Howard Henshaw

At 7.30am. this morning there was yet another accident involving two vehicles at the notorious junction of St.David’s Road North and St.Leonard’s Road East. Although there were no apparent serious injuries to  the drivers or passengers involved in the accident, one lady was taken by ambulance to Victoria Hospital for observation and treatment.

This is the fourth accident at this junction in the last two months and as the new county councillor for both Ashton and St.Leonards wards which converge at this junction, I have renewed my pleas for traffic signals to be seriously considered at this junction before a more serious accident or fatality occurs. The only alternative ,in my opinion, is the construction of a roundabout, although I have doubts whether there would be sufficient space for this solution. Recent new road signage and markings have proved to be totally ineffective and the enforcement of parking restrictions on the double yellow lines must be given top priority.  

After campaigning against the development of North Beach Car Park for several years, I am pleased to learn that the Council is at last being asked to reconsider it’s decision to sell off this asset to developers, after all of the Conservative  councillors previously voted for it’s disposal, claiming that the site was ‘under utilised’.

Residents will be aware that I have been campaigning for beach and wind sports to be encouraged on St. Annes North Beach for over 10 years and the plans by Eddie Sloane’s Trax Group to build a Wind Sports centre on the site of the old Sand Yacht Club site are very welcome. Consequently, I hope that the Scrutiny Committee’s recommendation to save the car park is accepted by the Conservative cabinet for the future benefit of all residents and visitors to  St. Annes. 

I would like to thank Clifton Drive North residents, Peter Savic and Arthur Halstead for supporting me in this campaign and former British  Sand Yacht champion, Ian Dibdin and Eddie Sloan for their forward looking views on the development of Beach Sports in St. Annes. If Fylde Conservatives had adopted a similar stance - perhaps we would not have lost out to Blackpool in the promotion of the growing Olympic sport of Volleyball, which I pleaded with the Conservatives to encourage on St. Annes Beach, many years ago.  The attached photograph was taken on 31st.May 2009  showing North Beach Car Park completely full with nearby Norwood Road ,used as an overflow, also full of parked cars.  (Photograph courtesy of Peter Lord, Caryl Road)

Less than 24 hours after new markings and illuminated signs had been installed at the St.Leonard’s Road/St.Davids Road junction - there has been another crash, this time involving two cars. One of the drivers or passengers involved may have been slightly injured. Once again, the road junction was closed and traffic diverted. Fortunately, children from the nearby Mayfield School had not yet finished for the day - otherwise the accident could have been far worse. I will continue my campaign for Traffic Lights to be installed at this junction - nothing less !

I have now been informed  by Keith Brooke, the council’s planning consultant, that the Inquiry relating to the appeal by Mar Properties is scheduled for 7th and 8th July 2009 and will be held at the Town Hall, St. Annes, starting at 10am each day. All interested residents are welcome to attend  and those wishing to speak at the Inquiry should inform Keith Brooke, as soon as possible, at keith@laithes.plus.com . 

Many thanks to all who helped to achieve this historic victory, which I believe is the first Liberal Democrat win in St.Annes North since 1927 when Alderman Charles Critchley held the seat as Leader of the old “Liberal Party” and first Mayor of Lytham St.Annes. This week’s victory is the culmination of 12 years effort over three previous attempts during which the Conservative majority has been progressively reduced from 1663 in 1993 to 488 in 2005.  A massive swing of 12% this time produced a solid Liberal Democrat majority of almost 550.Special thanks are due to the Chairman of the local party, John Graddon, Campaign Manager  Tony Ford and Agent Anne Fielding.

The result of the Lancashire County Council election for St.Annes North was:

Howard Henshaw     Liberal Democrats      2049

Karen Buckley           Conservatives             1502

Bill Whitehead            UKIP                             614

Peter Stephenson       Labour                          296

Majority                                                              547

Turnout                                                               42.36%    

The latest ICM poll for the Daily Telegraph- the Conservatives flagship newspaper, shows a dramatic surge in support for the Lib.Dems (up 4% to 25%) at the expense of the Tories (down 3% to 40%) and Labour (down 4% to 22%)

This is the first time Labour has been relegated to third place behind the Lib.Dems since 1987 following a disasterous defeat in the Greenwich by-election.

