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May 2007 Archives

Aughton Street

Posted by David Sudworth on May 31, 2007 6:08 PM

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Off The Record


I CAN'T say I'm surprised the council has ditched its plans for Ormskirk's Aughton Street gateway.


However, I must say that for a scheme which was presented with such fanfare by the council, its demise (the roots of which were only to be found amid a batch of weighty council reports) and last gasp(witnessed by yours truly in Committee Rooms 2&3 at Derby Street on Tuesday night without any debate apart from a few words from planning boss Cllr Ian Grant) were a little disappointing...


Like many folk, I agree that the general area of Aughton Street needed a lift, I don't really think there was much point in the gateway concept.

I don't know about you, but when I'm visiting Ormskirk I tend to come in via the bus station or park in Stiles car park off Derby Street West. The only time I've ever entered town via Aughton Street was when I was at Somerfield or the Acropolis chippy and needed to get to Barclays.


It appears the enthusiasm for which those at West Lancs had for this scheme was not shared by the wider public.


Indeed, the council's own report admitted that the gateway concept had not been sold to enough people to make it worthwhile proceeding, and even if it did it would be basically a waste of time and effort.


I can think of many other authorities whose own vanity mean they would have gone ahead if put in West Lancs' position. Because, believe it or not, public bodies have a tendency to go on mad power trips at times and are scared stiff of being seen to have bowed to public pressure for fear of being branded weak.


However, sometimes strength is being able to put your hand up and say: "We got it wrong" and that's what happened here.


With that in mind, I think it's safe to assume it'll be a few years before we see West Lancs pursuing anymore public art ventures...

Off The Record

Posted by David Sudworth on May 30, 2007 6:24 PM

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Off The Record

POLITICAL anoraks of West Lancashire unite, for a new blog is in the offing!

Those of you who couldn't get enough of The Battle For West Lancashire, you will now be able to feast your eyes over our new Off The Record blog. With the tagline of 'analysis, news and whispers from the corridors of power', we aim to do exactly what it says on the tin.

The actual site is under construction so for now I'll be posting on this site, and when the new address is up and running you'll be redirected. Just make sure you click on the logo on the Advertiser homepage and you'll get here...

So, let's get down to business, there's been a lot happening since the local elections on May 3.
For one, I've been on holiday to Menorca and very nice it was too. As I said to Mrs S: "It'll be a really great break after being frazzled covering the elections, which I'm now sick to death of."

However, someone up there musn't like me because as soon as I stepped foot out of the airport at Mahon and what did I see but a bloody poster for the Spanish local elections! Argh!!!!

Posters, posters everywhere in Menorca - but couldn't understand even one of them...


Not only that, but on a trip to the island's second city, Cuitadella, I was accosted by activists from the conservative PP party's stall in the main square who wanted to know if I
a) Wanted a PP badge and pencil
b) Had read their mainfesto and policies
c) Was going to vote for them

So in my best Spanish (courtesy of Collins Phrasebooks Ltd), I said words to the effect of: "Sorry pal, the only thing I've come here for is some decent weather and a chance to indulge in large but hideously cheap glasses of ice cold beer."

'I wonder if I can get rid of these by unloading them onto some daft English tourists...'


What did surprise me though is that compared to our own local elections, these were in a different league. Posters all over the place saying "Vota...." and stalls handing out free gifts, even if some did end up in the hands of bemused tourists.

I've no idea who won, by the way. Even I know when it's time to switch off...

The Tories' Seven Year Itch?

Posted by David Sudworth on May 10, 2007 6:26 AM

WHOEVER coined the phrase 'politics is power' knew their onions, that's for sure.

Here in West Lancs, that phrase started to manifest itself in the local Conservative Party which is having a bit of an issue on policy direction.

As I've revealed in this week's Advertiser (page 3), there's growing calls from the party's 'young guns' for a more radical agenda. Their argument is that with now having secured a comfortable majority of 12 seats, the party can really now kick back and introduce some eye-catching initiatives - something which is being resisted by the 'old guard'.

One insider tells me that it's been going on for a while, but the mutterings have now started outside the walls of Ormskirk's Tory HQ.

Apparently though, there's still a great deal of support for leader Geoff Roberts who admitted this week that this is probably his toughest spell since taking over as party leader seven years ago.

When I contacted Cllr Roberts he seemed fairly pragmatic about the whole situation and had the air of a man who wasn't frightened of being challenged. He strongly believes that elections are only won from the so-called centre ground and that's where he's determined to pitch his tent. He's also worried that the 'free-thinking' that's going on may alienate voters.

