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 I have lived and run a business in St Annes for seven years and have lived in Fylde for about 30 years. Four generations of my family live in the town and I care deeply about our community.
You elected me once again to the Saint Anne's on the Sea Town Council in May last year and I was unlucky at that time to miss out on election to the Borough Council by just 13 votes. A huge thank you to those who put your trust in me and gave me your vote. I will be standing again in 2111.
Many of the issues highlighted in my campaign leaflet are ongoing - anti-social behaviour, vandalism, and so on. Crime figures for the town, however, have been falling over the past two months due to increased police presence and particularly the work of the PCSOs and the CBMs.
One of the worst things I have noticed since my return from holidaying in the United States is the amount of dog excrement on our pavements. Whilst the Town Council will be lobbying the Borough Council to alert its dog wardens to the problem, I make a plea to dog owners: please pick up after your pets and be responsible for keeping our pavements clean.
Some of the issues currently causing concern:
Fylde Borough Council's poor management of its budget so we are threatened with closure of the swimming baths and other amenities. Not only does this affect us, the locals, it also affects tourists upon whom we rely for much of our economy.
Buildings and land being sold off to pay for alterations to the Town Hall. This is ill-thought through.
Industrial/commercial sites are being sold for change of use to residential, removing for ever the possibility of attracting business to the area, something we desperately need. It is no good providing hundreds or thousands of homes if we don't have jobs for the people who will move into them.
The possibility of huge numbers of houses and flats being built, some in unsuitable areas, and the resulting impact on the town's infrastructure.
The siting of a homeless facility has upset many people and they, along with others, believe that no-one listens to them.
Unfortunately, partnership working, which sounds a good idea, does not seem to be working well. We seem to be late for the boat or we miss it altogether.
What is to be done? I don't have all the answers but we could start by rethinking our strategies for planning policy, partnership working, and business and tourism.
You are also welcome at any Saint Anne's on the Sea Town Council meeting. These take place on the third Tuesday of each month and the next one will be on 19 February at 7.00 pm at St Margaret's church all, Rowsley Road.
We are planning another Town Council newsletter so if you want anything included, please let me know.
We have a new website which you can visit but it is still being created so not everything is yet in place. It is at the St Annes Town Council Web Site (www.stannestowncouncil.gov.uk)
If you wish to discuss any of the issues above (or any others), please email me on barbara@fyldeindependents.org.uk
or telephone on 01253 711584.
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