Jo Campaigning for Warrington

Current Campaigns

Standing Up for the Challenge Cup

The Warrington Wolves are an integral part of the town and the proud and powerful Warrington identity. The challenge cup final is the pinnacle of the rugby season for all rugby league fans, so what's the problem?

The Wolves after last year's victory

The problem is that Andy Burnham, the Labour secretary of state (replaced since by Ben Bradshaw), published a report in December 2008 regarding a review of the British 'Crown Jewels'. The Crown Jewels in this instance are the sporting events in this country that are regarded as important to national identity and the average person; events that subsequently by law have to be available to all for free on television (aired on the BBC, ITV or Channel 4).

Naturally, being one of the most important sporting events (especially in the North) the Challenge Cup has up to now enjoyed Crown Jewel status and has been available to all fans alongside the World Cup and the Ashes. Now however, thanks to the Burnam report the event is under threat of losing its status and its rights being sold to private service providers such as SKY and Virgin. The result of this would be that only subscribers to such services would have access to the Challenge Cup.

Jo and the Lib Dems think that this is simply unacceptable and that that Challenge Cup should retain its rightful status as a national treasure. Jo views the move as being a prejudice against the North and is determined to fight for the right of all to view the Challenge Cup.

This would be nothing short of a disaster" says Jo. "Rugby undoubtedly brings this town together and is a cornerstone of the Warrington identity".

"The evidence of how important the Challenge Cup is to the people of Warrington can be seen in the mass support of the Wolves at the last Challenge Cup Final and the subsequent victory parade which included over 20,000 Warrington fans.

Jo is saying 'NO!' to tolls.

Jo says "No" to tolls

As many of us are aware, there is soon to be a new bridge across the Mersey, roughly a kilometer east of the current silver Jubilee bridge (also known as the Runcorn/Widnes bridge. It will act as a major crossing point to accommodate the large volume of traffic heading North and South along the West coast.

The problem is that thanks to the Labour government both the silver Jubilee bridge and the new Mersey Gateway Bridge will be tolled. The former to encourage major traffic to use the new bridge and the latter due to how the bridge is funded. The Government is only partially funding the project, leaving the rest to be picked up by private contractors. These private companies are investing in return for owning and tolling the bridge for at least fire years.

The result of this is terrible traffic in Warrington. Anyone who has tried to navigate Bridge foot or even the town centre during maintenance or an accident on the Silver jubilee Bridge will know that the area is all but impassible due to congestion. A toll on the new bridge will force many people to use the crossing point at Bridge foot and will therefore turn that congestion into an everyday problem.

This is simply unacceptable as the government is perfectly capable of funding the whole project, thus eliminating the tolls. Gordon Brown and the Labour government alongside the SNP recently agreed to completely fund the construction of the new Forth bridge in Scotland. This project was originally intended to be funded in the same way as the Mersey Gateway. Convenient as it's in Gordon Brown's back yard (Brown is MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath).

Jo is fiercly opposing the tolling of the Mersey Gateway Bridge in the interests of saving the town from nightmare of congestion. She is maintaining a high profile campaign.

Jo has said: "Currently whenever there is a problem on the Silver Jubilee Bridge, traffic heads directly across to Warrington instead. It is more than evident that this project could be funded through the public sector as this year it has been confirmed that the Labour government along with the SNP has agreed to build a new Forth bridge at the cost of £3.2 billion through public sector funding. Originally the new Forth bridge was going to be financed in the same public-private manner as the Mersey Gateway Bridge, yet this decision was changed in March this year. If public financing of a £3.2 billion bridge can be done in Gordon's back yard it can be done here!

With adequate lobbying, pressure could be put on government to finance the construction of the bridge. Warrington's current Labour MPs have done very little on this issue."

Titan Prison Campaign Heralded as Major Success!

Over the last 8 months Jo has led the Liberal Democrats in a powerful high profile campaign against the construction of one of Labour's Titan Prisons in Warrington. The campaign has been a resounding success and Warrington's Omega site is free for the development of a high tech industrial park.

At the outset of the campaign, Jo said "Labour are simply mistaken if they think this is the path towards a safer Britain. It is not. It is posturing by a political party who wants to appear tough on crime but does not have the intelligence and the will to make the right decisions that would actually make Britain safer and make Britons feel more secure"

A titan prison in Warrington would not reduce crime and as is more than evident, jail sentences do not deter criminals from re-offending. Warrington is already home to more than its fair share of prisons and another would not be acceptable.

