Failsworth Safer Neighbourhood Policing Teams are holding a Number Plate Initiative in conjunction with the AA, this will consist of Neighbourhood Officers and a Patrol from the AA setting up camp on Tesco's car park. The aim of the initiative is to replace the screws holding number plates on to vehicles with anti-tamper screws in an effort to reduce the quantity of number plates being stolen. The AA and the Failsworth Safer Neighbourhood Policing Teams will also be on hand in order to advise members of the public on general vehicle/crime prevention.

Failsworth East Conservative Councillor Paul Martin will be attending to show his support for the initiative. He says “This is a fabulous opportunity for the public work with the police in fighting crime. It is an initiative our local Police team should be proud of”

It will take place on Sunday 27th July 2008, on Tesco's car park between 11am - 3pm.

Cllr Paul Martin finally got the opportunity to get his teeth stuck into one of his pet hates - neglected parts of Failsworth that become targets for littering, fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour. Throughout his time as a Conservative activist in Failsworth he highlighted several 'grot-spots' and, now he has been elected, he has continued to fight for these areas to be cleaned up. He strongly believes that lives of residents and communities are improved when their environment is improved.

Cllr Martin set up a walkabout in Failsworth East with colleagues from Oldham Council's Street Scene. Some of the areas visited are pictured (left).

Following the visits Street Scene are committed to looking at getting action in terms of clearing, and making secure, waste land and starting much needed work on shrub beds requiring maintenance.

Paul would like to thank Street Scene for their time and energies they are committed to putting in to get the job done. Cllr Martin said “I had a walk about parts of the Ward with an officer from Street Scene and together we identified areas which really are in need of cleaning up” Cllr Martin went on “I am working closely with Street Scene on this and am looking forward to identifying other areas in the Ward in the need of the same attention. Obviously I would love residents to come to me if they know of any particular areas that require action and we can get stuck in to those too”.

A bonus for Cllr Martin is that they are looking at instigating possible action on an unadopted piece of land in the ward which is in dire need of a clean up. Cllr Martin said, "This piece of unadopted land has been on our 'to do' list for a couple of years now since it was raised by a resident before we were elected. We have tried endlessly to get some action towards tidying it up so it is satisfying that this may finally be on the cards." He added, "It is only a shame that you have to be an elected member of the Council to get any action like this. The voices of residents should be louder than ours when it comes to cleaning up areas like those I have seen today. Instead they shut up and put up, I want to make this attitude a thing of the past".

Failsworth West Conservative Campaigner David McDonald has hit out at Failsworth Labour Party claims that ‘common sense has prevailed’ regarding the Lord Lane Safety Scheme consultation. During the spring of 2007, local Conservative representatives and local residents worked together to object to the scheme, whilst pleading with council bosses to come up with alternatives such as road narrowing’s and vehicle activated speed signs. David is accusing Labour councillors of ‘jumping on the bandwagon’. He says “We campaigned with residents and canvassed on the issue. At the time it would seem our Labour councillors went to ground on the scheme Now it has been scrapped they are saying that common sense has prevailed. They are just jumping on the bandwagon”.

David, who has already been selected as the 2010 Conservative candidate for Failsworth West, is amazed that Cllr Jim McMahon claims that councillors had nothing to do with the scheme (Failsworth Community Council Meeting), he says “At a meeting about the consultation, a leading council officer told us that a then Failsworth Labour councillor stated they were very enthusiastic about the plans, yet now it turns out they had nothing to do with it”

Meanwhile Failsworth West Councillor Ian Barker will seek assurances that the residents of Lord Lane and the surrounding areas will not have to wait till 2010 for another scheme. Ian, who campaigned against the unpopular consultation, says “I don’t see why we now have to wait maybe two years for the scheme to get going again, it is like a punishment for saying no to the consultation. The feedback from residents should be sufficient enough to draw a new scheme sooner rather than later”.

Failsworthfirst.co.uk has a new web editor. Failsworth East Conservative Candidate Jenni Barker has taken over the role of editing our increasingly popular website. Councillors Ian Barker and Paul Martin have handed over the reigns to concentrate on the job in hand. Paul Martin is sure Jenni will enjoy the role, saying 'It is enjoyable running the website, but since Ian and myself have been elected councillors we feel it is only be fair if we put all our time into working for Failsworth"

David McDonald, who has been a campaigner in Failsworth for the Conservatives since 2006 will also help out with the website, saying "The website can take up quite some time, Jenni and myself are glad we can be of help, freeing up precious time for Ian and Paul".

Everyone at Failsworth Conservatives would like to thank Cllr Ian Barker for his hard work over the years in making this website a success.