Labour Councillor for the historic town of Newton-le-Willows 🌹 Deputy Leader of St Helens Borough Council. MBE. Socialist, scientist & a bit of local history!
January off Twitter was lovely.
I’d encourage you to look at your own social media feed. Is it bile spewed at people you’ve never met and are irrelevant to? If so, are you the problem?
If you need me, get me on cllrsgomez-aspron
@sthelens
.gov.uk or inbox me.
Onwards into Feb!
Another busy morning with
@StHLabour
at
#Earlestown
Station today.
The oldest staffed train station in the world. And soon to have the ticket office closed for the first time since 1830.
Sign our petition to object! 🌹
@RMTunion
Yet we had to pick which ten relatives could attend my Nan’s funeral, and which ones had to stand in the car park during that same month.
Jog on you absolute moron.
#BorisJohnson
If you’d all have done some work, instead of being constantly pissed, fewer people might have died
Because the role of a leader during a crisis is to keep morale high amongst those who were working 17hr days 7/7 as morale slumps.
No10 was the engine room of the country, it was important to keep people turning up and working and saying goodbye to someone who was leaving was an…
He’s 16. He was born in 2007.
It’s disgusting to watch an online lynch mob try and attack someone and end their career.
“He without sin…” and all that.
It must be hard being perfect and having so much time to tell everyone else how to live during the festive period.
#BeKind
* STATEMENT TO EVERYONE FROM US *
Today a photograph of me holding up a newspaper has been published in the media.
The media attention I have been getting is very new to me and I didn't fully understand at the time what I was being asked to do.
Here is my motion, from our
@StHLabour
Group on
@sthelenscouncil
to full council next week to object to the decimation of our ticket office provision.
The
@RMTunion
warned this was coming.
The profits from our railways should be invested back into our service.
@northernassist
Today, I’m on strike in my day job in solidarity with all
@ProspectUnion
members as a last resort due to the government inaction on pay, conditions and redundancy terms.
#ProspectStrike
#Austerity
is ideological and doesn’t work.
Solidarity to all workers on strike today 👊🏻
If Meghan Markle winds you up more than our corrupt government giving billions of pounds of wasted money to their mates for PPE, and kids in poverty has gone up by 1m, then YOU are part of the problem, not her.
#MeghanMarkleExposed
#BoreOff
My motion, with our
@StHLabour
group, was unanimously approved by our Council this evening
@sthelenscouncil
.
We should do everything we can, along with the
@RMTunion
to object to the ticket office closure proposals, which only impact the most vulnerable the hardest.
At 00:50 last night, 79 years ago, my Gt Grandad Les Zorn parachuted into France, behind enemy lines, to pave the way for the D-Day landings with 13th South Lancs Paras. They captured the town of Ranville by 04:00.
#DDay
#DDay2023
What is a CYCLOPs roundabout?
Firstly: any construction project is disruptive.
A CYCLOPs isn’t just about cars.
It’s about allowing cyclists and pedestrians to be properly segregated from traffic to prevent them being run over. Including the less mobile, students etc
45110 was built at the Vulcan Works in Newton-le-Willows in 1935 and hauled the last mainline steam service on 11th August 1968 (seen here at Parkside and Earlestown in 1968).
I doubt they’d let everyone on the track nowadays!
Who’s bought a Black Five?
45110, one of the locomotives of the Fifteen Guinea Special - the last steam-hauled passenger train to be run by BR on its standard gauge network, has been sold..
We can’t have the link reopened between St Helens Junction and St Helens Central, and our ticket offices are closing.
But if you live in Turkey, our government will bankroll your new railway.
Is this now satire or parody? I’m lost. 🤯
I am travelling on a
@DB_Bahn
high speed train, running on one of many high speed lines, with a ticket that cost €30 at close to 200km/h, on a state and public owned railway, in a relatively conservative country, subsidised by their stake in UK railways.
