Jude Storer will be the Liberal Democrats Ainsdale Ward Candidate in this May’s Local Elections. After eight years and winning two elections Councillor Haydn Preece has decided to stand down.
Cllr Preece said…
“It has been a honour to serve Ainsdale, Southport and Sefton. I informed John Pugh MP at the time of last May’s snap General Election that I would not stand again in twelve months’ time. That has given us valuable time to select an excellent candidate in Jude Storer to pass on the mantle and work with my dedicated colleague Cllr Lynne Thompson.
To win the 2010 Local Election on the day of the historic General Election, with the second biggest swing in the country was a wonderful accolade.
I have strived to communicate with all ward members quickly, professionally and with genuine support. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me and worked with me in a whole host of capacities. I have endeavoured to focus on casework from residents, as in my view, that is the central core of a councillor’s responsibility.
Achievements wise the Coastal Road speed alert signs, the new junction priorities on Kenilworth Road and the alert to turning signs on the corner of Heathfield and Carr Lane are permanent plusses.
It was my communications with both the Chief Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy and Merseyrail that brought both organisations together and has led to the new Ainsdale Railway Station, incorporating a Community Police Hub, of which I am very proud as part of my legacy.
Achieving the re-positioning of a bus shelter on Orchard Lane at the request of residents took over eight months but we stuck at it and got our shelter.
Back in 2010-11 I, along with concerned conservationist residents, successfully campaigned to stop a Net Pave pathway route being carved through the sand hills between Ainsdale and Birkdale. A lot later the Sefton Officers conceded their proposal was not practical which -we stated from the start! The entrance to Ainsdale beach was another improvement we achieved and parking off the beach on the old caravan site is another positive for the future.
Since 2010 we have been actively working on the re-generation of Sandbrook Way with businesses and officers and despite a number of false starts I believe the area will receive a major boost both economically and aesthetically soon.
I have served on Planning and Licensing and was Children’s Services Spokesperson between 2010-2014. Ensuring equal entitlement for all, especially concerning Education, has been richly rewarding.
On the negative side I am truly frustrated and bewildered that the Council Officers and Cabinet Member authorised the former Ainsdale High School Sports Hall to be demolished when we are crying out for sporting facilities and social cohesion. Moreover, the Ainsdale High School playing fields should have been utilised as a community hub from the date of the school closure but the hidden agenda of leaving the area fallow for ten years in order to legally build on the site had to be exposed ,as it was never communicated when we campaigned to reopen the playing field.
Ainsdale’s Station Road continues to transform positively in commercial terms, supported by cctv which we campaigned for, while the Ainsdale Civic Society and Ainsdale Horticultural Society are rich community bastions. I hope to contribute to Ainsdale in the future outside day to day politics and would like to praise former councillor Brenda Porter and husband Ken who have continued to contribute richly to our village.”
Sefton in my time, hit by enormous central government cuts has had to remodel considerably to the detriment of all. In my eight years Sefton has had two highly talented MP’s in John Pugh and Bill Esterson to represent the Borough.
Personally after eight years I have felt that the time is right to step aside. A councillor’s responsibilities are wide and diverse demanding a great deal of time dedicated to meetings now primarily held in Bootle, while working full time and being a councillor is a very difficult balancing act.”
Pat Regan ©
http://pat-regan.blogspot.co.uk/
See also…
https://www.otsnews.co.uk/result-people-power-pays-off-at-last-sandbrook-way-southport/
https://www.otsnews.co.uk/southports-ongoing-shame-under-the-spotlight-again/
https://www.otsnews.co.uk/people-power-paying-off-again-in-woodvale/
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