Buxton Central by election too close to call.

Mar 28, 2012 Caitlin Bisknell Uncategorized No Comments

Tomorrow voters in Buxton’s Central ward go to the polls to elect a new borough councillor. With Labour’s Jean Todd hoping to retain the seat which Labour dramatically won form the Tories a year ago.

In the past week we have seen the true face of the Tory Party. First there was George Osborne’s Budget which has been roundly condemned for its attack on pensioners, the ridiculous pasty tax and, of course, the massive tax cut for millionaires. Then, to cap it all, there were the revelations about cash for dinner with the Prime Minister in 10 Downing Street.

Meanwhile local Tories are spreading mischievous half truths in an increasingly desperate bid to win back a seat they never expected to lose. But what is perhaps most surprising about their claims – is that many of the policies they accuse Labour of promoting – are actually supported by sitting Tory (and LibDem and Independent too) borough councillors.

So it’s not just the Labour administration at the Council that they are attacking – it’s their own leadership!

Let’s be clear about this:
1. Tory councillors support plans for a new wheelie bin so that we can collect plastics for recycling for the kerbside. It is also supported by many residents.
2. We are looking how High Peak Community Housing will be run in the future. There will be a wide ranging consultation, including consulting tenants. Again Tories on the Council support this approach.
3. The Tories set up the Alliance with Staffordshire Moorlands – are they now arguing that this was the wrong thing to do?
4. Since taking control last May Labour has continued with the plans set out by the previous Tory administration – and despite a 28% cut in government grant has also found money to put into community ventures.

What Labour has done:
1. Pegged council tax, leisure and car parking charges
2. Lobbied strongly against the closure of the Corbar Birthing Centre
3. Called for the retention of a second fire engine in Buxton
4. Backed young people in their campaign against plans by Tory Derbyshire County Council to close youth services, including Buxton for Youth
5. Maintained funding for CABs and the CVS
6. Continued to work with police and other partners to keep communities safe.

In short – we have been speaking up for local residents and protecting the services the Council provides for you.

This election will be close. Labour won by just 10 votes last year, a vote for any other party will let the Tories back in.
If you want us to continue working with and for local people; speaking up for local services and making your voice heard vote for Jean Todd, the Labour party candidate,
Thursday 29 March. Polls open 7am to 10pm
Polling station: St Anne’s Parish Centre, Hardwick Square West.

Labour – speaking up for you

Mar 25, 2012 Caitlin Bisknell Uncategorized No Comments

Since taking minority control of High Peak Borough Council last May, Labour has fought hard to protect services.

It has:

• Pegged council tax, car parking and leisure charges
• Lobbied against the closure of the Corbar Birthing Centre
• Called for the retention of Buxton’s second fire engine
• Backed young people in their campaign against Tory DCC’s plans to close and sell off youth centre closures.

Meanwhile the Tory LibDem Coalition has continued its attack hard working families

You’ve heard what is going on nationally – now it’s happening locally too.

Cuts by the Tory-LibDem coalition are causing chaos in our communities, attacking the young, the ill and the elderly

• Buxton’s Corbar Birthing Centre is one of the first casualties – soon to be followed by Johnson Ward – as part of the Government’s plans for the NHS, pushed through despite massive opposition from doctors and nurses.
• Tory Derbyshire County Council plans to close all county run youth centres – including Buxton For Youth.
• In the past year the number of unemployed 18-24 years olds in High Peak has gone up by a massive 193.3% – a result of the Tory-LibDem Government’s abolition of the Future Jobs Fund and EMA and increasing tuition fees to a whopping £9,000pa.
• Cut £5m funding from Buxton’s Crescent project – and turned down two new funding bids.

And now they are are asking millions to pay more – so that millionaires can pay less.

At a time when families are being squeezed by rising fuel prices, seeing their tax credits and child benefit cut, when one million young people are out of work and there’s a big deficit to clear, it is the wrong priority to cut taxes for millionaires.

• Families on £20,000 will lose £253 a year – on top of the VAT rise which is already costing families an average of £450 a year
• 4.4 million pensioners will lose on average £83 a year, while people turning 65 next year will lose most, upto £322 a year.
• 4,000 millionaires will get a tax cut worth more than £40,000 a year each – more than many Buxton families earn in a year.