CARNEGIE LIBRARY
The Labour Council closed Carnegie Library in December 2013. After rejecting a proposal from a local community group to operate the building as a community hub, the Council has twice tried to find a tenant for the building. Five years later, this historic building still remains empty whilst we know that many community groups are looking for venues in which to meet. Since closing its doors the Council has neglected the building. Leaves are blocking the gutters allowing water to cascade into the building. This historic Listed Building is now rotting and decaying and parts of the ceilings are crumbling. Repairs will be costly, all due the Council’s neglect. Throughout the borough there are examples where this Labour Council is content to leave its land and buildings empty or under-used, just look at the Waterloo Civic Hall.
As your local Conservative candidate: I will work in partnership with the community to ensure Sefton’s land and buildings are used effectively for the public’s benefit.
CROSBY VILLAGE
This Council has been praising the regeneration of parts of Crosby Village by St Modwen Ltd but has played no part themselves in the project. They have failed to improve the car parks, despite obtaining £4.449m in parking-related income in 2017/18 across the borough. The only contribution by this Labour Council was to purchase a miserable “living” Christmas Tree but they could not agree where to plant it. The tree has now gone to Bootle rather than one of Crosby’s own parks. The Council commissioned a study into transportation and car parking but has not revealed the findings. The Council also bid for a share of the Government’s £675m Future High Streets Fund but we’ve not been told what was contained in the bid. In fact we are being told nothing about the Council’s current plans for the Village, probably because they have none. This Council recently granted planning permission for over 450 homes on green-belt land in Thornton, a potential additional 1,000 residents. New homes are also springing up in Blundellsands and Crosby. A forward-looking Council should by now have realised the area will need new health facilities to support those residents who will move into the new homes in the area. There is no reason why affordable housing should not be developed in parts pf the Village. There are 43 sites in Sefton’s Brownfield Land Register, enough to build 1,400 – 1,600 homes. Government grants are available for building on brownfield sites but this Council did not bother to apply.
As your local Conservative candidate: I will ensure that the Council works alongside the NHS and Clinical Commissioning Group to provide new health and social care facilities in the Village. I will also insist that the Council works with landlords to look at creating affordable housing above shops or on Council-owned land in the Village.
OUR COASTLINE
Our coastline is one of the borough greatest assets and volunteers from the local community and the faith sector are actively trying to protect and enhance the area. Their work includes heritage and outreach work at St Nicholas Church, litter picking along the coastline, maintaining the Waterloo seafront gardens and rejuvenating Merrilocks Park. The work by volunteers in this area is tremendous but the Council is failing to play its part by not having a co-ordinated plan for the coastline. There are so many opportunities to enhance the area’s potential as a visitor destination and which would generate business and employment. The Government recently announced 70 projects across the UK which received £36m in grants as part of the Great British Coast scheme which will invest £200m by 2020. Sefton Council did not even apply.
As your local Conservative candidate: I will ensure the Council develops an overall, sustainable plan for the coastline, working with community groups and pursuing grants from the Government and other agencies to enhance the area.
OUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT
Air quality outside our schools It is magnificent that over 98% of primary school children in Sefton attended a “good” or “outstanding” school due to the hard work of teaching staff and governors. We now need tackle the invisible killer – the filthy fumes from cars and other vehicles - which can damage the health and wellbeing of our young children and teaching staff in our primary schools. We must insist on no-idling zones around the school premises. There are few more basic fundamentals for life than clean air that won’t make you sick. Our local footpaths We need to create safer footpaths and cycleways to encourage pedestrian access to schools and other amenities. Many footpaths in Blundellsands are uneven and impede movement by people with prams or in wheelchairs. This means reviewing the condition of our local footpaths to make then clean and fit for purpose for all members of our community. Our local sewers Many of the drainage and sewers within Blundellsands date from Victorian times and are coming under pressure due to changes in housing and an increasing population. Whilst the sewers are the responsibility of United Utilities their condition affects the condition of our roads, leading to sewer collapses and traffic diversions whilst works take place. Sefton Council should not allow United Utilities to shirk their responsibilities and should ensure that the sewer system is able to cope with any new developments before planning consent is granted.
As your local Conservative candidate: I will campaign for the Council to introduce no-idling zones and monitor air quality outside our local primary schools . I will ensure a thorough review is undertaken of our footpaths to make sure they are safe for our community. I will demand that Sefton Council engages with United Utilities to ensure the sewer system is capable of meeting present day demands
LOCAL DEMOCRACY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Each year Blundellsands Ward Councillors are allocated £4,500 to spend on improvements within their Ward. However, for years the Labour Councillors have not told residents about this ward budget. For years they have failed to spend the money on improvements and by 2018/2019 the Blundellsands Ward budget stood at £11,348. This is our money, for our ward, to spent on the priorities identified by local residents. The Labour Councillors ignored residents requests for three years before finally releasing our funds to carry out some improvements in the Blundellsands subway. It is disgraceful that the Labour Councillors grumble about austerity whilst they are sitting on funds which they are not spending. The Council and Ward Councillors should be open and transparent about the local budgets and local residents should be consulted about where money is spent. This Labour Council abandoned Area Committees which local residents could attend and have their say about matters of concern. Local residents and their views are being ignored.
As your local Conservative candidate: I will invite residents of Blundellsands Ward to offer suggestions on where their Ward Budget should be spent. I will keep residents informed of what is happening in this area throughout the year and not just at election time. I will ensure the views of Blundellsands Ward residents are heard by Sefton Council.
FOR A BETTER BLUNDELLSANDS VOTE MARTYN BARBER ON THURSDAY 2 MAY 20019
