. There you go, the very moment that the unlawful and illegal action was carried out. What they had just done was put a member of the public in as a Cllr, an elected member. A position only the people can put in not them. It’s called democracy. They then carried on as normal and paid him! Yes, they paid a member of the public illegally.

So they thought they got away with it until Michael Moulding sent a letter saying that he had found out about the illegal action and he was going to take them to the high court. The council went to a barrister to and their legal opinion they had broken the rules and they had to sack Steve Jones again otherwise they would lose in the high court.

So now we know the facts and these are not even disputed as the council even said this all of this in a press release and they were just being nice to Steve letting him back as a Cllr. Being nice does not overrule democracy.

His blog helps to explain in simple language the corruption that has gone on and shows how the chief executive and Wigan Council have been paying a member of the public illegally but more importantly letting a member of the public go and sit with elected members and vote on decisions that effects residents of Wigan. The question is how many other members of the public are sitting in Cllrs seats?

Greater Manchester Police, Council and Local Cllrs let local schoolgirl and her family down.

 

Many Standish residents will have seen the story that a Standish High School girl was tried to be grabbed by male residents that are from abroad and living in the Britannia Hotel at Almond Brook. They also carried out intimidating and unappropriated behaviour towards her. But the attempting grabbing is of more serious concern.

What is equally shocking is the police (GMP) have done little to protect this female, investigate the crime and also support the local community. Now Greater Manchester police have put out a press release, I have seen this via a local Cllrs website site, that basically calls this now scared schoolgirl a liar. What a disgrace!

We know that there was at least one witness as a local man that helped the girl and walked her home for her own safety. Have the police been to him and got a statement from him? Have they even taken a statement off this scared and frightened girl? I bet not!

Now in their statement, they say that the matter is closed and in another earlier social media post, they said no arrests were made and the men concerned have been spoken to. Are they serious? Really is that it? Many that follow the blog will remember that when I served the ex-Chief Executive of Wigan Council with High Court summons she rang the police and got 7 officers to come for me in the middle of night lift me from my house and drag me to Bury police station. They claimed harassment for serving high court summons. That is right I just served a high court summons on the chief exec of Wigan Council. I took GMP to the high court and won. So why is it ok for one of their mates to call in a favour for being served high courts summons and lock an innocent gentleman up for 23.5 hours, assault him and in the end an ambulance had to be called for me but it is not an arrestable offence for someone to try and grab a schoolgirl? Intimidate her, scare her? This shows the police have failed this girl and her family and the local community.

The local MP Lisa Nandy has been reported in a regional newspaper saying that she does not believe that the hotel should be used for asylum seekers ( I am agreeing at this point) but then says the reason is that the hotel is not suitable for the asylum seekers ( now she has lost me and I cannot agree with this, for the reason the hotel is not suitable for them)  she seems to have no concerns for the local community she is meant to represent. I for one now – who has a daughter that goes to school – have put steps in place to put extra protection in place for her, inc me walking to pick her up from school. I know other parents are doing the same as there are worried about their own children’s safety with the predators in the community.

I can hear the racist cries from the establishment lot. This is not an immigration issue this is about the safety of our children. If it was white males that were doing this kind of behaviour the local community would be calling it out the same, and quite rightly too, but the same question-does keep appearing on social media sites and that is, “if this was white males doing this would they be arrested or just spoken to like the lot in the hotel?” I for one doubt it. So why one rule for one and another rule for others? Where is equality?

The mum of the girl concerned is not taking this lightly and nor should she. She, her daughter and her family must have the support of the local community and we should call out and hold those responsible to account for not supporting her, the police, the council, local Cllrs etc.

Even if there was no crime, which I do not believe as there are witnesses to it, the police should never call or suggest she is a liar. She has enormous courage to report something like this. What message does that send out if it happens to anyone else? Would they be as brave as this girl and her family or would they be worried the police and establishment would call them a liar? Shame on Greater Manchester Police, Local Council and Local Cllrs and I say let's all get behind the family as the community is doing and highlight this issue and support the schoolgirl
, her family and also try and stop this happening again.

