Re: The Tory "dirty tricks brigade" and the media
 

I didn't 'need' help.

I asked my councillor, Peter Britcliffe, a question, and received an answer, and very useful additional help.

Before all this happened, even though I've criticised some of the council's ideas and policies in the past, a council lead by Cllr. Britcliffe, I've always stated that I knew catagorically that if I ever needed his help, I knew it would be offered willingly, and unconditionally. Which was the case, when this later happened.

The shakers and cripples of Hyndburn were very grateful for the help we received, and I publicly thanked the council, and it's leader, on their behalf.

I wasn't aware that this would be raised again, but I can assure you, the crippled shakers are eternally grateful.

Re: The Tory "dirty tricks brigade" and the media
 

At the risk of sounding rude, I've been out again today and more than three quarters of those I've spoken to were undecided until I knocked on the door - and yes, they did decide that they would vote for me.

There are any number of ways of cheap political point scoring but I am winning these people over by showing what I am actually doing in Rishton via honest talk and well-presented flyers.

From what I can gather, Cllr Britcliffe wins in Ossy time and again through raping all the other wards to feather his own nest. The official figures from the HBC website demonstrate just how much money has been spent on facilities that are already there in Oswaldtwistle and yet nothing is spent in other wards where there is nothing.

Spare a thought for poor Clayton-le-Moors which raises enormous amounts in tax revenue and gets virtually nothing back.

Re: The Tory "dirty tricks brigade" and the media
 

That's come up a lot on here, accusations of a heavy Ossy bias, which those outside the town resent.

The party acolytes always retort with the answer that he's been a councillor for umpteen years, so he must be doing something right.

Right yes...for the people of Oswaldtwistle. As the vast majority of people in the borough seem to see it.

The blue faithful haven't realised yet that the people of the whole borough didn't elect the Leader of the Council, his fellow Tory councillors did.

When he could have claimed a mandate from the people of Hyndburn, that they wanted him to lead them, in two different General Elections, they decided against him..twice.

Which perhaps is some sort of a mandate from the electorate, after all.

Re: The Tory "dirty tricks brigade" and the media
 

should probably be a new thread " who contributes most to Hyndburn" but here goes ...... are there any figures available showing which of the Hyndburn 'townships', Accrington/Gt.Harwood /Rishton/Clayton/Oswaldtwisle/Church/Altham. Contribute the most per head of population thru council tax to the Borough after deducting all amounts subsidised by council tax relief .
just curious ;)

Re: The Tory "dirty tricks brigade" and the media
 

The figures are available and show that Oswaldtwistle does indeed raise quite a large amount of tax which is comfortably represented in its facilities. In comparison, Rishton's tax revenue is almost exactly half of that figure and we've seen nothing like the investment we should have had.

Before a figure of £90k is brought up about Holt Street recreational ground, it amounts to draining a playing field and building a rudimentary hut, which makes that a remarkably expensive project for what it is. Work has also halted because the money 'ran out'.

I can give you a list of projects in Ossy from October 2007, for which the newspaper reports all seem to have a smiling picture of Councillor Britcliffe next to them. Like I said, I've never met the man but Rishton has two Tory councillors to Labour's one, so why are they not standing up asking Mr Britcliffe to spare a penny for Rishton?

I should also add that I used Clayton-le-Moors as an example because it raises more money per head of population than any other ward, if the official figures are to be believed. The official spending figures certainly shouldn't be believed, particularly when Rishton had well over £1m spent on it in the last twelve months from HBC.

Filtering out services provided by LCC which can't be included in those figures, where exactly has £1m been spent in Rishton in one year??? That would more than solve all the problems that the residents are screaming out about. The figures also show that spending far outweighed tax revenue by millions of pounds across the borough.

We certainly need more clarity on that particular issue.

Re: The Tory "dirty tricks brigade" and the media
 

Thanks Ken ,was just playing the Devils Advocate and trying to stir public awareness up :D but appreciate your immediate response ,I'm not sure if you really belong in the Labour coven , hope you get local support , you come across a a decent guy ;)

Re: The Tory "dirty tricks brigade" and the media
 

when we had a Labour Council Ossy got nothing whilst Labour heartlands such as Springhill and Huncoat were awash with anything they wanted so don't come tha crap with :(

Re: The Tory "dirty tricks brigade" and the media
 

Thanks for that, and I'll apologise retroactively for being a bit brusque when I first joined the forum!

Re: The Tory "dirty tricks brigade" and the media
 

That's before my involvement so I can't really comment, John. I'm simply putting across what I see at the moment and it is substantiated by official council figures. Whoever is 'in power', it doesn't do to concentrate money in one ward which is what appears to have been happening for quite some time.

To look at Huncoat and Springhill and say that they were given what they wanted at the time, they're hardly overflowing with facilities, are they? I understand that plans to convert a greenfield site into a housing estate in Huncoat were fiercely opposed by residents who had no proper consultations and the discussions that were held were not recorded.

What is required at HBC, and this really should go for all meetings between officials, is that they are properly minuted. I certainly won't be having any meetings (whether elected or otherwise) without a witness and a minute-taker. No impropriety and everyone is quite clear about where they stand.

Re: The Tory "dirty tricks brigade" and the media
 

Do you mean when I jumped on your every word?

:rolleyes:


You eventually grew on me, because you explained and defended what you said, and didn't stamp your feet, pull a sulky face, and shout that you were being picked on by an anti-Labour 'twister' of words.

Heck you even showed you have a sense of humour, which is rare in some circles.

:D

Re: The Tory "dirty tricks brigade" and the media
 

Yes you did, and I'm still considering what to do about you. Your penchant for political bias shows that you're clearly a staunch Tory who picks on innocent thin-skinned Labourites such as myself. The lack of research that goes into your ill-thought out posts is also beneath contempt and the accusations of you victimising those with political ambitions is not without merit and may God strike me down.........

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Re: The Tory "dirty tricks brigade" and the media
 

Okay, calm down.

I said a 'sense of humour', not that you were semi-pro, and once appeared on The Comedians.

:eek::rolleyes::p:D

Re: The Tory "dirty tricks brigade" and the media
 

Interesting range of expressions there - you're not Phil Cool, are you?

Anyway, back on topic. Those pesky Tories.....

Actually, 'pescatore' is how seafood pizzas are listed - is there a joke in there, Gary?

Re: The Tory "dirty tricks brigade" and the media
 

No, professionally I'm Garinda Cooler-Still.

;)

Re: The Tory "dirty tricks brigade" and the media
 

Sorry jaysay , much as I respect you, think you are out of order in slagging off Ken Moss for his comments , I was born in Ossy, raised in Gt. Harwood and moved to Accy on getting wed, but it's allways been a "sore spot" amongst the Borough electorate that the old UDCs lost out to "centralized Accrington power" Accrington got the money and sod the old UDC's districts ..... maybe PB, has been thru his position been good for Ossy , (natural, nothing wrong,local lad, you look after your own nest)I think the folks of Gt.Harwood/Rishton/ Clayton may think diferently :confused: