The wonky lines of WInsford and the extra ones in Chester

 Hello again,

I do hope you are all still safe and keeping yourself and your families well during these very trying times.

I write this a little downhearted today as we are heading into another lockdown (in England) and more uncertainty.

I am also more than a little downhearted that things continue to go from really worse to gob-smackingly even more unbelievable in Winsford Town Council and back to the same old nonsense at CWAC.

Where to start then?...is the big question...hmmmm

Maybe the WTC as it's right here on my doorstep and so easy to point out the ridiculous state of affairs when a man called Jeremy comes to power and drags half the North Wests most fervent Marxists along with him.

Ahhh... that Jeremy eh? What a lad, working class, leads from the front, always supportive of his own bosses and so beloved by some that they bring him to Winsford and persuade him (and Labour Voters in 2019) that having far leftie views and often not living in Winsford is enough to get you elected to WTC (and CWAC) so that you can declare "Corbynism is alive and well in Winsford" AFTER Keir gets elected!

Where is he now?...you all ask (well, maybe five of you)...is he in Winsford? At the "Red"?  NO???? - That's right - NO, he is probably drinking a camomile after Keir suspends him and he "hopefully" goes quietly into the night. Maybe, just maybe, there is a hope Cllrs, L, E, H, S and C will follow him when he goes as "I only joined because of Jeremy" is a frequent repost from them.

Until then, the reality is that in WTC there isn't an effective opposition to the lefties - as much as I support the independents  (I consider each one of them decent, honest people), they need to form a group to get committee places, as our two Lib Dem Cllrs seem to go with the flow locally.

The nastiness of the hard left was on show a couple of weeks back when they publicly berated an ex-councilor, who is now commenting as a RESDIENT , on a community forum, because he dared to ask for more facilities in the town. Their notions of decency were laid all to bare. Most Cllrs I know would never speak to residents in that manner and residents should never accept that behaviour from their elected representatives.

And so it continues as they flex more powers by co-opting their cronies onto committees, stitch up all the committees so that they control them all, move everything controversial into Part B agenda items - where it's out of sight of members of the public (whose money it is that funds the budget and should be able to scrutinise all Cllrs), change the standing orders (buried in 84 pages of text) so that each Cllr can only speak once and then don't declare their interests correctly when communicating to the public or indeed other Cllrs (more to come on that one again sometime).

I will blog separately more gory details over the greedy pig site (bet you can't wait for that stunning installment) as it'll take a few paragraphs and I'm sensing you may be having enough already.....

The tragedy is that while this group continues in its efforts to control everything.....things in Labour controlled CWAC are not much better. The "leader" is busy playing the fiddle while Rome burns (so to speak). the Councils communications team has become her megaphone to the world - inane self promoting videos are now the norm, alongside faux criticism of the government when she isn't consulted over something that she has been calling for during the last 4 - 6 weeks.

I would offer advice to the Labour leader of CWAC - please use your time at the phone waiting for the call from Boris, at least while doing that you can't be messing up the bus lanes in Chester (introduced without consultation and now being asked by residents to rethink it due to the traffic chaos it causes) or delivering wonky cycle lanes in Winsford that appear to have been laid down with by a worker a bit too reliant on cheap "plonk".

I also know that it will be a long time before Boris gives her a call - I am after all still waiting for mine and I at least, voted for him :-)

My other piece of advice for Labour would be - don't be afraid of questions at Council....no need to vote against extending the time so we could get to them...unless of course you are afraid.....yes, afraid of actually upholding democracy and being held to account for your inactions....erm...actions.

That aside though - at least plenty of good honest people are willing to take a stand against Labour in Winsford and Chester. In Winsford, there will be more trials and tribulations ahead as this group drives the reputation of WTC into the ground through their actions - the real shame is that the CWAC monitoring officer is pretty toothless in dealing with poor behaviour from our Parish (and Town) Councils so it's up to you as residents, including myself, to keep all of this in mind at the ballot box.

