Unfair recycling charges?

An older couple approached me today whilst leafleting wanting advice about the collection and recycling service the council offer.

Although they had been able to transport a freezer themselves to Johnsons Lane Recycling Centre, with some difficulty, they were concerned about pensioners and others on low incomes who didn't have access to a car.

It's free to drop items off but if you ask the council to collect there's a charge of up to £20 for a large item. People on low incomes often don't have access to cars etc and might find it difficult to meet such charges.

Its important that white goods etc are disposed of correctly and properly recycled and obviously we're not helping matters if we make it difficult for people to recycle.

So I sent the council an email asking them what the current situation was regarding collection charges:

"I am emailing to find out what the current situation is regarding charges for collecting freezers and fridges and other large domestic appliances for recycling.
I understand pensioners and those on low incomes, presumably like other people, are being charged up to £20 for items collected.
This seems unfair as they are less likely to have transport, when there would be no charge involved, to take these large items to recycling centres such as the one at Johnsons's Lane.
These charges could make people consider fly tipping which is obviously something we would want to avoid.
Are there any concessions for people on low incomes?
I'd be grateful for any help you could give re this matter".

If you've had similar difficulties please let us know and keep checking this blog to find out the council's response!

Spinning and things!

One of things I don't like about politics is the tendency for all of us to use some form of spin in trying to persuade people to change their opinions. Often we don't recognize this but it's there, a fact of life. I'm not a black and white sort of person and I honestly try to avoid it if possible.

But unfortunately there are varying degrees of spin.

For instance another party in their election material have stated that the Greens have neglected calling for a public inquiry over the Ineos Chlor incinerator

The 'truth' is that we've been actively campaigning against the Ineos Chlor and Ince Marshes incinerators and the proposal for an incinerator on the Liverpool side of the Mersey for two years.

We have sent in written objections to both proposals to the government body concerned. In our newsletters we have been publishing information about who people should send their objections to and providing assistance regarding writing these objections.

I have attended most of the Runcorn Ineos Chlor meetings and have spoken at one of them.

I am also speaking at the public inquiry on the Ince Marshes incinerator in May.

As I said there are varying degrees of spin!

Blue Bin Saga

If you've read the previous Blog about the blue bin situation on the Swedish houses you'll know that only those houses on Warrington Rd have received blue bins.

I have asked whether the remaining houses will be getting theirs in the near future but have not yet recieved a reply.

Yesterday a couple of people in Frank St mentioned that they also have not yet got these so will contact Council again and ask about which areas are not covered and when and if they are to be supplied with the bins

Please let us know if you are effected.

Dropped kerbs in Bellhouse Rd and the invisible white line!

Residents in Bell House Rd are experiencing some problems regarding the absense of a white parking line on a dropped kerb in the road. There are some wheelchair users living in the area who are having problems negotiating this dropped kerb because of cars parked illegally.

The other dropped kerb in Bell House Rd has the white line painted already adjacent to it but the council have not completed the one on the other kerb.

Residents have been complaining about the issue for some time and so I've emailed the council asking for their comments:

"I am emailing you about the dropped kerbs in Bell House Rd Widnes.

One of the dropped kerbs has not yet been painted with a no parking white line.
I understand this is causing some problems for wheelchair users in the area as cars occasionally will park adjacent to the dropped kerb and cause an obstruction.
Could you tell me whether the council is intending to paint this no parking white line in the near future?
Thankyou for your help regarding this matter".

If anyone you know is having similar problems please contact us on 0151 423 1692

Controlled road crossing Marzahn Way Widnes

A few residents in the Page Lane area have recently approached me about the paedestrian bridge on Page Lane and also about the crossing on Marzahn Way at the end of the path leading from the bridge. Some people find it difficult crossing there especially with push chairs owing to the speed of the traffic and have asked about the possibilty of a contolled crossing being sited at that location.

Also there have been problems related to youths throwing objects from the bridge onto the by pass

I've contacted the council about the issue and have sent the following email to them:

" I am writing about the footbridge on Page Lane Widnes which leads on to a footpath leading to Marzahn Way and a paedestrian crossing point there.
Crossing at this point is quite dangerous owing to the speed of the traffic.
Would it be possible to site a light controlled crossing there?
I understand that the paedestrian footbridge and path to Marzahn Way which leads to the main shopping Centre is used particularly by older people on Bell House Rd and residents in Page Lane,Frank Street and St Ambrose Rd.
To get across Marzahn Way safely for people living in this area means they have to make a longer walk over Halton View bridge and use a contolled crossing at the other end of Marzahn Way.
Also the paedestrian bridge is reknown in the area re young people throwing objects onto the by - pass. Are there any plans for this to be covered?
I would be grateful for any assistance you can give me in relation to these matters".

If any other residents feel strongly about this please let me know (0151 423 1692)

I'll let you know the council's response

Let your imagination run riot!

