Nick Clegg’s latest speech shows a way forward for 2009 - we can’t keep trying the same old thing - let’s do things differently.

Full speech click here

Our FREE 2009 calendars are landing on doorsteps in parts of the Fylde this week.  Last year’s calendar proved so popular that we’ve more than tripled our print run for the coming year. 

Over 10,000 have been printed and are being distributed right now by our volunteer delivery team. At present we can’t hope to cover the whole of the Fylde but delivering to this many homes shows that we are a growing and influential force in the local community.

“I’ve found this really useful, said one resident and “I hope you’re doing this again for 2009,” commented another. 

The calendar not only contains useful information about local services but also gives details about some of our local councillors and campaigners.

 If by mid-January you’re hasn’t arrived please contact us info@fyldelibdems.org.uk and we’ll do our best to get one to you.

Northern Rail is still cheaper per mile than a number of other operators.  Although Northern Rail’s fares go up by 6% in January, well above inflation, it is still one of the cheapest operators at 27p  per mile in comparison with other train companies. However after waiting for an hour for a connection on a drafty Preston Station I’d still like to see a more frequent service on the South Fylde line.

click here  for further information 

Transport policies were debated at the LibDem  Autumn Conference in Bournemouth. To find out more see Fast Track Britain: Building a Transport System for the 21st Century

 Lorely Burt the Libdems spokesperson on Business issues has launched a Small Business Survey in order to collect of views of small businesses across a range of issues. This comprehensive national survey will allow the Libdems to get to the bottom of what impact this Labour Government’s handling of the economy has had on all of our local businesses – and, more importantly, what businesses need and want us to do to fight their corner.

If you would like to take part in the survey please contact   Fylde Libdems.

I am pleased to hear about the success of  Spice the INENCO parent company after they announced a set of strong performance figures with profits up by more than 40 per cent.

In the New Year, the firm’s St Annes office on St. Andrew’s Road North, plans to expand the number of businesses it provides energy advice to.   The company which employs more than 130 people,  recently hosted a seminar for local businesses offering advice and support in relation to climate change.        

Full story           Libdem suggests Green Road to Recovery   

I welcome the measures suggested by Nick Clegg to invest in infrastructure projects and boost job opportunities.           Full story

On Friday my wife and I were invited to Stockport to meet up with our

Euro MEP Chris Davies. We enjoyed meeting up with his campaign team and hearing about the usual misconceptions concerning European legislation which are peddled by our somewhat ‘blinkered’ media.  He also offered advice on future campaigning.

Whilst enjoying Chris’ hospitality I managed to meet up with Helen Foster-Grime who is to be the guest speaker at our Annual Dinner in February. She was interested to learn about some of the problems facing our borough and hopes to spend some of her time with us talking to local residents and working with our campaign team.

I took part in this event last year - its great fun.  Please enter a team - great exercise and all for charity. Full article Lytham St Annes Express

“Mindless vandals demolished road safety signs and barriers at a St.Annes road junction over the weekend.

Last Wednesday, Councillor Howard Henshaw was alerted by neighbours of a major water leak which had flooded the road junction at Folkestone Road and Margate Road. He immediately contacted the water company,United Utilities, who eventually managed to stem the flow of water and erect barriers around the necessary roadworks which are still proceeding.

After being contacted again by neighbours on Saturday morning, about the destruction done by youths during the night, Councillor Henshaw managed to get the company’s emergency weekend staff to reassemble the barriers before nightfall to secure the  junction against unsuspecting traffic.

Councillor Henshaw appealed to St.Annes high spirited youths,especially over the Christmas period, not to interfere with warning signs and  barriers around roadworks, which are errected to prevent serious accidents and even loss of life.”

I visited this festival yesterday - it was great. Its such a clever idea that allows people to support the Parish Church and other organisations in the town.    I was impressed by the vibrancy of the church - there were so many other events taking place - even Santa was there distributing presents to young children.   As it says on the programme “a living church at the heart of our town’ - when some friends and I visited yesterday afternoon that was certainly the case.

Its well worth a visit but you’ll have to be quick as unfortunately today is the last day to visit - its open from 2 till 5pm. 

Manchester residents reject the proposals for Congestion Charging.

Click on the link to read the full comment.

Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson 

Despite a slight increase in crimes from 41 to 51 over the area, Fylde is still the 2^nd safest place to live in Lancashire.

Local police officers have been asking residents to take extra care of their bikes after a recent spate of thefts from sheds and garages in the St. Anne’s.  At a recent PACT meeting the police have also stressed the need for cyclists to have lights on their bikes and to remind them not to cycle on pavements.

The Saint Anne’s Town Council Planning Committee met early this week to consider the Queensway planning application. About twenty-five members of the public attended – the biggest turn-out for any Town Council Planning meeting.  The Town Councillors listed to all the comments made by the public and then began their debate on the proposed development. Eventually they

voted to object to the proposals and listed almost 25 reasons why they though the proposal was not appropriate, these ranged from it being  ‘contrary to Fylde’s Planning policies, its effect on water table/flooding, and many environmental concerns. Four councillors objected to the proposals, whilst Angela Jacques, the only Conservative councillor in attendance, decided to abstain. Queensway Environmental Defenders         St Anne’s Town Council

The Pontins plans were on show yesterday. Fellow Councillor Howard henshaw has reservations about such a development in this area. He is keen to see that urban sprawl doesn’t extend along Clifton Drive. 

