Local Elections 3rd May 2007 - introducing Ann Rampling

The Labour party's candidate this year is Ann Rampling. I first met Ann in 2002 when like a lot of people in Ashton her house was flooded - twice She was not just content to let the Council and United Utilities get on with the job of cleaning up the mess. She wanted action to stop the flooding happening again and organised a well attended public meeting on Town Green off Bolton Road. I together with Ian McCartney attended that meeting in the pouring rain which led to further public meetings at Stubshaw Cross Labour Club and then to the setting up of the Makerfield Sewer Residents group which meets on a regular basis with representatives of the Council, United Utilities and the Environment Agency. However the main achievement of Ian McCartney and the group was to secure millions of pounds worth of investment to improve the sewer system in Ashton. The work is still going on today and should be finished in June.

Another of Ann's campaigns is to get the Council to clean up the toilets in Princess Road - otherwise known as White City. She has spent several weekends on the Gerard Centre asking people to sign her petition which was presented to the Council. The toilets are now being re-furbished.

If Ann is elected on May 3rd Ashton will get a Councillor who will speak passionately for the town and get things done.

Now you can recycle plastic bottles in Ashton

You can now recycle plastic bottles at Somerfield supermarket on the Gerard Centre and other sites throughout the Borough. A full list is given below.

1. Asda Superstore, Soho Street, Wigan.
2. Asda Superstore, Atherleigh Way, Leigh. Now you can
3. Golborne Parkside Sports & Community club.
4. The Miners Lamp Public House, Orrell Road, Orrell.
5. Sainsburys Supermarket, Worthington Way, Marus Bridge.
6. Somerfield Supermarket, The Gerard Centre, York Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield.
7. Somerfield Supermarket, Preston Road, Standish.
8. Tesco Extra Supermarket, Central Park Way, Wigan.
9. The Red Lion Public House, Sale Lane, Tyldesley.

Use Your Paths Week 2007

I constantly receive information from various groups and last week I received the following from the Ramblers Association which might be of interest to readers of this blog. From Saturday 23 June to Sunday 1 July the Ramblers Association will celebrate Use Your Paths Week. The week is a major component of the RA's year round Use Your Paths project and provides an ideal opportunity to highlight the footpath network.

Alongside an expected 250 walks held during the week all around the country, this year the Ramblers' Association will be encouraging their members to send their Councillors a postcard encouraging us to invest more in our local footpaths and an invitation to a walk during the week.

If you would like more information here are two websites you can access:

1. www.useyourpaths.info and 2. www.ramblers.org.uk

The South Lancs Industrial estate - update

The Cabinet decided at the meeting last Thursday to postpone the decision to dispose of Council land to the developers for another two months. The reason for this decision was that they wanted more time to consult local Councillors and for the developers to give the Council information they had been been asked for.

I, together with Ian McCartney, have asked the Cabinet to consider an alternative use for the land in line with the proposals made by the Stubshaw Cross Residents Association. Their plan is to make this beautiful part of the area more accessible to residents and local visitors by creating a path through the wood and installing benches and bird hides in the area.

I would welcome any comments readers have about this scheme.

The Beat it Team - next visit April 16-20th

Wigan Council's Beat it team is next due to be in Ashton from 16th to 20th April. If you know of any area that needs cleaning up please contact me on this blog or phone 736216