A Big Thank You

I am please to announce that even in a year when the Local Elections are held on the same day as the General Election, the Standish Independents Cllr, Cllr George Fairhurst, was given the backing of the people of Standish and retained his Councillor's seat.

In years like this the major parties are the ones that benefit from the turn out that increases by approx, 100% from normal Local Election turnout. Last time this happened Labour won the Standish seat and they threw everything at it this year. That is politics and fair play as they wanted to win. Labour accepted the decision and haven't taken to online social media to try and blame anyone or anything, unlike others that want to blame and accuse the people of Standish for their own failings.

The Standish people have spoken and they have voted for a name they know, a name that they trust and a name that will work for Standish. That name is Cllr George Fairhurst. Thank you for your support and votes.

Cllr George Fairhurst Last Leaflet

We have had a fantastic response to Cllr George Fairhurst last leaflet. I have therefore scanned them in and put on here in case you have missed it. this was a big A3 folder leaflet that made a 4 page booklet with 4 x A4 pages.

Front Page

Page 2

Page 3

Back Page

A Vote for Cllr George Fairhurst is a vote for solutions

Obviously people in whatever Wards will all know about when that Cllr has a big issue or campaign. For example in Standish Ashfield and the houses are just two. However being a Cllr is not always about the big issues but the little ones that the majority won't know about.

Take an issue where residents on Preston Rd were informed by the council that they were having double yellow lines on the road. Because of the layout out the residents can park on the pavement because the path is so wide because it had grass verges some time ago that the council removed. However, under the law the double yellow lines go not only on the road but the path to the walls of the properties.

Residents where not happy that these double yellow lines were coming but the Council said because of the proximity to the schools parents where dropping and picking up their children and it was a hazard and a danger.

After going back and forth Cllr George Fairhurst and myself suggest a compromise that the Council install just a single yellow line and operate it in the school times. They agreed with this and then that allows when the residents to come home can park. It works and for all parties and it goes to show that a vote for Cllr George Fairhurst is a Vote for Solutions.  

Deputy Labour Leader backs Cllr George Fairhurst

In a Strange and surprising event at this year's Council Budget Meeting the Labour Leader was not present due to health reasons and the Deputy leader then delivered the budget and did the Q&A.

When the all the other Cllrs had spoken the Deputy labour Leader rose and spoke and summed up. In that summing up he said that the Cllr George Fairhurst sang and danced for Standish and Standish didn't need anyone else, so everyone else should stay out of Standish.

Naturally, one would have expect the Deputy Labour Leader to have been backing his candidate for this Election but it seems that the excellent work that all the Standish independents do for Standish is recognised now by Labour Deputy leader. 

  

Labour selling more land off in Standish - after the Election

We have said that Cllr George Fairhurst is the ONLY Candidate to oppose any more houses in Standish and we stand by it. The Labour Candidate has written in the paper that we are lying and she too is against any more houses in Standish. This is simply not true. She said prove that Labour are in favour of more houses. They are a number of examples we could have used but he is a video clip. Take a look as you will find it very interesting.

At the beginning of April this year I asked the Council would they allow the resident to rent the land for allotments. This is the Council's official response at the beginning of April.

"Land at Longridge Avenue – it is still the council’s intention to dispose of this land. The site has residential development potential and it is intended that an outline planning application for residential development will be submitted. This should be progressed soon."

You can't trust Labour and yet more proof that Labour are in favour of more housing in Standish. I wonder how they try to wriggle out of this one.

Standish By-Pass Petition

We have been out delivering Cllr George Fairhurst's latest leaflet and we have had a great response. One of the articles that has gone down well was the idea that Cllr George Fairhurst is now calling for the Council to deliver the by pass that they promised decades ago and it is time we had it. We know from the previous blog post that the Council can afford it. we know that the start has already been built, bridge to nowhere. The only thing missing now is the will from the Council. Hopefully, with your support, we can change that.

Residents have suggested to day that we start an online petition and I have now done this and here is the link.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/support-a-by-pass-for-standish

Please take a minute to sign it and then tell and share with your family and friends.

Thank you for your kind words today and over the election campaign so far too.

It's time for our By-Pass

Wigan council say that Standish will get £5m because of all the houses that we didn’t ask for, nor do we need.  They  also  say  that  Standish  will  keep  every  penny  and  this  money  will  be  for improvements. The improvements that Wigan Council say they will put in place with this money is two sets of traffic lights on both of the roundabouts at Boars Head and Pepper Lane. These mini roundabouts do not need traffic lights on them and putting these lights on them will make the traffic worse.

Also does £5m only buy you two sets of traffic lights for two mini roundabouts? Surely you can get better value for our money?

However, we – the residents of Standish – are getting a raw deal. Why? Because Wigan Council are selling us short. They said that they will cap the new houses at 1000 houses. Currently they have passed nearly 1500 houses for Standish. Nearly a 50% increase and not one mention of any extra money. When Wigan Council said £5m that was for 1000 houses! With a nearly 50% increase surely the Council should be telling us there is an extra £2.5m. That is simple maths.

More importantly the £5m is only one pot of money that the Council will receive. However, with regards these houses the Council receive a number of different pots from these houses. Also the Council are selling some very expensive land to developers for a link rd.  That again will bring in millions.

The truth is that the all these pots add up to over £15m. So when Wigan Council say we can keep all the £5m, the truth is we should be able to keep ALL of these pots of money and not just one. With all the money these pots would generate there would be enough money for a by‐pass. That could be from the bridge to nowhere. Or it could be a new junction off the M6 near Heinz down to Martland Mill estate.  That  would  help  traffic  not  only  in  Standish  but  Shevington,  Orrell,  Pemberton  and Saddle Junction. Would these improvements just be to residents? No it would also help businesses.

That would create new jobs. All these areas could benefit. We have the money but Wigan Council is trying to deceive people and then sell them short because we only get a couple of sets of lights rather than our by‐pass.

Cllr George Fairhurst, who is up for re‐election for your local Councillor in Standish, has said if re‐elected he will fight to get this by‐pass. As for myself, who is standing for the General Election, is

backing  his  plight  and  campaign  because  it  would  help  Standish,  it  is  fair  for  Standish.  Not only because of all of that but because it is right and fair for the other areas mentioned too.

Now we have the money coming and it is right that we get this right because we don’t know when this amount of money will come our way again. Rather than take 2/3 of the money and giving it to areas of deprivations, the ones that prop up Labour in Wigan. Rather than keeping the down we need jobs and this kind of infrastructure change will help create jobs and aspirations. Surely that is better than just giving people a hand out?  We should give people a hand  up  whilst supporting communities.