[g jones]

I was contacted tonight by very concerned residents in my area who have met with Karen Buckley, Conservative PPC for Hyndburn earlier in the evening. I believed Karen was a decent person. However it seems Mrs Buckley is prepared to make several empty promises in return for votes.

Mrs Buckley's Promise No.1
If elected as MP she will do up the roads in Accrington South.
FACT Roads are resurfaced by Lancashire County Council and an MP has little or no say. Each area's roads are done through consultation with the County Councillor for the area and engineers. I am the County Councillor for Accrington South and it is my responsibility to decide with engineers.

Mrs Buckley's Promise No.2
If elected as MP she has said she will re-open the Islamic teaching centre at 37a Beech Street
FACT This centre was closed because it breached planning conditions which are dealt with by the Planning Committee at Hyndburn Borough Council. As MP, Karen has no say over planning matters which are legal and not arbitrary anyway. It was turned down unanimously, cross party by the committee. It shows again a complete lack of understanding of local government or local feelings as fellow Conservative, Councillor Paul Barton, led the 2 year campaign to close it and will not be pleased his own Party is promising to re-open it in his ward.

Mrs Buckley's Promise No.3
If elected as MP she will get housing grants for people in Barnfield on the Sandy Lane side.
FACT Regeneration decisions are made by the District Council and not by an MP. Mrs Buckley would have no say. Further, this area is not even in the Council's 7 years plans (which is Woodnook/Peel) and no-one has supported it as a regeneration area. A Conservative Government has said it would cut it regeneration monies anyway to Hyndburn Council so should Mrs Buckley win, she would have an adverse effect on funding. She has clearly not read her manifesto and as someone who has said she supports cuts, her position is contradictory. The only grant scheme on the Sandy Lane side is my own Home Front (Lottery) scheme for doors, windows, gutters which residents are aware of.

Mrs Buckley's Promise No.4
If elected as MP she get a community centre at Peel House
FACT As County Councillor and Ward Councillor I have taken the lead role in dealing with Peel House. The PCT have stated they want to use it as PCT offices and have refused to sell it the Council (bought with ELEVATE money) for the time being despite The Council on my behalf making enquiries. Elevate money appears to be drying up and as above, the Conservative manifesto on housing has said it would effectively cut funding to northern housing schemes. Mrs Buckley's win would there make it almost certain she could not deliver her promise.

Again regeneration is a Council matter and not a matter that an MP can decide so her influence would be minimal. Being in the heart of Peel Ward it would have been helpful if Mrs Buckley had explained her proposals to others in the area as resident (and ironically me as Councillor) involvement will be paramount.

For a politician to have so little understanding, to jump in two footed with undeliverable promises is very poor indeed. Karen lost a safe Conservative County Council seat last year and I can see people here getting very upset with her too.