Ian reports there was good vibe at Conference, with the media eager to find out what  Lib Dems are thinking. Much talk around Nick Clegg being the “Kingmaker” as hung parliament is again posed with the publication of another set of polls showing Tory lead reducing!

He met a few party people - Paddy Ashdown, Chris Huhne (pictured with him below) - and was impressed by Nick and Vince’s speeches.

Ian also took the opportunity to have a word with Geoff Inskip, Head of Centro, on the subject of the latest news about chances of a new railway station in Aldridge.

Ian is awaiting the budget next Tuesday to see what Labour proposes, as this will kick off the election campaign.

Residents in Pelsall are being invited to find out more about a new £4 million health, library and children’s centre at a special roadshow next week.

The development in Pelsall High Street is scheduled to be up and running in late 2011 and will create a one stop facility for health, information, learning and child and family development.

Officers from Walsall Council and NHS Walsall wish to welcome local residents to come along to the event which takes place at Pelsall Community Centre on Saturday 27 March from 10am to 1pm.

For more details see Walsall Council website:

http://www.walsall.gov.uk/news/pelsall_residents_get_chance_to_find_out_about_new_centre.htm

At the last election nearly 1 in 4 voters supported the Lib Dems, this time if 1 in 3 voted Lib Dem then they could be the party of Government - able to implement their policies without trying to get either Labour or Tory backing!

Nick Clegg, at the weekend spring conference in Birmingham, has said the election, widely expected on 6 May, was “a once in a generation opportunity for real change”.

Mr Clegg said claims that people would be wasting their time by voting Lib Dem were “nonsensical”. And he claimed the Lib Dems were “the guarantor of good sense” who had set out “the most substantial and deliverable programme of deficit reduction in British politics”.

“This election is a time for voters to choose, not a time for politicians to play footsie with each other.

LIB DEM PRIORITIES   A fairer tax system A better education for all children A new, greener economy A clean, open, fair politics

“The party with the strongest mandate from voters will have the moral authority to be the first to seek to govern, and voters are entitled to know what Liberal Democrats will do - in whatever situation we find ourselves in.”

For more details, take a look at BBC website:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8566448.stm

The number of young people admitted to hospital after cutting themselves deliberately is up by more than 50% in five years, according to new figures.

There were 2,727 admissions in the UK for self-harm with a sharp object among under-25s in 2008/09, compared with 1,758 in 2004/05.

“We are sure this is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Professor Keith Hawton at Oxford University. “Pressures have increased and there’s much more expected of young people.”

For further details follow the link to the BBC website:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/health/newsid_8563000/8563670.stm

If this is a subject affecting you then don’t think you are all alone, check out the HarmLESS website:

http://www.harmless.org.uk/

In an interview with the Walsall Advertiser this week(page 20), Ian Jenkins the Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Aldridge/Brownhills said:

“Regeneration is the main thrust of my campaign. There are too many empty shops and factories and more should be done to get businesses interested in setting up in Aldridge and Brownhills.”

Ian, who is Vice Chair of Railfuture West Midlands is also interested in supporting the plan for a new railway station in Aldridge, possibly linking through Walsall to Wolverhampton.

After what has been a very long wait, good news for the residents of The Walmers, Wall Croft, Garden Croft, Field Walk and Woodford Croft as the resurfacing work is nearing completion - just needs a bit of soil and grass to complete areas where new kerbing has been put in and some of the equipment to be removed.

As reported previously the deterioration in the surface had become a real problem, particularly in The Walmers, and a major cause of complaint for residents.

I’ve contacted the maintenance team, who confirm the verges will be  reinstated in the next few weeks.

Job well done!

On Saturday Ian Jenkins, Lib Dem PPC for Aldridge / Brownhills accompanied Roy Sheward, the Lib Dem council candidate for Aldridge South & Central Ward to look at the proposals for improvements to The Croft that were unveiled at a public consultation day  held at Aldridge Shopping Centre.

Walsall Council is working in partnership with Aldridge Rotary Club on the ideas for The Croft and representatives from both groups were on hand to explain the plans, listen to views and get people to indicate if they were either “For” or “Against” a range of ideas.