It's a tough call as election results are often over-interpreted. A resounding win for an incumbent adminstration may be a sign to some as "carry on in the same vein" but to others it's a case of "great, but now we want more".
Trouble is, they'll never know which one it really is until it's too late - i.e. when the votes are being counted.

Power struggles are nothing new; West Lancs Labour Party have had - and continue to have - their own internal difficulties. There's been a general feeling that some people aren't towing the line but I understand leader Terry Rice is getting ready to tell his troops a few home truths.

To some extent, the Labour predicament is more pressing because they really need to sort things out because the road back to power is going to be a long one.

However, whereas Labour's plight isn't going to affect anyone but Labour, the Conservative issue could actually directly impact on the tax-paying public, purely because they hold office.

Personally, I'd be surprised if Cllr Roberts' wasn't still occupying the council leader's office this time next year... but by the same token I've learnt that in politics you have to expect the unexpected.

Election Fatigue - Fat Chance!

Posted by David Sudworth on May 8, 2007 8:34 PM

WE'VE been putting the finishing touches to our post-election coverage in time for this week's Advertiser.

It's a pretty conprehensive round-up (even if I do say so myself) but I think it's well justified given the thousands of people across West Lancs who botthered to turn out and vote.

So after a month over chewing over local politics you'd probably wonder whether I'm starting to get fed up at talking about wards, marginals, swings and other funny words that mean nothing to the average Joe.

Well, actually I've quite enjoyed it and hopefully we're going to be starting another politics blog shortly (suggestions for titles gratefully received).

The plan is to post my last entry here on Friday and then leave it perhaps for a few weeks before the blogging starts again, probably on the new site.

I really think that when it comes to local politics, newspapers really need to help their readers understand the nuts and bolts of what goes on and give a behind the scenes account of how their hard-earned taxes are spent.

Much like this blog, it's sometimes serious, sometime jovial and sometimes just an out-and-out soapbox, but that's what makes politics such an important and indeed fascinating subject matter.

So rest assured, even though The Battle for West Lancashire is over for another year, I'm sure there'll be plenty for us to debate in the civic year which lies ahead.

How Was It For You, Then?

Posted by David Sudworth on May 4, 2007 5:33 PM

THE votes have been counted, results announced and councillors sworn in which means the election is now over, at least until 2008.
I'm interested to know how all you out there thought it went. What results did you expect? Any surprises?
I'd also like to know what you thought of this blog. Obviously, this is the first year we've done it so your views would be really appreciated. Would you like to see it return next year? Was it updated enough? Do you have any ideas on how we could expand it?
Any general compliments or criticisms? Just leave a comment at the bottom of this post - all contributions gratefully received.

We're keeping the blog open for a few weeks as I'm sure there'll be a few more election-related/politics stories to come out of last night's results.

In the meantime, I'm going to stop chucking bucketloads of coffee down my throat to keep me awake and get an early night - I need it after just 4-and-a-half hours' sleep. I don't know how Maggie Thatcher did it for all those years...

The Morning After...

Posted by David Sudworth on May 4, 2007 10:05 AM

THANKS to a substantial caffeine boost courtesy of Costa coffee, I'm managing to keep my eyes open just long enough to post this entry...

It was quite a long night, much longer than most of us in the press room anticipated.

On the whole, it wasn't the disaster many - including Labour members themselves - were predicting.

They lost Scott and Wrightington, which weren't unexpected, but they gain Bickerstaffe which was a welcome boost following a full-scale campaign there.

However, I just wonder what the mood would have been if Up Holland had gone to the Conservatives. In the end, it was pretty close and losing your party leader - which would have happened in this case - is a heck of a blow to morale.

The Conservatives in the end increased their majority by one which they'll be quite happy to accept. As soon as the Scarisbrick result was announced, they looked markedly happier knowing that if there was a potential banana skin, then that would be it.

So what happens now? I get the feeling there's going to be some big changes in both parties soon.

The raft of new councillors (seven new faces in all) could mean a reshuffle of the pack. However, this isn't likely to happen straight away, but I understand that the wheels are being set in motion.

It's a case of 'watch this space'...

Tories Strengthen Grip on West Lancs

Posted by David Sudworth on May 4, 2007 2:01 AM

THE Conservatives have strengthened their grip on power in West Lancashire.

They won back Scott Ward and Wrightington to take their overall majority to 12.

The party also fought off a challenge from deselected Tory councillor Margaret Edwards, who was bidding to take back the seat as an independent.

