tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-217807432024-03-07T23:23:47.103+00:00Louise BaldockLouise Baldock was a Labour Councillor in the city of Liverpool for two terms, 2006 - 2014. This was her award-winning blog, written mainly as a councillor about issues affecting Kensington and Fairfield ward, sometimes as a politician, and sometimes simply personal commentary. Although she thought she might rekindle the blog after May 2015, she has now changed her mind and leaves this as an archive and record. Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.comBlogger1637125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-16847114695241153402015-07-21T11:04:00.000+00:002015-07-21T16:10:03.884+00:00Craig's story: A true face of welfare "reform"During the election I met a young man who I shall call Craig who has learning <i>and</i> physical disabilities. He is very enthusiastic about politics and has kept in touch with me since the election. A few weeks ago we agreed to meet up at dinner time in a local cafe, on the day his <a href="https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/overview" target="_blank">ESA</a> was due to be paid into his account.<br />
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Just before the allotted time he texted me to say that he would not be able to eat when we met because he had no money. He had been to the bank but there was nothing in his account. A phone call to the DWP had revealed that his ESA has been stopped because they have deemed him capable of work after an assessment. Naturally I said I would pay for him and when we met we talked about his situation. <br />
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Craig is currently volunteering part-time at a youth club for children with learning disabilities like him, but has not worked since he left school, he is 22.<br />
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Of course he is going to appeal, with the help of his mum who is his carer, but in the meantime he has been obliged to report to the job centre. He has now told me that he has been asked to apply for fifty jobs a day, twenty five by leaving CVs with employers and twenty five online. I cannot believe he has that right, even fifty a week sounds like a lot but that is what he understands (and remember he has learning difficulties).<br />
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I very much hope that with the assistance of his Doctor who will provide written evidence of his various conditions, and his Mum, he is able to have his ESA restored. Otherwise I can only see benefit sanctions on the horizon for Craig. How is he supposed to find all of these jobs? And then how he is supposed to apply for them? Will an advisor be made permanently available to him to sit with him in the job centre and help him? He wouldn't be capable of doing it by himself. If he fails to meet these stringent targets - through no fault of his own, all of his benefits will be stopped for three months and ultimately for three years. <br />
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Employment opportunities for young men in Thornaby are few and far between at the moment, and competing with able-bodied people with qualifications will prove nigh on impossible. Even assuming that somehow he could secure work, I cannot see how he could actually perform on a proper and prolonged basis with his disabilities. <br />
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Is Craig really who George Osborne had in his sights when he said<br />
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<i>Where is the fairness, we ask, for the shift-worker, leaving home in the
dark hours of the early morning, who looks up at the closed blinds of
their next door neighbour sleeping off a life on benefits?</i><br />
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Surely it is the job of social campaigners - and the Labour Party - to tell the real stories about benefit recipients, about those whom the safety net protects, rather than vote for reform in a populist way because it is what the public evidently want.<br />
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I feel passionately that it is their ignorance of the truth that needs to be changed, not our system of support. I am convinced that the average voter imagines benefits to be paid at a much higher rate than they actually are. We need to educate people, not acquiesce with views based on incorrect assumptions. <br />
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I have to admit to becoming yet more despondent as the reality for
vulnerable people in this country becomes ever more difficult. <br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-88483433486394612082015-07-07T11:46:00.001+00:002015-07-07T11:46:39.800+00:00Getting back in the blogging saddleAs a Parliamentary Candidate in my home town in Stockton South, it was not really possible to maintain a blog of social commentary. Candidates are representatives of their party and its manifesto; it is not for them to question the direction of policy but to present it to voters for their examination.<br />
Furthermore, with a fully interactive candidate's website where I could talk about local issues, publish photos and encourage people to sign up for campaigns, I didn't need to run two sites simultaneously with the work involved and the potential confusion that could cause. Consequently I took the decision to suspend the blog during the election.<br />
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Now that I am once again free to write about subjects that interest me, I am restarting the blog although entries may be fairly sparse to begin with while I get back into the habit.<br />
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I look forward to the opportunity to engage with readers once again. <div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-12629262065229513612014-06-02T19:55:00.002+00:002015-07-07T11:36:41.946+00:00Reflections as a councillor and community champion <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia41l4dMcLVBGdd-flX61cCMJSoQhYrBXkQQmgf7x-Z7VrymlhfyyPnLwiUv3iRFJc9CkHpAfnehjLgzATYkT8Kr9v8NqnD8Dxt09w5VcCOaRDY1WtgXCRvNl8p28pDrMypgublA/s1600/Getting+sworn+in+with+Doreen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia41l4dMcLVBGdd-flX61cCMJSoQhYrBXkQQmgf7x-Z7VrymlhfyyPnLwiUv3iRFJc9CkHpAfnehjLgzATYkT8Kr9v8NqnD8Dxt09w5VcCOaRDY1WtgXCRvNl8p28pDrMypgublA/s1600/Getting+sworn+in+with+Doreen.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2006: Being sworn in as a Liverpool City Councillor</td></tr>
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On May 22nd 2014 my two terms as a Councillor came to an end.<br />
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This was the date when my successor, Labour's Sue Heron, was elected in Kensington and Fairfield with 68% of the vote.<br />
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The eight years I served have been full of highs and lows; great achievements alongside disappointments and heartaches; huge learning curves and tremendous experiences.<br />
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My election came as a surprise to most people who had not expected to see a Labour victory in a ward where the three sitting Liberal Democrats had served sixty years between them. It was not a surprise to me or our small Labour team though because we had spent six months knocking on doors and listening to residents about their concerns; I found out precisely which issues people were concerned about in the local area and then I campaigned to make a difference for them. It is fair to say that when I arrived in Liverpool there was not really a history of knocking on doors outside of election times and not much of one during elections really either but it is something I believe strongly in and I was determined to pull together a small team of people who were prepared to give it a go. I remember visiting a house on Laburnum Road where the woman said she had waited over twenty years for Labour to call. At a house on Minto Close a couple said it was the first time they could recall anyone calling. "In this election?" I asked, "No. Ever", they said, adding they had lived there 25 years.<br />
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It made all the difference and helped me to win the seat with a tiny majority. All year round campaigning ever since has ensured that Labour went on to win and hold the other two councillor positions and it is now one of the wards with the highest percentage of voter contact in the city. <br />
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The issues that most people were concerned about back in 2006 were<br />
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1. The lack of a fee free cash machine. People who have easy access to banks and free cash machines in their more affluent neighbourhoods cannot imagine how difficult it is to have to pay upwards of £1.85 for the privilege of drawing out your own money, especially if you only want £10. It is a massive tax on the poor. It was to take me 5 years to achieve in the ward and even when I was chairing my final Finance and Resources Select Committee in April this year the council was still working on plans to secure fee free machines for parts of West Derby constituency.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3w9_7CjdpJs9GbV6yA1asEtMJyqjMLbTr8oglKe-MArMQyyjogYwWdgaC43OA5Qr3XsIo88W84zWJW_GR_W7fbmtnyVgQ5jY9KLyTmth5kPHcBwuwsv_iRiTo_1neBeMwJ9HSxA/s1600/Cashpoint+machine+12th+feb+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3w9_7CjdpJs9GbV6yA1asEtMJyqjMLbTr8oglKe-MArMQyyjogYwWdgaC43OA5Qr3XsIo88W84zWJW_GR_W7fbmtnyVgQ5jY9KLyTmth5kPHcBwuwsv_iRiTo_1neBeMwJ9HSxA/s1600/Cashpoint+machine+12th+feb+2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free cashpoint machine arrives February 2011</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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2. There wasn't enough for young people to do and there was a worrying rise in anti-social behaviour. I quickly became involved with Central Youth Club and discovered they were only able to find funds to open on limited days each week. Over the next eight years, working with Wendy and then Liam we were able to make sizeable donations from our locally devolved budget to keep the youth club open 7 days a week and also provide outreach workers who could go out on to the streets where young people gathered and talk to them about what they wanted to do with their leisure time. We also funded choirs, parties at Halloween, made donations to Edge Hill Youth Club in the next ward and set up and helped fund the Youth Forum which brought together everyone providing activities for young people in Kensington and Fairfield so they could plan their programmes without clashing with each other.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjudnEykevz_RwF17ZVY4lTG9zdA3z5lJ9nFlINrM3T26xIrLok7im3LagJw3jHmUZa3TvMw8TmkqNetR60nN7yDIQXKGo5IeGAUJM5gLk0nwb5iTudQQEh4ie_Z-PV8FdS_eeOw/s1600/Central+youth+club.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjudnEykevz_RwF17ZVY4lTG9zdA3z5lJ9nFlINrM3T26xIrLok7im3LagJw3jHmUZa3TvMw8TmkqNetR60nN7yDIQXKGo5IeGAUJM5gLk0nwb5iTudQQEh4ie_Z-PV8FdS_eeOw/s1600/Central+youth+club.