Coomenting in the local paper “Pontins, the Nature Reserve  and the Old Links Golf Course provide a natural and barrier between the towns of Blackpool and St. Annes and this proposed development would eat away at it.” 

Full Blackpool Gazette article http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sectionhome.aspx?sectionid=63

An  exhibition of  proposals for the 38 acre Pontins site is being held on Thursday 11th December 4pm to 7pm  at the Solaris Centre on Blackpool’s Prom. The proposals apparently indicate that 370 houses of mixed type could be under consideration.

These are only proposals and have not come before Fylde Borough Council’s Development Control Committee yet. Whilst the exhibition is being held in Blackpool the land is in St. Annes and thus under Fylde BC’s  control.   One advantage to the proposals could be that residents would have their own pool - unlike the rest of St Annes !!

Northern Rail is introducing 100 extra services every weekday as part of its new December timetable. There are changes to the Manchester - Blackpool North route which means an increase to two trains every hour between Manchester and Preston. There are improvements scheduled to the Manchester Airport services too. (Acknowledgements to Railway Herald for the information)

Across the country Sunday services are being increased by 7.6% - let’s hope that some of those extra trains find their way on to the South Fylde line. How can towns the size of St. Anne’s and Lytham be deprived of a regular Sunday service ?

St Annes Town Council has opted for bigger venue re ‘Queensway’ plans in order to allow local people to expresss their views.

The meeting of the St. Anne’s Town Council to consider the Kensington Developments planning application for 1,150 houses off Queensway is to be held on Wednesday 10th December at 2:30pm at St Margaret’s Church Centre, St Leonard’s Road West, St Anne’s.   This meeting is open to the public and often the Town Council allows time for a session where people can have their say on agenda items.  The Town’s Mayor, Cllr. Barbara Mackenzie will preside, and the Queensway application is the first item on the agenda so it will take up the first part of the meeting.  The Town Council will debate what is probably the most important planning application in St Anne’s for a long time.

Fiona Whelan, the Liberal Democrat candidate, has won the County Council by-election in the Hardwick division. She raised the Liberal Democrat share of the vote from 35% at the last election in 2005 to over 49%, winning the seat from the Conservatives with a majority of 200. The results, announced just before midnight on November 27th, were:

Fiona Whelan (Liberal Democrat): 1369
John Ionides (Conservative): 1169
Helan Haugh (Labour): 208.

I attended a presentation lunch on this week to hear about plans for a free course in the New Year aimed at Fylde residents with financial problems. The presentation was by the Community Hope Team in St Anne’s.  They are working with the charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) to offer debt counselling and practical support in partnership with local churches.

It was encouraging to realise that in this difficult financial climate there are people with knowledge, determination and commitment who are prepared to give of their time freely to help others. Anyone struggling with money problems, whether large or small can get in touch with the group who can give them hope for a brighter New Year.

The first of these FREE courses begins on 20^th Jan. (7.15) at the YMCA in St. Anne’s and runs over for 3 evenings. To ensure a place contact  Pastor Steve Moss 712589  or George Oxley 722698

Stallholders on the monthly Farmers’ market braved the elements yet again today as they tried to set up their stalls and serve the public. From the visits I’ve made it seems as though the weather is always against them. Fortunately for us they plan to brave the elements again before Christmas, as there will be a market on Tuesday 22^nd December.The availability of fresh local produce is a boon to the town and I would urge residents to visit the market in the run up to Christmas.  

A report is due to be published based on a survey of passenger usage in June. Early indications are that a noticeable increase in use has been recorded and that the line is doing better than it has done over recent years.

Forthcoming plans to the station include improvements to the booking office,  waiting rooms, shelters, disabled access and increased car parking. Northern Rail are to be congratulated on making this investment but I would urge them to campaign to Network Rail for an urgently needed passing loop on the line so that they can operate an increased frequency of service. This will encourage even more passengers to use the line because the long wait between connections from Preston will be avoided. The Blackpool and Fylde Rail Users group promote the line and its use and are to be commended for their continued efforts.

Fylde Borough Council, as part of its drive to improve and support the local economy is reminding business owners of a free promotional opportunity they can tap in to.The www.visitlythamstannes.co.uk website, run by the council’s tourism department, receives around 220,000 hits per month from people thinking of coming to the area. As part of the site there is a section for residents and visitors to check out what shops and restaurants are in the area. This is one of the most popular sections of the web site and many of the businesses already on the pages have experienced an increase in custom thanks to people finding them through the site.The site is top of the Google searches for Lytham and if people search for shops or restaurants in Lytham or St Annes they are directed to the tourism site.The council has recently received a letter from a visitor thanking them for the site as they were able to find contact details for a recently opened restaurant that they could not find anywhere else.With Christmas coming up and people looking for that something a bit different for their shopping or dining out it makes sense for businesses to promote themselves in as many ways as possible.It is easy to get placed on the web site. Simply email the Council’s Tourism Officer Viv Wood with details of the business and what you offer and an image you wish to be used at vivw@fylde.gov.uk.

The Christmas lights went on in St. Anne’s in spite of the Tory-led  Fylde Borough Council budget cuts.  St Anne’s Town Council came to the rescue with a £2,000 donation towards the lights.  Other towns and villages in the Fylde are being forced to dig deeper and depend even more on voluntary donations due to the busget cuts announced last March. Now that the council appears to be in even deeper financial trouble,  the meagre funding for the lights could be cut even further.   Well done St Anne’s Town Council for supporting the local traders by ensuring a colourful display to attract residents and visitors alike.