Rain! Rain! Rain!

Over the past couple of days Formby has experienced a vast amount of rainfall which has lead to several cases of flooding including the Hawksworth Drive area, where Sefton Council have had to deploy sandbags to prevent the problem getting worse.

As we are expecting further rainfall over the next 24 hours or so, if you have experience any flooding in your area please feel free to contact your 3 Formby Labour Councillors via the details provided on this page (please see side bar).

Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson joins the Formby Residents' Action Group to fight plans to destroy the greenbelt

Labour MP Bill Esterson told more than 400 Formby residents that the battle to fight plans to build on greenbelt land in the town was being made all the more difficult because of the "duplicitous government's planning policies".

 

The packed out Formby Residents' Action Group meeting at the RBL building on Whitehouse Lane, heard that while Tory Chancellor George Osborne is encouraging local authorities up and down the country to build on greenbelt, he has signed a petition opposing plans to build on countryside in his Tatton constituency.

 

Formby Residents' Action Group organised the meeting to update the community on the campaign to oppose David Wilson Homes' plans to build more than 300 homes on the current farmland to the east of Savon Hook and Alt Road along the bypass. 

 

The plans have sparked anger amongst Formby's residents who have since organised a campaign group to oppose the development.

After seeing the initial plans for himself and speaking to residents, Bill Esterson has vowed to fight the developer.

Speaking at the meeting, which Formby Labour Councillors Catie Page, Nina Killen and Peter Maguire also attended, the MP said: "This Conservative-led Government wants to build on the greenbelt because that's where their friends the developers can make most money.

"The fact that George Osborne is coming out encouraging local authorities to build on greenbelt, while signing a petition to oppose building on the greenbelt in his own constituency shows the duplicitous nature of the Tories in government.

"The Tories are accepting donations to their party, including from David Wilson Homes, and they are changing the planning rules in favour of these developers.

"That's why it is important that the people of Formby stand shoulder to shoulder, as they have done so far, to campaign against these plans which will see the bulldozers move in to Formby and tear up the character of our communities throughout Sefton."

Bill praised the Formby Residents' Action Group for organising the campaign.

Bill said: "Formby Residents' Action Group is doing a fantastic job co-ordinating this campaign.

"Thousands of people have signed the petition so far, which can be presented to the government once the 10,000 mark is reached and the government must respond.

"I'd like to thanks the hundreds of people who attended the meeting on Friday and who let me know their views about this issue.

"Most people I have spoken to agree that we need housing for our young people, but the community needs to be the ones who decide where those new houses go.

"This is the community of Formby. The people of Formby must be given a say on how their community evolves and develops. That's what localism is and what I and my colleagues will continue to fight for."

Formby Labour Councillor Nina Killen tackles litter problem at Long Lane Ditch

Formby's new Labour Councillor Nina Killen has tackled a long running problem of litter at Long Lane Ditch.

Cllr Killen received complaints from residents that the ditch had again become strewn with litter.

She immediately contacted the council and urged them to take immediate action.

The ditch was cleared by the community payback team.

Cllr Killen said: "As soon as I raised this issue with Sefton Council they immediately took action to clear the ditch of litter.

"I am now working with council officers to ensure the site is cleared regularly.

"Formby Labour Action Team has had reports in the past of rats in the area and we hope that getting Long Lane Ditch on a schedule for regular clearing will help ensure that we keep the rat population under control.

"But Sefton Council is facing even more government cuts which means it is very difficult to get any additional resources. However, we will continue to work with Sefton Council and local residents to tackle the problem."

Cllr Killen is calling on people not to carelessly throw away their litter in the streets.

Cllr Killen said: "Where there are litter bins, people need to use them. If there are no litter bins immediately available, then people just need to carry the rubbish until one is.

"People shouldn't be throwing their litter away.

"We all have a responsibility to keep our communities clean and if we don't there are very clear environmental repercussions just like we are seeing at Long Lane."

Formby Labour Action Team celebrates success in bus shelter campaign

Formby Labour Councillor Catie Page is celebrating as her wait for a new bus stop shelter is finally over.

Cllr Page has been campaigning for a new bus shelter at Liverpool Road near to LA Fitness after being contacted by residents.

The bus stop, immediately opposite the old Lighthouse pub, had previously been a basic post stop.  

 

As it is a popular stop for people travelling to Crosby and Liverpool, Cllr Page launched a campaign to get a new shelter.

 

Her campaign was successful and the new shelter was installed last week.

 

Cllr Page said: "I am absolutely delighted the new shelter has been installed.

 

"That part of Liverpool Road is particularly exposed to the elements, so people waiting at the stop can be hit particularly hard by wind and rain. In the winter they are also subject to hail and snow.

"This new shelter will ensure that waiting passengers have some form of protection from the elements while waiting.

"Many of the people who contacted me about this issue were older passengers who found it particularly difficult to stand at the stop in all weather. Some were school children who make their way to school in the south of the borough. They were getting drenched in the rain while they waited for the bus.

 

"Now, thanks to this shelter, the many young and older people who use this bus stop can do so without getting soaked - and they can also take a seat while they wait."