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Presenting certificates at an awards night at Central Youth Club</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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3. There were lots of calls for more and better shops back in 2006. The south side of Kensington was mostly boarded up and derelict, the old skating rink was a cleared site surrounded by hoardings, and the choice available was essentially hot food takeaways, betting shops and off licences. I can't personally claim credit for the demolition, the tidying up of shop fronts or the building of new shops along Prescot Road but certainly it was facilitated by the Labour Government through New Deal for Communities and HMRI. I was very proud that at one of my final council meetings of 2014 I was at last able to speak in favour of a policy to restrict the further opening of any more takeways and off licences. It is easy to forget how bad things were before but here are a few of the "before" photographs.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JuFzX-V8DSaJdorqlla-03dyr9uByCEV0ABysBV-64jPPljEFeH6qYTbz6R9TPgAExjHQWIAC5Lg9qFC72S38XLZinBrcNkfMepov55NNkBprbAshSUXhPwI9508B5gEv0PPyg/s1600/DSCF0242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JuFzX-V8DSaJdorqlla-03dyr9uByCEV0ABysBV-64jPPljEFeH6qYTbz6R9TPgAExjHQWIAC5Lg9qFC72S38XLZinBrcNkfMepov55NNkBprbAshSUXhPwI9508B5gEv0PPyg/s1600/DSCF0242.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boarded up shops and pub fronting Pythian Park 2006</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-EjM5KjV10OGfqH5_l5vCmjoFLykp0eKGAHYkAzZxwXh9fULKxkmpxNzMwhklIlAy0HGDr0c-O6ziOwI0Cx61Beq252kLa8VdSF_epz5Vf21kEcejsMFR3KxOtjlM9-fnCxB09A/s1600/DSCF0344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-EjM5KjV10OGfqH5_l5vCmjoFLykp0eKGAHYkAzZxwXh9fULKxkmpxNzMwhklIlAy0HGDr0c-O6ziOwI0Cx61Beq252kLa8VdSF_epz5Vf21kEcejsMFR3KxOtjlM9-fnCxB09A/s1600/DSCF0344.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rear of shops and pub on Kensington awaiting demolition 2007</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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And these are some of the new shops on Prescot Road now.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UcAuAnaUEvC3QlOusHFnVDmkXQCjKsuYaS5X6puuLiMCwhg62BOMsKhMMCxSMxcVnsv91oHFzcXrqXiMhyphenhyphenTiAUyucwHjot8rBdpZJMo1xGlOx1_PxYrh2JWPmiQqE10DHAzaUg/s1600/Kensington+Neighbourhood+Centre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UcAuAnaUEvC3QlOusHFnVDmkXQCjKsuYaS5X6puuLiMCwhg62BOMsKhMMCxSMxcVnsv91oHFzcXrqXiMhyphenhyphenTiAUyucwHjot8rBdpZJMo1xGlOx1_PxYrh2JWPmiQqE10DHAzaUg/s1600/Kensington+Neighbourhood+Centre.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kensington Neighbourhood Centre</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Eight years is a long time and there were a rich wealth of experiences that I could share, but most of them feature here on this blog so you don't need to look too far.<br />
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Something that really made a difference was being able to secure victory for Wendy Simon and Liam Robinson in 2007 and 2008 so that we had a full Labour team taking the ward forward, sharing ideas, expertise, tasks and responsibilities. We have worked brilliantly well together and I owe them a great deal - as do the people of Liverpool.<br />
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I was fortunate to have been elected in a variety of council positions; chairing our Neighbourhood Committee, shadow Executive Member, Assistant Executive Member, Chair of Newsham Park Forum, Chair of Finance and Resources Select Committee and city lead for Equality and Diversity. I also took scrutiny forward outside of the Council, by working with the Guild of Students where I shared an award from CfPS, at Venture Housing Association as its Vice Chair and as an active member of St Hilda's CE Girls High School. In all of those positions I learned much about how to deliver for the people of the city. <br />
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It wasn't all easy going though. I think I would describe my time in Local Government as a story of two halves. Before 2010 resources were plentiful but we had a Liberal Democrat led council and although I managed to get into a good position chairing the Neighbourhood Committee and also had a big chunk of locally devolved budget to spend on environmental improvements and other good projects, many of the changes I wanted to see for residents were stubborn in arriving. I could not persuade the leader of the council to fine dog foulers or fly tippers, selective licensing of private landlords was turned down time and again for our area and Fairfield Community Centre was regularly under threat of closure. <br />
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After 2010 with a Labour majority on Liverpool Council again, we had the power to effect change but very quickly lacked the resources with which to make a difference. It was a very dark day when the Area Based Grant was abolished with a stroke of the pen; it had funded Family Intervention Projects, Community Cohesion work, free fruit for kids at school, Domestic Violence Projects, community skips galore, advice centres and youth projects and much more; suddenly it was all gone. Our local budget had to start stretching to meet things we had never had to fund before. Then once the austerity cuts to the revenue budget started to come along things went from bad to worse and we lost a lot of good quality local projects in the area. <br />
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However, we made the best with what we had and with a huge amount of goodwill on all sides.<br />
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I think my proudest legacy surely must be the level of partnership working we have achieved.<br />
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There is the Kensington and Fairfield Problem Solving Group which brings together all the partners, agencies and organisations providing a service in the ward along with residents and church groups. Working together we have tackled some very serious issues facing local people, steadfastly tackling obstacles, pooling together slender resources and ruthlessly targeting crime and anti-social behaviour, environmental blight, youth unemployment, the establishment of a food bank, Respect weeks, supporting community cohesion with European Neighbour's Day and establishing "Love my Street" initiatives in particularly run down roads. And of course there is the Newsham Park Forum which I wrote about after my final meeting, the Youth Forum and all the Tenants and Residents Groups we have supported over the years. <br />
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It has been a wonderful experience, enriching, empowering, deeply satisfying and very fulfilling. I have seen some big projects through to fruition - like the restoration of the wonderful Victorian Jewish Cemetery on Deane Road but also I have helped individuals with their own cases. There is nothing better than achieving a result for someone who has been struggling alone for a long time and have come to see their councillor in final desperation. <br />
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If the opportunity to stand for Parliament in my home town had not arisen last year, I would have been standing for council again last week, keen to take on another four year term and carry on tackling priorities and issues, for the ward and for the city. However, the chance to go to Parliament hopefully as part of a Labour government voting to abolish the bedroom tax, to increase the minimum wage substantially and to introduce a jobs guarantee for young people is something I feel I need to do. My focus now is on winning back Stockton South for Labour but I go knowing that if I am successful, I will be voting to bring about change for Liverpool too. <br />
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I want to thank everyone who I have worked with over those eight years, those who were there at the beginning but have since moved on to other jobs (or sadly died), those who were there at the end having newly arrived and those who stayed the course with me. I have been given friendship, love and support in abundance. <br />
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The ward of Kensington and Fairfield is a wonderful part of a wonderful city with fantastic residents; it might not be affluent and people might be struggling but they are rich in spirit. Serving them has been an honour. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXUqS7tT1VtVITHbuWh6z594Wao9txQnDDzgRh34jBBPdXo57afYqeXe3nO0tL3R_sr7wAHwVZVaaf_XWONyNYbOELH6AK2eTw-LtSEr9_ec8TaQCQc00faZv4r9ME8sJvIgDMg/s1600/leaving+party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXUqS7tT1VtVITHbuWh6z594Wao9txQnDDzgRh34jBBPdXo57afYqeXe3nO0tL3R_sr7wAHwVZVaaf_XWONyNYbOELH6AK2eTw-LtSEr9_ec8TaQCQc00faZv4r9ME8sJvIgDMg/s1600/leaving+party.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the fab residents and comrades who came to wish me goodbye a few weeks ago at my leaving party</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3XzeeRNV3TKojFD8LMIl72Xu84_CPqFhrIdLy3IwW6RpK120Kxbf4iMO8Ur-MKOlv-usrcEizhWGUDJHOP_4Qxdrf3tm2JUDMuhx763AqAMuhY7rmF8JGjZfYW1j_8zeIOP6Ew/s1600/leaving+party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-66933509223491398642014-05-01T11:51:00.000+00:002014-05-01T11:51:09.306+00:00'My ticket' - all day bus pass for £2 per day for young people<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ka_AhrOsJDjepF6-mXZ9Ppl50jILK8vZC378Q5iPrJttSylcpbhOxJ3N_cMYBdA6teJNktYadlKEqoZVWnMfLdd6SUITPnWdqqwvajI_fPQe9DfQkN8EugStJePWJLy5j-nDcA/s1600/Ticket_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ka_AhrOsJDjepF6-mXZ9Ppl50jILK8vZC378Q5iPrJttSylcpbhOxJ3N_cMYBdA6teJNktYadlKEqoZVWnMfLdd6SUITPnWdqqwvajI_fPQe9DfQkN8EugStJePWJLy5j-nDcA/s1600/Ticket_logo.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Email from Liam Robinson, chair of Merseytravel and Labour councillor for Kensington and Fairfield</i></div>
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Please spread
the word about a new £2 all-day bus ticket, ‘My Ticket’, which Merseytravel are launching
on 1 May. The ticket is available to buy on the majority of buses operating
within the Merseyside area for those aged 15 and under and could help reduce travel
costs for young people by more than 50 per cent.</div>
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In January, we held an event entitled
“Fare Deal for Young People”, along with Louise Ellman MP, Chair of the Commons
Transport Select Committee, when we pledged to work together with operators to
bring down the cost of travel and help remove a potential barrier to education,
work and leisure opportunities. After further work with bus operators, the ‘My
Ticket’ is the result of this commitment and is the first step forward in
getting a fair deal for our young people. According to the Campaign for Better
Transport in 2013, young people listed the cost of transport as their number one
concern. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We hope that ‘My Ticket’ will make a difference to many young
people. A young person at one of our customer forums told us he uses three
buses to get to and from school, costing over £6 per day because his mum doesn’t
have the money at the beginning of the week to buy a weekly ticket. The £2
ticket will reduce his travel costs and will mean he can meet up with his
friends or go to the local youth club in the evening as well. </div>
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</div>
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We would be grateful if you could help us to promote this
ticket through your networks. It will no doubt be of interest to those who work
with young people, but I’m sure will be of interest to anybody with children