Letter to Prime Minister to lift numbers on funerals now

 Letter to Prime minister sent on 3 May

Dear Prime Minister,

I am writing to you with regards the number of people at funerals. It is currently capped at 30, regardless of the size of the church.

Your Government has said that from 17th May 2021 there will be no cap on numbers, so long that social distance rules are adhered to.

Sadly, my sister and I lost our father suddenly on the 16th of April and his funeral is in a very large church – St. Wilfrid's C of E Church Standish. I have no doubt there will be others in incredibly sad situations similar to ours.

Given that your Government has said that it will be acceptable to adjust and to open up numbers on the 17th May I urge you to bring the lifting of the restrictions in now, so family’s up and down the country can send off our loved ones in a better way.

If the Government had not announced the lifting of these restrictions, then I may not be sending this letter, but given that you have announced this lifting, I plea and beg you to lift the restrictions now and allow families and friends to say their goodbyes to their loved ones as waiting makes no sense if your Government has decided to relax rules in a few days.

Please review this decision on funerals and I hope you can agree and lift them immediately. We would love to send our father off in a better way, as many others up and down the land would too.

Kind Regards

Gareth Fairhurst

Gareth Fairhurst

Sad News for Former Standish Cllr George Fairhurst and my dad.

 

It is with heavy, and ripped apart, hearts that Angela Bland and Gareth Fairhurst have to announce that their dad – George Fairhurst – passed away yesterday. Many of you will have known George, whether it was him from walking around the village with Holly, his trusted and much loved Border Collie or as a former Cllr for Standish.

 It was unexpected, and both Angela and Gareth, are grateful that they were able to be with their dad and share some final words with him before he passed away peacefully.

As anyone that has experienced a similar event knows, it leaves a huge void.

He will be missed dearly by his children and respected spouses, grandchildren, family and friends.

George Fairhurst

26 June 1941 – 16 April 2021

Standish Voice fails to stop houses being built, but blames someone else

Yesterday (Wednesday 25th March) the Conservative appointed planning inspector passed yet another 119 houses for Standish, on top of the 2,000 houses that have already been passed.

A few years ago Standish Voice said for residents to vote in their neighbourhood plan, as it would stop more houses from being built. As we saw yesterday, it hasn't, this is because their neighbourhood plan isn't worth the paper it is written on. 

I have not been a Cllr now for 5 yrs, so the decision that was taken yesterday is over 5 yrs since I was a Cllr and yet Standish Voice have come out saying it is all my fault....lol. It is laughable. Here is how Standish Voice fail to take ownership of their own failings.

Residents will see the facts - I have not been a Cllr for 5 yrs. The decision was taken 5 yrs after I left office and even the Labour Controlled had turned this decision down, so on earth does Standish Voce founder _ Paul Ogden ( more on him in a min) think residents will believe that when the Council turned it down I could pass it? It shows the desperation that Standish Vice founder will go to.

In another piece of evidence, many will have seen Standish Voice recently begging, yes begging, for Wigan Council not to pass any more houses in Standish. Why would they need to go hands and knees begging for no more houses if their neighbourhood plan stoped houses?

Also, Standish Voice says they are not political but yet continue to attach Standish Independents if they are not political? Many residents are now questioning this as it is so blatant. A few years ago a Labour Cllr left an internal document on a photocopier that says how Labour must infiltrate and run community groups. This is clear as day for Standish Voice.

I did say more on Standish Voice Paul Ogden earlier in the blog post. A staunch Labour Support ( which is absolutely fine each and everyone should be able to support who they wish - no concerns there). But Mr paul Ogden DIDNOT oppose any of the thousands of houses that have been passed until - wait for it - till the link road came out at the side of his house and then he was incensed that the value of his property would go down. Then he set up Standish Voice to try and disguise trick and use it as a vehicle to stop the link road coming out of the side of his house and move it - wait for it - to another street, so these residents got all the traffic and hot him. 

But it gets better Standish Voice founder Paul Ogden fails to tell and inform the good people of Standish how he has personally financially gained from the houses coming to Standish. Here is a blog post that I wrote about that. 

As for the 119 houses that were passed yesterday, it is sad that Standish keeps getting dumped on only with all these houses and it is now more than ever need that we have a by-pass that we have been calling for, for years. But Standish Voice does not support this call that many residents are asking for. 

