Traffic Chaos in Little Lever ? - Rat-Runs - Make the Racecourse Estate a 20 mph zone

At peak periods, traffic in the centre of Little Lever particularly around the Junction can already be a nightmare

Having received Planning Consent, it is likely that construction of the new Tesco Store at Pennine Pets will commence in March and it is suggested that the store will open in September, although I thinks that’s a bit optimistic.

The scheme involves some major traffic alterations which I think are as follows

·        Lever St to become one-way for the last 50 yds into the Junction

·        Narrowing of this stretch of Lever St by widening the pavement.

·        Limited widening of Ainsworth Rd with traffic calming

·        Traffic calming on Dearden St (which will remain two-way)

·        Zebra crossing at the Junction replaced by a Pelican Crossing

·        A new Pelican Crossing on Ainsworth Rd

·        A new Pelican Crossing on Markt St adjacent to the old Council Offices

·        Assorted shifting of Bus Stops

It must be noted that ALL vehicular traffic will enter the store from Ainsworth Rd into Crossley Street - Cars, motorcycles, cycles, HGV’s and pedestrians.

The Lever St entrance will be for pedestrians only.

The Victory Rd entrance will be to the staff car park only (though no doubt pedestrians will also use this to access the store.)

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Whichever side of the argument you have been on for or against this store, the consequence of all the extra traffic generated by the store will undoubtabley result in even greater congestion at the Junction particularly at peak periods. Some would argue that it will be gridlock.

I contend that drivers, particularly those of through traffic, will attempt to avoid the Junction like the plague and the consequence will be the creation of rat-runs.

THE RACECOURSE ESTATE MUST NOT BECOME A RACECOURSE

AINTREE RD

REDCAR RD

The main one will be through the Racecourse Estate via Mytham, Aintree, Redcar &/ or Ripon, Holcombe and Melrose.

Even visitors to the store, particularly from the East of the Village, could, in avoiding the Junction, create rat runs involving Heywood, Chapel & Independent or Lord St & Victory Rd.

Aintree Rd is already on occasions like a race track and I contend that to counteract the rat-run/racetrack issue, the whole of the Racecourse estate should become a 20 mph zone.

Since there are only four entrances/exits to the estate (Aintree, Ediburgh, Redcar & Melrose) this will not be difficult to achieve although it will cost money.

If the Council pleads poverty (as it usually does) then I will campaign for the £30,000 Section 106 money from the development to be spent on this scheme.

It will not reduce the volume of traffic using this rat-run but hopefully it will slow it down.

Promoted by Edith D Sexton, 69 Chester Ave, BL3 1XE on behalf of  Paul Richardson, 24 Ripon Close BL3 1EQ

Bolton Local Elections - Postal Voting

Postal voting, whereby a ballot paper is sent to a person’s address and they then fill it out and return it by post, has been allowed in some form or other since it was first introduced for servicemen after the 1st World War.

Over time, other categories of people such as the disabled etc have been included until finally, from February 2001, Postal Voting on Demand was introduced.

Since then, the numbers of people applying for Postal Votes has rocketed.

I recently asked the Electoral Commission for figures for Postal Voting in the 2012 Bolton Local Elections and the figures in their reply somewhat astonished me.

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The figures are as follows:- (for the whole of the Borough)

Electorate – 196,713

Postal Votes issued – 34,731

Valid Postal Votes returned on time – 24,050

Total No of valid votes cast (inc Postal Votes) – 62,885

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This means that of the total number of votes cast 38.24% were Postal Votes

That is – nearly 4 out of 10 votes were Postal ones

So what? you might ask.

The rub is this. In 2013, the Electoral Commission carried out a study into Electoral Fraud and concluded that one of the main areas for potential fraud was Postal Voting.

They concluded that one of the main areas for potential Electoral Fraud was indeed Postal Voting.

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They also made the following three observations:-

1)         It is also clear that the majority of cases of alleged electoral fraud relate to local government elections, rather than elections to the UK Parliament or other legislative

bodies.

2)         Electoral fraud tends to be committed by candidates or their supporters, not by voters

3)                  There are strongly held views ……….that electoral fraud is more likely to be committed     by or in support of candidates standing for election in areas which are largely or predominately populated by some South Asian communities, specifically those with roots in parts of Pakistan or Bangladesh.

I had asked the Electoral Commission to provide the data for 2012 Postal Voting on a Ward by Ward basis but so far they have not been able to do this.

I am, however sending a letter to the Bolton News on this subject as follows:-

 

“Dear Sir,

Following a recent enquiry of mine, the Electoral Commission have provided me with data relating to Postal Voting in the 2012 Bolton Local Elections.