and grandchildren within Merseyside. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can find out more information at<span style="color: #1f497d;"> http: </span><a href="http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/Tickets/Pages/My-Ticket.aspx">www.merseytravel.gov.uk/Tickets/Pages/My-Ticket.aspx</a>
. </div>
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If you would like additional materials, Posters or leaflets, or you require
any additional information to promote the ticket, please contact our Young
Person Engagement Team on 0151 330 1185 </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-8451365550311425922014-04-23T18:21:00.000+00:002014-04-23T18:21:11.996+00:00Feel the love - Newsham Park May 10th 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2alX-bDg7NJAv6K9gWILdDhnRKOJ5DZIg0Ukhq81US0tnls7tZkblSPLyDNwWviMFqyRNU1H_cjmTTNAbrO_lBCY-qt6QMgPjZPK43dFXgNemYyHs-GZqG9b3ZhGXB5DZ6xR3w/s1600/newsham+park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2alX-bDg7NJAv6K9gWILdDhnRKOJ5DZIg0Ukhq81US0tnls7tZkblSPLyDNwWviMFqyRNU1H_cjmTTNAbrO_lBCY-qt6QMgPjZPK43dFXgNemYyHs-GZqG9b3ZhGXB5DZ6xR3w/s1600/newsham+park.jpg" height="640" width="412" /></a></div>
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Email from Christina Ashworth for your interest</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #92d050; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Remit for Photography
group <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #4f6228; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;">The purpose of the day is to provide
us with an opportunity to celebrate our community’s past, to reflect on and
discuss its present and then to plan how we might work best together to secure
its future. </span><span style="color: #92d050; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #4f6228; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;">Your brief is to help us do that by
creating a portrait of Newsham Park and its surrounding community in the
present day which helps to inspire and inform those discussions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #92d050; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Remit for planting
party <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #4f6228; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;">The purpose of the day is to provide
us with an opportunity to celebrate our community’s past, to reflect on and
discuss its present and then to plan how we might work best together to secure
its future. </span><span style="color: #92d050; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #4f6228; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;">Your brief is to help us do that by
designing a new bed for the rose garden in the park. The bed needs to be designed in a way which
pays its respects to the design and history of the park but takes into account
the current pressures and future possibilities.
Therefore the design has to also offer seasonal interest, be easy to
maintain and contribute to the environment by being bee and butterfly friendly.
The finished design will be on display
on the 10<sup>th</sup> of May to help inspire a future vision of the park and
engage others in helping to realise it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #92d050; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Remit for the cooking
party <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To make and
or contribute to a ‘food revolution’ afternoon tea for the community to be held
at 3pm on the 10<sup>th</sup> of May.
This needs to celebrate the past and the memories and contribution of
people who have cooked before us as well as reflect the understanding we have
today about the costs and consequences of too much sugar and fat in our diet so
that we can work towards a healthier and happier future.<b><span style="color: #4f6228; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 867px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 40.85pt;" valign="top" width="54">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">When<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4.0cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">What <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 99.25pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">People
needed <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 14.0cm;" valign="top" width="529">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Help
needed <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 40.85pt;" valign="top" width="54">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">8.30
am<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4.0cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Litter
pick in Park <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 99.25pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Volunteers
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 14.0cm;" valign="top" width="529">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #92d050; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Litter pickers and bags provided by LCC<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Skips<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 40.85pt;" valign="top" width="54">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">11am <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4.0cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Planting
in the park <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 99.25pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Participants
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 14.0cm;" valign="top" width="529">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Promote
opportunity – small red heart planted in the Rose Garden to commemorate
WW2 - sow country lane mixture in pre prepared areas </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 40.85pt;" valign="top" width="54">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4.0cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Teddy
Bear’s Picnic <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 99.25pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Participants
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 14.0cm;" valign="top" width="529">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Promote
opportunity – Families with small kids – bring your child if you find a
bear in the woods its yours to keep </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 40.85pt;" valign="top" width="54">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4.0cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Activity
on West Derby Road – Flash Litter Mob<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 99.25pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Participants
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 14.0cm;" valign="top" width="529">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Recruit
activists <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 40.85pt;" valign="top" width="54">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Afternoon
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td colspan="3" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 609.55pt;" valign="top" width="813">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Activity
in the Adult Education Centre <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 40.85pt;" valign="top" width="54">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">1 pm <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4.0cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Consultation
on the planting plan for the park <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 99.25pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Volunteers
stewards <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Participants
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 14.0cm;" valign="top" width="529">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">flip
charts etc <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 40.85pt;" valign="top" width="54">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">3 pm<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4.0cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Tea
Dance <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 99.25pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Participants
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Suggestions
for the play list <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 14.0cm;" valign="top" width="529">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">This
is being facilitated by Jigsaw dance so that everyone can get involved – even
those too frail to stand - need help to promote the event to these groups and
support them to attend </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Suggestions
for the play list <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 40.85pt;" valign="top" width="54">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">3pm <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4.0cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Afternoon
Tea <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 99.25pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Cooks
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 14.0cm;" valign="top" width="529">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Need
more help either to bake on the day or provide a plate of food for the day – <span style="color: red;">all food must be home cooked.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 40.85pt;" valign="top" width="54">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4.0cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Photographs
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 99.25pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Old
Swan photography club <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 14.0cm;" valign="top" width="529">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Participants
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 40.85pt;" valign="top" width="54">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4.0cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Consultation
about planning plans and the floral tribute to the Giant Girl <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 99.25pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Project
Group with support from Karen B <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 14.0cm;" valign="top" width="529">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Participants
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 40.85pt;" valign="top" width="54">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">5 –
7pm<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">The
Debate - consultation and discussion about how to better address
antisocial behaviour – including littering, dog mess, and vandalism – in the
park. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Facilitator
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Participants
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-89145677758638748932014-03-05T10:20:00.001+00:002014-03-05T10:20:53.629+00:00My final Newsham Park Forum meeting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJ06yrhtHpgIu06g24OmUxYHyIf82IpLSqniHvmtouYKaVgneGD4co8_gsfqfO4XaYtkyTiytU0O5FJMSngA-oBsh4dr9SH_oGGgJLobQLqPJhc5hB63l-2C_iZ0hiG0SUxZ2lQ/s1600/welcome+sign1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJ06yrhtHpgIu06g24OmUxYHyIf82IpLSqniHvmtouYKaVgneGD4co8_gsfqfO4XaYtkyTiytU0O5FJMSngA-oBsh4dr9SH_oGGgJLobQLqPJhc5hB63l-2C_iZ0hiG0SUxZ2lQ/s1600/welcome+sign1.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
