THE strong and leading Conservative presence in Formby’s Harington Ward was confirmed with a held seat producing a large majority from a poll turn-out of more than 40 per cent.
And there was an encouragingly increased Conservative vote in neighbouring Ravenmeols Ward, where the Formby Residents’ Action group (Frag) lost their seat.
The conclusion? That Frag continues to implode and lose any purpose. Frag’s ‘invention’ firstly centred on green belt issues (always a major Conservative concern to this day) and later to contest fracking. They claim to be non-political, but, in reality they are a registered political party.
And as it was a Conservative minister who declared a moratorium of fracking, they are today left without any discernible cause. The only inheritance, blindingly obvious within Formby Parish Council, where they still hold a majority, is their inoperable relationship with Sefton Council officers resulting in a state of inertia.
Meanwhile, it is the Conservatives in Harington who can truly hold Sefton Council to account for mismanagement and misspending. Indeed post-election reaction shows that that the most persuasive argument, in a manifesto wholly concerned with local issues, focused on the massively disproportionate reinvestment into Harington Ward based on its near £7m Council Tax contribution to the Sefton exchequer.
Joe Riley, the new and successful Conservative Sefton MBC councillor for Harington, says: “Voters were truly amazed to find out how they were being fleeced by Sefton to pay for Labour’s massive loss-making pet projects at Bootle New Strand and Crosby Marina, as well as in the running of a housing association scheme.
“While Harington Ward is the cash cow for such profligate waste, infrastructure in the ward, most notably in regard to flood drainage, is neglected and collapsing.
“Our election campaign proved to be a salient wake-up call that such matters can no longer be tolerated.”
