Linda Nulty Medlar-with-Wesham Ward
 I am standing for election for Fylde Borough Council again. I am independent and am not (nor ever have been) a member of a political party. I feel very strongly that party politics should play no part in local issues. I feel it is very important to be able to choose how I vote on all matters in the Borough for the benefit of the people in Wesham and for the Borough issues as a whole. We need to return to true democracy in Fylde and to a system where the Councillors you elect, are able to express the feelings of the people they represent.
I am married to Richard, mother of 3 and Granny of 6. I have run Wesham Playgroup –which is a community not-for-profit group, for many years, from which I am about to retire in the next few months.
I have been on Fylde Borough Council for the last 12 years and would like the opportunity to continue to represent Medlar with Wesham. Whilst on Fylde Borough Council, I have served on the Development Control Committee (Planning) for all 12 years which has enabled me to make Wesham’s voice heard on the major Planning Applications we have had over the last few years, including the very important Mowbreck lane application which threatened our lovely countryside and good farm land. Working alongside many enthusiastic/committed/hardworking residents we successfully got this application REFUSED and have recently won the appeal on this, but we need to continue to keep a close eye on this.
I have taken a lead role in providing consultation sessions and Public Meetings for concerned residents relating to the Mowbreck Lane application and also the developments on the Derby Road hospital site (Willowfields) and Weeton Road (Crossing Gates). These have resulted in a reduction in the number of properties on these sites, a reduction in heights (no 4 storey buildings), good open space provision, tree preservation orders and a 10 space PUBLIC car park off Derby Road. Crossing Gates has provided the Weeton Road roundabout, £85,000 towards improvements on Fleetwood Road playing fields, and the long-awaited pedestrian crossing which is due to be installed shortly. These have all been provided through the proper use of Section 106 agreements from the developers which I have actively encouraged and taken a part in due to my role on the DC.Committee.
At Fylde, I am also Vice Chair of the important Audit Committee, keeping a close eye on FINANCES, I serve on the Community Focus Scrutiny Committee and currently have the honour of being Deputy Mayor of Fylde Borough. I also attend many other Committees and meetings to ensure that Medlar with Wesham issues and views are heard.
I have been a member of Wesham Town Council for 32 years and served as Mayor on 5 occasions.
I work on the Community Centre Committee, Doorstep Green Group, the Parish Plan Team and the Community Pride Trust. I am very active on the important Wesham Park/Play-area Development Group. I chair the Old Folks Party Committee and have run the Tuesday Afternoon Club for older people since it started. I have been a Governor at Carr Hill for many years, serving as Chair for 7 years and I am currently the Vice-Chairman of Governors.
Youth issues and activities have always been important to me and I have served on various youth issues committees for many years, including the group that developed the important Play Strategy for the Fylde, which led to the provision of the skateboard park and youth shelter. Currently, I am a member of the Children’s Trust.
As an active member of Christ Church Wesham, in addition to normal church activities, I take a full part in events such as Club day and Remembrance Sunday.
I work very closely with our outstanding Community Beat Policing Team, and in the light of feed-back from PACT meetings, I often help set the police priorities for the Town on a monthly basis.
I continue to work with Kirkham Independent Councillors, including the Independent County Councillor for Kirkham AND Wesham, on joint issues that affect both towns such as the threat to the Swimming Baths, Railway Station (improvements, adoption and parking issues), CAB funding, investment in the commerce of Wesham and Kirkham. I also work with the rural parishes on the Town and Parish Liaison Group.
Kirkham and Wesham have suffered under the present Conservative administration at Fylde. We have lost our last links to the Council with the closure of the One-Stop-Shop in Kirkham and the Offices in Derby Road. We successfully fought the threat to close our Swimming Baths, due to terrific public support and this is now run by the YMCA. We also managed to retain and improve the CAB (Citizens Advice) service in Kirkham which was threatened. We need INDEPENDENT Councillors to ensure we keep our fair share of Fylde’s resources in Wesham and Kirkham and that everything is not poured into Lytham St Annes.
Issues in the next few years include:
- Making sure that our Greenfield sites on the edge of the town are not only protected from housing and commercial development, but are preserved as an environmental asset for our community. Building should only be on previously developed sites
- Ensuring that the existing housing developers provide all that has been promised (especially accesses and the pedestrian crossing near the Playing Fields) and that these new homes become integrated into our community.
- Ensuring that the social housing provision continues to meet the needs of OUR community as was promised
- Activities for children and young people through our Wesham parks project including gaining grants
- Pressing Fylde Council to deliver quality services for all members of our community and better financial support for the Rural Splash Pool.
- Getting an integrated plan to develop the commercial heart of Wesham and addressing parking issues.
- Achieve equality in spending between the urban areas and the rural areas and ensuring Fylde reduces its bureaucracy before cutting any direct services.
- Getting Wesham Rehabilitation Hospital back into active use
- Any problems, which I am always available to help with
If you agree with this approach, I ask you to vote for me at the Borough Elections on 5th May at the Wesham Community Centre. If you have any queries or require transport, ring me on 683929.
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