Last night I chaired my final Newsham Park Forum; the next one won't be until June when I will no longer be a councillor.<br />
<br />
People were very kind and generous with their parting words and I was delighted with a lovely card. There were lots of hugs and wishes of good fortune on all sides.<br />
<br />
<br />
It got me thinking about what we have actually achieved over the last 8 years<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I started by reflecting back to April 2006 before my first election when I <a href="http://louisebaldock.blogspot.co.uk/2006/04/newsham-park-news.html" target="_blank">planted roses</a> with the Friends of Newsham Park This was my first real exposure to the park and it was quite a sorry place really, unloved, dirty, broken and crime ridden.<br />
<br />
Later that year, after my election, I became chair of the council's Parks and Lakes Scrutiny Panel and we took a tour of Newsham Park with residents, police, gardeners, fishermen and others as part of our work We created a long wish list of work and improvements we all wanted to see. We had learned that our HLF bid was unsuccessful so we worked hard to find alternative ways to fund them.<br />
<br />
And now here we are, 8 years on, with the most incredible list of achievements.<br />
<br />
A pavilion and changing rooms for new football pitches<br />
A kiosk selling refreshments - and acting as a key information point for the park with the excellent Rob on duty<br />
Youth play equipment<br />
Exercise equipment<br />
Tree planting<br />
Cricket wicket and a great local cricket club<br />
Ping-pong table<br />
Boating lake renewed<br />
Return of the Liverpool Model Boating Club<br />
Platforms in the lakes for the ducks and water birds<br />
Wildflower planting in Denham Gardens<br />
Bins<br />
Picnic tables<br />
Signage welcoming people to the park<br />
Renewal of entrance gate posts<br />
The birthday wood<br />
<br />
There will be other improvements and enhancements I have forgotten...<br />
<br />
And people are using the park for their leisure so much more often now too. Newsham Park Arts Festival, Shakespeare in the Park, Spring Fling, Sports Festival, Bonfire night firework events...<br />
<br />
And it hasn't finished there; we took lots of progress reports last night including plans for a skateboard and BMX facility, a new Multi Use Games Area (MUGA), a new fountain and aerators in the lake nearly ready to be installed, the bicycle health project hopefully ready by Whitsun half term and upcoming events in the park being prepared (including one which will truly put the Park on the map!!).<br />
<br />
I want to pay tribute to so many people for their help and support; the Forum epitomises the best of partnership working; Paul, Derek, Nigel and Tom from the council who have driven through and delivered on residents aspirations; the Friends of Newsham Park through its various incarnations; Pamela and Mark Boardman for spearheading so many of the residents groups; JB for never ceasing to push for change; Richard Milligan for his wonderful work on Wildlife Photography and the group determined to save our water birds; the Model Boat Club who have returned from Walton Hall Park to their original home and who celebrate their 50th anniversary this year; Glendale the gardeners; Academy of St Francis of Assisi for their enduring enthusiasm and hard work; Norah Burns and other residents for continuing to demand the best from their representatives; all the councillors who have represented the park for putting in funds from locally held budgets and recognising the value of the park; Christina and Althea and their volunteers who have picked litter, planted bulbs, painted railings and shown the true nature of people power; Steve and the group determined to see the Orphanage brought back into use; all the sportsmen and women who now play or train in the park; Citysafe for patrolling; Rob in the kiosk for acting as our unofficial Parky;<br />
<br />
I am sure I have missed people from the list but that only goes to show just how many are involved.<br />
<br />
There is always talk of legacy at the end of a political time in office and I like to think this granddaughter of a Corporation Gardener has helped to steer and guide some real improvements in a park I am sure he would have admired.<br />
<br />
Good luck to whoever takes this work forward and don't ever let the lack of funding stop you from aiming as high as possible.<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-41738197346635924892014-02-05T10:10:00.001+00:002014-02-05T10:10:16.011+00:00Liverpool City Council introduces freephone numbers for benefits queriesSupporting local people in poverty, Liverpool City Council has introduced a new freephone system to at least save people having to pay big phone bills just to get advice.<br />
<br />
Introduced from Monday 3 February, this will cover enquiries for issues including housing benefit, council tax support, free school meals and benefits maximisation advice.<br /><br />The numbers and the services are:<br /><br />0800 028 3686 Council tax, community charge, business rates, corporate debt, overpayment of housing benefit, Business Improvement District <br /><br />0800 028 3697 Benefits, free school meals and Benefits Maximisation Service<br /><br />0800 121 8805 Benefits Fraud Hotline<br /><br />0800 456 1523 Liverpool Citizen Support Scheme <br /><br />0800 028 3707 Fairer Charging and Direct Payments for adult social care <br /><br />The council’s letters, bills and website are being updated with the new information on. <br /><br />People telephoning the Freephone numbers from mobile networks will get an automated message informing them they may be charged for the call and be given the option to dial a landline number if they prefer. All the existing numbers will remain in use for three months.<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-21700474591222869872014-02-05T10:06:00.002+00:002014-02-05T10:06:49.931+00:00Jobs Fair in Liverpool Town HallThe Plus Dane Group are hosting a Jobs, homes and enterprise Fair on Thursday 27th February from 10am-4pm in Liverpool Town Hall.<br /><br />The Living Local- Working Local event will give hundreds of people the opportunity to meet with businesses offering vacancies and apprenticeships, as well as get advice and support from agencies on securing employment, welfare reform and managing debt. <br /><br />Attendees will also be able to view a number of Plus Dane’s vacant properties available in the city to rent or buy and get advice on setting up new businesses.<br /><br />This event is open to all on Merseyside. <br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-61389374204130647342014-01-17T15:23:00.001+00:002014-01-17T15:23:39.333+00:00Finally! An end to more off licences and takeaways in Kensington and Fairfield<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTA_UVO1jI2GBWIpK7bDjA7O0a-0X0cClTTJ6nyEPaJfip0lreSyaX0AQVbhaHqVAPQa6yLzAk3OUOL6Df0ufbQDXkTSDnT-eejEhpp0gLQrgUnilfzWoOM3r1V8Al154jgJsTcQ/s1600/not+drunk+enough.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTA_UVO1jI2GBWIpK7bDjA7O0a-0X0cClTTJ6nyEPaJfip0lreSyaX0AQVbhaHqVAPQa6yLzAk3OUOL6Df0ufbQDXkTSDnT-eejEhpp0gLQrgUnilfzWoOM3r1V8Al154jgJsTcQ/s1600/not+drunk+enough.jpg" /></a></div>
On Wednesday night I was proud to address the Town Hall Chamber on a proposal before us to stop any more off licences and fast food takeaways opening in our ward.<br />
<br />
This is an abridged version of the speech I gave.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>We have been talking a lot about poverty tonight</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>One clear sign of poverty in a neighbourhood is to
look at the types of shops and businesses that predominate on its High Street. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>In my ward, Kensington and Fairfield, we have far too many of four particular types of businesses; there are off-licences where people buy cheap strong
alcohol to drink themselves into oblivion so they don’t have to face terrible lives. We have dozens of hot food take-aways selling quick
gratification for the miserable; we have betting shops for people whose lives
are so bereft of positive experiences that their only enjoyment comes from
praying for a big win on the horses or the slot machines. And of course we have
lots of payday lenders and pawnshops for those who can’t pay the leccie this week.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>It would be very easy as Councillors to become
depressed at the futility of it all and at our inability to change anything but
that’s not Labour’s way is it. We burn with the need to make a difference.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>So we have been busy establishing foodbanks, supporting
the credit union movement, paying for debt advice for our residents and trying
to devise ways to limit people’s exposure to gambling.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>There is another big project that has taken years to
come to fruition but is finally going to happen tonight with your support. Ever
since I was elected I have been fighting the excessive number of off licences
in our ward. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>7 years ago to this very day, January 15<sup>th</sup>
2007, I stood in front of the licensing committee begging them not to pass an
application to extend the hours of an off licence on Prescot Road called,
believe it or not, <a href="http://louisebaldock.blogspot.co.uk/2007/01/not-drunk-enough-given-green-light.html" target="_blank">“not drunk enough”</a>.<span>
</span>They had been caught selling alcohol to underage kids, there were
stories of people lying in the gutter outside and they had been accused in the
local press of g</span><span>iving taxi drivers money to
encourage them to bring drunks to their shop to buy more alcohol. The
licensing committee were sympathetic but said their hands were tied and despite my very best efforts,
passed the application to allow it to open until 4am. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>That was
the day I realised that the law as it stood was not on our side and we had a
big fight on our hands.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Over
subsequent years we have heard some stories of young women and girls being found
drunk and unconscious in our parks, vulnerable to sexual attacks or robberies,
having persuaded adults to buy cheap vodka for them locally; We have regular reports
of anti-social behaviour where people’s neighbours are screaming and shouting
up the street in the early hours of the morning full of drink they have been
able to buy on the corner, even so late at night.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>And as
you will see in the report before you tonight, we have had many responses to
our consultation describing the behaviour of a small group of hardcore
alcoholics who drink out on the street all day from 9 o’clock in the morning,
intimidating passers-by, begging for money and staggering into the traffic,
they urinate and defecate on the street and lie collapsed by entry gates for
our local children and families to see.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>They are
being facilitated by the proliferation of shops open around the clock selling
the cheapest strongest stuff. <span> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Ever
