Message from Cllr John Walsh, Conservative Group Leader

Councillor John Walsh OBE 

Leader of the Conservative Group, Bolton MBC

It would be very easy for me to devote the whole of this article to Labour’s unlawful funding scandal. Equally I could respond to what by the week are becoming more personal attacks on Conservatives by the local Labour leadership. I will refrain from both as to spend time on either would deflect from considering how just a few Labour policies are hitting the public of Bolton.

In August Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors voted to support the Conservative campaign against the closure of even more sub post offices in Bolton. Like me, you may be surprised and disappointed to be told that not all Bolton’s Labour MPs have supported this campaign.

One reason that so many confidential personal bank records are at risk of theft with the lost computer discs is because Labour has forced benefit claimants and pensioners to have their allowances paid into banks rather than being drawn at a post office. At the last count over 60,000 children in Bolton were in households receiving child benefit alone. By taking away business like this from sub post offices Labour policies have severely damaged the network. To delay further consultation on more closures until after the local elections in May is merely another attempt by Labour to bury the bad news.

Incidentally the Government still requires the Council to transfer personal details by disc! Does Labour never learn?

Labour claims to support education and schools yet the Bolton News revealed recently that the Government has allocated less grant for every pupil in Bolton’s schools than the average for schools in England, lower than most areas around Bolton. By 2011Bolton will get £4.2million less for schools than if it had received even the average grant. Labour’s Deputy Leader was quoted as saying Labour councillors were, “Pleased with the allocation”. How can it be fair when Labour values children in Bolton less than those in Blackburn, Salford or Manchester?

Labour’s ham fisted policy on recycling become more bizarre by the week. The reintroduction of a weekly bin service was welcomed but has still not been completed for all residents of the Borough. Burgundy bins to replace green boxes are still not available for every household and the piecemeal changes with paper collections now being introduced as a fortnightly not weekly service, with bags which are not big enough to hold all that paper or too heavy if filled, are other examples of Labour’s cuts in services. Where are households meant to store all this paper?

Once again Labour claims one thing when residents know differently.

Labours answer by the way is that if the Council bag is full householders should use a plastic supermarket bag. What hypocrisy at a time when environmental policy calls for supermarkets to end the use of plastic bags.

Christmas will soon be upon us and whilst it is the major Christian festival it brings to everyone the message of peace and hope. This will be my last article this year, so on behalf of the Conservative Group, I wish all readers a joyous and peaceful Christmas and a happy and healthy new year.