CONTINUED

6) TERRORISM

The existing laws are more than adequate to cope with the very small number of incidents that have occurred in this country in recent times.

We require effective policing and less interference by the pro war New Labour Government and their USA allies in the affairs of other nations.

Habeas Corpus has existed since the Magna Carta was granted by King John at Runnymede in 1215 establishing the rights of English barons and free citizens and is regarded as the basis of civil and political liberty in England

We are opposed to New Labour Government plans to remove more of our civil liberties and imprison people in their own homes without trial and without the right to Habeas Corpus.

We are opposed to the introduction of Identity Cards that would further infringe undermine our civil liberties.


7) IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM

These are bogus issues created by the media and the national parties to divert attention away from their own shortcomings.

We are opposed to all forms of racism and to the anti-asylum hysteria promoted by New Labour, the Tories and the BNP.


8) TRANSPORT

We are in favour of a fully integrated public transport infrastructure, publicly controlled and maintained, effectively managed, affordable and fully accountable to the public.

We want to promote the use of public transport such as rail, buses and trams and reduce the amount of road traffic congestion, pollution and fuel usage.

We want heavy freight to be taken off the roads and put onto the railways.


9) EUROPE

We acknowledge that our future is inextricably linked to Europe and welcome the multi-culturism and trading relationships that membership of the European Union promotes.

However we are opposed to quangos whether British or European, the European party political gravy train and the erosion of democracy both in this country and abroad.


10) IRAQ

We are opposed to the illegal invasion and war against the people of Iraq.

More than 100,000 innocent civilians have lost their lives. Hundreds of thousands more have been injured maimed or physically abused and tens of thousands have had their homes destroyed.

Almost one hundred British soldiers have lost their lives and hundreds more have been injured. Many have lost one or both legs.

Those Members of Parliament who supported the illegal invasion of Iraq based on a web of lies should be held to account.

Town: peter.franzen@community-action.com

Fair enough Peter, there's some noble sentiments in there which many people (myself included)would find it hard to disagree with. I'm glad you provided a constructive answer to my question this time.

But the changes are easy to say, harder to do. How do you propose to make some of the changes you listed in there?

Also some of them are quite left wing, which is no bad thing in my book. But how will you reconcile this with being a 'non-political' movement? That title suggests you have a broad range of opinion in your party, some of which could (I don't know, this is why I ask)conflict?

Finally, is it entirely necessary to keep attacking the Community Forum as mere agents of New Labour and denying that they have any interest in helping the community at all? I remember that before all this kicked off they did some good things for Ashton, and they were praised for it.

Also, even if some of their members are in the Labour Party, I'm sure you'll admit that not everyone in the Labour party necessarily agrees wholeheartedly with Blair et al? Can't there be a more constructive dialogue? Even if you disagree on policy issues, I think that you all seem to have the interests of the community at heart. All this sniping from CAP doesn't help anything, and just cheapens local politics. I know it annoys me, anyway, and prevents your described policy goals being the point of discussion.

Dear Matt

As a life long Ashtonian myself, I can assure you that I too want the very best for our Town. I would not have it any other way and I am very happy to heap praise on all those who do want to work towards the same positive goals. You are quite right, it doesn't help when people snipe away with other hidden agenda.

In addition to being elected as a Community Action Party Councillor for Ashton Ward, I am also Chairman of the Friends of Ashton (despite what others may say, these groups are not connected at all - come along to one of our meetings which are at 8pm in the Nupro and every first Friday in the Month)

As Councillors, we have been working very hard to improve Ashton and we have delivered quite a lot since June. In no particular order I detail below what has been going on since June in Ashton.

In addition to holding Ward Surgery every week (and 1 in 4 with our local Police) we have:

Safety

Seeking to improve footpaths in Gerard Street
Road Safety measures on Golborne Road
Air Raid Shelter demolished for safety reasons and to remove "drug" den.
Pressing for greater coverage from CCTV

Crime and Order

TCSG. All Councillors attend and Ashton Ward Councillor Claire Daignton is Chairman
Ashton TCSG being used as example of a good model
Good links with local Police developed and working
Clamp down on ASB
Town Centre co-ordination with Police

Community Spirit

Christmas Trees and Festivities
Support to Stubshaw Cross Residents Association
Bands in the Park during the Summer
Tennis lessons for all
Involved in bulb planting schemes
Tackling litter and grot spot issues

Community and Ward Issues

Parking problems in our Town being resolved
Helping to fight litter problems
Discussions with Engineers re traffic congestion

Town Centre Plans

Contributing towards Open Fields Policies
Involvement in shaping Ashton Town Centre
Improvements to Ashton Market and discussions on future schemes

Township

All Councillors attend our local Township meetings
Local Councillor Chairs Meetings jointly
Working with all local Community Groups

Youth

Working to promote Teen Discos
Driving forward Youth Club Audit
Skateboard Park discussions
Teen Meets for our young Ashton Residents

General Ward Issues

Ashton Library Centenary discussions
Extension to Alcohol Free Zone
Improvements to Traffic schemes
Champions for the Public on wide spread of issues
Clamp down on graffiti

Environment

Members of CPRE
Keen to protect our green spaces
Supporters of e-Commerce
Advocates of recycling schemes

A reminder that we, as local Councillors, all live in the Ward and we are all Ashtonians. This list above is not exhaustive, but it will give you perhaps a different view of things.

I'm an Ashtonian and proud of it and keen to work with everyone who has a similar mission. I'd be very happy to chat over any issues you may have - on the 9th April CAP will be holding an Open Day in Ashton, why not drop in?

Kind regards,

Paul Tushingham

Town: paul.tushingham@sercoassurance.com

Thanks for your reply Paul.

I'm glad that you think people should be praised for good work in Ashton, and that sniping doesn't help anyone.

Perhaps then, you should have a word with your CAP colleagues who come onto this forum and do exactly that, snipe. This is what puts me (and a lot of other people) off from listening to you. The words of Peter and Claire from CAP on here do not look like the reasoned argument of prospective parliamentary candidates and councillors, but rather they reflect a nasty, confrontational and sometimes petty style of politics.

Calling the owner of this forum and the Community Forum website 'megalomanic' is an absolute nasty insult, and it is patently untrue, since as far as I know he holds no public office, nor has he sought any. Also, if accusing Friends of Ashton as being an extension of the CAP is not on, why do the CAP insist on doing the same about the Community Forum, saying it is an agent of new Labour?

If you're keen to work with people who have similar missions for Ashton as you say, why do the CAP publicly denigrate other community activists who just happen to have a different political persuasion? I thought you were 'non political' after all?

Thanks for the invite to discuss things, but from the actions of some of your members on here and in the press, I don't think that reasoned discussion is something the CAP does very well.

Matt - you are a hard man to please. You ask for information on CAP achievements/policies and when this is provided together with an invitation to attend meetings and have a discussion you beat a retreat making a flimsy excuse. I suspect you have another agenda. Incidentally on re-reading your postings you have been a little sarcastic yourself so the sniping is not all one sided.

I have no agenda Andy, and find the suggestion a bit insulting. There's too many of those accusations flying about, that's my problem. And any sniping was just me trying to play Mr Franzen at his own game. When I got constructive responses, I was constructive back.

But fair enough yeah, I think you're right about my mind being made up as far as CAP goes, hence no desire to attend a meeting. We'll just have to see what the election brings.