To my astonishment, it turns out that of all the valid votes cast, 38.24% were by post – that is nearly 4 out of every 10.

They also drew my attention to a 2013 review by them where they conclude that one of the main areas of potential Electoral Fraud is indeed the Postal Voting System. They also conclude that Electoral Fraud tends to be committed by candidates or their supporters, not by voters.

Finally they observe that this kind of fraud is more likely to be perpetrated in areas populated by certain ‘communities’ rather that others.

This year in Bolton, I am certain that the Returning Officer will be aware of such concerns of the Electoral Commission and will be scrupulous in scrutinizing disproportionate numbers of applications for postal voting in these same areas.

Paul Richardson

Ripon Close

Little Lever.”

Let us see if they print it.

They did !!!!   - AND - unedited

Promoted by Edith D Sexton, 69 Chester Ave, BL3 1XE on behalf of  Paul Richardson, 24 Ripon Close BL3 1EQ

Please - Can you help me

As you know, Little & Darcy Lever Ward has three Labour Councillors

Between 2010 and 2014 they collectively received allowances of £136,677.88p

I’ve been scratching my head and trying to figure out what they have done for Little Lever and Darcy Lever in that period of time.

So far, this is what I have come up with.

Perhaps you can think of something. If you do, e-mail me on electpaulrichardson@gmail.com and I assure you I will post it on this Blog

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Since posting this, a large feature article has appeared in the Bolton News saying that £50,000 has been found to spend on the Village Centre and some traffic calming on Stopes Road.

I will refer to this in a separate Blog Post

Promoted by Edith D Sexton, 69 Chester Ave, BL3 1XE on behalf of  Paul Richardson, 24 Ripon Close BL3 1EQ

Doggy Doo Doos

DISGUSTING – INNIT?

When it comes to dog fouling, Bolton Council can sure ‘Talk the Talk’

When it comes to actually enforcing the bye-laws they are a little less successful

Bolton Council employs Environmental Enforcement Officers. I stand to be corrected, but I think there are four of them covering the whole of the Borough.

Apart from Dog Mess they are also responsible for policing Litter, Graffiti and Fly Tipping.

In March 2010, the Council launched yet another initiative to tackle this problem. This is summarized at :-

http://www.bolton.gov.uk/website/news/pages/Boltonisnotmessingondogfouling.aspx

However, the results of these initiatives can be best shown by the number of penalties issued or prosecutions resulting.

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A reply to a Freedom of Information request produced the following.

1. How many complaints were received for dog fouling for the period
   of 01.01.2009 to 06.03.2012.
   
   Total - 1391
   
   
2.  How many fixed penalty notices were issued for the same period
   for dog fouling.
   
   Total – 85

That is roughly SEVEN tickets per ENFORCEMENT OFFICER   per  YEAR

Bolton is not messing – Eh ????

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In the same period and since, Little Lever & Darcy lever Area Forum have had numerous ‘Presentations’ on the subject and since October 2011 have spent £3,200 on assorted Tri-signs, Dog Bins, Bag Dispensers and assorted other signage.

IT CLEARLY ISN’T WORKING

No-one can deny that dog owners like taking their dogs for a walk. It’s good exercise for the dog as well as the owner.

What amazes me is this:-

Most people have a back yard or a garden of some sort. Why not let the dog out in that, wait until it has done its business and THEN take it for a walk.

Perhaps that is too simple.

If elected I will push for a periodic week-long blitz of the Ward concentrating on the peak times for dog walking. No messing about – No warning – Fixed Penalty Ticket – Photograph – Name & Shame.

Sorry it has come to this but  IT’S THE ONLY WAY

Promoted by Edith D Sexton, 69 Chester Ave, BL3 1XE on behalf of  Paul Richardson, 24 Ripon Close BL3 1EQ

Anti-Social behaviour - The CCTV System

In July 2007 a grand total of £63,000 was spent on a CCTV system for Little Lever comprising 3 cameras which could be moved as required and the associated monitoring equipment which was located in the Police Post in the old Council Offices.

Back in those days, District Centres such as Little Lever were allocated Improvement Funds valued at £50,000 every other year. The 2007 allocation was used for purchasing the CCTV system together with £13,000 from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

The purchase included a maintenance contract, the cost of which per year I have been unable to ascertain.

One of the cameras was installed directly opposite the Precinct in Little Lever Centre – this being the location of most concern regarding anti-social behaviour.

The other cameras have periodically been located in any ‘hotspots’ as advised by the Police.

In February a further £900 was allocated by the Area Forum for ‘Ongoing maintenance of the Village CCTV System’. I am not sure if this was just for maintenance, but around this time a new Plasma TV was purchased to provide better images.

