Bloxwich East Labour

A Win for Julie and Labour

2011-10-30T09:40:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-08-25T08:40:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-07-03T14:15:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-20T10:17:00.000-07:00

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

death by a thousand cuts

2010-12-29T12:02:00.001-08:00

The cuts brought about as a result of the actions of greedy bankers will cause hardship in many areas of our communities. Maybe those who are better off will not notice these cuts much, but there are many less well off who will find these cuts really hurt. The problem is that this Tory Government and so this Tory Council are cutting harder and faster than is needed. The cuts will hit areas that will have a higher cost long term

- trebling tuition fee limit which will make access to many universities restricted to young people with rich parents. This could have been prevented by Liberal MPs who broke their election promise. There is also the loss of the education maintenance allowance paid to 16 year olds help support them staying on at school .

- Those potholes in our roads I suspect will get bigger and cause more damage to both vehicles and pedestrians.

- Libraries will have both their opening hours cut and some will be axed altogether. Libraries used well can be vital to the progress of our children.

- Cuts to the music service based at the Forest will reduce access to music lessons and support over the whole of the schools in Walsall Borough.

- Our volunteers such as in the scouts have their support cut… the council currently give £12K towards their volunteer training costs and venue hire.

- Support for the most vulnerable in our society, those with disability, the elderly, the mentally handicapped both young and old will see their support cut to the absolute legal minimum, loading carers to breaking point. Those who depend on the services of Social services will be very worried about their future level of support.

- Cuts to the police force will mean a reduction in Officers available to deal with crime and criminal activity. I am sure the criminals will be waiting to take advantage.

- VAT will rise to 20% in 2011 which will mean most items will rise in cost … not much of a dent in the finances of the well off but will make a real impact for most of us.

The future of our leisure centres , their opening hours and charges are also under the spotlight. This Tory Council would like to off load these to the private sector. Certainly I will expect that most of the swimming pools attached to schools will be closed ( there are around 46 pools which may well be cut to 5 or 6)

Read my lips. No increase in tuition fees. A Promise!

2010-12-02T12:56:00.001-08:00

New Members flock to join the Labour Party

2010-05-22T00:18:00.001-07:00

We learn that 15,000 joined Labour online, extra 3,000 joined off line. That's 18,000 new members in last 14 days - Remarkable.

Thus sends us a message from the people that we hold the respect of an increasing number of the electorate. Let us build on this support .

From

Ian Robertson

secretary walsall South and agent for Valerie Vaz MP

Kath Phillips re-elected

2010-05-08T12:32:00.000-07:00

I should like to thank all those who voted for me last thursday. I shall work hard for all of you... if you wish to contact me on an issue please give me a call or send a message below.

Regards

Kath

Kath Phillips Labour for Bloxwich East

2010-05-04T03:48:00.001-07:00

“I have once again been selected by the Labour Party to be their candidate for Bloxwich East. I am delighted they have faith in me to continue to serve the community I live in.
I have been a member of the Labour party for 40 years. During that time I have served as a school governor. I have been a serving magistrate since 1982. I have been instrumental in setting up several residents groups and have recently formed a group to support Walsall Hospice.
Currently acting chair of the Friends of Bloxwich Park.
I am now an elder at Blakenall United Reformed Church and still find my faith an important part of my life”.
If elected I promise to campaign vigorously against Tory proposals to close all our leisure centres.
We need more community facilities not less especially for our youth who often receive undue criticism .
Despite the Tories supporting our resolution to Council some 2 years ago to take action against owners of ‘tat’ wagons that park on our footpaths and grass verges causing obstruction to pedestrians and also make our streets look an eyesore: No action has been taken!
Litter is still a major problem: potholes are still a major problem: anti social problems continue: all happening under tory control.
Your Tory candidate was deselected from Pelsall ward… not good enough for Pelsall… so not good enough for us!
Having lived in Bloxwich most of my life, I passionately believe that Bloxwich, with the right investment could return to its former glory days and become a vibrant market Town again.
You can trust me not to be afraid to speak up for the people I serve.
With your continued support I will continue to work

published by Ian Robertson on behalf of Kath Phillips by electronic communication from Bellamy House Wilkes Street Willenhall WV13 2BS