A Win for Julie and Labour

 Thursday’s by-election in the Bloxwich East Ward of Walsall Council has seen an excellent victory for Labour and Julie Fitzpatrick, despite dreadful weather swing to Labour of 19% in a ward which has for a good number of years been split between Labour and the Conservatives, with the latter in the majority.

In a significant victory, the seat left vacant following the death of  Tory Bill Tweddle fell to the local Labour party, seeing the defeat of Conservative candidate Les Beeley by almost ninety votes, leaving the other parties nowhere.

Labour’s successful candidate, the energetic and community-minded Julie Fitzpatrick, is married to Shaun Fitzpatrick, whose own battle on behalf of the Labour party saw a previous defeat of long-serving Beeley in the council elections earlier this year.

The full voting results are:

Labour 922, Conservative 834, UKIP 98, English Democrats 49, Green Party 16.

The numbers of seats on Walsall Council ws therefore as follows:


Labour 27

Conservative 27

Lib Dem 5

Independent 1


 However, sadly on Friday night Joan Barton who was the current serving labour Councillor for Birchills Leamore died which now leaves a vacancy in that ward. Very sad as Joan was a long standing hard working patch councillor for Birchills Leamore and she will be much missed.

Paying respect to Councillor Tweddle

Councillor Bill Tweddle’s funeral cortege will pass Walsall Council House in Lichfield Street at approximately 8.45am on Monday 12 September 2011, giving people a chance to pay their respects.


His funeral is being held at 9.15am at Sandwell Valley Crematorium, his family have confirmed.


The Bloxwich East tory councillor, aged 70, passed away at home on Sunday evening 4 September 2011.


Following the funeral service, a reception will be held at the Tennis Court pub in Walsall Road, Perry Barr, and all friends and colleagues are invited to attend.

There will be family flowers only but people can make donations to the Green Rivers Community Association.
Bill was a member of the Tory party controlling group but we pay our respects of someone who served the electorate as their councillor .
It leaves Bloxwich East with 2 current councillors.

Labour meets the voters of Bloxwich East!

Equip with our brollies and some very wet shoes, we spoke to 139 residents last night!

I attach the photo taken before the rain and I should note that it was taken only moments before two more volunteers arrived - Sue and Aftab - making us a group of 13 (If you count me in too). So thank you. 

Who paid for the home improvements?

2nd July
Welcome improvements to the Streets of Bloxwich East in Thames Road and Smithfield Road... where houses both privately owned and rented have had a serious makeover with cladding , central heating and improvements costing many thousands of pounds each have been installed.
The private houses have not paid a penny towards these improvements which may make those in adjacent streets feel a bit peeved and in other areas of Walsall cry foul! No linkage to the private houses if they decide to sell to recover the costs of improvements.... this money handled via British Gas has come as a central Government grant to provide much needed improvements but for a lucky few who own their houses a free gift... is this fair?
who decided that these lucky folk got the money?
Questions to be asked!!!
posted Cllr Ian Robertson ( Blakenall Ward )

Welcome to our new Councillor

Shaun Fitzpatrick joins the Labour team in North walsall and colleague Councillor Kath Phillips. Expect to see  Shaun around your way getting to work for you trying to reduce the effects of the too rapid tory liberal cut backs.
Please leave any questions as a feedback to this blog and I will foward them to Shaun.. Dates and tiems of surgeries will appear here soon
Regards
Cllr Ian Robertson
tel 01922 634642
campaign coordinator