Lib-Dems hope to take control of Warrington

Apr 28 2008 by Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Daily Post

THE Liberal Democrats are hoping to retain coalition control of Warrington Borough Council for the third year running, with the chance of taking overall control.

Currently in a coalition with the Conservatives, council leader Ian Marks said he was hoping to make gains on both the Tories and Labour.

There are 19 seats up for re-election, seven of these are currently held by the Lib-Dems, nine Labour, two Conservative and one independent

As a key target area for the national Lib-Dem party under Nick Clegg, the party is also hoping for their Warrington South parliamentary candidate to win Bewsey and Whitecross.

Jo Crotty is hoping to win the seat from Labour’s Hitesh Patel.

And this election will see Ann Haddow, Independent and former Labour councillor, step down from her seat in Fairfield and Howley.

The Lib-Dems are keen to take her seat which has candidates from the major parties and the Green Party and British National Party.

They are also targeting Whittle Hall where they have two of the three councillors and Poulton South, all labour seats.

Cllr Marks said: “We’re hoping not to lose any seats and make two or three gains.

“Issues on the doorsteps include concerns about potholes and the state of our highways, which we have been addressing, and recycling and the licensing of alcohol.

“We’ve had high-profile cases of anti-social behaviour and we have addressed this by introducing enforcement officers and plan to bring in a marshalling scheme.

“We also plan to extend our kerbside recycling scheme to glass, plastic, cans and cardboard.”

Labour, who currently hold three seats fewer than the Lib-Dems, said they were expecting national politics to hit the polls.

Labour leader Terry O’Neill said he hoped to establish their position in the council, which couldn’t be run effectively and efficiently under two parties.

He said: “The council isn’t being run as effectively as it could be because of the coalition. The coalition steam-rollered the closure of Woolston High school through, which we campaigned heavily to keep.

“We need to broaden Warrington’s position within the region and keep the borough at the front line of services.”

The Conservatives, under leader Cllr Keith Bland, are hoping to make gains in Penketh and Cuerdley and Rixton and Woolston.

They hope their record of value for money within the council saving £8m in efficiency savings and £6m from selling surplus council buildings will speak for itself.

Cllr Bland said: “If the Lib-Dems take an extra two seats, they will still struggle to take a majority, but we have no pre-election agreement.

“If a coalition is needed, we will assess if it’s the best thing to do for the people of Warrington like we did last time.”

laurasharpe