If you support our tax cut for over 25 million people, join us for as little as £1 today: http://t.co/WUAttFGgg3 pic.twitter.com/lsCXmYbjxn
— Conservatives (@Conservatives) April 30, 2014
Wednesday 30 April 2014
Tax cut for 25 million people, do you support it?
Labour Fails Wakefield District Again - 1 - The Wakefield Council budget up
Wakefield's Labour Council routinely complains about government cuts, yet has a bigger budget in 2015 than 2010. Labour talks about a cost of living crisis yet they raised Council Tax in Wakefield this year and they want to put it up again next year.
Tell them NO in the local elections on the 22nd May, help us to help you!
Vote for your Local Conservative Candidate for the local issues.
Tell them NO in the local elections on the 22nd May, help us to help you!
Vote for your Local Conservative Candidate for the local issues.
WMDC Local Elections May 22nd - Why vote?
Wakefield Conservatives are campaigning for a
“Better Deal” for the people of the district from Labour Run Wakefield Council.
Labour
has run Wakefield into the ground since 1974, despite spending billions of pounds. People wonder, where does that money go, is
it well spent? All too often we see grand gestures, gaffes and political
favours, we really need to see a fundamental shift in the way things are done.
We must see better value for money and quality
local services delivered at lower cost, we continue to support local residents
and oppose Labour’s cynical plans to hike Council Tax without a referendum. We
will push our campaign for a freeze in future years but with money better
spent.
We rigorously oppose the local Parking Tax, which
Labour deceitfully plans to implement immediately after these elections. We
will fight to put an end to Labour’s legacy of neglect of our roads, our
swimming pools and leisure facilities. Local Conservatives will invest
more in our crumbling road network and oppose Labour’s plans to close our
swimming pools
Reinvigorating our town centres and working to
support local small businesses, we will provide support to stimulate our local
economies across the district.
We will continue to fight for real educational
improvements for all our children and reverse Labour’s disgraceful
“INEFFECTIVE” verdict issued by government inspectors
Please use your Local Vote in the Local
Elections on the 22nd and let your local Conservative Candidates
help you!
Geoff Walsh
30th April 2014
Saturday 26 April 2014
Wakefield run into the ground by Labour?
#Labour has run #Wakefield into the ground since 1973, a walk on #Kirkgate proves that. Are #Box & his cllrs proud? #Wakefielddeservesmore
— Simon Wilson (@SimonFWilson1) February 15, 2014
People frequently say that they believe little gets spent on this side of the district. Now we see our swimming pools under threat and the council plans for up to 4000 new houses in and around Pontefract and the new large out of town retail proposals will only work if the infrastructure issues we are already struggling with get resolved first. Huge amounts have been spent in Wakefield over the years and the question still is "has it been well spent?" Big decisions typically get made in Wakefield about our town by people who know little about our heritage, challenges or issues we as local Councillors need to ensure our voices get heard.
Friday 25 April 2014
Local Elections Over to you?
Saturday 19 April 2014
Town End problems still to be addressed more of the same looming..
Town End Folly still unresolved - Pontefract's Choke Points about to get worse
Following on from Mr Griffin's letter in the P&C Express 23rd January 2014, it looks like yet another plan for Pontefract has stalled. For the last 40 years most of the big decisions for Pontefract have been made by people that do not know or understand the town and whether it be those that proposed Town End lights in the first place or those like Cllr Denise Jeffrey who promised back in 2011 to resolve the chaos and congestion that this caused, we are still no further forward.
We still have unacceptably long queues, compromised air quality which exceeds national limits caused by standing traffic, and the looming problem of additional traffic as up to 4000 more houses are added around the edges of town.
The next potential "Folly" we need to be aware of is Cllr Box's much vaunted Northern Relief Road. Relief from what, may I ask? This will add to congestion by the railway bridge/motorway junction on Park Road as it cuts off towards Skinner Lane, which, in itself, is not really suitable to take extra traffic. Costing taxpayers up to £4.1 million, this road was originally intended primarily as access to the Prince of Wales site The plan was then undermined by Wakefield planners who are allowing Harwood Estates to give traffic from the first 540 homes direct access to Park Road from the old colliery road by the roundabout meaning that there will now be two new junctions and two new choke points.