We deserve better!
Only a Labour Govt will improve the revenue funding to Councils. But it’s amazing news to have secured £20m for Earlestown Town Centre in
#newtonlewillows
through our Labour Councils
#LUF
bid. Massive thanks to
@ConorMcGinn
for enabling this with our Labour Council 🌹
Why are the racists and the bigots the first to complain and moan when they see something they don’t like?
@GaryLineker
is right. If you don’t like that, but are happy for people like Alan Sugar to peddle their drivel, you’re the problem. Not Lineker.
Well, it’s been an interesting couple of days. Happy that this ridiculously out of proportion story seems to be abating and very much looking forward to presenting
@BBCMOTD
on Saturday. Thanks again for all your incredible support. It’s been overwhelming.
Fantastic news for the communities of Newton-le-Willows, Haydock, Blackbrook, Billinge, Garswood, Rainford, Parr, Moss Bank and Windle.
I know David works hard and understands the history and geography of the borough, and will continue our tradition of strong fighting MPs 🌹
I’m on
#strike
today in my day job. An unpaid day of action as a last resort due to the Government actively attacking our pay and conditions over the last 13 years.
Solidarity with all workers striking. It’s not easy and it’s always a last resort 👊🏻
@ProspectUnion
@JackTShaw
Whilst not in s114 territory, this is our position. And during the same time the cost of Looked After Vulnerable children has risen from £10m per year in 2010 to around £30m in 2023. Combined with Adults Care Costs, inflation and energy all increasing.
Never underestimate how much this will inspire a generation of young women in schools both in St Helens, Leeds and the surrounding towns and villages, to become rugby players & see that they can do it, and can be whatever they want to be.
Well done
@saints1890women
we are proud!
Here’s a grade two listed bridge we had refurbished, next to a bench we had installed, on a heritage trail we worked in partnership with
@NECG2012
to create, on a footpath that was refurbished via
@LCRMayor
and sustainable transport schemes.
Ignoring it’s the oldest canal! 🌹
The worlds first intercity railway viaduct (built 1828-1830) crosses the worlds first industrial arterial canal (opened 1757): Sankey Viaduct and Canal.
The crucible for an Industrial Revolution that made Great Britain a global super power! 🇬🇧
Sankey Valley, Newton-le-Willows
Don’t get sentimental.
He was the architect of the austerity that hoisted the guillotine on your library, leisure centre, grandparents care package, support for the most vulnerable etc.
One of the biggest blockers to regenerating St Helens Town Centre has always been because so much of it was in private ownership, unlike other places. Consolidating it under strategic ownership allowed regen to happen on the scale the Town deserves.
It needs to happen. Onwards!
It’s an honour to have been re-elected at Deputy Leader of
@StHLabour
Group this evening.
It’s an honour, and under
@davidebaines
leadership, we are the only Party in St Helens Borough with a manifesto and a plan for delivery.
Some big stuff still to come. Onwards! 🌹
Im on
@GranadaReports
tonight talking about:
🌹 Our successful LUF bid, which is only possible due to our Labour Council and
@ConorMcGinn
working in partnership.
💰£20m doesn’t go near covering our £120m Tory cuts from Austerity.
🤷🏼♂️ A Hunger Games style approach doesn’t work.
In 1993, the average salary and house prices were:
👨🏻🏭 Salary: £11,500
🏡 House Price: £50,500
💻 x4.4 salary
In 2022, the averages are:
🧑🏾🏭 Salary: £22,500
🏡 House Price: ~£250,000
💻 x10 salary
Yet those who benefited before 1993 object loudest to new houses being built…
Victorian Britain getting rid of their extensive trolley and tram network was a massive backward step!
Most of Europe grew their systems. And the UK almost totally abandoned it.
Here are some old stop signs from St Helens 🇬🇧
Amazing turn out at the Pride event in St Helens town centre this afternoon!