since <a href="http://liverpool.gov.uk/council/strategies-plans-and-policies/licensing/special-cumulative-impact-policy/" target="_blank">Allerton Road and Lark Lane</a> were given local powers to oppose the opening
of more bars and restaurants it has been the aim of me and my ward colleagues to find
a way to utilise the same powers to stop any more off licences from opening in
our area and to challenge the work practices of those we are already stuck with. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Finally
we are able to put a plan before you to change our local licensing law. If you
pass this recommendation then in future the presumption will always be to
refuse any applications unless there is a very good reason.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>And in a
stroke of genius, Councillor Robinson who has done so much of the leg work for
this excellent initiative has also been able to include hot food takeaways into
the same policy. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>This
Cumulative Impact Policy is not the only measure we are taking of course;</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>We
continue to engage with the council’s Alcohol and Tobacco Unit to ensure that
underage drinkers are not buying directly from our local shops</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>We work
with property landlords to persuade them to help manage the behaviour of their
tenants</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>We work
with the police to manage the crime and anti-social behaviour and are currently at work on a proposal for a complete ban on alcohol on the streets of our ward</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>We work
with Public Health, the Whitechapel Centre, the YMCA and organisations like the
marvellous Basement Project who send outreach workers to engage with our street
drinkers. Only this week we heard at our Problem Solving Group that two of them
have been persuaded into a drying out facility in North Wales next week.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Our aim is the provision of a better and more
healthy range of shops and local businesses. We want to see something on offer
to our residents other than off-licences, takeaways, pawn shops and bookies. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>We need
to give people better choices that won’t destroy their physical or mental health or drive them further into poverty.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Passing
this policy tonight will be a big step in the right direction. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><br />
<br />
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-64156051759598414242013-12-17T18:10:00.000+00:002013-12-17T18:10:27.827+00:00Christmas Fire Safety Tips from Merseyside Fire and Rescue<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Fire Safe at
Christmas Tips<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></span></b>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service is urging people to
enjoy a happy and safe Christmas this year by following some simple fire safety
advice.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When the celebrations take place over the festive period
people sometimes forget about fire safety in the home.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Cooking</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Most house fires start in the kitchen and people are
asked to take care when cooking the Christmas dinner. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Food should never be left cooking on the hob unattended
and people should not cook while under the influence of alcohol.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">People should avoid cooking while tired and should be
careful not to fall asleep while food is cooking in the oven.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Decorations</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Christmas decorations and stray wrapping paper can burn
easily and cause a fire. Decorations should never be attached to lights or
heaters and should be kept away from candles.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Candles should not be lit near curtains or combustible
materials and keep them away from the Christmas tree. They should also be kept
out of the reach of children and pets. Ensure candles are put out when leaving
the room and they should be placed in a correct holder.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Christmas tree lights should always be switched off when
going to bed or when leaving the house and people should never overload plug
sockets. People are also advised to check that Christmas lights carry the
British Standard Safety sign.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Heating</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Heaters should be kept away from curtains and furniture. They
should be switched off after use and should not be used for drying clothes. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">People should ensure open fires are out properly when
they go to bed and they are advised to use a fire guard. Never hang decorations
over an open fire. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Electric blankets should be unplugged before going to bed
and hot water bottles should not be used with electric blankets.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">People should also close the doors to each room when they
go to bed.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Vulnerable
People</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">People are advised to check on older relatives or
neighbours during the winter period and ensure they have working smoke alarms. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Residents are also asked to check on vulnerable people in
the community, particularly those who live alone.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Smoking</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">People should ensure cigarettes are completely stubbed
out in a proper, heavy ash tray that will not topple over. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Residents should never smoke in bed and should take care
when tired.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Smoke Alarms</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It is advised that people have a smoke alarm fitted on
every floor of their property and smoke alarms should be tested every week.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A smoke alarm can give a vital early warning to escape a
fire. In the event of a fire people should get out, stay out and call 999.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For free fire safety advice call Merseyside Fire &
Rescue Service on 0800 731 5958.</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-28805251586162187122013-10-23T09:00:00.002+00:002013-10-23T09:00:47.556+00:00Dangerous fireworks to look out for<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02upc-7MHaGxw9Z4oaTNsPuJd76ZzsWZT3DEN7fWkKtdPicQ3G0wOl9pLsFfunINBeIi_7fG7ErtUQ8umrObz0h3TTNCDk-g4Fvt0Qjhy7md7mqmUML9P51SSfprEIo_iZxKsrg/s1600/bangers.13+jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02upc-7MHaGxw9Z4oaTNsPuJd76ZzsWZT3DEN7fWkKtdPicQ3G0wOl9pLsFfunINBeIi_7fG7ErtUQ8umrObz0h3TTNCDk-g4Fvt0Qjhy7md7mqmUML9P51SSfprEIo_iZxKsrg/s320/bangers.13+jpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dangerous Bangers from Poland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A warning note from Sergeant Joyce<br />
<br />
These are the newest bangers that we need to keep an eye out for. <br /><br />They originate from Poland made by a company called Jasper and are called 'TAPIRKI' <br /><br />They are poorly constructed, with a metal based composition which is exposed at both ends. They have no labelling on the actual bangers. <br /><br /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Apparently they are readily available around the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester. They are selling for around £2 per pack and contain 10 bangers in each pack. A sleeve of 10 packets is selling for £10 so that’s a 100 bangers for £10<br /><br />I would suggest they are highly dangerous and such poor construction and amount of composite could cause serious injury with a possibility of loss of digits.<br /><br />Although we have not seen huge numbers yet on Merseyside they are here and I anticipate that they will be sold illegally.<br /><br />In the first instance Phone 101 and request the FIRST TEAM be informed or contact Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 to report<br /><br />Enjoy Halloween and Firework Season safely!<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-87099285634558282562013-09-27T19:04:00.000+00:002013-09-27T19:04:32.067+00:00Do you want to limit the number of off-licences and take-aways in Kensington and Fairfield?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfROf0g0uLa24EZnKEqqI8ZoEWvm7EaMQFY7BEkEtgteRB5329uyvexPhQB4sNqulYWd4Wq6mP6vUQFlED-UNL3IuC61KLDsnPkDP5R9GS11LtSErvRXln6aYBqcoiZdh0kA_SA/s1600/White+Ace+web+closer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfROf0g0uLa24EZnKEqqI8ZoEWvm7EaMQFY7BEkEtgteRB5329uyvexPhQB4sNqulYWd4Wq6mP6vUQFlED-UNL3IuC61KLDsnPkDP5R9GS11LtSErvRXln6aYBqcoiZdh0kA_SA/s320/White+Ace+web+closer.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cheap alcohol fuelling anti-social behaviour</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Labour councillors in Kensington and Fairfield have been campaigning for years for action to stop any more off-licences and take-aways opening in our area. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We already know the problems they cause locally, with noise, anti-social behaviour, street drinkers and begging. So when we found out about the schemes in Lark Lane and on Allerton Road a few years ago to stop them having to have any more bars, we though this was something we would have a look at. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Unfortunately the wheels of local government can sometimes turn exceedingly slowly and it has taken far longer than it should have despite dozens of meetings and piles of correspondence. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">However, we now finally have some good news.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We have applied for something called a <i>Cumulative Impact Policy</i> which basically says that the impact of the large numbers of establishments we already have, together have caused problems and that no more should be allowed. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In order for this to be introduced we have to carry out a consultation of local people and find out what they think. </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Liverpool
City Council is proposing to amend its Licensing Policy Statement by including
within it a special Cumulative Impact Policy (or CIP) limited to specific
streets in the Kensington / Fairfield
/ Central wards namely:</span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Boaler
Street, Holt Road, Kensington, Molyneux Road and part of Prescot Road (from its
junction with Kensington to the railway line forming the eastern boundary of
Fairfield Ward)</b></span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span>
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
copy the consultation questionnaire and supporting information including a plan
of the area can be viewed at - <a href="http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/scipconsultation">http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/scipconsultation</a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: red;">The