Please sign the petition calling for a by-pass here.

(Picture of Standish Voice Founder Paul Ogden).

Petition for Standish to have a By-Pass

In recent days the labour Controlled Council have come up with ridiculous ideas for Widening School Lane. 

Over the years myself and the other Standish Independents have called for a By-Pass and both the Labour and Conservative Cllrs have voted against this idea some years ago. 

Now as more and more houses are built because again the Labour-controlled council approved 2,000 houses instead of the 1,000 houses that they said they would. We all know why? More money for Wigan Council.   

But as one of the consequences is that more traffic is now in the village and Labour have said they want to widen School lane to bring more traffic through. What we need is what I and others have called for years - a bypass!

On the current so-called consultation by Labour-controlled wigan council, it has emerged in the media that Standish Voice and the current Cllrs knew of this and said nothing. Not that that surprises me. In fact, the founder of Standish Voice - Paul Ogden - has come out and attacked me and petition. Why? Because they say I did it before they did it. Well answer to that is some lead and others follow like sheep and he is a sheep. 

If you agree with what we have been calling for, for years, a bypass for Standish. In fact, I even found this blog post to show that we have been calling or this since 2015. See proof here. 

Please if you agree that Wigan Council should not widen School Lane and think it is time for a By-Pass please sign and share the petition.

SIGN PETITION HERE

Does your vote count?

With the Trump mantra, that people are stealing elections. I can say I have seen it but not on the scale trump says. If someone beats another candidate by 7 votes is easy to lose them? Hell yes! Can someone make millions of votes disappear like Trump says? Well, I am not sure about that.

But that has raised a couple of gentlemen in Wigan to talk in a pub - when they were open - about the issue. One gentleman said to the other that they voted via the post so it was ok. The other agreed they did the same. Then one of them said the funny thing is I got a letter out of the blue in August saying I need to update my details at the Town Hall. The other said they had the same. Both gentlemen were staunch anti-Labour voters and apparently it is well known in their ward. One of them had called the Town Hall and they were told their ballot paper in the previous election had been rejected and the letter they had received months later was saying they needed to update their signatures at the Town Hall. He was outraged that why was he not told during the election and he could have rectified it? The response we do not need to tell you in the election period. 

The other gentleman said he too had had one of these letters but thought nothing of it. They spoke with their Cllr and asked if this was correct. That said Cllr knowing how I am a strong supporter of democracy said they would find out. When I heard about this I was shocked as surely they would need to write to them in the election period, so long as there was enough time, and let the wrong be rectified. 

I checked with Wigan Town Hall and they said no they do not need to tell people that their vote has not been counted until after the election, I checked with the Electoral Commission and they confirmed the town hall is correct. 

My issue with this is I have learnt via a source in the Town Hall that there are hundreds of postal votes rejected each yr from wards and these people never know or allowed to get a new vote in if their first one has been rejected. They are therefore excluded from participating in the democracy that we live by in this country, 

I have asked under the FOI to Wigan Town Hall how many postal ballots papers are rejected each year at the local elections to confirm if it is true that hundreds are rejected from wards each year? Guess what their response is? We are not telling you! They try and claim that the returning officer runs the elections in a personal capacity -which is not true. A returning officer is a statutory role that is appointed to oversee the elections by the Council and they then use Wigan Council to run the administration of the election. The same person does the roles of returning officer and Chief Executive and given the Steve Jones case, you would have thought that Wigan Council would have learnt this rule when they tried to argue this and the judge gave their thoughts and views on this. So with Wigan Council hiding, the figures of rejected postal votes, people should worry if their vote is even counted.

 What I would strongly say is if anyone has had a letter out of the blue asking them to update their details I would say this would indicate they have rejected your vote and I would update your details at the Town Hall if you cannot vote in person. 

It seems that Wigan Council and Labour will try and do anything to win and the only way to know if your vote is in the ballot box is if you go in person.  

The Government is redoing a bill for elections and making it mandatory that you will have to show ID in 2023 elections to be able to vote. What they have not said is how they will stop any mass fraud that happens with postal votes, which is where evidence suggests that any fraud is done.