Great to see so many
@StHLabour
colleagues, along with
@emilyspurrell
and our delegation from
@stuttgart_stadt
We had sun wind and rain but it didn’t stop play!
#Pride2023
🌈
Haydock Railway Station, 1950.
It’s a shame that the route has gone, because if the GM tram could get to Leigh, this route could get it through Ashton, Haydock Races and St Helens!
It’s not the first time that the Tories have tried to shaft our communities by forcing
#strikes
over Christmas before.
Here’s the Parkside picket-line at Christmas in 1985 in Newton-le-Willows.
Support each other. Offer each other help.
Don’t let them divide and conquer.
Great response again to our
@StHLabour
petition at
#newtonlewillows
station this morning. We rebuilt this in 2019, with toilets and ticket offices for £20m.
All to be closed. And now they’ve announced an extension to the farcical consultation.
General election now.
@RMTunion
Massive thanks to
@Saints1890
for helping us to host our twinning delegation from
@stuttgart_stadt
to celebrate our 75th anniversary!
The group tried ‘bubble and squeek’, a ‘Goldie’ and tried to translate some of the rugby chants 😂
That’s to
@StHelensMayor
for hosting 🇬🇧🇩🇪
A really productive meeting yesterday with
@MerseyCivic
to discuss the importance of Newton-le-Willows & Rainhill in railway history, and good links made with groups in both places.
#LMR200
and 2030 might seem a while away, but it’s vital we commemorate the global impact 🇬🇧
Tonight at Planning Committee we approved ~300 new houses in
#Rainford
, with ~100 being affordable and social rent.
160 new housing in
#Sutton
, 100% social housing!
New industrial space in
#Haydock
New playing fields and changing rooms in
#Parr
for youth teams.
@StHLabour
🌹
Watching
#Ambulance
on
@BBCOne
and there’s a single ambulance on to cover the whole area of the Boroughs of Oldham and Bury.
That’s nearly half a million people and 165 square miles.
What have the Tories done to
@NWAmbulance
the
@NHSEngland
and our Country?
This isn’t true. Newton-le-Willows Station is the busiest station in the borough and will be closed.
The ticket office at Lea Green currently being built will never open!
In any case, we will be vehemently objecting to this latest Tory government shafting as a Labour Council.
We will remember them.
Thank you to the hundreds who gathered at the St Helens and Earlestown cenotaphs today to pay their respects and observe the
#RemembranceSunday
parade and service.
#LestWeForget
Huge congratulations to
@StHelensMayor
@CllrmurphySue
on being awarded an MBE in
#NewYearsHonoursList
2023.
Sue has served the community for 30 years and has been a great Mayor. Pictured here doing our best Bet Lynch impression at the Pied Bull, NLW.
Congratulations 🌹
An interesting map that shows all the lost railway links in this area (shown faded out) which shows how poor north-south links are here on public transport. Particularly St Helens to Rainford.
The routes should be protected to allow reopening should it ever happen!
I’ve been on alpine holidays that weren’t as cold as
#Earlestown
this evening, but a fantastic turn out for the switch on and an amazing home gig from
@TheKsUK
!
Well done to
@sthelenscouncil
and everyone else involved
#LoveNLW
Birchley Street Car Park is an interesting bit of land, and of course used to be St Helens Central and opened in 1900, closed in 1952.
It was on the route to Haydock, Ashton and Haydock Racecourse and then Golborne.
It struggled financially, but would’ve made a good tram now!
It’s been a busy week for your
@StHLabour
team, campaigning at stations across our borough against ticket office closures and job losses.
Only to hear what everyone already knew: the government consultation was a farce and has now been extended.
#SaveOurTicketOffices
🌹
Rain didn’t stop play today at
@NECG2012
Newton Town Show!
Massive thanks to all those they turned out, especially
@sthelenscouncil
staff,
@MerPolStHelens
,
@MerseyFire
and most importantly the public and volunteers!