deadline for receipt of completed questionnaires is 1<sup>st</sup> day of November
2013.</span></b></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-2249229135477337302013-09-18T10:14:00.001+00:002013-09-18T10:14:11.761+00:00Promising moves in the creation of a new Post Office in FairfieldAs the Tories continue to put our post offices under threat, with a new privatisation scheme for Royal Mail on the cards, it is good to be able to report that Labour Councillors are making a positive difference.<br />
<br />
We continue to work with a local small business on Prescot Road in Fairfield to convert some of their convenience store premises to open a new Post Office counter with staff, to replace the one across the road which closed 18 months ago. We are using legacy funding from the New Deal for Communities to pay for the necessary building works to ensure that this is one community which can enjoy an enhanced service despite Tory efforts.<br />
<br />
I just hope we have the opening day event before I retire in May next year, it is one of the major projects that I want to see come to fruition as part of my final work in the city.<div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-1524841821324087742013-09-18T09:36:00.001+00:002013-09-18T09:36:12.951+00:00The swans are back in Newsham Park <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHwQ8irz3QqthawlLaWIx3Qtfhd0bODgSkTlerrSpvZS_qsiyuZyn1Kck1AvdLkZKtf_rsMGPKUeemMXQNHiq_22eMjO9s1yZtQXQYf_8hbM2xeNEVqPQ8x-vGdRjT3z6wp3fwA/s1600/swans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHwQ8irz3QqthawlLaWIx3Qtfhd0bODgSkTlerrSpvZS_qsiyuZyn1Kck1AvdLkZKtf_rsMGPKUeemMXQNHiq_22eMjO9s1yZtQXQYf_8hbM2xeNEVqPQ8x-vGdRjT3z6wp3fwA/s400/swans.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swans in Newsham Park - Richard Milligan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />After the tragedies earlier in the year it is great to see swans back in Newsham Park. Thanks to Richard Milligan for his wonderful photograph.<div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-60697234320840356232013-09-18T09:33:00.001+00:002013-09-18T09:33:14.984+00:00BIG Lottery Funding – LCVS Training Course<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Tuesday 24
September 2013, 10am-4pm - 151 Dale Street, Liverpool, L2 2AH.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘Big’ and the other lottery
funders have a wide range of funding programmes. Which ones are for you? What
does the Lottery look for? How much competition is there, and how can you write
the best application? Our course will take you through the steps of planning
and preparing a lottery application. </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">With this course you will:
</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Find out
about different lottery funding programmes </span><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Learn the
language of the lottery and the key words they look for</span> <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Learn
about evidence of need and why outcomes are so important </span><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Understand
how to bring all this together and write better funding applications </span><o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The course is particularly
aimed at anyone who has to develop funding applications for over £10,000 and
particularly focuses on the Reaching Communities Revenue Programme. </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The course is delivered by an
LCVS Funding Adviser who has helped many groups secure Reaching Communities
funding.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Cost: £70 (non-profit) / £140
(statutory/other). Lunch will be provided.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.lcvs.org.uk/training/big-lottery-funding.phuse">Use the
booking form from our website to book your place</a>. </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-54177308193065160312013-09-18T09:25:00.001+00:002013-09-18T09:25:51.747+00:00Do you fancy singing in the bandstand in Newsham Park at Christmas?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaq6_B8xxfTTJ5tyiaon550s7qMNTx2ZJMmJWX1XEhyphenhypheneqO1rOV_Y_PaM98r2BJKjSCYQoXqUIx8QKbFFdHrVI9knczVx6hd-JJ5LjZHiU536bLo1eIQCnvikGOhlQnwN9_liGsg/s1600/bandstand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaq6_B8xxfTTJ5tyiaon550s7qMNTx2ZJMmJWX1XEhyphenhypheneqO1rOV_Y_PaM98r2BJKjSCYQoXqUIx8QKbFFdHrVI9knczVx6hd-JJ5LjZHiU536bLo1eIQCnvikGOhlQnwN9_liGsg/s400/bandstand.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:personname w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></st1:personname></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:personname w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></st1:personname></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:personname w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></st1:personname></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:personname w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the last few years local Fairfield residents have been singing in the bandstand on Newsham Park at Christmas. </span></st1:personname></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:personname w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></st1:personname></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><st1:personname w:st="on">Last years </st1:personname><st1:personname w:st="on">Liz Roberts</st1:personname> was responsible for organising the event. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She is
wanting to build on last year's success and wants people who are keen to
participate. She is hosting a meeting at her house 21 Prospect Vale L6 8PE more or less opposite Bandstand.<br />
on Monday the 23rd of September (this coming Monday) at 7.30pm to talk about
it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are
interested please contact her by email or by phoning her on 07507335874. </span><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-55438488712148487742013-09-18T09:16:00.001+00:002013-09-18T09:16:11.294+00:00Older People's Day in Liverpool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFNAFrLlzvphuifYPDikAE2tT5LQw6vRWgBJrxXfiBXsCPMOojF5sqRxaTMNn7i6zQHKcmjTkLZwDK7Ki7OgBxt0CRSXJMv9sB3CqL5VTAnU8qU2JAzmtX56BK6hGZPbeldhY_g/s1600/old_peoples_day_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFNAFrLlzvphuifYPDikAE2tT5LQw6vRWgBJrxXfiBXsCPMOojF5sqRxaTMNn7i6zQHKcmjTkLZwDK7Ki7OgBxt0CRSXJMv9sB3CqL5VTAnU8qU2JAzmtX56BK6hGZPbeldhY_g/s640/old_peoples_day_.jpg" vsa="true" width="449" /></a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-11296430058887519162013-09-18T09:13:00.004+00:002013-09-18T09:31:26.674+00:00Harvest Festival in Kensington and Fairfield<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sDdF7lIneqJTKI-_-OXNoXaTJoOjEurG9r57OtLTrNOKPdUKW1BxbWVZ8sPTtED2X7WybBl4avqseHMb9oUznDS5wwEjspdzfC87kc6ITf4zq1bCptG0lOxdp93ZZij75Sv2JA/s1600/harvest+festival.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_lm_745063="null" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sDdF7lIneqJTKI-_-OXNoXaTJoOjEurG9r57OtLTrNOKPdUKW1BxbWVZ8sPTtED2X7WybBl4avqseHMb9oUznDS5wwEjspdzfC87kc6ITf4zq1bCptG0lOxdp93ZZij75Sv2JA/s320/harvest+festival.jpg" vsa="true" width="227" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Local councillors have helped fund a food growing project at L'Arche with Healing Space and this special community event will showcase the work.<br />
<br />
We heartily recommend anyone in the area popping along to the community centre on Lockerby Road on Friday.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-28588435076775181312013-06-28T17:52:00.000+00:002013-07-01T15:34:51.506+00:00Direct Line Job Losses: Connected to Coalition legislation?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJz5UnSzuhAsfnSDX-BoTVb22DHlhmJ_NO9Wi8z9COg2pDuuBt-3TnBWw89q8Kf2Z8NrGvmsKMaQ50Tx3l1N4YmZKLDapltw4ylgv9oJlwExKReUGzeRP-M-ECanV860t0bYz3g/s615/at260613bdirectline-3-4723970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJz5UnSzuhAsfnSDX-BoTVb22DHlhmJ_NO9Wi8z9COg2pDuuBt-3TnBWw89q8Kf2Z8NrGvmsKMaQ50Tx3l1N4YmZKLDapltw4ylgv9oJlwExKReUGzeRP-M-ECanV860t0bYz3g/s320/at260613bdirectline-3-4723970.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Direct Line workers in Liverpool: Echo photo</td></tr>
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500 people lost their jobs at Direct Line’s Thornaby call
centre this week, along with 700 at two other sites. And earlier this week the firm
announced a further 500 job losses in Liverpool together with 1500 in Leeds, London
and elsewhere. </div>
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We know the firm isn’t in the red - it recently revealed £94.3
million profits for the first three months of 2013 - up 47% on a year earlier so
what is the explanation for these cuts described by Unite the Union as “<a href="http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/union-slams-savage-blow-480-4724460" target="_blank">savage</a>”?</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">One possible part of the answer is
that these job losses may have been impacted by recent Conservative Liberal
Democrat legislation. </b></div>
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<br /></div>
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The Legal Aid Bill passed earlier this year was heavily
criticised for the disastrous effects it will have on the ability of people to
take cases to court, and on the ongoing work of the CAB and other advisory
organisations. But there was another item included in the bill which has gone
largely unremarked. </div>
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A couple of years ago the Coalition brought in legislation to
limit the fee earned by lawyers to £1600 per case for accident injury claims on
behalf of their clients where the damages did not exceed £25,000.</div>
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This saw a review of business cases for many small law firms
and a general tightening up of the Claims industry. However in April the fees
were furthered limited to £500 through the Legal Aid Bill. </div>
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If you have had an accident and are seeking compensation,
you will now only be able to make a claim, where the damages are not expected
to top £25,000 if you can find a lawyer prepared to take your case on for a fee
not exceeding £500. </div>
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And good luck with that! The simple fact is that even a
pretty desultory attempt at seeking damages on your behalf is likely to cost
any firm more than £500 to process so the bottom has completely fallen out of
the injury claims market over night. </div>
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An end to ambulance chasing? That is a good thing surely?</div>
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Indeed it sounds like a great headline doesn’t it, but let’s
examine two potential consequences.</div>
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Firstly the effect on the injured: If you were in a car
crash, broke both legs and were laid up for 6 months your claim might well come
in at £25k – but you will now struggle to find anyone to take your case on for
you. If you had a bad back as a result and were off work for 6 weeks you might
have been able to claim for £1500 of damages -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>but you probably wont be able to now unless you can take the case yourself.