Over recent years there have been promises of improved infrastructure for Pontefract but we still have rat runs, pollution, congestion, potholes and uneven footpaths. We need to see meaningful improvements and where there is additional housing, good sustainable development to make the town more viable, hopefully the powers that be are listening.
Cllr Geoff Walsh
Pontefract South
Friday 18 April 2014
Good news with employment strengthening.
Long-term unemployment down 93k on year- largest annual fall since 1998 according to @ons stats #GetBritainWorking pic.twitter.com/HwKy55aMTy
— DWP Press Office (@dwppressoffice) April 16, 2014
Interesting considering the debate in the council chamber on Wednesday. One of the limiting points in Wakefield has been the number of youngsters who have not had access to a good or outstanding primary or junior school and the impact that has on the aspirations of our young people later in life. The local education authority has been labelled as INEFFECTIVE by OFSTED and the Authority is towards the very bottom of the national table with no great improvements despite spending up to double the amount on school improvements.
Part of the Wakefield problem relates to a conscious decision made in 2005 to put education in the hands of social care professionals a flawed policy that resulted in some Wakefield schools loosing their educational focus. Only recently being remedied but somewhat late for the thousands of young people who could not get the best start in a good or outstanding primary school.
Resulting in our poor local jobs performance and a couple of generations who have been actively discouraged from achievement, by forty years of a Labour administration averaging down.
Good Friday at St Giles
Good Friday in Pontefract and people start to gather for the Churches together open air service, ultimately with about 200 people. Excellent service with hot cross buns to follow.
Wednesday 16 April 2014
Remploy Pontefract two years on 16/4/2014
Today in the Council Chamber as a parting shot to prior to the elections the Labour group decided they wanted to use their block vote to pick over the closure of Remploy and Remploy Pontefract in particular. They decided that politically they needed to blame the Conservatives on Wakefield Council and apparently me in particular.
So who did fail Remploy - Pontefract?
Well it certainly was not Lord Lofthouse, who fought, and kept open the Pontefract site which was recommended for closure by the Labour Government in 2008. Interestingly, our MP was very silent, perhaps little surprise there, considering she was a Minister in that Government at that time, she showed as much drive and determination as she is in relation to the Kellingley closure question. Plenty of photos of her looking glum but not much action on her part.
No, it would appear that the local Labour Party have decided that it was me and they are using the taunt at every video opportunity they get in the Council Chamber.
Interestingly the House of Commons Library published a comprehensive report on the 24/2/14
The Sayce report which triggered the initial Labour Government Remploy closures concluded that the closed factory model that was used to give disabled people employment was a poor way to help. That it was more of an investment in bricks and mortar than helping people. In the financial year 2011/12 Remploy employed more than 2,150 disabled people in its factories, but made an operating loss of £49.5 million.
At the same time Remploy Employment Services still offer face-to-face advice and support to disabled jobseekers through its 64 branches in city and town centres around the UK, as well as working with employers. In 2012/13, Remploy found 17,835 jobs in mainstream employment for “disabled and disadvantaged people”, including 14,700 for disabled people.
Pontefract was selected for closure in 2008 and again in 2012 because it was judged that it could only function with a subsidy that meant a reduction in money available to support other disabled jobseekers.
The local Labour Party and GMB Union in 2011 set out resist the closure. In a debate in the Council Chamber, Cllr Travis the Union's representative on the Council said that the Pontefract plant had work that made it viable. We asked to see the figures and business plan that backed that up and undertook to make representations of the business case to Government Ministers with a view to see if we could make the case to keep the factory open. No figures or plan were forthcoming. At a further meeting where an item was put forward to discuss Remploy I repeated the offer.
To this day there have been no figures or plan put forward and I am starting to wonder if there was ever the case they spoke of. Now it seems that the controlling group on the council see this as their electoral strategy to deliver six Labour Councillors for Pontefract.
Local people in Pontefract know me better than the Labour Group do.