Jo's campaign was fought through various mediums. These included a residents petition; a highly popular petition allowing local residents to have their say and make their mark on the campaign. Similarly she wrote frequent letters to the Guardian to raise awareness and gain support. These were underpinned with high profile marches with local residents and councillors.

On a larger scale, Jo generated massive support from the whole Lib Dem party by introducing a highly popular motion against the prison at the Lib Dem conference in Harrogate. Not only did this give her campaign full party backing but also got the personal attention of Nick Clegg, who came to Warrington to show his support for Jo and her campaign. So far reaching was Jo's campaign that she even gained the support of leading US civil rights lawyer, Bryan Stevenson who introduced powerful arguments and warnings against the Titan scheme.

Jo making a stand with the residents

Jo's and everyone's efforts were ultimately rewarded as the proposals were dropped. The site is now free for commercial development that will result in thousands of jobs for the town.

Jo is constantly campaigning on issues that concern local people in Warrington

"If the Labour Government accept this move it could clearly prejudice Warrington and the North where Rugby League is in the blood. I am pressing home that I and all of us in Warrington demand that this recommendation is dropped now."

Crime

Jo Crotty and Nick Clegg gave their backing to the new Town Centre Policing Unit headed by Inspector Richard Reeves.

Jo and fellow Lib Dems campaigning against Labour's Police cuts

• Crime is a big issue for Warrington residents and Jo is no different. Speaking with local people in South Warrington she understands and aims to combat key issues to do with anti-social behaviour, vehicle crime, graffiti and vandalism.

• Local Lib Dems on Warrington Borough Council recently voted to budget for an additional 22 Community Support Officers for Warrington's inner wards which have and will continue to make much needed improvements.

• When Cheshire Police was forced to cut 47 officers due to a lack of central government funding, Jo begun campaigning for more funding for police to keep Warrington safe.

• She actively supports Lib Dem 5 point plan to cut crime, including tougher community sentences for non-violent offenders, compensation paid to victims through prison work, and tougher prison sentences for violent offenders. Life should mean life.

• In continuing her crusade to kill crime, Jo wants to hear more local views on the issues involved. If you haven't yet received her crime survey, your copy should be arriving soon!

For more info on the Lib Dem 'We can cut crime' campaign, please see www.wecancutcrime.org.uk

Jo and the Lib Dem team campaigning against NHS cuts.

NHS Cuts

• Warrington Hospital recently announced cuts of 104 jobs, 90 beds and two theatres to save £18m. This move was forced on the hospital due to poor funding from central government.

• The Labour government's plans for 'super-clinics' to replace local GP practices will also impact Warrington. The new surgery in Appleton is likely to be shelved if these plans go ahead.

• Jo is campaigning for better funding for all local NHS services to improve the provision for all Warrington residents.

Warrington is introducing a new recycling programme.

The Environment

• Jo has been an environmental campaigner all her life and protecting the environment has always been at the heart of the Liberal Democrat policy agenda.

• Since taking control of Warrington Borough Council, Lib Dems have made great progress in creating a greener Warrington. Recycling rates have increased from 18% to 28% in one year, and bus usage is up by 13%.

• More of course needs to be done. This is why Lib Dems propose the Green Tax Switch. Taxing pollution not wealth creation. Cutting the basic rate of tax by 2% so that low earners pay less, and taxing those activities which cause environmental damage.

You can learn more about the Green Tax Switch by going to www.greentaxswitch.org.uk

Jo, says "No!"

No to new Mersey Bridge Tolls

• Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson Councillor Jo Crotty has had her motion asking the Labour Government to fund a new bridge over the Mersey at Halton passed unanimously by the council.

• Government funding for the bridge would eliminate the need for a toll on the new crossing which would increase traffic on already congested Warrington streets.

• Studies have shown that traffic in Warrington could be increased by as much as 9% if the maximum toll of £2.50 is charged on the new bridge. Jo Crotty and the Liberal Democrats have been campaigning for the Government to fund the bridge since news broke of the increased traffic a toll would cause.

• You can sign her petition against the toll by visiting www.jocrotty.org.uk/petitions