Out leafleting today I noticed the activities of the other parties. It made me think that the situation now in Halton View ward is so different from what it was 5 years ago before the appearance of the Greens.

It was a rare occurrence to receive a leaflet and only two parties had been contesting the seat for a few years before 2004.

It seems that we have made party politics in the area much more competitive.The Labour group’s presence has been more noticeable at residents meetings and there have been several improvements in the ward like traffic calming measures, slow down traffic signals (although unsure about the effectiveness of these) along with other street furniture and certain ‘green’ measures.

It seems that councillors are really wanting to appear attuned to the communities needs much more than previously. It could be that government initiatives have something to do with this but often these anyway are linked to popular policies being pushed by parties like the Green Party and taken up by the government.

It’s surprising then what you can do for local democracy without holding a council seat – just think what might happen if the Greens had representation on the council – I suggest that you really let your imagination take over!

Green Party TV broadcast tonight!

Don't miss the Green party's broadcast tonight at 6.30pm on ITV and 6.55 on BBC.

We've been out on Halton View ward delivering leaflets advertising the broadcast.

Hope the leaflet drop will be useful - often get questioned about policies the Green party has apart from environmental ones and people are surprised about the range of policy the Greens actually have.

Rather tired now been out for about 9 hours - please watch the broadcast!

Thanks for the feat Rosemary!!

Sometimes, only occasionally though, something can really save the day. With all this ward walking we're up to at the moment I've had feet problems and of course feet are pretty crucial appendages.

Well it was a case of the campaign suffering - but along came the green goddess who is normally a physio and has saved the day.

We're currently negotiating the rights of a big toe epic which might appear on You Tube - keep watching!!

Really a big thanks Rosemary

Bennetts Lane

Unfortunately Andy Pope was not able to make the meeting tonight - it was led by Rob Polhill.

It would seem that all residents objections have been forwarded to the inspectorate and unless anybody has any new arguments against the appeal then it would be a waste of time sending these in.

Also it seems that the sheer numbers of objections would not necessarily have any effect on the decision of the inspectorate. They were more concerned about the legalities in the process of the refusal of planning permission by the council than any other issue.

There was some discussion about the Halton View Action Group sending in a letter on behalf of residents reiterating all the points objecting to the unit and this presumably is going to be followed up.

Rob Polhill was at pains to state that he thought the council had a good case. However he admitted at the end of the day if the Priory/Montpellier appeal was upheld the council would only go ahead with appealing against this decision on points of law if thier barristers advised them that they had good grounds for mounting such an appeal.

It's unfortunate that planning permission was given in the first place to a care unit on the site by Rob Polhill and all party members of the planning committee - it really is an inappropriate setting for any care facility owing to its siting in a COMA area near to dangerous chemical factories. The Green Party would certainly have raised objections to such a development if it had been represented on the council at the time.

The disadvantaged and anti social youth - our challenge!

Have just returned from a 3 day break in Snowdonia. It was of course beautiful. We were right next to a field with young lambs - so vibrant, energetic and innocent. Our springer also innocently (?) sat for hours wide eyed looking at this scene!!

It got me thinking how lucky I am to have this and so much more... - so many can't and don't have a chance.

Then I caught the news about a high court judge last week openly saying family breakdown is potentially more of a challenge than climate change in terms of the stability of our society.

How do we respond - we need to become more aware of the plight of families in our community who are suffering from breakdown and understand the many factors that create the disadvantages which effect them and seeing the challenges they face as our challenges.

The danger is to reject them as neighbours, to dehumanise them, to erect the barricades. Its easy to understand why we do this but are we actually making things any better?

Yes of course we must strive to make our community a safer place by improving the effectiveness of policing (like the successful 101 police call system being piloted in a number of areas of the country) but we must also consider the root causes of things like anti social behaviour and as a community respond positively to these.

Perhaps local residents groups should consider setting up liaison meetings with the police, youth workers, churches and other interested groups to work together not only to consider the security of our community but also what we as communities can do to lessen the burden of disadvantaged young people and their families.

In the same way that engagement is vital in tackling climate change the same applies to the issue of disadvantage and related anti social behaviour, even in selfish terms I don't think we have a choice, either we act in a positive and charitable way or let things fester and deteriorate further!

Bennett's Lane - meeting

The next meeting re Bennett's Lane has been provisionally booked for Tuesday 8th April at 7pm at Moorfield Sports and Social Club Moorfield Road. But please check this information on Bennett's Lane website (see previous blog) as it could be liable to be changed.

Andy Pope and others have met briefly with David Parr today and he is going to provide Andy with details in the next few days about the process of opposing this appeal - this will include the possible content of letters of objection from residents re the 'Velocity' group's (current owners) appeal.

Andy got the impression from David Parr that the council would fight this appeal as much as money would allow!