Anti social behaviour

Last night, I was on board the ‘Respect’ bus at Leasowe Station.  I’d asked for the bus to be there as there have been more incidents around this part of the ward than any other the past few months.  Thankfully, the tough action being taken at the Heights is reducing the problem there.

The bus was staffed by two members of the Anti Social Behaviour Team, British Transport Police and our local Police Community Support Officer, plus me and Cllr. Chris Blakeley.

The complaints and requests for help centrered on the famliy on Reeds Lane.  We had hoped they would have been out by yesterday but it looks like it’s going to be couple more weeks yet as there has been a slight delay in finding somewhere ’suitable’ for them to live, ie not around Moreton!

I’d like to thank all the team and officers who attended and, of course, the residents.  They’ve put up with so much in the last few years.  Hopefully, this nightmare is about to end.  

Day three

Spending most of this wet, Bank Holiday Sunday catching up with emails from residents.  Many are from people who have never voted Conservative before and never thought they would!  Some are from people I’ve helped over the last 18 months just emailing to say ‘thanks’.

Also, a nice and bit emotional message from Vida Wilson, our candidate in 2002, 2003 and 2004 who did so much to kick-start the Conservative presence in Leasowe and Moreton East.  Vida is Chairman of Governors at Sandbrook Primary and, thanks to her and the head, kicked Labour’s plan to scrap the school crossing patrol, into touch.

Boris Johnson as Mayor is being called the ‘icing on the cake’ by the Sunday media - clearly they’ve not heard of Leasowe & Moreton East.  Interesting system of having a ’second preference’ vote - I think mine would have been 1. Conservative and then 2. Green. 

Day Two

Spent most of the day sorting out paperwork left over from the campaign and talking to colleagues following last night’s group meeting.  The Conservative Group is now the largest on Wirral but still 10 seats short of having a majority.  Council committee places have yet to be sorted although the existing Cabinet (Labour and Lib Dem Councillors) continues until the next Council meeting.

I’ve emailed the following and asked for meetings/briefings to bring me up to date:

• Jim Wilkie, Deputy Chief Executive, for an outline of how the Council has changed the way it is run since I was last a councillor in 1999-2004
• Inspector Kolokotroni, Moreton Police Station, for a briefing on current policing/crime issues
• David Green, Director of Technical Services, to discuss road safety and traffic management

Also confirmed to the Sandbrook Community Association that I will be attending their meeting next week and confirmed with the residents association on Leasowe Road flats that I will meet him, time and date to be agreed.

 

Day one

Woke up this morning with a headache, caused, no doubt, by the noise at the after-count party we held in Moreton last night!  Chris and Sandra Blakeley hosted the celebrations and around 40 people attended - everyone was really upbeat and positive about our results in Leasowe and Moreton and the Wallasey constituency.  In fact our best-ever results.

Personally, it was great to see Sue win New Brighton against what was probably Labour’s best councillor in the constituency.  James was also elected in Liscard and Egremont, in spite of one of the nastiest and dirtiest campaigns Labour’s ever run - it backfired big time I’m pleased to say.

Called in to the Town Hall to sign the ‘oath’ to say I will do my best as a councillor and maintain high standards of conduct and behaviour and then a brief discussion, ahead of our annual Group Meeting this evening, about which committees I would like to serve on.  More on this tomorrow!

Thank you

Leasowe and Moreton East ward (declared at 00:31)

Candidate	Party	Votes Cast
Electorate: 10905 Turnout: 36.2%	Majority:	652
Rosemary BLAND	Green	171
Glenn Brian FLEETWOOD	Independent	147
Gerald Moody HAINSWORTH	Liberal Democrat	222
Ian LEWIS	Conservative	2025
Don PROUT*	Labour	1373

* Retiring Councillor (not necessarily this ward)

Vote on Thursday for change

• You can vote between 7am and 10pm at your local polling station. 
• If you need a lift to take you to vote call 639 4195
• If you haven’t received a polling card from the Town Hall, don;t worry - just turn up as usual and give your name and address.
• For any other queries, call the Town Hall on 638 7070

Thank you. Tomorrow is time for change

First, thanks to everyone who has contacted me about tomorrow’s election.  I’m hopeful we can win but not over confident!  Leasowe and Moreton East Ward (as it is now called) has had:

• Three Labour councillors for 34 years
• A Labour-dominated council for 22 years
• A Labour MP for 16 years
• Three Labour Euro MPs for nine years

Time for change!

 

Toryboy or yesterday’s man?

It seems that Labour has, once again, decided that where I live makes me unsuitable to be the Councillor for Leasowe & Moreton East.  Presumably that also applies to Cllr. Iris Coates, who also lives ‘miles away’ and near me?

If that’s the only reason they can come up with to vote Labour then I’m afraid they don’t deserve to win tomorrow.

Gwynneth Dunwoody

I’ve just heard that New Labour have called the day for the Crewe & Nantwich by-election, following the sad death of Gwynneth Dunwoody.  As the poor woman hasn’t even been buried yet, am I the only person who finds this in poor taste?

1 down, 17 to go…

As there are just a couple of days until the election, I thought I would publish the email below, received from a resident of Oakmere Close.  Someone who, as a trade unionist and Labour supporter, is clearly now as fed up as the rest of us…

Ian,
I felt that I had to contact you to show my support for you and your party something I never thought I would ever do or say!

I have always voted Labour since I was 18 (I’m 52) and I have been a trade unionist since 1975 and I’m sorry to say that I have become disillusioned and very disappointed with them both nationally and locally.