Parliamentary Expenses: Halton Conservative PPC’s Position

Halton conservative PPC Ben Jones has addressed the expense issue way back in March. More recently he made this statement: “I am glad to see that a number of candidates and MPs have made pledges or promises on expenses and allowances to their electorates. I made my expenses pledge in March (http://benjaminjohnjones.blogspot.com/2009/03/my-expenses-pledge-to-voters-of-halton.html) and am committed to playing my part in helping rebuild trust in politicians which has been shaken by this crisis. We have a lot of work to do.”

More here.

My Vision for Halton in 2026

1)Built Environment

1. Housing – New replacement housing is well under way. The Council is acting as a facilitator in ensuring funding for the replacement of the houses in the Kingsway Estate, Cherry Sutton and Ditton Estates. Some of the existing stock has been kept and simply updated with new environmental insulation and electrical generation (photovoltanic roofs etc). In Runcorn most of the 1960’s houses have been updated and the required insulation levels have now been bettered for all of the homes in Halton Borough Council
2. Schools – Have all been brought up into the 21 century by either knocking them down and rebuilding or

Some Personal Thoughts on the SJB De-linking Project

I have been giving some thought to the comments made at the de linking meeting. I think that it is reasonable to accept that the whole point of the new bridge and the de linking process is not about the road works, but rather the regeneration properties that can be brought to both Runcorn and Widnes. I do not believe that that point can be disputed. To build a bridge and alter the road works can be a great exercise in transport logistics, but cannot be justified when looking at all the other towns in the land who also have nightmare scenarios with their logistical strips of tarmac.

Area Forum Options

Each year the wards of North Widnes, Birchfield, Farnworth and Halton View, have access to funds for local people to decide how they might wish to improve, modify or change their environment. There is still time in this municipal year for new ideas to be considered by the community on what might be doen to effect improvements to our locale. If you have any ideas please post as a comment to this message and lets get everybody involved in our areas. There are very few restrictions and most funding totals less than £ 2500 for each project but from little acorns might oaks can grow. The next area meeting takes place January 28, 2009, at 7.00pm at Lunts Heath Primary School. Make your voice heard.

Mersey Gateway

The public inquiry is likely to commence on 10 March 2009, hopefully it will proceed smoothly and not have too many long-winded objections and perhaps some supportive statements.

I hope everybody knows that the Department for Transport still supports this major project and has contributed another £80m to assist with the final result of the bridge opening in 2014.

Travellers?? Site Runcorn

Would anybody care to comment on the situation likely to develop around this new development for Runcorn. Perhaps we should understand what the Irish Government implemented to discourage travellers throughout the Republic. Does anybody know?

Whitstable Park

Have contacted Highways and Legal by email but have no response yet, will post further details when available. deejayeff

Cowan Way & Chetwood Drive

Nothing has happened yet to my response to the contractors letter. Some people from Cowan Way have asked for an update but I have nothing to report. Has anyone else had any messages?

My questions of web site environment businesses has identified that we could take the simple route and pump the effluent from the man-hole to a foul drain, or position about 700 sq meters of reed bed to clean the waste at the pond. I have been asked to find out where the ‘stream’ for want of a better name goes to. This I have yet to do. If it drains into the Mersey via another water course it could take the best part of several miles to reach the main local drain. Any comments?