In the ICM poll for the European elections, Labour are agin relegated to 3rd.place on 17% behind the Lib.Dems on 20% and the Tories on 29%.

These figures bode well for all the Lib.Dem. candidates in the local County Council and European elections this Thursday 4th.June

As residents of Westgate Road will be aware, Mar properties have appealed against the refusal to grant planning permission for the residential properties on land at the rear of 11 - 63 Westgate Road.

Letters have now been sent out to residents, informing them that an Inspector has been appointed by the Secretary of State, to determine this appeal. 

The letter states that the enquiry will start at 10am. on 7th.July 2009 and should last approx. 2 days, although the venue of the enquiry was suprisingly not stated in the letter.    

I am currently endeavouring to find out the venue, which will be advised accordingly - but it is important that all concerned residents now form a coordinated approach to this enquiry and appoint a spokesman to represent them at the enquiry. As your only ward councillor on the Development Control Committee, I will obviously speak out for the refusal, as I did at the last Planning Meeting when it was refused. Individual residents can also request to be heard by the Inspector, but I suggest that all those wishing to speak  get their heads  together to ensure that they speak on different-  aspects of the case, to avoid duplication. If anyone knows a friendly lawyer or planning expert, who will be willing to speak on behalf of residents,please let me know,as Mar Properties will probably come armed with a paid professional !   - Any volunteers to be the residents spokesman ? 

Shelly Woods,the St.Annes based British Paralympic athlete and medal winner at the Beijing Olympics has thrown her backing behind Karen and Howard Henshaw’s County Election campaign, calling for improved highway and pavement maintenance to roads in Lytham and St.Annes.

In the Blackpool Gazette dated 26th.May 2009 Shelly said ” I do all my road work around Lytham and St.Annes, so the smoother and nicer the roads the better. Better kerbs and road surfaces make it less likely you will fall out of your chair. Going over potholes can also be a nightmare.”

Postal Vote papers should be with you by now. And you have to decide which candidate will be the best one to represent you. Postal voters get to vote before anyone else. You will be the first to vote for real change in Lancashire. Only a vote for Howard Henshaw of the Liberal Democrats will bring about that change because the simple truth is that everyone is fed up with red-blue, blue-red, boom and bust politics. The Liberal Democrats only need to win a handful of seats to control what goes on in Lancashire. It is the Liberal Democrats who will be in a position to strongly influence the County Council’s policies and make a real difference to all our lives.  The residents of St Anne’s feel neglected paying high levels of council tax and getting poorly maintained roads and pavements in return. There is a lack of provision for young people. Cuts in the care of our elderly and the vulnerable members of our society will continue unless the excesses and extremes of both Labour and the Conservatives are kept in check at County Hall. Vote for change and make a real difference to the area in which you live. Put your ballot paper to the best possible use by voting for Howard Henshaw in the county elections on June 4th. At the same time please give your full support to the Liberal Democrat team led by Chris Davies in the European elections. The other parties can’t win here – but the Liberal Democrats can. Use your vote wisely to elect your local Liberal Democrat candidate - HOWARD HENSHAW. 

I was very pleased to support MEP Chris Davies’ campaign for Open and Honest Expenses when I met up with him yesterday in Lytham. Chris has been campaigning for a long time to clean up expenses in Brussels and has made no secret of his loathing for MEPs who abuse the rules for European expenses. He highlighted the case of Conservative MP Ben Dover who had to repay more than £500,000 of expenses paid to a company registered at his family home in Borehamwood.  Ben Dover, European Parliament representative for north-west England, was found to have breached European parliamentary rules following an official inquiry and was expelled from his party.  Chris Davies MEP is currently travelling by train around the North West of England collecting signatures on a petition to clean up MEPs expenses in Brussels. Yesterday Chris had already visited Kendal, Lancaster, and Blackpool before alighting at a rather wet Lytham.  Chris Davies is the LibDem candidate in the European elections in June. He has been a successful northwest’s Euro MP for many years and is standing for the European Parliament again in June.  Chris Davies