And in Labour leader Terry Rice's Up Holland ward, they forced a recount but lost out by just 27 votes.

However, they lost ex-council chairman Pat Taylor's Bickerstaffe seat to Labour candidate Paul Cotterill by nearly 70 votes.

The overall result is being seen as a 'tit-for-tat' affair, with seats swapping hands between the two main parties.

Speaking at the end, council leader Geoff Roberts said the electorate had given the Tories another mandate to continue in the same vein since they won power in 2002.

However Labour's Bob Pendleton vowed that Labour would return to fight hard next year.

Election Finishes

Posted by David Sudworth on May 4, 2007 1:58 AM

WEST Lancs election 2007 has closed - and the Tories remain in control.

Full report shortly.

1.52am: Skelmersdale North Ward Result

Posted by David Sudworth on May 4, 2007 1:55 AM

Graham Ryhs Jones (Con) 197
*Barry Nolan (Lab) 669

LAB HOLD

1.51am: Tarleton Ward Result

Posted by David Sudworth on May 4, 2007 1:52 AM

Shan Annis (Lab) 151
*Rosie Evans (Con) 1,133
Michael Lonsdale (Lib Dem) 347

CON HOLD

1.45am: Wrightington Ward Result

Posted by David Sudworth on May 4, 2007 1:50 AM

Pauline Bailey (Lab) 500
Michael Tattersall (Con) 899

CON GAIN

Aughton Park Ward Result

Posted by David Sudworth on May 4, 2007 1:32 AM

*Geoff Roberts (Con) 888
Pauline Roughley (Lab) 211

CON HOLD

1.21am: Tanhouse Ward Result

Posted by David Sudworth on May 4, 2007 1:22 AM

Sally Keegan (Lab) 412
Martin Lowe (Green) 89
Irene O’Donnell (Con) 180

LAB HOLD

1.17am: Council Chairman Retains Seat

Posted by David Sudworth on May 4, 2007 1:20 AM

Parbold Ward Result

*May Blake (Con) 992
Clare Gillard (Lab) 277

CON HOLD

1.12am: North Meols Ward Result

Posted by David Sudworth on May 4, 2007 1:16 AM

Chris Mawdsley (Lab) 137
Raj Somaiya (Lib Dem) 254
David Vickers (Con) 567

CON HOLD

1.06am: Ashurst Ward Result

Posted by David Sudworth on May 4, 2007 1:08 AM

Jane Roberts (Lab) 700
Dave Rydings (Con) 326

LAB HOLD

Labour Leader Is Run Close

Posted by David Sudworth on May 4, 2007 1:00 AM

WEST Lancs Labour boss Terry Rice has clung onto his seat despite being run close by the Conservatives.

Cllr Rice also faced a recount in the solid Labour ward.


Alan Freeman (UKIP) 195
Ruth Pollock (Con) 749
*Terry Rice (Lab) 776

LAB HOLD

No Shocks in Scarisbrick

Posted by David Sudworth on May 4, 2007 12:55 AM

DESELECTED Tory councillor Margaret Edwards fails to take back her seat as an independent.

Conservatives look relieved at the result, which are as follows:

*Margaret Edwards (Ind) 292
Andrew Fowler (Con) 614
Susan Jones (Lab) 158
Mary Walmsley (Green) 89

CON HOLD

Recount in Up Holland

Posted by David Sudworth on May 4, 2007 12:52 AM

THERE'S a recount in Up Holland Ward as I believe the voting has been quite close.

More to follow...

Mother and Daughter on Council

Posted by David Sudworth on May 4, 2007 12:37 AM

Donna West (left) with mum Doreen Saxon at the count


DONNA West, who has just won Birch Green, has joined her mother, Doreen Saxon, on the council.

It has been a double celebration for the pair as Cllr Saxon has been returned to her Skem South seat with a huge majority.

Labour Win Bickerstaffe

Posted by David Sudworth on May 4, 2007 12:36 AM

LABOUR'S spirits have been raised by winning Bickerstaffe from the Tories.

Results are as follows:

Paul Cotterill (Lab) 502
Robin Cropper (Con) 436

LAB GAIN

00.26am: Newburgh Ward Result

Posted by David Sudworth on May 4, 2007 12:27 AM

Jacqui Citarella (Lab) 125
Steve Garrett (ED) 76
*Eddie Pope (Con) 534

CON HOLD

12.23am: Birch Green Ward Result

Posted by David Sudworth on May 4, 2007 12:23 AM

Malcolm Barron (Con) 97
Donna West (Lab) 424

LAB HOLD