Mark Jewell calls for extensive work on Lea Road

County Councillor Mark Jewell has reported the need for road repairs on Lea Road.

Mark explained, “I first noticed the drain outside number 22 when driving by and returned to investigate further. I found that along the length of Lea Road, there are a number of potholes that need repair outside numbers 20 and 10. However, the state of the road is such that just a few heavy frosts will start to lift the tarmac in other areas too. As such, I have written to highways to make a full assessment of the road and pavements as to whether there should be spot repairs or a complete resurface of the road.”

“Upon talking to local residents it is also clear that traffic has increased recently, with many HGV’s now using this road. With a weight restriction on the canal bridge such vehicles should not be using Lea Road. I have also requested Highways to look at a design feature at the railway underpass to limit the vehicles that can access Lea Road.”

Your Lib Dem team will keep you informed of developments.

Flytipping can attract a fine of up to £50,000

Your local LibDem team have reported recent flytipping on the car park of Ashtongate. This has now been removed.

It is vitally important to keep on top of flytipping as areas can quickly become permanent grot spots. Flytipping can attract a fine of up to £50,000. You can report flytipping direct to Preston City Council on 01772 906909. For larger scale flytipping involving hazardous waste call the environment agency on 0800 807 060. Alternatively, call your Lib Dem team who will get flytipping cleared up.

Almost 200 dog walkers protested against restrictions on Haslam Park

Park users of Haslam Park have forced a rethink of how dog control orders should be implemented.

The Labour controlled council wanted to apply the dog control orders to all local nature reserves, including all the areas of the local nature reserve on Haslam Park.

Following a protest walk around the park by almost 200 park users and over 500 letters to the Council, the blanket ban is set to be reconsidered.

County Councillor Mark Jewell, who organised the protest walk said, “All park users were saying is that banning dog walkers in all areas of the nature reserve really did not make sense”.

Dog owner, Emma Darley, who co-ordinated the letters said, “It is not fair on other park users if dog owners are forced onto the main body of the park where children play of families want to picnic. There are areas of the nature reserve where dogs are not going to impact wildlife or plants”.

Preston City Council are set to announce their concessions in the New Year.

Casework Video on Lea Road. County Councillor Mark Jewell has discussed the ‘confusing’ speed limit on Lea Road with Highways. This will now be resolved by moving the 20mph sign and resetting the speed camera to 20mph.

Your childs school will receive an extra £488 for every child on free school meals

Hundreds of thousands of pupils in England could be missing out on extra cash for their schools according to the Department for Education.

County Councillor Mark Jewell has written to all schools within his district to make sure that children entitled to Free School Meals are properly registered. Schools with these children are eligible for this support and without being registered, the government can not give schools the extra £488 per pupil funding which comes through the Pupil Premium.

County Councillor Mark Jewell said, “The pupil premium benefits poorer pupils by providing extra money directly for those pupils who need it the most. We know that just 27 per cent of pupils on free school meals get five good GCSE grades compared with 54 per cent of non-free school meal pupils. This extra funding will help tackle this inequality and enable schools to provide the extra support they need to reach their full potential. That’s why it is essential those children entitled to it are registered.”

Do you qualify?
You can register your child for Free School Meals if you get any of these benefits:
Income Support
Income based jobseekers allowance
Income related Employment and Support Allowance
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
The guarentee element of the State Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to working tax credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed £16,190
Working Tax Credit ‘run-on’ – the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit.

Simply talk to your childs school to register. No-one will know you have registered and it will not affect any other benefits you are claiming.

Labour plans to hike parking charges on Preston’s city centre car parks has been slammed by the Liberal Democrats.

Lib Dems on the Overview and Scrutiny committee forced Labour to reconsider their plans at the next full Council meeting in December. Labour wanted to increase prices by up to 50p.

Larches Councillor, Danny Gallagher said, “Labour have shown a complete lack of any strategic planning on what to do to support our shops and retain a vibrant City centre.
“The Liberal Democrats are proposing to reduce the parking charge for parking up to 2 hrs to increase the footfall to the City Centre. Shoppers need to be encouraged to use park and ride if they intend staying in the City centre for more than a few hours.

Local campaigner Elaine Abbot added, “Labour’s plans do nothing to help city centre traders and they discourage people to shop in Preston. They speak of maximising income, but a hike in prices will mean fewer people using their car parks and shopping in Preston”.

Casework Video on Parking on Cottam Lane and Birch Avenue.
Single yellow lines are being proposed at the junctions. Residents will be consulted.

Casework Video on Abingdon Drive Junction.
Bollards are to be installed to stop cars cutting across the footpath to avoid the traffic lights.

BAE at Warton and Samlesbury are to have Enterprise Zones

Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Lancashire County Council, Bill Winlow, has welcomed the news that a new enterprise zone will be created to cover BAE’s Warton and Samlesbury sites in Lancashire. The news of a second site at the firms Brough facility in East Yorkshire was also welcomed.
 
Commenting County Councillor Bill Winlow said, “Firms setting up in these new zones will not have to pay business rates. This will attract new companies to these sites and help workers at BAESYSTEMS find new employment.”
 
Local business spokesperson Mark Jewell for the LibDem group added, “Vince Cables Department of Business Innovation and Skills have set up the Skills and Jobs Retention Group to help skilled workers find new jobs in UK manufacturing. The group will ensure that the shortage of engineers in UK manufacturing is not exacerbated by the loss of talented people from companies like BAESYSTEMS.
 
“The group has set up a new national web based system to make it easier for companies to recruit skilled workers who have been made redundant.”