Although I did not win Thursday’s election in Claughton and Noctorum.  The Conservative share of the vote increased. 

“I would like to thank everyone who backed me in the election on Thursday.  While our vote was up, it wasn’t enough to win this seat. 

However, we fought a positive campaign which put the community first and Party politics second.”

“As I go round, calling on people, door to door, listening to views and issues, it’s obvious that, at the moment, the Council is taking this area for granted.  This result proved that only the local Conservatives can beat New Labour in this area.

“I would also like to congratulate the New Labour candidate on his re-election and wish him well for his next four years as councillor.”

The full election results can be found here

Best wishes

Barbara Sinclair

More than 11,000 residents Claughton and Noctorum have been urged to ‘vote for a change’ by the Conservative Candidate.    I am making this last minute appeal as the latest opinion polls revealed Tony Blair to be more unpopular than Michael Foot in 1983.

On Thursday, the people of Claughton and Noctorum Ward have the opportunity to send a very clear final message to Tony Blair.  Only a vote for the local Conservatives can do that.  We have worked hard on local issues but we know there is still much more to be done.  Voters can give me the authority to finish the job we’ve started.  It’s time for a new councillor in this area.”

Voting takes place between 7am and 10pm at the folllowing polling stations.  If you are not sure which polling station you should be attending, call 691 8046:

• St Peter’s RC Primary School, St Peter’s Way

• Noctorum Community Centre (important to note – entrance is via Ridgeway School)

• Bidston Avenue Infants School, Tollemache Road

• Friends’ Meeting House, Park Road South

• Cole Street Primary School

Birkenhead Conservatives have called for parents and teachers to have their authority restored to tackle rudeness and anti-social behaviour.

We need to see a society where kids know how to behave in public because that’s how they’ve been brought up and that’s what society expects.

I believe that how individuals behave towards each other in everyday life is key to everybody’s quality of life.

Behaviour is bad and getting worse, but we must not accept this as inevitable – we can and should reverse it.

Tony Blair’s government has encouraged ‘irresponsibility’ by promoting individual rights ahead of civic duty and community cohesion.  Labour treat voters like children by promising to do everything for them.

It’s clear we need to give power to people themselves – providing the opportunities, and making clear the responsibilities, of adulthood.  That means less central control, devolving power to local government and beyond that to neighbourhoods.

Wirral’s 21-strong Conservative Group blocked plans by the Labour-led Council to slash money for youth clubs in the Borough.

Now that the summer is coming many people wish to go on ferry trips, day coach trips etc.  However people are finding it difficult to get to central locations to access day trips, why? because there is an increasingly reduced bus service from Claughton to Woodside.  Whilst it is accepted that there are cross-area routes theres is not one bus that runs direct convenient times. 

Many, many people have contcated me by letter, email and telephone  all asking why some services cannot be provided for the Claughton community to ensure early morning and late evening safety for people wishing to travel these areas. 

Suggestions made have included the forming of a park and ride system in the area and/or a local mini bus which could be booked at specific times to fit in with early morning sailings/coach departures and mid evening arrivals (similar to the MerseyLink service but not specifically for disabled passengers as this service is intended for).

What do you think?

The point has been made by a couple of potential voters that although the wards at Arrowe Park usually have sufficient hand protection liquids for visitors to use on entering the ward, there is no evidence that this has been extended to the OutPatient Clinics and concern that cross-infection could still occur here, albeit to a lesser extent than where there are vulnerable patients, but still a risk worth addressing – is the answer the oft repeated – We cannot afford to do it?

Many NHS employeees have also voiced concerns to me and said that the cutbacks have forced nurses to wear their uniforms to and from work and around the local shops rather than being able to change, have fresh laundry, shower and have locker facilities as they had previously.  Until thes points are addressed by the NHS MRSA and C-Diff will remain a real threat in our hospitals.

Last week, a resident contacted me about the problem of litter ’spillages’ when the bin crews empty the wheelie bins.  Most of the bin crews I’ve met or seen do a good job and there’s no doubt that, across the Borough, Biffa is better than Onyx.  However, there are a few teething troubles.

I’ve now been told that the Council is planning to issue fixed penalty litter fines to bin crews who don’t pick up the litter they drop.  On the face of it, it shows that the Council is getting serious about the problem but I’m not sure that the threat of a fine is the best way to make you take pride in your job…any bin crew want to comment?

Iam delighted that at tonights planning committee the application made by Daly International on behalf of T Mobile for the erection of a 11.7 metre telephoned mast with two equipment cabins on the pavement adjacent to the Hamilton Memorial Church at the junction of Upton Road and Shrewsbury Road was refused.

Planning officers had recommended that the application be approved, however following an impassioned plea by petitioners the planning committee refused the application by a vote of 11 to 1.

A victory for common sense.

I will be attending an event ‘Celebration of Womens Education’ over the years in Liverpool, then I will be attending the BRAVO Awards at Palm House, Sefton Park – This is the annual award ceremony organised by Business in the Arts North West for whom I am a Board Bank Member and Skills Adviser for Wirral and Liverpool businesses and their advisers.

I will also be atending meeting a Governors meeeting at Overchurch Infants School where I am a Governor to co-ordinate the given guidelines and the actual allocation for new pupils attending in September.

On top of that I am putting the finishing touches to my election address before it goes off to the printers as well as knocking on doors, holding street surgeries etc.   It is a very busy time! 

I have received a huge response to my request for you to name your ‘Grot Spots’ many people nominated the parklands area on Vyner Road South/Windermere Road and outside the shops at Townfield Lane.   People said that they believed the shop keepers should co-operate more with Council to keep this area clear.   

Although not a grot Spot people told me of their concerns regarding the dangerous siting of recycling bin on Corner of Noctorum Avenue, it clearly blocks the view of motorists is a clear hazard.

I have been told that at long last (although no date has been given) that the pathway between Brassenthwaite Avenue/West Road is to be gated.

I have also received several complaints about the fact that the Cafe in Birkenhead Park was not open at Easter and several ‘grumbles’ about the amount of money that has been spent on the Park without noticeable improvements and in some cases new solutions creating bigger problems,  some of the new paving is very uncomfortable to push wheelchairs or disabled scooters over.