Until then, keep safe...keep well.

The future of Winsford could be bright.....but there's little HOPE with Labour Corbynites in power

I've just realised it has been a long time since I last wrote a blog....back in March indeed, before we headed into lock-down and the world got turned on its head. The sheer determination, will and resilience of the British people has been on show for all to see. There are not enough superlatives or words of gratitude in the English Language to express fully the appreciation we Conservatives have for our key workers, veterans, volunteers, responders, emergency services or indeed the kind-hearted next-door neighbours throughout this period. Winsfordians in their thousands have shown once again their best qualities in troubled times when uncertainty and fear could have overcome us.

We even celebrated VE day in style, paying tribute to our parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts who fought and often died for us in our cities, on the battlefields and suffered in our industries while facing some dark days of little hope yet they overcame it all to win for us the freedoms we so enjoy today. 

The freedom of worship, of travel, of a right to a job, an education and most importantly the freedom of speech so that you and I can have respectful differences of opinion which does not result either you or I ending up in prison or indeed worse. For the record, I admire all of those from the various parts of the political spectrum who believe in their causes, I don't necessarily agree with many of them but that is fine with me - my relatives fought that we could have our differences and yet we can still smile over our similarities. Many of my political "oppos" and I speak freely about families, jobs, health without having to be at each others throats.

Things changed locally in 2019 - the Labour Party selected a number of what I would call "hard left" candidates representing the now failed political aspirations of Jeremy Corbyn (thank goodness he never made it to power). Indeed, Jezza actually made it to Winsford, to endorse his selection of Candidates and to ensure "Winsford stays red" - although of course it was very unlikely to ever turn any other colour with Brexit overhanging us and the fact that Winsford is largely a Labour Town.

The "moderates" were either out or stood down (I don't know how the Labour Party machine works so cannot say if any were forced to stand down). The momentum leaning wing of Labour were in power in Winsford and then the internal politics started. Resignations from "old Labour" Cllrs followed - amid alleged accusations of corruption, alleged bullying tactics - letters being sent to Winsford Groups from the Town Council which frankly are diabolical and divisive. Shouting at Council meetings, the Greedy Pig debacle...the Town Council becoming ridiculed and divisive, poor financial management through lavish spending on pet projects, the reputation of the Town sliding forever downward, the Marxist hard left Cllrs detaching themselves further and further from the residents they were elected to represent (of all political parties, including their own).

But despite all of this going on, the one thing that has never sat right with me is the arrogance and hard-nosed attitude of the Corbynista group (by the way, I saw a FB post which said that the ideals of Jeremy Corbyn were alive and well in Winsford - by a Senior Labour Party apparatchik) to anyone who dares to speak an alternative voice. Life long Labour members and supporters, Liberals, Conservatives...we are all now haters, devisive, misplaced etc.etc. Our right to have a different view just doesn't exist...every sentence from them on an opinion which is different to their own starts with "I am disappointed....." as they try to justify in the most sanctimonious way that they are just so good and everyone else is just so bad. 

The mechanism and ways they lead with this message is worthy of a communist state - puff propaganda pieces in the local press and on their favoured "Winsford Labour/Community Forum"...I remind readers of a recent article going on about just what they have achieved..... err nothing much last time I looked, apart from tax rises and a waste of money on an on-line engagement tool which is considerably more expensive to run than its Borough-wide counterpart. By the way, regarding the on-line tool, one of its first applications was removed, as was many registrations of people who voted for it...voice of the people in action there again I don't think. 

Back to that puff piece though - after telling us all they have not done, they then went on to say (I paraphrase) that it was all done against a backdrop of hateful (yes, hateful again!) opposition from opposition Cllrs and disaffected locals...really? The political opposition in this town consists of a Doctor (me - but in case you have a back problem, I'm not a medical Doctor), a Health professional, a taxi driver and two retirees...hardly a group of hate driven, vengeance filled individuals is it?

