Dave's Knowsley diary

Wednesday 23rd March 2005 - Don't forget Halewood Area Forum next Tuesday March 29th at 6pm at Halewood Comprehensive

Sunday 20th March 2005 - Second day this weekend helping out colleagues in key seats across the region, this morning went to Liverpool Garston to help deliver a newspaper for our PPC Paula Keaveney after spending yesterday afternoon in Cheadle doing the same for Patsy Calton MP, both are two of our best prospects for electing more female MP's to Parliament.

Saturday 19th March 2005 - Labour party have been busy again, delivering a constituency report from Eddie O'Hara MP telling us all how wonderful the Government is and claiming yet more credit for everything being rosy here in Knowsley. Wake up and smell the coffee Eddie life is not quite as wonderful in Halewood right now as you may think it is but then if you had more frequent surgeries in the area you would know that already!! (One surgery in two months??)Must definately be an election on May 5th they never work this hard normally!!

PS Nice picture of a brick wall that has been named after Eddie!!

Friday 18th March 2005 - Visited the area of Okell Drive that we have asked to be cleaned up by Environmental Services. Good progress has been made with the undergrowth trimmed back to help remove the litter and street furniture has been painted to remove graffiti, new litter bins and dog fouling bins have been ordered.

Thursday 17th March 2005 - Plantation Primary School's Talent Show this evening which Sarah was a judge for (The Simon Cowell of Halewood or should that be Sharon Osborne!!??), the children performed briliiantly and were all winners, shame there were not prizes for everyone, but they had all worked hard on their acts and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Tuesday 15th March 2005 - Attended traning for Chairs and Vice Chairs of School Governing bodies, good to meet other school governors and share experiences/knowledge.

Monday 14th March 2005 - As Regional Chair I attended two meetings this evening with our staff and other North West Region Officers to discuss plans for the widely expected forthcoming General Election, we are in good health and ready for the challenge!

Sunday 13th March 2005 - So Halewood Labour Party have finally woken up!! Latest leaflet landed this weekend, must be an election soon!! We have been pointing this problem out to them for five years now!! Oh and by the way, it was the Lib Dem councillors for the area who got Church Road and Lydiate Lane cleaned up!!

Sunday 13th March 2005 - Apologies once gain for the slow posting of updates, things have been quite busy since I last posted with a range of issues being tackled from school closures to youth disorder, I have been at many meetings over the last two weeks.

Thursday 10th March 2005 - Met with Officers from Environmental Services to discuss tackling the rubbish in hedgerows along Okell Drive, graffiti on street furniture, litter and dog bins and some loose rubble lying around the area. An action plan to improve the area has been agreed and we hope to see some real improvements soon.

Tuesday 8th March 2005 - Met with local Inspector and an Officer from the Council to discuss youth disorder issues in and around Okell Drive. Stress we must do more and be more creative to tackle the problem and provide more engaging alternative activities.

Monday 28th February 2005 - Another quiet day with just one meeting this evening in relation to schools performance which also provided me the opportunity to discuss a casework issue in relation to behaviour at the local comprehensive.

Saturday 26th February 2005 - Andrew Stunell MP, Chief Whip, Dave Smithson, North West Chair, and Dr Vince Cable MP at the North West Spring Conference

Saturday 26th February 2005 - The North West Region's Spring Conference takes places today in Cheadle, Stockport, with Party President Simon Hughes MP and Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Dr Vince Cable MP delivering key note speeches, a very upbeat mood among my colleagues from across the north west.

Thursday 24th February 2005 - A quiet couple of days ahead with no meetings allows me time to catch up on some casework and follow through some outstanding issues.

If you need to contact me on any subject email dave.smithson@knowsley.gov.uk