MP Bill Esterson asks Eric Pickles how the government plans to help towns not successful in Mary Portas scheme

Sefton Central Labour MP Bill Esterson this week challenged the government to detail how it plans to help revitalise town centres in Sefton who failed in their bid to win a share of Mary Portas' funding.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Bill asked the Secretary of State for Communities Eric Pickles:

"Formby, Crosby and Maghull all bid unsuccessfully for the Portas cash. Sefton’s Labour Council wants to help its town centres given the scale of cuts to local government. Will the minister tell me how he is going to make sure town centres are revitalised and tell me what support will be available to help?"

Bill said the Tory-Lib Dem government had essentially washed its hands of the town centres which hadn't been successful in the Portas bid which he called nothing more than a publicity stunt.

Bill said: "The Portas Bid scheme was far too small to have any considerable impact on improving our town centres. It was a gimmick designed more at grabbing a headline than improving the fortunes of our town centres..

"The scheme had a cash pot of of just over £1million to be shared between 12 successful bidders. That is not enough to make any discernible impact in turning around the fortunes of our struggling town centres up and down the country.

"But worse, the government now appears to have washed its hands of those town centres that worked hard to put together bids, but which weren't selected to take a share of the fund.

"It is not good enough for the Communities Secretary and the Tory-Lib Dem Government to chase a headline at the expense of our hundreds of ailing town centres.

"Closer to home, i saw details of the bids from Formby, Maghull and Crosby. each and every one of the bids from Sefton Central deserved to be winners and they deserve more from the government."

Bill praised Sefton Labour Group who have pledged to set up a fund to give the borough's shopping centres a boost during the difficult economic climate.

Bill said: "The Labour Group again are taking the lead on this where the Tories and Lib Dems in government are failing our town centres.

"Local businsses are struggling to make ends meet at the moment. While the government has grabbed its headlines for the Portas scheme, it is now the Labour Party in Sefton which is coming up with concrete proposals to make a difference in our communities.

"Some of the creative ideas which we have seen generated within our shopping centres by local business people, local shoppers and volunteers, have been tremendous.

"There is a clear desire to improve the offering in our shopping centres, to attract shoppers and to see our town centres once again returned to their former glory.

"That is exactly what the Labour Group on Sefton Council is proposing to do."

Labour Councillors welcome steps to tackle traffic congestion problems in Formby

Formby's three Labour Councillors have welcomed steps which are being taken to resolve the annual problem of congested roads in the town.

Formby Labour Councillors Nina Killen, Catie Page and Peter Maguire have worked alongside other local councillors to consult with police and Sefton Council to come up with solutions to the problem.

The councillors were inundated with complaints from residents about grid-locked roads and illegally parked cars following last month's warm weather as visitors flocked to the beach and pinewoods.

After consulting with residents and the emergency services, Formby Area Committee last week decided to install yellow lines on Victoria Road (near to Badgers Rake), Squirrel Green and part of Gorse Way and Proctor Road.

Cllr Nina Killen said: "As we've seen recently, traffic is a real problem in Formby during sunny summer days as people obviously flock to enjoy our coastline.

"We have the issue of so many cars on our roads causing gridlock, as well as vehicles being parked illegally and irresponsibly.

"This problem has gotten worse each year as day trippers visiting the beach and nature reserve decide to park outside of the National Trust car park or when the car park becomes full. 

"People complain about the problem year in, year out, so what we have come up with as part as Formby Area Committee is action which we hope will go some way to resolving the problem, by ensuring that cars are not parked along the main roads leading immediately to the beach and pinewoods."

Cllr Page said the effectiveness of the measures being implemented to resolve the congestion problems would be regularly reviewed.

Cllr Page said: "Councillors on Formby Area Committee, under the chairmanship of Cllr Gill Cuthbertson, agreed to create 'no waiting at any time' zones on the roads worst affected by the increase in traffic to try to keep vehicles moving and allay the congestion.

"These zones will be monitored to assess their effectiveness and the new parking restrictions will be policed particularly during high-traffic days.

"As all three of the Labour Councillors for Formby live in the town, we have each seen the problem of traffic during the summer period worsen year on year.

"The action Formby Area Committee has taken is just one step which we hope will go some way to alleviate the problem, but it will not be the only measure we take as we work to resolve the issue. This is an ongoing issue which we are determined to resolve."

Formby Fire Station Opening

On Monday I was fortunate to attend the opening of the new fire station on Church Road. This is a fantastic facility which will serve the people of Formby for many years, it was also encouraging to see that the new building had other features which allows it to serve the local residents in other ways. For example a state of the art gym which will be primarily used by firefighters but will also be available to certain members of the public and a large conferenc room which can be used for many community meetings.

After the official opening, local councillors, representatives from the Fire Authority and members of the public where given a guided tour of this fantastic new facility. We where also treated to a renactment of what the fire service would do in the case of a serious RTA(Road Traffic Accident) where the driver had experienced severe head trauma. It was very impressive and gave those of us present a reminder of the difficult work and risks that firefighters go through every day.

I managed to take a few snaps whilst I was there, however my camera kept failing throughout so there aren't many!