Conservatives Take Control of Lancashire County Council

Whilst I was away on holiday, my colleagues in the Conservative Party took control of Lancashire County Council for the first time in 28 years.  This is a major milestone for Conservative supporters in Lancashire, as we now have the strong powerbase to begin changing local services for the better, as well as achieving necessary cost savings wherever we can to benefit local taxpayers.

For Pendle, this means that we now have four Conservative County Councillors representing us at County Hall, my congratulations to County Councillors Mike Calvert and Shelagh Derwent on their re-election, two excellent and conciencious councillors rewarded for the hours of hard work they put in week in week out to help their local residents.  We celebrate the election of County Councillor George Askew in Pendle Central, George is a very hard working Borough Councillor in Colne’s Boulsworth ward, and will fight tooth and nail to look after the interests of residents in Marsden, Vivary Bridge and Waterside.  County Councillor Keith Bailey’s election in West Craven is a true reward for a gentleman who is also one of Barnoldswick’s hardest working Town Councillors, and like Mike, Shelagh and George, Keith will put the interests of local residents first and foremost.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported my colleague Shakil Rehman in his bid to become Nelson South’s County Councillor.

Planning Committee – 10th June 2009

Nelson Town Council’s Planning Committee met on 10th June to consider a number of schemes recently submitted for planning consent.

The two most controversial by far are the plans to build a new centre for vulnerable members of society on the old Nelson Youth Centre site on Leeds Road, we have not objected to this, as a number of “safe houses” are being closed down in the area, and this new facility will enable the necessary services to be retained in the locality.

Most controversial by far is the propsed construction of 108 new houses on the site of the former James Nelson’s Sports Club and playing field on Wickworth Street.  Residents of both Southfield and Clover Hill will know only too well that the former ”Jimmys” site is the last piece of open green land we have within our urban boundaries in Nelson.  The planning committee viewed the proposals with a great deal of concern, and we have objected on five counts as follows:

1)  The overbearing impact the development will have on neighbouring properties.

2)  The potential traffic nightmare the site will create, with the possibility of another 180 cars clogging up local roads.

3)  The impact on residents in the greater Wickworth Street area whilst the development is under construction with the constant access requirement from heavy goods vehicles.

4)  The unsuitability of local roads to cope with the site access requirements whilst the build is underway.

5)  Our considered view that plot 69 of the proposed new estate is far too close to neighbouring properties in Priory Chase.

Nelson Town Council – 10th June 2009

Nelson Town Council met in full session on 10th June in the Wilson Room at Nelson Town Hall.  Members were briefed by our Clerk, Mr. Martin Harrison that the future spending on postage is likely to be significantly reduced, as agendas and minutes of meetings will now be sent by email to those members who have email facilities available to them.

Mr. Harrison and Council Chairman Cllr George Adam reported that they had held discussions with Mr. Philip Mousdale of Pendle Borough Council with regard to procuring an office for Mr. Harrison’s use within Nelson Town Hall.   Councillors were advised that whilst an office was available, it was located on the first floor and did not possess full accessibility, as we require such a facility to offer.

In the meantime, Mr. Harrison will continue to work from his home until such time the issue of a suitable office can be satisfactorily resolved.

Marsden Heights Finance Committee Meeting – 23rd April

The Governors’ Finance Committee at Marsden Heights Community College met on Thursday 23rd April to review the college’s finances.

The budget is very tight indeed at present, and all possible cost savings are being undertaken to keep the college’s financial situation on an even keel.  An area of continuing concern is the cost of operating two very elderly sets of buildings (both now over 70 years old) and keeping them up to an acceptable standard, as the move into the new college building won’t happen until 2010.  I must continue to praise the very cautious and prudent approach being taken to financial management by the college’s Business Manager Mrs. Green and Bursar Mrs. Mellor at this very difficult and testing time, balancing the finances is not easy in the current climate.

What is encouraging is the progress being made by contractors Bovis on the new college campus, the building is now very much a presence on the landscape, and can be seen very clearly from the A6068 Padiham bypass on the way into Nelson.  It is hoped the move into the new complex can only be beneficial in both educational and financial terms.  Once the newbuild is completed, the old sites can be cleared for their new uses.

Town Council Allotments Meeting – 22nd April

On 22nd April, the Community Services and Finance & General Purposes committees of Nelson Town Council held a joint meeting with members of the town’s allotment societies and the Nelson Allotments Society.  This was necessary in respect of the Town Council assuming responsibility for the allotment gardens in the municipal year 2010-2011.

In my view, we had a very constructive meeting, a number of important issues were raised, and the Town Clerk, Mr. Harrison, has been asked to investigate and seek resolutions to them. 

I live very close to the Manor Street allotments, and am looking forward to being able to work with the local society to help them in any way both I and the Town Council can in order to improve their site and the facilities they have.