Sadly, it continues....by the time I publish this, it appears that another elected Labour Cllr would have announced they are resigning from the party and is likely to be an Independent Cllr amid more alleged accusations of bullying, threats and marginalization from the rest of the Winsford Labour Team. Another harvest after sowing the seeds of disunity that once again they will justify no doubt with no sense of remorse or regret.

To the people of Winsford I say this - this Corbyn loving group is driven by petty and antagonist people who on the whole believe in an ideology that you in majority, rejected at the last general election. Corbyn is gone but you are living with his legacy right here, right now. Don't fall for their lack of tolerance of anyone who thinks or speaks differently.....because to quote a McCartney song lyric....

We all know that people are the same where ever you go......

Except perhaps here in Winsford...where those in power would be best served remembering who they represent and perhaps those who sacrificed so much so we may have that right to a different opinion.

The sad red tail of the Greedy Pig....

Well, sometimes you just think the situation cant go from bad to worse and then it does...

or in Winsford, the Labour team cannot go from worse to even worse and then they do

Let me explain a little further ...hope you (don't) enjoy the ride.....

The site known as the "Greedy Pig" down by the river opposite the exquisite Liquid Lounge has been derelict, run down, abandoned for years. Unfortunately the site has multiple owners who own small strips of land. One of these is indeed our very own Labour run Winsford Town Council.

Putting all those strips together as a single option for sale site has been a challenge but as the land was highlighted in the Neighbourhood Plan (NP) for the following uses, which I have copied directly from the 2013 NP.

Policy TC 10A: Mixed-use development including hotel , leisure and commercial uses will be supported. (I have italisicised and underlined)
Policy TC 10B: Design Principles / requirements:
■ Development must address the river and the roundabout in a positive manner and be of the highest quality appropriate for this key town centre location.
■ A public river promenade must be provided and public uses, such as cafe, restaurants and / or retail should be provided along the edge. The buildings must deliver an active frontage, ideally with public uses along the waterfront.
■ Development in this location must make a positive impact onto the A54, in terms of good design, of an appropriate scale and massing, landmark buildings, key focal points and creating a positive gateway.

OK, so the world was turned on its head in 2015 when Labour were elected to power in Winsford (with some severe consequences to Winsford) and Labour Cllrs started to develop the NP and the house building started to escalate across Winsford. They set up a Winsford Regeneration Committee and I was asked to join, discussing what we want for Winsford and how to deliver it oh happy days, or so I thought.

In 2018 I was asked what I thought of developing this site with a KFC and Starbucks on it. I think I wanted to cry....a drive thru' KFC and Starbucks in Winsford, with all the associated  rubbish, poor health implications and not even stopping to enjoy our fine town and the riverfront.

My answer to Cllrs Clark and Armstrong that was a firm "No" given it added nothing to the town. Was this the only plan that came through? I asked. "No" was the sheepish reply. With the passage of time it turned out that there was another plan for some houses and a restaurant (nice looking in my opinion) brought forward by a local team.

Confused as to why the other option was not pursued, turns out Council officers discounted the other offer but that was never expressed openly or with much scrutiny apparently. It appeared that the KFC offer was preferred from the start. My contention being that if two offers came forward already, a third must be somewhere.

Fast forward to post election 2019 and a meeting I had with officers and Cllr Beacham in Wyvern House. I expressed again the fact that KFC did not represent any aspiration, did not meet the ideals of the NP and for a town with this many health problems in its population, a fast-food restaurant was not a good idea. Thankfully he agreed.

Then the housing plan appeared - and I knew I could object at the planning meeting. The planning meeting where officers said there was no one outside of the KFC coming forward to the site, which was simply not true.

Unfortunately the accident that night on the M56 stopped me from getting to the planning meeting (in Chester) and I had to watch it on the webcast.

