Local Councillors :

Brian and Craig congratulate Liz Staples, Stretton & Horninglow's new County Council representative, on her first performance at Stretton Parish Council meetings. Although pushed on several subjects, she proved very well informed and happy to try and answer questions on varied subjects, certainly offering far more fact and input than her predecessor. We believe that we are in good hands and that we have someone willing and capable of fighting our corner.

Popular Alliance, the national political party which won two seats on Stretton Parish Council in the May 2007 elections, is pleased to announce that it has selected its leader, Brian Buxton, to be its candidate for the Horninglow and Stretton division of Staffordshire County Council in the forthcoming elections on June 4th. 

Brian has already established himself as a diligent and approachable Stretton Parish Councillor, who has played a major part in many of the improvements made in the village, in particular the installation of the pedestrian crossing and the additional facilities at the Hillfield playing field. He holds regular meetings with the Head of the Burton Police Division to assess the levels of anti-social behaviour, crime and policing in the village. He is also working with the Head of Staffordshire County Council Youth Services and the church with a view to establishing a youth club. 

Brian sees the Staffordshire County Council elections as an opportunity to devote his time and effort to further improve and promote Horninglow and Stretton at this higher level. He understands local issues and concerns, and has shown that he is prepared to speak out for local people and to take action on their behalf. 

Brian, an ex-Royal Marine Commando who grew up and was educated in Burton, is married with two grown-up children and has lived in Hillfield Lane for 45 years. He has worked in the agicultural industry for the past 25 years, mainly with dairy farmers.   

Surely this proposal outdoes anything that the main 3 parties can offer with their handed down orders on policy, the badly smeared reputations of national MPs and no ability to act independently for our local people and their needs. Elsewhere, UKIP is a sadly crumbling party with an internally very unpopular, Brussels-trough-guzzling dictator for a leader, whilst the BNP is a split party that believes "Popular Alliance is Labour plant to weaken and divide nationalist feelings" (their own mad words !!!). Surely we can right the country's woes without their approach and surely the Stretton / Horninglow area creates very few issues that they believe their policies might change or improve.

Stretton Parish Council Update

Like all councils Stretton Parish is beginning a new financial year. We do this with the very good feeling that we were able to reduce our Community Charge precept by 12%. As far as we know no other council has made a reduction. 

Why did we do this?  We did not, like many, under estimate the very serious financial depression our Government had put us in, and the dire consequences this would have for many families through out the land.  This was one way we could "do our bit " to hopefully help out. 

During the past year Popular Alliance councillors Craig Chapman and Brian Buxton have been at the front of the action. Both were on the Traffic Group which worked intensely to prove to Staffordshire County Council the urgent need for a pedestrian crossing in the centre of the village. After helping to organise a petition in the village collecting 2,800 signatures we now have our crossing. 

A lot of work was also put in to improving the Hillfield Lane Playing Fields.  First of all a path has been put in around the perimeter of the field through the trees for walkers and runners. We hope to improve it even more as the year goes on. Future projects being looked at are a War Memorial to honour the fallen in two world wars and the possibility of a Youth Centre. 

Our village's biggest problems are dog fouling and litter which sadly is getting worse. We ask every one to please put dog poo (and other party pamphlets) in the bins with your litter. 

Local Tory Stalwart Resigns Over Party Whip Dictats

East Staffordshire Borough Council Frank Bather has resigned from the Conservative Party for whom he served on the local Council for many years. He has now declared himself an Independent Councillor.

The recent bi-election for Stretton Ward in Burton saw a united Conservative front put forward to successfully woo the anti-Labour feeling of the locals and now so soon afterwards, their figurehead has resigned from the Party.

This raises far reaching questions into the validity of the claims made by the local Tories on their way to replacing a fellow disgraced member who had previously resigned from the Borough Council before being pushed. They were also very quiet about additional housing agreements during their campaigning, which slithered out after the votes were cast. Similarly, the rhetoric plied by the local BNP candidate avoided mentioning a huge split through the heart of their party. These "unmentioned" issues are typical of the deception that puts so many people off politics and again underlines just why we formed Popular Alliance.

Popular Alliance candidate Brian Buxton was keen to demonstrate that he would be able to represent the people of Stretton without pandering to dictats thrown his way from a London Party HQ Whip. Perhaps such freedom to get on and produce common sense results struck a chord with Mr Bather who has always been well thought of locally. Popular Alliance applauds his integrity and wishes him well.

Stretton Ward Bi Election - East Staffs Borough Council

Popular Alliance will forward a candidate for the East Staffordshire Borough Council Stretton Ward position, made vacant following the resignation of disgraced Conservative Councillor Ian Bradley.

Parish Councillor Brian Buxton came a very close fourth in last Borough Elections, beating Labour and Liberal Democrats by a substantial margin.  

Results of the East Staffs 2007 Election:
 

• Election Results: Borough
• Election Results: Parish
   

Brian Buxton and Craig Chapman
 

Representing the Popular Alliance were elected as:
 

Parish Councillors for:
 

Stretton

Soundly beating two Labour candidates in the process...