So back to the question who did fail Remploy Pontefract? If there really was a business case we could have helped if given the chance. So by politicking in the Council Chamber and not following through, Cllr Travis and his Labour Group colleagues used a national closure programme in an attempt to score political advantage, but failed the people they were claiming to help.
As the Leader of the Council has said from time to time, "Thats Politics"
So who did fail Remploy - Pontefract?
Well it certainly was not Lord Lofthouse, who fought, and kept open the Pontefract site which was recommended for closure by the Labour Government in 2008. Interestingly, our MP was very silent, perhaps little surprise there, considering she was a Minister in that Government at that time, she showed as much drive and determination as she is in relation to the Kellingley closure question. Plenty of photos of her looking glum but not much action on her part.
No, it would appear that the local Labour Party have decided that it was me and they are using the taunt at every video opportunity they get in the Council Chamber.
Interestingly the House of Commons Library published a comprehensive report on the 24/2/14
The Sayce report which triggered the initial Labour Government Remploy closures concluded that the closed factory model that was used to give disabled people employment was a poor way to help. That it was more of an investment in bricks and mortar than helping people. In the financial year 2011/12 Remploy employed more than 2,150 disabled people in its factories, but made an operating loss of £49.5 million.
At the same time Remploy Employment Services still offer face-to-face advice and support to disabled jobseekers through its 64 branches in city and town centres around the UK, as well as working with employers. In 2012/13, Remploy found 17,835 jobs in mainstream employment for “disabled and disadvantaged people”, including 14,700 for disabled people.
Pontefract was selected for closure in 2008 and again in 2012 because it was judged that it could only function with a subsidy that meant a reduction in money available to support other disabled jobseekers.
The local Labour Party and GMB Union in 2011 set out resist the closure. In a debate in the Council Chamber, Cllr Travis the Union's representative on the Council said that the Pontefract plant had work that made it viable. We asked to see the figures and business plan that backed that up and undertook to make representations of the business case to Government Ministers with a view to see if we could make the case to keep the factory open. No figures or plan were forthcoming. At a further meeting where an item was put forward to discuss Remploy I repeated the offer.
To this day there have been no figures or plan put forward and I am starting to wonder if there was ever the case they spoke of. Now it seems that the controlling group on the council see this as their electoral strategy to deliver six Labour Councillors for Pontefract.
Local people in Pontefract know me better than the Labour Group do.
So back to the question who did fail Remploy Pontefract? If there really was a business case we could have helped if given the chance. So by politicking in the Council Chamber and not following through, Cllr Travis and his Labour Group colleagues used a national closure programme in an attempt to score political advantage, but failed the people they were claiming to help.
As the Leader of the Council has said from time to time, "Thats Politics"
Saturday 12 April 2014
Action Day in Pontefract and Castleford
Thanks to the team who helped me getting the message out today. You know who you are, it is much appreciated and a grand bit of exercise.
Geoff
Geoff
Larks Hill deliveries and discussions Part 1 Kellingley comment
Out with colleagues delivering latest In Touch across Larks Hill. Some interesting and supportive conversations including a Kellingley Miner, sad about potential closure and the dispute that could arise. I agree we need to ensure that we have local production available, we still have coal fired power stations and need energy security, witnessed by William Hague's comments on Putin and his use of energy supplies to keep the EU in check.
We discussed our MP's television performance and how she ducked the challenge about the number of pit closures that she and her colleagues stood by and watched during the last Labour administration. He also commented that part of Kellingley's problems stem from lack of investment to keep the pit functional and managements tendency to pass through quickly without getting to grips with the operational issues. Even so its sad because by all accounts Kellingley is one of the most effective, efficient pits and when they extract coal and ship it 7 miles to a power station who pays in dollars and can buy it significantly cheaper from the US then this is just barmy.
As a local councillor I intend to at least pass the message back to government ministers that we need to have a blend of energy.
We discussed our MP's television performance and how she ducked the challenge about the number of pit closures that she and her colleagues stood by and watched during the last Labour administration. He also commented that part of Kellingley's problems stem from lack of investment to keep the pit functional and managements tendency to pass through quickly without getting to grips with the operational issues. Even so its sad because by all accounts Kellingley is one of the most effective, efficient pits and when they extract coal and ship it 7 miles to a power station who pays in dollars and can buy it significantly cheaper from the US then this is just barmy.