I was horrified when I saw that Labour Cllr Tommy Blackmore stated he supported the application. Cllr Blackmore has been a Winsford Cllr for years, including the time the NP was enacted.
Was he not aware of the NP?
Did he not understand that approving the plan would almost invalidate the NP?
Did he not understand that by being a Town Cllr and that by the very fact the Town Council will financially benefit from the deal would make him look like Town Council first, Winsford Town second?

Then I see a post by Labour Winsford team on the Winsford Community (Labour) Forum saying they were going to start a campaign to overturn the decision!

I mean really - their own Cllrs approve, some of them don't agree and then they want to gain political capital by starting a campaign against themselves! Is this some strange alternate universe we've woken up in? Apart from the fact that they can't overturn the decision (the lawyers for the housing development would have a field day), don't they align as a team or are they just a gifted group of individuals who don't talk to each other? Do they even understand the planning rules?

Some of you will say that a Conservative Cllr spoke for it at the meeting. yes - but as a spokesman for the Labour majority Thrive Board (and who clearly wasn't told about the additional proposals).

Cllr Sam Dixon (Labour, Chester Cllr) said that the NP was written years ago and things change. Well, my house was mortgaged years ago and things have changed but I still have to pay the chuffing bank.

Labour have made another nonsense decision, whether its Labour CWAC, Labour WTC or the local Labour team. We in Winsford pay the price - houses coming out of every piece of land we have, no plan for the infrastructure and now we are the affordable housing capital of Cheshire.

We had a plan to make Winsford a destination but now we will have a housing estate and a drive thru town. Apologies if I sound negative because this one was one we could have got right yet the reds messed it up for us and I annoyed at the level of incompetence.

I will join the fight to over turn the decision even as I know we can't because it is the right thing to do. I think those involved should look at their own record and ask what is the right thing for them to do.

34,000 reasons to cheer (or not) in Winsford

Well, I hope you are all easing into the new year well enough and that you are not feeling too battered by Storms Ciara and Dennis?

Another battering is coming our way in Winsford of course as the Labour tax rises come barreling our way once again led by the cheery band of Labour Cllrs telling us how much it really isn't and how they don't get anything from the Government to help (they do, money in such large quantities they forget to ever mention it).

4.99% from our Labour Police and Crime Commissioner (even after cutting support for our Remembrance day parade)
1.99% from the Labour led Fire Authority
6% from the Momentum dominated Winsford Town Council.....

Wait...did I get that right?? 6% after the blockbuster 10% last year? Really?

Yes indeed - courtesy of legal team Stitch, Up & sons we get another 6% rise in our WTC precept this year.

Is that a lot? it is after all ONLY another 6p a week and it's only because of Tory Cuts right? Errr....NO. The Town Council does not get money from the government in grants, everything it needs is raised in the precept - the money they get from you and me (maybe more from you than me if you live in a Band H dwelling but I don't think we have many, if at all, of those mansions in Winsford - happy to be corrected on that one).

So this is money that the Labour led WT Council "need" from us to deliver the services etc. for the next year.

It's this point of "need" that is the point I stood up at Town Council on Monday this week to challenge and I would like to explain the reasons why that challenge was necessary for the hard working taxpayers of Winsford to have their say.

Compared to last year WTC is spending £20,000 LESS on public buildings (the Guildhall), £10,000 LESS on grants to organisations, 1,000 LESS on printing. This is £35,000 which could be spent on other important items without raising the precept. Compared to last year £15,000 MORE on "events management" and £35,000 on "special Items (play Leadership)" although there is already an allocated amount for Play Leadership later in the Budget).

At this point, we are about even with perhaps a few questions around the special items and the event management hikes.....and then the kicker....

£31,000 on participatory budgets...gulp....what are they for I hear you ask? Well, these are being sold to us from the CO-OP....sorry from the Labour CO-OP members as an opportunity for community groups to apply for money from the council to help fund groups, ideas, events. Hmmm...didn't we do that before? Apparently so - such a great success that only the old-timers know about it.

