Politically Correct by Colin Maycock

Working to protect the'¨townscape of our town
Colin Maycock Bispham ward councillorColin Maycock Bispham ward councillor
Colin Maycock Bispham ward councillor

You can tell when there is a by-election in the air, and this one on March 16 in Warbreck Ward is no exception.

Labour has, as usual, put out their glossy leaflets making their usual accusations designed to energise their core vote and rev up those who still believe that the Labour Party has a future.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This time it is about rogue landlords – these mythical absent beings who are all take, take, take, leaving their tenants in squalid conditions. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am sure there are some landlords like that, but I believe most are honourable and decent people. Now Labour have apparently been trying to clean up the act of these landlords whilst at the same time blaming their inability to do so on local Conservative representatives who they claim undermine these attempts time and time again – oh really Labour, remind me again how big your majority is on Blackpool Council? You can implement whatever you want, it’s called democracy.

However, in the context of the by-election that particular local Conservative representative is hard working, popular, dedicated councillor, Danny Scott. Now when Labour throws these accusations about how he undermines their attempts, then perhaps they should follow this up with what is the real situation. My ward neighbours Warbreck and I know what Danny, working with local MP Paul Maynard, has attempted to do recently.

There is a perception that houses in multiple occupancy have reached a saturation point in our areas. Therefore we need to change planning policy to ensure that these types of homes, along with hostels, half-way-homes, and unregulated children’s homes are kept at a certain number in an area – a saturation policy for want of a better word.

In practice this would mean once a certain number or percentage is reached, the council has the powers to stop another one opening. How we achieve this is through a change is planning policy at the council and this can be determined by a local referendum. Danny and I have been laying the ground work on this, so to say Danny is the problem is, quite frankly, the opposite to the reality

Give your ‘banter’ a rest

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Now we all know just what Labour thinks of Blackpool that it is a “cesspool” in need of blowing up – that is the view of a senior Labour councillor from a neighbouring borough.

He tweeted it and then backed it up with another tweet, and when found out made his Twitter private and used that old chestnut ‘it was just harmless banter’.

Well I’ve news for this Labour councillor. Our Blackpool is no cesspit.

Like any town or city in the country, or in fact the world, there are good bits and bits that could do with some attention.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In my own ward of Bispham, we could be the suburb of any town in England.

We have nice shops, a couple of decent pubs, some good restaurants and cafes; but what’s more than the physical is the sense community.

Over the last few years things have changed in Blackpool, the areas that need attention are reducing.

The investment by the Theresa May Government of £25m in to a state-of-the-art conference centre is proof indeed of the steps Blackpool is making, with new nationally known bars and restaurants opening up and rubbing shoulders with new independent places. Blackpool is on the up in my view with ambitious plans.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

So, Labour, here is my advice, stay off Twitter and learn about the town you’re denigrating with ‘banter’.

Thank you NHS

I’ve recently come out of Blackpool Victoria hospital after a protracted stay, following an aggressive infection.

I only have one thing to say and that is Thank You NHS. You saved my life and I want to pay tribute to the doctors, nurses, and all those who looked after me. My experience of the NHS has been first class, as I believe most people’s experience is.

The NHS is used as a political football. Let us stop using it for political games and agree that all sides want free at point of need universal healthcare system.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Once all sides can agree on that, then perhaps we can have a grown-up discussion about how we can overcome some of the strains it faces.

Let us work out how we can manage the spiralling costs of the Private Finance Initiatives that exploded under Blair.

Let us work out how we can work with the Clinical Commission Group to educate people on the other health care options, such as using chemists, NHS on-line, walk-in centres, and 111 so people go to the appropriate place and not straight to A&E.

If we can all have that discussion, then maybe those at the heart of the NHS, the hard working staff, can get on with their job of looking after patients without constant accusations and uncertainty.