Nominations have closed for May 3rd Elections

Today at Noon was the last chance for candidates to submit their nomination papers for the District and Parish elections to be held on the 3rd May. Heyhouses was always going to be a hotly contested seat with both myself and Keith being seen as senior Councillors with the Town Hall. The nominations are:

3 Conservatives: Coombes, Halewood & Hyde
1 Liberal Democrat
1 Labour
1 Independent

It is interesting to see that the Independent Candidate has been placed by the Leader of the Opposition. I think that putting forward candidate from the furthest corner of the Borough, Elswick is not only a sign of desperation on the Oppositions behalf, but also proves that the Independents are not about representing people in their Wards, it's about getting seats and playing politics. Labour have also struggled to find candidates for these elections with just 10 candidates Borough wide, not surprising really as they are not exactly flavour of the month!!
Finally the Lib Dems and Independents, both have pledged to work together to try and unseat Conservatives. The Labour Candidate for Heyhouses is the 'official' Independent candidate for the Town Council seat in St Leonards Ward??

We know that many of the Independent Candidates in Fylde are actually, Lib Dem or Labour supporters at the General Election, why they don't have the courage of their political beliefs locally I don't know?

Anyway that is hot off the press. Rest assured your Conservative team will fight hard to ensure that Heyhouses continues to have a strong Conservative voice on Fylde Council. Please let us have your thoughts and feedback on any issues in the coming weeks.

Keep an Eye Open for Fly Tippers!

Heyhouses Ward Councillors are urging residents to keep an eye open for suspicious vehicles on the Moss. A recent spate of Fly Tipping has turned the Green Belt into a Fly Tippers paradise, with Fridges, TV's, Rubble, Household Waste and Carpets being just some on the items being dumped.

We have asked the Council Streetscene Team to try and get it cleared ASAP and to work with Blackpool Council to ensure that they clear their area.

Division Lane marks the end of Heyhouses with Blackpool, much of the rubbish behind me is in Blackpool's patch. Many Heyhouses residents use the Moss Road and we are urging them to make note of vehicle registration number and vehicle types and report them to the Council or Police ASAP.

Conservative Councillors have pledged additional funding for a mobile CCTV unit for the Borough. Manned by specially trained officers, Fly Tippers will be caught on camera and then taken to court. But we really need you to help catch and deter them.

You can use the link on the blog to email us with your info or to contact the Town Hall directly.

Conservative Cabinet Supports Free Postage for Overseas Troops & Families

Press release relating to the recent Cabinet meeting held at Fylde Town Hall on the 14th March 2007.

Fylde Cabinet Supports Free Postage to British Forces based Overseas

At its meeting last week Fylde's Councils Conservative Cabinet agreed to support a proposed motion being put forward to Government by Tewkesbury Borough Council. The motion is aimed at reinstating the free postal service for the families of British Forces personnel stationed overseas.

Cllr John Coombes, Leader of Fylde Borough Council and a former Soldier said ' The Cabinet had no hesitation in supporting this lobby to Government, the British Forces Post Office (BFPO) service is a vital link and moral booster to both Military personnel as well as their families'

Families and friends of forces families have to pay the normal postage fees for sending parcels overseas to loved ones. Fylde has a particular place in it's heart for the Armed Forces with having Weeton Barracks located within the Borough, the Barracks has always palys a vital role as a staging camp for soldiers embarking or disembarking from active service. The former Queens Lancashire Regiment was also granted 'Freedom of the Borough'

Cllr Coombes added 'With British Forces and their families being expected to serve all over the world, many in hostile theatres, the least the Government can do is stump up the cash for the postage of parcels, I am sure this decision will receive broad support, I look forward to signing the document on behalf of all elected members as well as the residents of Fylde'

Ends

No If's No Butt's!!

Ward Councillors today met with residents at their mobile Surgery at Whalley Place shops, several residents came along to speak with both John and Keith regarding issues in the Ward. Afterwards we went along to the gates of the DWP site on Moorland Road and Heyhouses Lane to look at the problems being created due to the sites non-smoking policy. The picture says it all!! We will again contact the Streetscene department at the Town Hall to request that they again speak with DWP site Managers.

The with new 'No Smoking in Public Places' laws are about to come into force in June we are going to ensure that the Town Hall has in place a robust policy to ensure that these scenes are not repeated across the Ward. Lets us have your thoughts.