I've called it a "slush"...twice in fact during my speech on Monday. £31,000 of YOUR money to fund ideals which your Labour Loony left Cllrs - some who continue to call WTC a Co-operative Council, which it is not, it is a Council with members of Labour CO-OP on (because they are to scared to say Corbyn supporting Marxists) - wish to use to fund their left agenda and make them look like the good guys come voting time.

I'm waiting with baited breath on who applies for monies, who receives monies and the Guardian headlines they will receive when residents either respond to their loaded and orchestrated polls or go cap in hand to them for money.

As a CWAC Tory Cllr, this one really troubles me, the level of politics at this level, the disrepute that this Labour group has brought to the town and the appearance of self-service and disregard for others is very troublesome. I cannot believe Winsford needs Millitant leadership, with far left socialist ideals and many I have spoken to have said they feel duped by what they voted for being different to what they received.

But there is a glimmer of hope for our town - Cllr Mellor (Lab) actually voted against the budget saying the money belonged in residents pockets. I salute her for that after all the raises and  while the Council sits on money they can get from the Greedy Pig site disposal and the £150,000 sitting in the capital fund and £322,000 at Statement closing January 10th.

Seems there is plenty of money around...despite those Tories eh? 34,000 reasons to cheer indeed.....

Winsford - when the left was lost

Now that the 2019 General Election is over and we safely resume political life in 2020 knowing that Corbyn isn't going to get his hands on the countries coffers (although we now have to wait to see whether the Corbyn clone/clown Wrong Daily or one of the other group of Marxist nobodies get the second bite of the red cherry), things in Winsford have a chance to settle down for a bit.

However, no one seems to have told the hard left tribe of loony lefties who were elected at the last Council elections that Labour actually lost the General Election (ahhh...what would have been if we had secured Brexit earlier eh?). The cabal continues its purge of the normal ones while on a direct course to alienate most residents of Winsford while getting itself to the pinnacle of utopia (which in this case appears to be every pub in Winsford being owned by a "co-op") with the dark hand of a puppeteer in the background firmly thrust up the rear. A bit like the Sooty show but a whole load more dangerous.

Now I've never agreed with Cllrs Kennedy and Edwards from a political point of view but (and I have stated this many times) I have always thought them to be good people. We have not seen eye to eye on many things but we talk, we laugh and we can chat about "stuff" and I for one believe Cllr Kennedy was a fantastic Mayor for the town - even though I was extremely jealous of the fact he had some hair to dye purple for local charities.

According to the lefties - they apparently were not left enough, now they are accused of "acting illegally". Really? Let me state that again "acting illegally" Really? Maybe it was doing so in that charity work? Or helping residents? Or listening to residents? Or not agreeing to move the Council chamber to a larger venue so that lefty supporters could turn up........at a very significant cost......

I don't know - I'm at the point of not really wanting to turn up to a Town Council meeting knowing that the cabal have decided everything "down the red" in the day before, knowing that any comment I make at council will be instantly shouted down on as obviously I am one of the "haters"

I would say I would prefer the on-line discussion but like many others in the town, run the risk of being blocked from the "Labour" Community Forum because I have a different view or indeed dare to criticise. You may know the forum I speak of - where Cllrs post under admin (although you have to guess which one because they don't state their names) and the Labour party has free hand to post what it wants. Mind you, posting elsewhere runs the risks of "big brother watching" back to the cabal and results in being sent messages (very passive aggressive ones) in an effort to silence.

Anyway, enough of my frivolities.....my New Year message to residents of Winsford is....don't accept this poor behavior from your Town Councillors, you are in control and have the final say - albeit in years rather than days. Those of us who behave above the residents and without respect from residents don't deserve to represent...and I include myself in that.You are not wrong or "haters" because you have different opinions. You are Winsford.

Now, back to Boris and the GE.....BIG SMILE ON FACE......