There seemed to be universal agreement that it was a good idea to have a pedestrian crossing, as you left the Shopping Centre, joining a new path across The Croft towards the play area or Church. The planting of shrubs along Rookery Lane - as well as work to benches, repair of brickwork, signing at entrances - again seemed to be supported.

One proposal which did seem to split opinion was the idea of putting picnic benches in a section of The Croft.  This was because of concerns about it creating the potential for Anti Social Behaviour. Roy Sheward said “Although I understand residents concerns I feel it would be a shame to drop this idea from the plans because of this reason. I will await with particular interest the outcome of the public consultation on this issue.”

Ian Jenkins said” I congratulate the parties involved because I welcome genuine consultation events, such as this, which offer residents a real opportunity to be involved in influencing what happens in their own community. ”

http://www.walsall.gov.uk/news/have_your_say_on_aldridge_open_space.htm

Anyone who would like more information on the scheme, or wishes to register their thoughts, can contact Cherry Shine, Walsall Council principal regeneration officer, on 01922 652537 or via shinec@walsall.gov.uk.

We wish the Council and Rotary Club all the best and hope they are able to secure the funding to bring those ideas backed by the community to life!

Ian Jenkins, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Aldridge Brownhills, recently met members of the Pelsall Heritage Group, to discuss plans for the preservation and development of the Heritage Area in the village.

Ian said: “ The plans under consideration involve an expansion of the Conservation Area; I am fully supportive of the need for the unique character of The Green to be respected, and would not approve of any proposed development which would impinge upon it. I am, however, concerned that there is always a balance which needs to be achieved, so that householders can continue to develop and improve their properties without the need for bureaucracy, as long as such improvements do not spoil the look of the area.”

As for the proposed new Medical Centre Ian said “This is most welcome, and the people of Pelsall will find it of great benefit. But we need to know more details…what will it include, and will the design suit the local environment? Furthermore, it seems that the area behind Town Fold has already been surveyed and staked out, yet planning permission has NOT yet been granted. Are ‘they’ trying to get it started before a General Election, so that it isn’t cancelled by an incoming Conservative Government taking an axe to all kinds of public spending?”

We will keep in touch with the Pelsall Heritage Group and look to get clarification on these issues.

Ian Jenkins, a dynamic 59 year old married individual from Wolverhampton, has been chosen by the local party executive as the prospective Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Aldridge / Brownhills. Originally from Gwent, Ian has two daughters, 4 grandchildren and gained a Bachelor of Arts degree, with honours, in Humanities at Wolverhampton Polytechnic, as it was then known.

Ian works as a sales agent and acts as a consultant in the glass industry. He has been a member of the Liberal Democrats for more than 37 years.

Ian is pictured below with one his daughters, Eluned Parrott, 35 who is also standing as a Liberal Democrat Candidate at the election in The Vale of Glamorgan. Whilst it is her first election it is Ian’s 5^th attempt!

Presently Ian is Chairman of Wolverhampton East Liberal Democrats local party and he has formally served in a senior position at Regional level. He also brings with him plenty of experience having fought since 1992 for Liberal Democrat interests at previous elections.

A keen conservationist, Ian is a member of Friends of the Earth, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Campaign for Real Ale and is Senior Steward at Fordhouses Methodist Church, where he is the Fairtrade Co-ordinator.

Ian has worked hard for local transport, having served on the Sandwell and Dudley Transport Advisory Committee, being a key player in getting passenger services restored on the line to Cannock and is also the Vice Chairman of Railfuture, West Midlands. He also wants to restore passenger services on the line running through Aldridge and today visited the site near Anchor Meadow Medical Centre where it is hoped the new station will stand in the near future.

Tax cheats will be named and shamed by HM Revenue & Customs from 1 April, if they have dodged more than £25,000 of tax.

The new policy was announced in last year’s budget but the date from which it starts has now been decided. The idea is based on a long-standing policy in Ireland where publication of the identities of tax cheats attracts widespread publicity.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8548226.stm

I’ve long argued that this should happen. We’ve had years of targeting benefit cheats and I feel tax cheats are as bad, if not in fact worse, than benefit cheats. Both result is us other taxpayers losing out.