BLACKPOOL COUNCIL - Row over new Blackpool Primary Care Trust chairman

From the Blackpool Citizen

Leading Blackpool politicians have criticised the appointment of ex-Blackpool Council leader Roy Fisher to a top health position.

News that Mr Fisher (pictured) had been given the £33,000 role as chairman of Blackpool Primary Care Trust (PCT), came the day after he was defeated in the Park Ward by- election.

The controlling Conservative group has branded the appointment as ‘politically motivated’ and that an active local politician was unsuitable for the role.

Council leader Peter Callow, said: “The Conservative group were very surprised to hear that an active politician who only last week stood for the council has been given this important role at the trust.

"We've got some very high profile projects involving the PCT and the council ongoing, such as the new complex at Moor Park.

“Mr Fisher will now be involved in confidential talks with the council and he can just report straight back to his Labour colleagues.

“I just don’t think the role is suitable for someone active in local politics.”

Mr Fisher, said politics had nothing to do with his appointment.

He said: “I understand the issues in Blackpool with regard to the health inequalities and would like to see this town moving forward to improve these.

“I hope the people of Blackpool will recognise this from my previous role at the council.

“It's really important the council and the PCT share boundaries so that both agencies can work together.”

PCT bosses said Mr Fisher's appointment was made by the national NHS Appointments Commission and he was eminently qualified.

The trust’s chief executive, Wendy Swift, said: "Roy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience about Blackpool to the post and joins us in exciting times as we continue with our plans for three new primary care centres.”

BLACKPOOL COUNCIL IN POLL SHAME - SHOULD KEARSLEY GO?

A recent poll asked Blackpool voters whether they felt the council offer good value for money.

The response was clear, a massive 88% felt that under the current management Blackpool council do not offer good value for money. Is it now time for under pressure Julian Kearsley to step down?

Fury as veterans boycott Blackpool event

A LEADING veterans' group is to boycott Blackpool's biggest summer event after branding it a 'PR exercise'.

Members of the National Service Veterans Association have accused 'thoughtless' organisers of the National Veterans Week celebration of putting marketing before the needs of war heroes.

They say poor parking and transport links to the hub of the celebrations, at North Pier, will make it impossible for members – most of them in their 70s and 80s – to run a marquee promoting the association's activities or participate in events.

John Black, secretary of the National Service Veterans Association by Blackpool's North Pier

The secretary of the association's Blackpool branch, John Black, said: "Blackpool won the right to stage this event on the premise that it would pay tribute to veterans. But we feel we have been excluded from the activities due to the uncaring attitude of promoters."

Mr Black said the association, which has 60 active members locally who have served in conflicts such as in Korea and Malaya, would take part in the parades and ceremony at the cenotaph – but not the other events.

He added: "It's supposed to be for the veterans but it's purely commercial. The event organisers have failed to grasp the true purpose and treated it as a purely marketing exercise. We feel we deserve to be treated with far more respect."

Members say the main North Pier location for the events, which will take place over nine days from Saturday June 21, is unsuitable.

Mr Black added: "Some members are in frail health and have had hip and knee replacements. The location is a very bad choice. It's thoughtless and inconsiderate.

"We normally have a marquee to show equipment we used like bayonets and field packs. We can't carry all that heavy equipment."

But Major Jim Houlds-worth, chairman of Fylde Ex-Service Liaison Committee, which is organising Veterans Week alongside Blackpool Council, said all 28 local ex-service associations have been invited to attend liaison committee meetings.

He said: "We have covered all options. I can't understand why they feel like this. Their rep hasn't turned up to meetings but they have been sent minutes."

He said transport has been arranged to ferry equipment to North Pier and tables and chairs will also be set out for veterans.

More than 2,000 veterans are expected to flock to Blackpool to take part in events ranging from a spectacular aerial Grand Prix to a ceremony at the newly-restored cenotaph.

Other veteran associations say they will also face difficulties.

Jacqui Longden, home manager of Blackpool's British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association (BLESMA), said: "We are limited to what we can do.

"I agree with other associations who say it's going to be difficult parking, getting down to the pier and having to pay car parking fees."

Gerald Rose, chairman of the National Service Veterans Association, said: "Birmingham looks after its veterans. There was free parking, free buffet and drinks and tea dances. "Blackpool is the flagship this year. It's up to the council to look after them. Without their veterans, where would they be?"

Blackpool Lions Summer Carnival folds after 43 Years

A carnival, which has been a fixture of Blackpool's summer season for decades, has been cancelled due to lack of volunteers.

Blackpool Lions Carnival, an events which has raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity issued a shock announcement on its website, scrapping the event.

The statement read: "It is with great regret that after 43 years, we have to cancel the Lions Blackpool Carnival.

"We no longer have the resources to effectively manage such a big event."