As a local councillor I intend to at least pass the message back to government ministers that we need to have a blend of energy.
Thursday 10 April 2014
Europe? Let Britain decide
The choice couldn't be clearer pic.twitter.com/N446n3Okui
— Let Britain Decide (@BritainDecides) March 12, 2014
Friends of Valley Gardens - Lets keep an eye on their good work.
Post by Geoff Walsh.
There have been examples of people stealing flowers and plants that have been planted paid for by public subscription to the Friends. However people may seek to excuse it is a theft of time goodwill and property.
Valley Gardens is a much loved resource. Enjoy it.
Wednesday 9 April 2014
Kellingley - Good news for the moment
Breaking News////
Energy Ministers in conversations with unions and UKCOAL about Kellingley, in the 1960's they would have been sending out for beer and sandwiches...probably a skinny latte and wraps now.
Bearing in mind the energy security question I hope they come up with a fix in the countries interest quickly.
Buys some time to look at other possibilities. Gives a respite for those who work at Kellingley. Ed Milliband when he was Energy Secretary saw a number of pits close without action, he just does not get it.
Said Geoff Walsh the Conservative Councillor for Pontefract.
Energy Ministers in conversations with unions and UKCOAL about Kellingley, in the 1960's they would have been sending out for beer and sandwiches...probably a skinny latte and wraps now.
Bearing in mind the energy security question I hope they come up with a fix in the countries interest quickly.
Kellingley Colliery expected to stay open until next year - Pontefract and Castleford Express: http://t.co/R2KyJypBID
— Geoff Walsh (@Geoff_Walsh_npc) April 10, 2014
Buys some time to look at other possibilities. Gives a respite for those who work at Kellingley. Ed Milliband when he was Energy Secretary saw a number of pits close without action, he just does not get it.
Said Geoff Walsh the Conservative Councillor for Pontefract.
Pointless again
@almurray @YvetteCooperMP How true Al, sadly all to predictable lacks originality, in fact a pointless comment http://t.co/Ae57at5bdH
— Geoff Walsh (@Geoff_Walsh_npc) April 9, 2014
Breaking News - Kellingley Colliery
BREAKING: NUM claim government expected to grant £10m state loan to keep #Kellingley Colliery open until 2015 tomorrow
— Pont & Cas Express (@PandCExpress) April 9, 2014
Helpful news on Kellingley. Hopefully somebody is listening to the Energy Security message.
Tuesday 8 April 2014
Plan A seems to be working
#IMF predicts #UK growth of 2.9% this year. #PlanA seems to be working. Ed #Balls surprisingly isn't happy
— Simon Wilson (@SimonFWilson1) April 8, 2014
Want to help unlock democracy in Wakefield? Local Elections 22nd May 2014
Planning to vote? There is more information available on the Electoral Services Webpage and here.
Local elections give you a chance to set the direction of the local council. Your chance to decide what should happen next.
Help me to help you, if you trust me with your vote on the 22nd of May, I will do all that I can to represent the people of Pontefract well.
Local elections give you a chance to set the direction of the local council. Your chance to decide what should happen next.
Help me to help you, if you trust me with your vote on the 22nd of May, I will do all that I can to represent the people of Pontefract well.
Monday 7 April 2014
Help to buy!
#helptobuy very successful in Pontefract & Castleford. Getting Britain Building. http://t.co/nanMnZP1jX
— Kris Hopkins (@khopkinsmp) April 7, 2014
Business Growth Fund Success, new Westgate Autos MOT centre opens @ 10.30 shall I bring my own scissors?
Delighted to be asked and happy to help out with the scissors. All praise to Richard Wakefield who has been plugging a way building Westgate Autos. Cutting the ribbon at 10.30 this morning. Well done!
Sunday 6 April 2014
New Employment Allowance helping employers create jobs..