As I have said, this viewing equipment was located in the Police Post in the old Council Offices. The images were recorded and retained over a seven day period but could in fact be viewed live over the internet at any time.

Unfortunately in September 2011, the Council Offices were sold and since no other location for the equipment could be immediately found, it was put into storage where it has remained since that time.

There was talk of aquiring a room at The Haven as a Police Post but this came to nothing.

So – one of the cameras is still on the lamp post opposite the Precinct but isn’t operational and the rest of the £64,000 worth of stuff is in a cupboard somewhere.

At the Area Forum on the 3^rd February this year, I again brought up this scandalous waste of a valuable resource stating that it couldn’t be beyond the wit of the Police, the Council or even the local Councillors to find a place where this system could be brought back into use.

Councillor Anthony Connell then advised us that the original Maintenance Contract had expired and a new contract would cost in the region of £7,000 per year for which money wasn’t available.

I cannot believe this and today I am writing to the Police and Crime Commissioner to see if he can get this sorted out.

It needs to be done – It can be done and there’s no excuse why it shouldn’t be done.

My E-mail sent to Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd:- 

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Dear Sir,

In response to concerns about anti-social behaviour, the Little Lever & Darcy Lever Area Forum in 2007 spent some £63,000 on a CCTV system which comprised 3 moveable cameras and associated monitoring equipment.

I am certain that this proved to be a valuable resource for the Local Police in tackling these problems.

However the monitoring equipment was located in the Police Post in the old Council Offices in Little Lever and sadly, upon the sale of these offices, the Police Post was no longer available.

Since then the equipment has been in storage somewhere as a suitable place of relocation has not been found.

Protestations to local Councillors have produced no solution.

I think that this is a scandalous non-use of what must be a valuable tool for the Police and I am sure it is not beyond the wit of GMP or Bolton Council to be able to bring it back into use.

I would appreciate your input into this and am sure you can get it sorted.

Yours sincerely

Paul Richardson

24 Ripon Close

Little Lever

BL3 1EQ

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His reply:-

Dear Mr Richardson,

Thank you for your email dated 19^th February 2014. The Commissioner has requested that the Deputy Commissioner look into the issues that you have raised.

The matter has been referred to Greater Manchester Police to review and provide a report back to us.

Please be assured that a response will be provided to you as soon as possible.

Kind regards,

Lucy Phelan

Executive Services Officer 

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Promoted by Edith D Sexton, 69 Chester Ave, BL3 1XE on behalf of  Paul Richardson, 24 Ripon Close BL3 1EQ

Labour Party in Bolton - The Client Vote

The Elephant in the Room

Make no mistake about it, the Bolton Labour Party, who form the largest and ruling group on the Council, are a bunch of slick operators.

When it comes to winning Local Elections they sure know on which side their bread is buttered.

The political make up of the Council at present is

Labour – 41 Councillors

Conservative – 16 Councillors

Liberal Democrat – 3 Councillors

Each Ward elects 3 Councillors

In 13 of the 20 Wards all the Councillors are Labour.

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More interesting (for certain Wards) is the lead in the poll that the elected Labour Councillor had over the Candidate who came second.

(The figures are from the 2012 Local Elections)

Rumworth – 68.9% Labour lead over second place

Great Lever – 63.3 % Labour lead over second place

Crompton – 58.4% Labour lead over second place

Halliwell – 69% Labour lead over second place

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Co-incidentally (2011 census figures)

Rumworth – 51.8 % of the population are Muslim

Great Lever – 36.6 % of the population are Muslim

Crompton – 32.7 % of the population are Muslim

Halliwell – 27.9% of the population are Muslim.

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So – it’s hardly surprising that in 2008 Local elections, the Bolton Labour Party distributed the following leaflet exclusively to all the Bolton Mosques

and I’ve no doubt that a similar one will be sent out this year.

 

 

'NUFF SAID 

Promoted by Edith D Sexton, 69 Chester Ave, BL3 1XE on behalf of  Paul Richardson, 24 Ripon Close BL3 1EQ

UKIP National Policies

Although I have contended that the Local Election which I am contesting on May 22^nd is primarily to do with Little Lever & Darcy Lever and thereafter Borough-wide issues, UKIP are developing National Policies in preparation for the General Election in 2015.

Further to that, European Elections also take place on May 22^nd this year about which I will be writing in a later Blog.

I reproduce below a short summary of current UKIP National Policies under various headings which appear in a recent pamphlet.

I agree with and am able to support all of these Policies.

Promoted by Edith D Sexton, 69 Chester Ave, BL3 1XE on behalf of  Paul Richardson, 24 Ripon Close BL3 1EQ