Some people simply aren’t that confident. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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So – legitimate claimants will now suffer as the Government’s
attempts to tackle bogus whiplash claims has backfired. </div>
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The other consequence
of this badly thought through legislation is that because the injury claims market has
dried up, so too have the number of claims being made. They simply aren’t
coming forward.</div>
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And it has been put to me that Direct Line – the UKs largest Insurance Company, may have found itself handling fewer claims. </div>
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Could that be a part of the reason for the thousands of job losses – and will other insurance companies find themselves in the same boat?<br />
</div>
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EDIT: Direct Line staff tell me that the Liverpool office has never been busier although definitely not with injury claims. Obviously my original source has only got half of the story so I have toned this piece down from its original assertions. Whatever the explanation, it is a puzzling tragedy that thousands of people have lost their jobs in a profitable company. And I remain concerned about the impact of the legislation on legitimate victims of accidents. </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-57624038587111723142013-06-14T21:55:00.000+00:002013-06-15T08:46:53.625+00:00Support the Shrewsbury 24 : Campaign for Justice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdCjWfgkeMuKlrDZGuCVNIZm04tp_RNoS1oc0yk4CXo_V1s-F5Ou1Va2dZnKsh7gRbkRFVcNB42r5J73HKzbnivo7_iPeoM02SoNIt8R2dthHr2NMJb36f8aUjLeF56qPYaPz0Q/s1600/logo_full22.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdCjWfgkeMuKlrDZGuCVNIZm04tp_RNoS1oc0yk4CXo_V1s-F5Ou1Va2dZnKsh7gRbkRFVcNB42r5J73HKzbnivo7_iPeoM02SoNIt8R2dthHr2NMJb36f8aUjLeF56qPYaPz0Q/s640/logo_full22.png" width="640" /></a></div>
Message from Ricky Tomlinson<br />
<br />
There are signs that the online petition to support the Shrewsbury 24 has been derailed by the estabishment - and if you have ever read "A very British Coup" by Chris Mullin you will know exactly what I am talking about.<br />
<br />
So if you have signed the online petition and thought you had made your support clear, please be advised that it is possible that your contribution was not recorded.<br />
<br />
I am therefore calling upon all TU supporters and those who support these brave men to download the PAPER petition, sign it and share it with friends, neighbours and work colleagues so that your name can be properly added and will count.<br />
<br />
You need to send your completed forms to P O Box 92 Liverpool L19 3WD Any problems or queries please ring 07927 937773<br />
<br />
I know it is a bit harder but if you REALLY CARE about this issue then you will find the time.<br />
<br />
Please see below for an official statement from the campaign team.<br />
<br />
<b>URGENT – Paper Petition Launched.</b><br />
<b>
</b><b>The Shrewsbury Campaign have decided to launch a paper petition calling for the release of Government documents.</b><br />
<b>
</b><b>We have found that the Downing Street e-petition site is not properly
recording all the signatures of supporters who have signed Ricky
Tomlinson’s e-petition.</b><br />
<b>
</b><b>Please download a copy of the paper petition and encourage as many people as possible to sign it.</b><br />
<b>
</b><strong><a href="http://www.shrewsbury24campaign.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Petition-April-2013-4.pdf">DOWNLOAD the petition here.</a></strong><br />
<br />
<br />
Our campaign committee was set up by several of the convicted
Shrewsbury pickets with local trade union activists following a meeting
in Liverpool in 2006. We are supported by many national trade unions,
local branches and trades council as well as by individuals. We welcome
further affiliations and support.<br />
<br />
Our campaign is seeking to overturn the unjust prosecution of
24 building workers who were charged following the first ever national
building workers strike in 1972. They picketed building sites in
Shrewsbury during the dispute and were prosecuted in Shrewsbury Crown
Court in 1973. They became known as the “Shrewsbury 24”.<br />
<br />
The main focus of the campaign at present is an application
to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to have the cases of the
24 referred to the Court of Appeal and for these miscarriages of justice
to be overturned. It was submitted on the 3rd April 2012. Watch this
site for further news on the progress of the application.<br />
<br />
<br />
http://www.shrewsbury24campaign.org.uk/<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-2888651987044513792013-06-02T18:45:00.002+00:002013-06-02T18:45:38.779+00:00Cricket back at Newsham<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"The sound of leather on willow will once more resonate across Newsham Park". </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A big thank you to Pamela Boardman for sending me this cutting from the Liverpool Echo</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClvEwPn315JwH3BiLTb-f49Ka4OqIu8xMN6nvitt4rWbqv0udUlhYv-5K2HygXW4l3uTfof0otc4Yt50FQ4Cj9Rmf9T0Mvj7EA2DHiLJYmqtB_-OvYeKvXkig-6mK5CKEFJITqQ/s1600/cricket+back+at+newsham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClvEwPn315JwH3BiLTb-f49Ka4OqIu8xMN6nvitt4rWbqv0udUlhYv-5K2HygXW4l3uTfof0otc4Yt50FQ4Cj9Rmf9T0Mvj7EA2DHiLJYmqtB_-OvYeKvXkig-6mK5CKEFJITqQ/s640/cricket+back+at+newsham.jpg" width="406" /></a></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-51890862450241521302013-05-20T20:55:00.002+00:002013-05-20T20:55:30.615+00:00Some great job opportunities at the Co-operative Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuo99hnioCByl6P6vxRaMlAP-7Eqxx-8gXXTQYQKqQVxDHhHlmW60We06liO7v4waFWVEFi97Xu6CJ8mJPqArBKXc5bCf18IhpEB4BmZSgOZtdqsBouz_lZToANFWcYKRQXPYwQ/s1600/party_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuo99hnioCByl6P6vxRaMlAP-7Eqxx-8gXXTQYQKqQVxDHhHlmW60We06liO7v4waFWVEFi97Xu6CJ8mJPqArBKXc5bCf18IhpEB4BmZSgOZtdqsBouz_lZToANFWcYKRQXPYwQ/s400/party_logo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><br /></i>
<i>Message from Karin Christiansen, General Secretary of the Co-operative Party</i><br />
<br />
Some incredible work has been done by members, staff and politicians to make the
Party what it is today, but to face up to the challenges both as a country and
as a Party, we need to make a step change in between now and 2015. Specifically,
I'm determined that we succeed in:
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>growing our membership
</li>
<li>giving you much more in return for your support
</li>
<li>nurturing and developing co-operators to become the politicians of the
future
</li>
<li>ensuring the co-operative movement are proud of us. </li>
</ul>
<br />As part of
this we are making some changes to our internal structure, and a number of jobs
have just been posted on our website – <a href="http://party.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f5fe9abc02e45a82afee6a4dd&id=83c647f783&e=038109886e" style="color: #eb4102; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; word-wrap: break-word !important;" target="_self">www.party.coop/jobs</a> - please do consider applying or telling
people about them.<br /><br />This does mean that we are losing some of committed
and excellent team that I know many of you will have worked with closely over
the years. On behalf of the entire Party I want to thank them for their immense
dedication to the Party and the co-operative movement as a whole.<div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-51878190768922731772013-05-15T22:37:00.000+00:002013-05-15T22:37:22.916+00:00A grave crime!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsO0m7x-zEcUeC3Gc4wcYzKAPUdF7QPurIHP_hC_JXD_k52NmKffVoHf6M1NCmOZIy5t5dyF1IuQBKiZF44Szve9qJp5dUmCJ-_xYdZOoFFND_MfUfYH9Bqvr8prO0SnDqzv6_AA/s1600/20130515_122311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdOBlLTr-4CYlRD7iFlAW7_QGYMjrkaqsQq60Pxdl-rs7TZpOctfBynB91mdvGNTZnyxUgfrIfFdBu1H7faur81mPs4LAr1ykhQf1xNIpfV1oV8ZUDzj3CR3Kv_RQwsEolc7TvQ/s1600/20130121_153549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdOBlLTr-4CYlRD7iFlAW7_QGYMjrkaqsQq60Pxdl-rs7TZpOctfBynB91mdvGNTZnyxUgfrIfFdBu1H7faur81mPs4LAr1ykhQf1xNIpfV1oV8ZUDzj3CR3Kv_RQwsEolc7TvQ/s320/20130121_153549.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deane Road Jewish Cemetery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A comical story that I am sure you will enjoy</div>
<br />
On the third Sunday in April it was the monthly open day for the wonderful Deane Road Jewish Cemetery. A heritage jewel in Liverpool's crown of which I am hugely proud.<br />
<br />
I was there as a tour guide and general welcoming friendly face at the gate.<br />
<br />
A man arrived and I greeted him and offered to show him around. This is the story of what happened next....<br />
<br />
The gentleman was somewhat dishevelled, I don't want to say much more than that, but he was clearly one of my more disadvantaged and dependent residents with issues, mainly involving cheap drink. He was keen to engage with me and share his delight in this now restored Kensington asset so I started to show him round - although he did say he had been inside a few times before and loved it.<br />
<br />
He then took me to one side and began to tell me a story. It had my eyebrows quizzically raised from the beginning.<br />
<br />
He said that he had been in the cemetery earlier in the year and had seen some tools lying on the path. In particular, he said, he had seen some bolt cutters and had decided that he was in dire need of the same as there was a padlock on the gate that lead round to the rear of his flat on Deane Road which he was anxious to have cut off so that he could be afforded access to the back of his own property.<br />
<br />
He thought these bolt cutters would be just the thing so he picked them up, together with another set of tools and spirited them away.<br />
<br />
He then explained that he was sawing away somewhat ineffectually at the padlock when the police arrived and arrested him. They confiscated the tools but were eventually satisfied that he was not attempting breaking and entering and they let him go, although they kept the tools.<br />
<br />
I think it is fair to say I was mystified as we have no need of bolt cutters and I could not conceive of any reason why such items would be found in the cemetery, but I listened on. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWzbvRawurq83bE5-JUl1XKCFsRZzpkoqaDCoWV8WpCgUpPoNICpXzne22ayWAWSqqT-YAJTYmG79-pPeMlAOMY1pXOI8XqLhLB-mU2Jrd7iF57nSCCAv6R-c5TbzO0RfGR4WWQ/s1600/20130515_122311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWzbvRawurq83bE5-JUl1XKCFsRZzpkoqaDCoWV8WpCgUpPoNICpXzne22ayWAWSqqT-YAJTYmG79-pPeMlAOMY1pXOI8XqLhLB-mU2Jrd7iF57nSCCAv6R-c5TbzO0RfGR4WWQ/s320/20130515_122311.jpg" width="166" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Anne's Street Police Station </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The gentleman went on to say he had since been in hospital as he was unwell but had recently been discharged and was feeling a lot better.<br />
<br />
He said he was very anxious that we should reclaim our tools and then gave me his full name and address, the details of when he thought he might possibly have been arrested and even a drawing of the tools as best as he could remember, complete with yellow handles.<br />
<br />
I was mesmorised and somewhat cynical if I am honest.<br />
<br />
However, I got in touch with the police in the vain hope that they could stand up any of this story.<br />
<br />
And glory be, they could!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6mMnHqSrZDmVOCyJb21e7A76br5kOQK1v7RMGD34FqwmJM64Iew8lB8Jf88fpOtJuKptoyO6yyP3zS1ecHcSQIrlG1pJQ74IN9NvP6QG16OTKIVXdBmndeZ1SoLFhDIVHgDvvw/s1600/20130515_122321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6mMnHqSrZDmVOCyJb21e7A76br5kOQK1v7RMGD34FqwmJM64Iew8lB8Jf88fpOtJuKptoyO6yyP3zS1ecHcSQIrlG1pJQ74IN9NvP6QG16OTKIVXdBmndeZ1SoLFhDIVHgDvvw/s320/20130515_122321.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evidence!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So today I have been to St Anne's Street Police Station and taken back into my custody a pair of long handled secateurs and some pruning shears. No wonder they wouldn't cut his padlock off!<br />
<br />
What a lovely man for taking the time to come and put this right.<br />
<br />
A happy ending. <br />
<br />
If you want to come and use our tools for their proper purpose and volunteer as a jobbing gardener, do please let me know. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-6885768912624766492013-05-11T18:15:00.000+00:002013-05-11T18:15:19.253+00:00Hitting the poorest places hardest<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LXoaNJI7L3L5Sdf5_zvP1zUFbCu6VnQPs5cPcoeI5TLUOBotwyInsi3TplU44d4UsBcXPShEiWBV031vGvzWNKIlj9VzDFknVRFv4n_TeVc6ZeSoeO_w2IF0qvbZspik6chmYA/s1600/Hitting+poorest+places+hardest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LXoaNJI7L3L5Sdf5_zvP1zUFbCu6VnQPs5cPcoeI5TLUOBotwyInsi3TplU44d4UsBcXPShEiWBV031vGvzWNKIlj9VzDFknVRFv4n_TeVc6ZeSoeO_w2IF0qvbZspik6chmYA/s320/Hitting+poorest+places+hardest.jpg" width="225" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Research