Today sees the Employment Allowance introduced - cutting the jobs tax by up to £2k, helping employers create jobs.
http://t.co/d5WpervLLv
— ToryBusiness (@ToryBusiness) April 6, 2014
One of the difficulties in our part of the world has been the Councils approach to create public sector jobs and in difficult times some of those jobs are hard to sustain. A classic example in point was the number of press and media officers on the strength of WMDC in 2007/8/9 when we had more press and media appointments than Marks & Spencer's Head Office in London.
Small and medium enterprises employ the largest number of people in the UK and the Employment Allowance scheme will help them grow and be able to employ more people. The scheme goes live from today.
Friday 4 April 2014
Updated....Oriental Restaurent at Town End on fire
Happening now, at the Oriental, overlooking Valley Gardens. Very much a landmark for many. On fire with two pumps attending. Oh well, somebody set fire to a bench outside in the gardens earlier in the week, maybe they have moved on to bigger projects.
UPDATED - Passed by this morning and everything looks in reasonable shape, not apparently any untidier than it was. Both doors boarded but they already were. Looks like the Fire Brigade have come up trumps!
One of the handy things about having a "Blue light Hub" in Pontefract (Fire, Police and Ambulance service based at Stumps Cross, delivered by Phil Booth when he was Chairman of the West Yorkshire Fire Authority).
Updated 13.00 5th April 2014
UPDATED - Passed by this morning and everything looks in reasonable shape, not apparently any untidier than it was. Both doors boarded but they already were. Looks like the Fire Brigade have come up trumps!
One of the handy things about having a "Blue light Hub" in Pontefract (Fire, Police and Ambulance service based at Stumps Cross, delivered by Phil Booth when he was Chairman of the West Yorkshire Fire Authority).
Updated 13.00 5th April 2014
Five Towns Park - a new stadium, retail development and country park? At the end of Park Road and M62 JCTN 32
Folks
You may have read of the plan that is being proposed to give Castleford Tigers a new stadium in the field adjacent to Junction 32 of the M62, this to replace the earlier proposal across Park Road at Glasshoughton which seems to have stalled.
Clearly if this is to go ahead it will be one of the biggest developments of its kind with a significant impact on both Pontefract & Castleford. If you link that to the proposal to convert B&Q to a Sainsbury Superstore and the further proposal to increase the capacity of the Asda Superstore and the fact that work at the Prince of Wales of site is finally starting to see a prospect of up to 540 houses in its first two phases each discharging on to Park Road then the proposals for handling the traffic will need to be scrutinised closely.
The commercial aspects are likely to be viable, you only need to look at the Tesco deal that gave the Warrington Wolves their new Stadium across the car park from a Tesco Superstore, the stadium scheme is likely to be financed by the developer and or a major retail operator so that they can get public support from the fans. Whilst the developer may wish to have the use of public money at this point that is really not an option considering the Council's other commitments.
Sainsbury have been saying that they expect a significant amount of their custom to have arrived by motorway and I expect any other retail operator will expect the same, so I think that improvements to the M62 at Junction 32 will be critical or Park Road will become an even bigger car park for a greater part of any day and the problems we have at Town End will seem insignificant compared to what may lie ahead with Pontefract effectively cut off from the Motorway.
UPDATE++++++++++
Having had conversations with people who have been looking at this proposal, for many there is a concern that this scheme could cripple any hopes that we have for making our Town centre more vibrant. I am a little more optimistic than that.
However I am uneasy that we may loose further high street retailers depending upon who moves into the new development. One opportunity that needs serious attention is abolition of parking charges. The business rates bill for the new development could more than cover free parking in Castleford and Pontefract and leaving charging in place would be a disaster what with the Asda, Sainsburys and this new raft of shops none of which will make car parking charges.
In addition to the existing small local shops we need to consider moving Pontefract up market with some artisan, craft and food shops, like Hebden Bridge or Wetherby.
With the potential for up to 4000 homes in and around the town, we also need to see some improvements in the town centre, infrastructure, work on schools, medical facilities and perhaps an upgrade to Pontefract Hospital as our population grows.
