Upton Matters

The Council’s ruling Labour and Lib Dem Cabinet are planning to axe 12 Libraries, 3 leisure centres, 2 museums and a theatre. These disgraceful measures if passed will devastating for the people of Wirral. Upton is the worst affected in my opinion, Labour and the Lib Dems want to close:

• Upton Library
• Woodchurch Leisure Centre
• Woodchurch Community Centre

Please rest assured that my colleagues and I across Wirral are working hard to campaign against these cuts and will do everything in our in our power to keep these vital services.

Today I attended the opening of the newly refurbished Kenilworth Gardens. Praise has to go the Wirral Partnership Homes, Beanbag and Overchurch Residents Association who worked hard to make this a wonderful community garden.

Last night I had the pleasure of attending Merseyside Police Total Policing Awards. It was a way of recognising various officers and teams for their innovation and hard work. Among some of the recipients were two officers from Upton, Insp. Brian Griffiths and Sgt. Martin Fletcher. It’s good to know that Upton has an excellent team! Congratulations.

Last week I attended a problem solving meeting to discuss various incidents of anti social behaviour on the Overchurch estate. The main cause is youths, not living in the area, congregating in the woods and shop area. We are taking a multi agency approach working with all sectors to tackle this problem. I have to say the Residents Association have been fantastic throughout and are a model for other areas. As a result of the last meeting, amongst other things, will be football coaching for the younger children as way of diversionary activities. This will be paid for by through the generosity of the Residents Association.

Finally after years of having to put up with the St Benedict’s eyesore, the building is to be demolished at the end of this month.  There have been reports of children accessing the site practising ‘free running,’ which is was an accident waiting to happen. Since I was elected in May I have been campaigning for the building to be torn down - some good news at last.

Esther McVey and I were up bright and early to visit St Michael’s and All Angels schools and have a chat with the local lollipop man and concerned parents. We have organised a petition calling on Labour/Lib Dems to stop these life risking cuts. While there i noticed a high volume of traffic, the crossing is on a bend, amain bus route and cars parked makes it difficult for children to see. Removing the lollipop man is absurd. I saw dozens of small children unaccompanied needing Bernie’s help to cross the Road.

N5ow that the information is no longer ‘exempt,’ an attempt to gag us, I am sad to say 18 schools crossing are being axed across Wirral by our Lab/Lib Dem cabinet. Two schools are affected in Upton, Arrowe Hill and St Michael’s and All Angels. All this will save the council is £50,000. What is the cost of a child’s life? How irresponsible and nasty can this cabinet get?

Upton Conservatives held a Sunday Lunch, which was attended by people in the community. Profits and raffle money were donated to the RLNI. Pictured is Esther McVey, myself, Wendy Hodgson-Jones RNLI committee member and Action Team Leader Geoff Gubb.

In attempt to crawl back some money due to their financial incompetence the Labour/Lib Dem cabinet want to start charging for the use of the ERIC service. With six out of ten flytipping incidents due to household waste does the cabinet want to make the situation worse by charging people £20 a time. A few years ago Labour introduced the charge and then abolished it. At the time Lib Dem Councillor Gill Gardiner presented a petition of 236 signatures to Council calling to restore the free Eric Service. Now Cllr Gardiner is Cabinet member for the Environment who will be overseeing the introduction of the £20 charge!