The 2007 event, which took place on August 5, raised £2500 for Brian House Hospice.

The event has been an annual fixture of Blackpool's summer calendar and thousands of visitors watch the procession of local groups and schools along the Prom.

BLACKPOOL LANDLORD ON POLICE WANTED LIST

It appears Blackpool council have stepped up their campaign to investigate Blackpool business owners. Following on from the recent Chris's Kebab turkey ham pizza debacle (Maxine Callow involved in) and town centre car parking hikes (Peter Callow's baby), Blackpool council and police are hunting a landlord after CCTV cameras at his seafront bar failed to work.

Gareth Hazelwood-Fudge, licensee of The Beach Tavern, on Blackpool Promenade, was found guilty of breaching a condition of his licence after a trial in his absence - he is now on the police wanted list.

Warrant

Blackpool magistrates issued a warrant without bail for his arrest.

Victoria Cartmell, prosecuting for Blackpool Council, said police and council officers visited The Beach Tavern, on December 28 last year about 9pm.

A condition of the bar's licence was it should have working CCTV cameras. When officials asked to see the CCTV cameras, the licensee said they were not working and had been broken for two months.

Ms Cartmell said: "CCTV cameras are important in the issue of crime and disorder."

WHAT NEXT?? WELL...UNCONFIRMED REPORTS SUGGEST DONKEYS COULD BE PUNISHED FOR SPORTING UNPOLISHED SADDLES AND A SAND TAX COULD BE IMPOSED ON WALKERS WHO FAIL TO CLEAN THE SOLES OF THEIR FEET/SHOES ON EXITING THE BEACH.

PETER CALLOW BLACKPOOL COUNCIL PARKING UTURN

Town hall bosses have slashed car parking charges after shocked shoppers reacted angrily to the announcement of parking price hikes of up to 66 per cent last week.

On-street rises have been slashed, while the cost of parking at both the Houndshill and Talbot Road car parks has actually been cut.

Council leader Peter Callow said: "We are a council that listens and acts – we have listened to what the public want and taken action."

NOW FOR A REALITY CHECK MR CALLOW

IN MY OPINION - YOU ARE COUNCIL THAT SCREWS UP BY SYSTEMATICALLY GRABBING AS MUCH MONEY FROM LOCAL TAX PAYERS AS POSSIBLE TO HELP PAY THE COST OF SEVERAL £100,000+ COUNCIL SALARIES.

THEN WHEN LOCAL PEOPLE COMPLAIN YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO SAY, "WE ARE A COUNCIL THAT LISTENS AND ACTS - WE HAVE LISTENED TO WHAT THE PUBLIC WANT AND TAKEN ACTION".

WELL MR CALLOW THE PUBLIC WANT VALUE FOR THEIR MONEY, NEED TO FEEL SUPPORTED BY THEIR LOCAL COUNCIL AND TREATED WITH RESPECT. I WOULD SUGGEST BLACKPOOL COUNCIL IS OFFERING NONE OF THESE.

Blackpool Council Hike Up Parking Charges

Just when you thought Blackpool was starting to attract more people to the resort (albeit through the medium of a sunken ship) council leaders introduce plans to minimise the attraction.

From The Gazette

SHOPPERS and tourists have joined calls for Blackpool Council to rethink controversial hikes in parking charges.
Prices have gone up by as much as 66 per cent at some town centre locations.

A four-hour stay on the council-run Central Car Park has rocketed from £4.40 to £7.

Weekend shoppers in Blackpool town centre were livid at the increases, with "ridiculous", "idiotic" and "greedy" among the angry comments directed at council bosses.

Thelma Stables, 62, a town centre worker from Layton, who was out shopping with her grandchildren, said: "It's ridiculous.

"Blackpool needs to get people into town, not push them out, so the council should think about reducing prices.

"I work in the town centre and I see how hard it is for Blackpool business."

Poulton resident Paul Hindle said he preferred the longer journey to Preston because of the cost of parking.

The 50-year-old said: "I think Blackpool should introduce a park-and-ride system.

"Perhaps from near the football ground, creating a car park there and perhaps killing two birds with one stone.

"Parking is the reason we go to Preston instead."

Visitor Sue Marsden, 45, from Cleckheaton in Yorkshire, was visiting the resort to see a play at the Grand Theatre and therefore needed all-day parking.

"Can you believe it cost me £12 to park?," she said.

"I've never had to pay £12 to park anywhere – it's unbelievable.

"People will simply stop coming to Blackpool."

And Brett Moorhouse from South Shore was another advocate of nearby Preston, saying he hoped the council would get the message or risk losing business to their rivals.

"Why not go to Preston?" he said.

"You can use the park and ride which is much easier."

Council chiefs have defended the rises stating it was the first time since 2006 prices had gone up while parking tariffs were "fair and similar" to what other towns charge