Sore feet, but love it!
We’ve written to partners &
@MetroMayorSteve
to reiterate local transport priorities including:
🚂 A new train station at Carr Mill
🦽 Better accessibility at
#Garswood
🚊
@merseyrail
services to
#Rainford
🛤️ The reopening of Sutton Oak link
Good public transport is vital.
Productive day!
@sthelenscouncil
AGM to see
@lynn4windle
sworn in as Mayor. Looking forward to assisting with charity fundraising this year!
Proud to be serving as Deputy Leader of the Council again, with a new Strategic Transport portfolio.
Onwards with Labour delivering!🌹
Early start this morning at
@northernassist
#ThattoHeath
station with our
@StHLabour
petition against closures. Had some good
@RMTunion
literature too.
We will fight this on behalf of residents. And make sure you respond to the consultation!
The scaffold is coming down around Earlestown Town Hall, and the repointing looks amazing.
Both ETH and the Gamble have all new repointing, new windows, fixed roofing, and look brand new from the outside.
The most extensive work since they were built, and excited for inside!
I’ve just been called ‘evil personified’ by a pensioner who dedicated their retirement to objecting to new jobs and new houses, as part of a group that sent the Planning Committee racist emails.
There is a really toxic sector of society, of a certain age, hell bent on NIMBYism.
The big day is nearly here!
@NECG2012
Newton Town Show is the biggest free community event in the area and will be in full swing on Saturday 5th August in Mesnes Park, Newton-le-Willows!
Free bus service around town and 5 mins from Newton Station.
Come on down and join us! 🇬🇧
Haydock Island not long after the M6 opened. The Railway line through Haydock to St Helens is still open here too which terminated at Birchley Street train station.
Remember: these are the people who created the rules, then broke them whilst you missed your kids, relatives and couldn’t see your dying loved ones or attend their funeral. And they laughed about it.
Never forget what they did during covid.
Spent the last few days in
#Stirling
and
#Trossachs
National Park.
Never been to that bit of
#Scotland
before but it’s such a beautiful and historic part of the world!
A great few days in glorious sunshine.
☀️ 🏴
I am excited with my new present! This find by
@veeleather
in Ingleton is the signalman’s lamp from the Earlestown No4 Signal Box from 1949!
It’s like brand new. And going on my shelf of things I love!
What a find! 🇬🇧
As the weather gets colder,
@sthelenscouncil
has taken delivery of 3 brand new Gritters which takes the fleet up to 9
The gritting service covers 178 miles of the borough's roads, which is 38% of the network, by hard working staff
You can see more here:
Great to see the platform extension work at NLW Station underway!
@TPExpressTrains
(and any other future longer trains including heritage steam ones), can fit at the platform.
It’s also good news for disabled passengers who have access to the whole train when it’s finished 🌹
Interesting stats about the breakdown of the workforce at Parkside Colliery when it was in full swing. The idea that “well if 100% of jobs aren’t local, then we’ll object” is a convenient excuse for NIMBYism.
The reality is that we all move around for work. And always have.
Just got the train from NLW. 3 trains came within 5 minutes and the order they arrived kept changing on the board. Two of the trains were 30+ years old.
And if you missed that 5 minute window, you’d struggle to get to work for 0900.
The whole system is broken.
#hs2tomanchester
Love a bit of heritage!
Identity, community & heritage go hand in hand. The crest was first adopted by the town of St Helens in 1876 and features all over. Particularly in the town Hall, where St Helena is depicted protecting the Town with the shield.
Nice work
@Saints1890
🏉
Fantastic turn out for
#ArmedForcesDay
in Victoria Park, St Helens today!
As always,
@StHLabour
will support our armed forces, past present and future 🇬🇧
To support local business in
#Rainhill
,
@sthelenscouncil
are trialling a temporary TRO to pedestrianise Station Street over a weekend and bank holidays to allow outdoor seating and tables for hospitality businesses.