The developer appears to be the Lateral Property Group and there will be three briefing events run for the public over the next three days:
Friday 4th of April 3pm to 7.30pm at Glasshoughton Centre
Saturday 5th of April 10.00am to 3pm at the Five Towns Centre
Monday 7th April 12.30pm to 5pm at St Giles Church in Pontefract
I realise that this may be short notice, but if you get to any of these you really should. I would be interested to hear your thoughts.
Email me: geoff.walsh.npc@gmail.com
or Twitter @Geoff_Walsh_npc
or give me a call.
Geoff
You may have read of the plan that is being proposed to give Castleford Tigers a new stadium in the field adjacent to Junction 32 of the M62, this to replace the earlier proposal across Park Road at Glasshoughton which seems to have stalled.
Clearly if this is to go ahead it will be one of the biggest developments of its kind with a significant impact on both Pontefract & Castleford. If you link that to the proposal to convert B&Q to a Sainsbury Superstore and the further proposal to increase the capacity of the Asda Superstore and the fact that work at the Prince of Wales of site is finally starting to see a prospect of up to 540 houses in its first two phases each discharging on to Park Road then the proposals for handling the traffic will need to be scrutinised closely.
The commercial aspects are likely to be viable, you only need to look at the Tesco deal that gave the Warrington Wolves their new Stadium across the car park from a Tesco Superstore, the stadium scheme is likely to be financed by the developer and or a major retail operator so that they can get public support from the fans. Whilst the developer may wish to have the use of public money at this point that is really not an option considering the Council's other commitments.
Sainsbury have been saying that they expect a significant amount of their custom to have arrived by motorway and I expect any other retail operator will expect the same, so I think that improvements to the M62 at Junction 32 will be critical or Park Road will become an even bigger car park for a greater part of any day and the problems we have at Town End will seem insignificant compared to what may lie ahead with Pontefract effectively cut off from the Motorway.
UPDATE++++++++++
Having had conversations with people who have been looking at this proposal, for many there is a concern that this scheme could cripple any hopes that we have for making our Town centre more vibrant. I am a little more optimistic than that.
However I am uneasy that we may loose further high street retailers depending upon who moves into the new development. One opportunity that needs serious attention is abolition of parking charges. The business rates bill for the new development could more than cover free parking in Castleford and Pontefract and leaving charging in place would be a disaster what with the Asda, Sainsburys and this new raft of shops none of which will make car parking charges.
In addition to the existing small local shops we need to consider moving Pontefract up market with some artisan, craft and food shops, like Hebden Bridge or Wetherby.
With the potential for up to 4000 homes in and around the town, we also need to see some improvements in the town centre, infrastructure, work on schools, medical facilities and perhaps an upgrade to Pontefract Hospital as our population grows.
The developer appears to be the Lateral Property Group and there will be three briefing events run for the public over the next three days:
Friday 4th of April 3pm to 7.30pm at Glasshoughton Centre
Saturday 5th of April 10.00am to 3pm at the Five Towns Centre
Monday 7th April 12.30pm to 5pm at St Giles Church in Pontefract
I realise that this may be short notice, but if you get to any of these you really should. I would be interested to hear your thoughts.
Email me: geoff.walsh.npc@gmail.com
or Twitter @Geoff_Walsh_npc
or give me a call.
Geoff
Thursday 3 April 2014
How much will you save?
Income tax has been cut for over 25m people - how much are you saving? Find out here: http://t.co/2OljT7b2tB pic.twitter.com/oFnQlloeRE
— Geoff Walsh (@Geoff_Walsh_npc) April 4, 2014
Please see the following on-line videos, released this week:
Cutting the jobs tax, creating more jobs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Same Old Labour: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Wednesday 2 April 2014
Cutting taxes to help you keep more of what you earn
We're cutting taxes to help you keep more of what you earn. https://t.co/9ZRMhgz5AJ #LongTermEconomicPlan
— UK Prime Minister (@Number10gov) April 2, 2014
Tuesday 1 April 2014
Labour wrecked the economy once and now they want to do it all over again..
Labour wrecked the economy once, and now they want to do it all over again. Help stop them by RTing this film: http://t.co/D1Rie308vw
— Geoff Walsh (@Geoff_Walsh_npc) April 1, 2014
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