from Sheffield Hallam University</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Last month
saw the publication of a report from the University into the impact of Welfare
Reform across the country entitled <a href="http://www.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/hitting-poorest-places-hardest_0.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Hitting the poorest places hardest</span></a>
</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>You almost
don't need to read any further than the title to get the general idea. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>They have
carried out extensive research and I have reproduced their key findings below</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span>When the present welfare
reforms have come into full effect they will take nearly £19bn a year out of
the economy. This is equivalent to around £470 a year for every adult of working
age in the country. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span>The biggest financial
losses arise from reforms to incapacity benefits (£4.3bn a year),changes to Tax Credits
(£3.6bn a year) and the 1 per cent up-rating of most working-age<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>benefits (£3.4bn a
year). </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span>The Housing Benefit
reforms result in more modest losses – an estimated £490m a year<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>arising from the
‘bedroom tax’ for example – but for the households affected the sums<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>are nevertheless still
large. </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span>Some households and
individuals, notably sickness and disability claimants, will be hit by several different
elements of the reforms. </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span>The financial impact of
the reforms, however, varies greatly across the country. <b>At the</b></span><b><span>extremes, the worst-hit
local authority areas lose around four times as much, per adult of<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>working age, as the
authorities least affected by the reforms. </span></b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><b>
</b></span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span>Britain’s older
industrial areas, a number of seaside towns and some London boroughs<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>are hit hardest. Much of
the south and east of England outside London escapes<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>comparatively lightly. </span></b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span>Blackpool, in North West
England, is hit worst of all – an estimated loss of more than<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>£900 a year for every
adult of working age in the town. </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span>The three regions of
northern England alone can expect to lose around £5.2bn a year in<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>benefit income. </span></b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><b>
</b></span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><b>
</b></span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span>As a general rule, the
more deprived the local authority, the greater the financial hit. </span></b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span>A key effect of the
welfare reforms will be to widen the gaps in prosperity between the<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>best and
worst local economies across Britain.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>The bold type is mine. I find it difficult to comprehend that any Government could be so wicked as to slash and burn the economies<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>of the north of England in this way. Indeed I have been wracking my historian's brain and cannot think of anyone since William the Conqueror with his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrying_of_the_North" target="_blank">harrying of the north</a> who has made such a broad attack on our communities (although of course Maggie did her b<span style="font-size: small;">est)</span>. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Let's not be divisive about this though - or play the victim card that the Tories accuse us of in the north. We need to remember the industrial Midlands and the other places the report mentions too, the poorer London Boroughs, South Wales and Glasgow. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Here is the top ten according to how much they have lost per adult of working age in the population </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>1. Blackpool £ 910 </span></span></span></div>
<div data-canvas-width="500.90218415737144" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 91.8312px; top: 205.707px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.02434, 1);">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2.
Westminster £ 820 </span></span></div>
<div data-canvas-width="500.92547063827516" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 91.8312px; top: 221.444px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.02439, 1);">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">3.
Knowsley £ 800 </span></span></div>
<div data-canvas-width="500.97204360008243" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 91.8312px; top: 237.182px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.03721, 1);">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">4.
Merthyr Tydfil £720 </span></span></div>
<div data-canvas-width="500.88887759685514" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 91.8312px; top: 252.852px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.03064, 1);">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">5.
Middlesbrough £720 </span></span></div>
<div data-canvas-width="500.92547063827516" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 91.8312px; top: 268.59px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.03071, 1);">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">6.
Hartlepool £710 </span></span></div>
<div data-canvas-width="500.92325287818903" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 91.8312px; top: 284.327px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.03071, 1);">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">7.
Torbay £700 </span></span></div>
<div data-canvas-width="500.9132729578018" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 91.8312px; top: 299.997px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.03069, 1);">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">8.
Liverpool £700 </span></span></div>
<div data-canvas-width="500.9276883983613" data-font-name="Helvetica" dir="ltr" style="left: 91.8312px; top: 315.735px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.02022, 1);">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">9.
Blaenau Gwent £700 </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">10. Neath Port Talbot £700 </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Look at Blackpool. Tory MP Paul Maynard is going to have some explaining to do come the next General Election. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Two of the top ten are on Merseyside, two on Teesside, three in south Wales. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>And remember, these are only the cuts in social security. I wait with trepidation <span style="font-size: small;">for</span> a report showing these figures combined with cuts in Local Government budgets to show just how much of a</span><span style="font-size: small;">n officially</span> sanctioned kicking our people are being singled out for. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And I keep coming back to the same fact; you could just about expect this sort of thing from the Conservatives, it is what they do - <span style="font-size: small;">wag</span>e war on the poor and people with regional accents, anyone who wears trackies or went to a state school.... But what the hell are the Liberal Democrats doing giving them the lifeline they need to carry it out? I don't know whether Nick Clegg ever visits the university in his constituency but this will be one report of theirs he might find uncomfortable reading. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here are the bottom 10 districts for completeness. In these areas the reforms have had much less of a financial impact.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Chiltern
£270 </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>South
Bucks £260 </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Guildford
£260 </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>South
Northamptonshire £260 </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>South
Oxfordshire £260 </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Rutland
£260 </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Wokingham £250 </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Cambridge
£250 </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Hart £240 </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>City of
London £180 </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span></span></i><span>I didn't know where Hart was either, so I looked it up, it is alw<span style="font-size: small;">ays <span style="font-size: small;">useful to know where the benefic<span style="font-size: small;">iaries are whilst you are getting t<span style="font-size: small;">he crumbs.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>This is what is says on their council website</span></span></span></div>
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</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"<span class="normal">Our picturesque area of gentle rolling
wooded countryside lies in the north-east corner of Hampshire and takes its name
from the little River Hart which flows through its centre." </span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="normal">So that's all <span style="font-size: small;">very nice. </span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="normal">And it is represented in Parliament by Gerald Howarth, the recently elected chairman of the Thatcherite <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_Way_Forward" target="_blank">Conservative Way Forward </a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="normal">And you don't need me to tell you what <span style="font-size: small;">t</span>heir guiding princ<span style="font-size: small;">iples are<span style="font-size: small;">, do you?<span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="normal"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="normal">Like the title of the Sheffield Hallam report itself<span style="font-size: small;">, this</span> tells you all you need to know about how this Government is setting its policies and who they are for. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="normal">Conservatives a<span style="font-size: small;">nd Liberal Democrats: </span> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="normal">Hitting the <span style="font-size: small;">poorest places hardest<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">and buttressing the richest places best </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="normal"><br /></span></i></span></span></div>
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<![endif]--><div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21780743.post-39579022683490398302013-05-11T14:08:00.004+00:002013-05-11T14:08:59.330+00:00New Immigration Advice Service opens in Kensington RMNJ Solicitors will be holding FREE surgeries at Kensington Community Learning Centre (opposite McDonalds) every Tuesday between 10am and 3pm<br />
<br />To book your free consultation pop into reception or call 0151 260 1006<br />
<br />Drop in appointments may also be available on the day depending on the number of confirmed appointments – but to avoid disappointment – please confirm a time at reception.<br />
<br />• All types of Visa Applications (In the UK & Abroad)<br />• Foreign National Student Applications<br />• Indefinite Leave to Remain Applications<br />• Naturalisation/Registration Applications (British Citizenship)<br />• Representation at Appeal Hearings<br />• European Regulations based Applications<br />• General Immigration Advice<div class="blogger-post-footer">All blogs are the personal comments of Louise Baldock and should not be deemed to be official Labour Party comment.</div>Louise Baldockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430662342062143143noreply@blogger.com0