Come and help us – even an hour can make a difference.  We will be busy from 7 am to 10 pm on Thursday.

Tuesday and Wednesday – phone Jennifer Pearson on01422 372049

Thursday (Election Day) phone HQ for the day on 01422 383034

Elisabeth with members of the Dill group

Elisabeth writes: Monday was a busy day.  It started with a school gate visit to Christ Church School Pellon with Cllr Jennifer Pearson.  We are getting a good response from parents to Lib Dem plans for extra money for schools and a fair tax system.

At 10 am I called in at the Dill project, a self help group for men with chronic conditions, invited by My Uddin, who initiated the group. This is self help in action!

Then it was on to Salterlee school, to talk to the top class about Lib Dem principles and policy.  We had an interesting discussion that ranged over how being made to conform to  other people’s expectation was a bit like bullying.  The children welcome the idea of more money for their school. They also raised points about possible unemployment, and liked the “Robin Hood” principle of Lib Dem policies on tax.

Some were interested in joining the Lib Dems, and I explained about how ordinary members could be involved in policy making.

My next stop was another school gate visit, this time with our candidate for Warley, Pauline Nash.

Last, but not least was the open Hustings organised by Churches Together in Halifax.  As a Quaker and Christian in my opening statement I talked about the links between Christian beliefs and Liberal Democrat principles:

First, the need to cherish each individual, and if necessary defend their rights.

Second, caring for creation, which includes caring for the environment as stewards of the earth.

Elisabeth talking to pupils at Salterlee school

Third, the quest for social justice. I pointed out that after 13 years of a Labour government a bright child from a poor home in Britain today is overtaken at school by a less bright child from a better off home. This is unacceptable. And our gap between rich and poor is as big as when Charles Dickens was writing “Hard Times” in the middle of the 19th century.  These would be tackled by Lib Dem policies on extra money for schools, and lifting the limit for paying tax to £10,000, giving most people £700 extra a year.

Questions ranged over Palestine/Israel, asylum seekers, replacing the House of Lords, adult education, buses, tackling the deficit, religious discrimination in the workplace, and climate change.

Altogether a busy and enjoyable day.

Ashley Evans and Elisabeth Wilson

On Saturday all four of the Warley team went to the clean-up in Warley village:  Elisabeth Wilson, Parliamentary candidate, Cllr Jennifer Pearson, Cllr Robert Pearson and Ashley Evans, candidate for Warley ward.  About 40 people turned up despite the persistent rain.  The aim of the cleanup was to help prepare for the “in Bloom” judges who will come round in early April.  We worked on a back lane, clearing weeds and tidying up.

Cllrs Jennifer and Robert Pearson in Warley Village Car Park

The car park in Warley has been resurfaced and tidied up thanks to Lib Dem Councillor Jennifer Pearson. She also acted on residents’ requests for more equipment in the play area. Jennifer and Robert are now working with local people to get the Warley monument repaired and restored.

The new Pellon Network Centre in Rye Lane was opened in September by the Mayor of Calderdale, Councillor Conrad Winterburn.   Lib Dem Cllr Jennifer Pearson said, “It’s been a long time coming and there have been difficulties along the way. But it looks great and I’m proud to have been involved in seeing the project through from start to finish.”  Cllr Robert Pearson added,  “The Centre will be a really good facility for the whole community to use.”

Cllrs R Pearson, C Winterburn and J Pearson at the grand opening of the Pellon Network Centre

Neglected Pellon Activity Centre

Funding for doing up and extending the old Ling Bob Addy on Rye Lane has been approved. Cllr Jennifer Pearson says “I’m proud to have been able to help the Pellon Action Network to get this money. We can’t wait to get going on it now!” The money is coming mainly from Europe (via Action Halifax), with a secondary amount from the Council and a number of other smaller donations.

DISAPPOINTING!

Jennifer criticised her two fellow Ward Councillors for not backing the scheme. “When money is available for improvements in their ward, for some reason, they don’t want it!”

REGENERATION FOR ALL AGES

She added, “The old Addy has been a symbol of de-generation for years but the new Centre will be a symbol of re-generation. It will have facilities for the whole community young, old and every age in between.”

Cllr Jennifer Pearson responded to complaints about speeding traffic at the top end of Moor End Road by calling a public meeting on 15th September. Around 60 residents attended as did Halifax MP Linda Riordan. Officers from the Council and the West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership were there to answer questions. After the meeting, Jennifer said, “Residents are genuinely concerned about safety on this road which is a bit like a motorway at times. I was disappointed that the police didn’t attend but Linda and I will be asking senior police officers to take action as a matter of urgency”. Jennifer added, “Lots of people would like to see speed cameras but the rules laid down by central government are very strict and Moor End Road doesn’t qualify”. Lib Dem Campaigner, Brendan Stubbs said, “The good news is that the flashing 30mph signs we had couple of years ago will be returning in the next few months, this time permanently”.

As a further road safety measure and following residents’ suggestions, Jennifer has asked for the road to be marked with “bus boxes” at the bus stops next to the Woodlesford newsagent’s and the Broadwood children’s home. “Highways and Metro have agreed to the proposal and we’re hoping it will go ahead soon”, said Jennifer.

Cllr Jennifer Pearson is dismayed at the decision of the Conservative Cabinet to close Pellon library. She reports that, “Liberal Democrats tried to get the Cabinet to reconsider this decision. We got the support of Labour Councillors but the Conservatives would not listen, even though they were outvoted in full Council.”. “When Pellon Library closes, Warley will be the only ward in Calderdale without its own library. I was disappointed that I was the only one of the three Warley Councillors to argue for a better library service for Pellon. Unfortunately, we are likely to end up with nothing more than a couple of extra stops from the mobile library and that’s just not good enough, said Jennifer.”

The proposed sale of two small pieces of Council land between Pellon New Road and Pellon Lane (next to the fish shop) has been blocked for the moment by Cllr JenniferPearson.
“The Council says these small areas are surplus to requirements and cost money to maintain. But green areas are few and far between in this part of the ward and I don’t think it’s too much to ask the Council to look after them. They contain some nice trees and I’m afraid that, if they were sold off to a private individual, they would be at risk of being built on.”

Jennifer Pearson Protecting Green Spaces in Pellon