STOCKTON HEATH ALTERNATIVE

RESIDENTS COUNCIL

 

We are a group of local residents from Stockton Heath, Walton and Appleton, who have come together to offer residents of this part of South Warrington an alternative to the current ineffective local representation offered by the Stockton Heath Parish Council.

The Parish Council, claim to be “powerless” to help residents gain representation at Borough Council level! Your voice goes unheard on local issues, and your representatives on the Parish Council appear to operate with the interests of local party politics as their prime directive. The interests of the party groups seem to take precedence over the needs and concerns of you: -

 ‘The silent majority’

We intend to hold meetings, open to the public, where you can come and talk to us to raise your concerns on local issues. On our part, we will endeavour to lobby local councillors and other council officers to get appropriate recognition or resolution for your concerns. As has been seen so far with recent issues of area wide concern, the Council does not heed the wishes of the majority and fails to recognise your representatives. Why do they exist, what added value does this tier of government provide you as a taxpayer?

• Save Stockton Heath Primary School from demolition, the local action group won round 1 with local support, but the council are about to start another planning application to get the building demolished. They still say no to this, your involvement is even more important now.
• The Forge machinery was recently removed without the permission of the owner, or the Parish Council. The PC has a duty of care over this equipment on behalf of the people of Stockton Heath. Unfortunately they do not see it this way, and the efforts of the Clerk to the PC were not fully supported by the PC members.
• Speeding on Walton road, yet another suggestion to help your selves from the Parish Council members, with limited and begrudged support.
• Parking in certain parts of Stockton Heath is difficult for residents due to customers of the commercial outlets using the streets for parking. The PC shows little concern and appears not to want to back a resident parking scheme. This was shown in the latest planning application for the old fire station when half the Council members did not attend the planning meeting, so the plans went through with little regards to objections.
• Development and Stockton Heath conservation area, The PC does not support calls to review the conservation area and produce a village statement. The PC no longer believes the village to be such; it is merely a suburb of Warrington.
• Traffic congestion and pollution in the village gets worse each year, the PC has done nothing to fight this. The only suggestion forthcoming was to post signs in the village to ask drivers to switch-off engines whilst waiting for the bridge to open!

We want to start to tackle some of these thorny issues, the character and future of the village is at stake, we need your support to change things. We have shown that with organisation and support we can influence decisions, we have won first blood over the school, and we have recovered the Forge machinery. Let’s keep Stockton Heath for the residents, and ensure that those who visit us, and those who want to ride roughshod over our wishes, start to respect the village.

THE COMMITTEE

The Group’s Management Committee will consist of:

1. Chairperson
2. Vice Chair
3. Spokesperson
4. Secretary

And a number of general-purpose committee members to be agreed at our first meeting.

 

MEMBERSHIP

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP RESTRICTIONS

The lists below are the persons restricted from holding committee membership, although where the committee deem appropriate it will offer an affiliation or advisory role. 

Restrictions include:

1. All sitting County, Borough & Town councillors.
2. Officers of Warrington Borough & Stockton Heath Parish Councils.
3. Persons or groups of persons funded or part funded by council monies or politically funded bodies.
4. Members of the Public, whose employment precludes them from being involved in Political undertakings e.g., Police Officers

All other persons who are under the direct influence of, affiliated with or close relationship with all the above, although each will be considered on a case-by-case basis and due consideration will be given on each case.

 

Members of SHARC, are not restricted from running for office, but on attaining public office, must abide by the rules above. Resignation from the group must be forthcoming at that time.

 

 

GENERAL MEMBERS (supporters)

 

1. Any one can be a general member or supporter of SHARC
2. Members or supporters must supply full name and post code
3. Members must agree to allow their details to be available for scrutiny
4. By joining as a member, supporters are agreeing with the remit, terms of reference and general aims of SHARC.
5. By joining as a member, supporters are providing SHARC with a mandate to represent their interest on local issues.

 

 

SHARC October 06