More detail attached.
@StHLabour
supporting businesses 🌹
Here is the Press Release for
@sthelensgala
2023 🙌🏻
@bartonspickles
@JohnnyVegasReal
Celeb Bowls is one of three incredible sections of the day!
Community - Free Charity Stalls and Family Fun for All
Top Five Tribute Acts in Uk with Full Staging & PA
The East Lancs Road being built. Was opened in 1934 by King George V. A good example of what powerful, regional, devolved authorities can do such as Lancashire CC at the time.
Shown here around Windle and Carr Mill, which involved a large cutting.
#StHelens
Join us on Newton High Street this weekend for the annual May markets event!
The weather looks set to be amazing and the business and St Peter’s Church will have loads to see! ☀️🇬🇧
🅿️ Free parking on the former Aelreds playground, WA12 9GP.
#LoveNLW
This is the front page of this week’s local newspaper here in
#StHelens
. Loca media having to join the fight against poverty.
But the national media is full of a story about a rich ex-MEP & his banking arrangements.
The whole system is rotten & rigged against ordinary people.
Don’t forget to sign our petition against savage cuts to our ticket offices.
In our Borough, we have the oldest manned train station in the world at Earlestown. Don’t let them snatch it from the community!
Good meeting tonight! Refused development out of line with our Local Plan. Approved some signs on the Home Bargains unit that will create loads of jobs. During that application, Cllr Makin, local Green/Independent thought it best to repeatedly mouth “fuck off” at us. Nice bloke😂
Congratulations to Les Smith from St Helens on being awarded the British Empire Medal in the Birthday
#honourslist
for his work on the Cyprus Emergency.
Les helped me to locate family of Pte Hayes from
#newtonlewillows
so we could update our war memorial and claim the medals 🇬🇧
Really good to look around the Inspirational Locals section at
@TheWorldofGlass
with
@KateGroucutt
this morning. The works undertaken are fantastic and well worth a visit.
Conor is straight talking, understanding, willing to do the rough and tumble for his community in politics and most importantly, a friend.
This is our loss. But family ALWAYS comes first.
My most sincere best wishes go to Conor and the family.
It is a privilege to represent my friends, neighbours and our wonderful community as the MP for St Helens North.
But after twenty years in politics, I want to put my health, family and future first and so I have decided not to stand again at the next General Election.
Proud to represent our Council at
@TheWorldofGlass
this morning.
The Town Deal has been a huge
@StHLabour
success, by working with our key partners to deliver a multifaceted regeneration package for the town of St Helens.
🎥 Today saw the grand opening of
@TheWorldofGlass
’ impressive new education suite following a £1m refurbishment made possible by Town Deal funding and other contributions.
And the best part… it’s FREE to the public.
Check it out before the kids go back to school.
Never forget that the
#LibDems
enabled the first 5 years of
#Austerity
by allowing the
#Tories
to get into power.
That set in motion the last 13 years of devastating cuts to public services, councils and the
#NHS
.
Disagree on politics all you want.
But a sector of those who shout loudest need to be reminded that the law applies to social media, fake profiles, groups set up to enable abuse and thank you to
@MerseyPolice
for zero tolerance on this.
Threats and abuse aren’t acceptable.
Developers say that because it chips away at their profit.
For all those who voted Brexit, this is the “red tape” they referred to.
We have an entirely deliverable Local Plan which can account for these protections. And now the Government will remove them.
Some water pollution rules will reportedly be scrapped by the govt in an attempt to boost house building.
Some developers say regulations, which are designed to protect waterways and wildlife, are being applied so strictly that homes cannot be built in large parts of England.
It’s tragic.
Covid will go down in history as when we were told what to do by people so thick or self serving that they thought Brexit was a good idea, and then thought they understood a pandemic enough to govern it based on populism.
So many avoidable deaths.