Westhoughton First Independents

09/05/2023

The Local Elections have come and gone, it is hard not to be disappointed in the outcome after our efforts and being able to put forward some new faces, all keen to step-up and be a different force in local politics.
Just four years ago in the 2019 elections five Westhoughton First Independents were elected to Westhoughton Town Council. It was quite an achievement - a happy day! This was new to us all and we were trying to emulate the success of other town councils.
Now, despite the tremendous independent success locally of Horwich First and Blackrod First, we have not been able to repeat that success. Notwithstanding, we did return Cllr. Jack Speight for Chequerbent Ward, who is the longest continuously serving Town Councillor, so we will still have a say and a voice on the Town Council.
We will have to regroup and start again and build on what we have learned from this election - good and bad. It has been good to connect with residents on the doorstep and online (we must improve that). As a percentage share our vote stood up - 18%, on a par with the Conservatives.
Tonight, is the start of a new council. So, wish us luck as we once again move forward.
JS

03/05/2023

* Liberal Democrat Attack Leaflets *

We were contacted last week by friends angered at a letter delivered to Chequerbent Ward residents doing a ‘hit job’ on Cllr. Jack Speight and the party. The letter referred to a saga initiated over a flag being flown over the town hall in 2014 – yes, that’s NINE years ago – and also referred to him being abandoned by his “toxic” party.

This scurrilous attack was furthered by a glossy tri-fold leaflet again received by the same residents. (The LibDems probably spending more on this than we our single election leaflet - funded by Jack doing some extra lorry runs!) It was a personal attack on his character and an attempt to use something from a long long time ago to unseat him. It was a difficult time then with Jack, a lone Independent councillor, standing up to be counted, found himself in a hostile environment being subject to some continued hounding.

On the doorstep someone who knows Jack well took letter author, unelected, co-opted councillor Arthur Price, to task over it; his response “Well, they all do it!” Always a few steps away from the truth, the LibDems have turned ‘false statements’ into an art form. Jack got some things wrong a long time ago, but bravely stuck it out and - a decent man - was re-elected twice since.

He has also got ordinary, non-political people to stand with him at local elections to do things differently – and honestly. Abandoned – we think not!

We did produce a full and merited response to the letter and leaflet that would have exposed the LibDems’ shameless hypocrisy and falsehoods. However, we are not going to be that sort of party and we won’t descend into the gutter, so it won’t be published (here an illegible thumbnail version). We trust that voters, having seen it all before, are discerning enough not to be taken in.

Jack Speight is standing for the Chequerbent Ward and Westhoughton North and Hunger Hill.

03/05/2023

* Local Election - Westhoughton Town Council *

A Parish Council with 18 councillors following the 2022 Boundary and Ward changes. There are 6 wards, made up as follows: Central - 4 seats; Chequerbent - 1; Daisy Hill - 4; Hoskers & Hart Common - 2; White Horse - 5 and Wingates -2. You can vote for up to the number of seats in your Parish ward, e.g., 4 votes in Daisy Hill.

There are 11 Westhoughton First Independents candidates looking to be elected to the Town Council. Last time round in 2019 we were the second largest party with 5 Town Councillors; Jack Speight (Chequerbent) is the longest serving continuous Town Councillor.

The Town Council has responsibility the Precept (£13.51 of your total annual Council Tax); this gives a Parish budget of about £150,000. This would cover administration (including a Town Clerk), Civic Events and Duties, discretionary grants for the community and some discretionary support for local services or projects or to deal with local concerns.

The Town Council has limited power, but does have some influence and will have local knowledge of issues and need; it meets twice a month (alternate General and Planning and Finance Meetings); the public can attend these meetings. The biggest party gets to choose the Town Council Leader; and the Town Council as a whole will elect a Mayor/Deputy Mayor - these are ceremonial, non-political roles. For Civic Events there is cross-party representation.

For many with an interest in local politics and community it is a good way to engage in local affairs and make a difference. For a new party such as Westhoughton First Independents it is a way to raise its profile and gain experience and an understanding of how things are done, the limitations and demands of budgets and what is possible.

New people and fresh faces can bring new ideas and better more open debate to the table. Whilst it seems not always possible in the political world, it is better to work together and co-operate to get things done for the benefit of the local community – credit going where it’s due.

WE HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER AND SUPPORT US ON THURSDAY 4TH MAY

IT WILL BE REFRESHING TO HAVE A NEW PARTY LEADING WESTHOUGHTON TOWN COUNCIL

WESTHOUGHTON FIRST INDEPENDENTS

02/05/2023

Voting for Bolton Council (2023)
Seems to be little awareness of this… in this Bolton Council Local Election, which is an 'all-out election' where all 60 seats from 20 wards are being contested - in Westhoughton you get to vote for 3 councillors in each of our two wards...
The term new councillors get to serve is such that the winner (most votes) gets a 4-year term, runner up gets a 3-year term and 3rd place gets to keep their seat for just one year.
It is a way for the system gets back to electing 20 councillors at each local election and back to 4-year terms >> 2024; 2025 (no elections); 2026 and 2027.
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Current make up of Bolton Council is Conservatives (the Administration) with 23 Councillors (no overall control but 'supported' by the Independents on a 'confidence and supply basis'); Labour 19 Councillors and Liberal Democrats just 5 Councillors. There are 13 Independent or ‘Hyper-local’ candidates.
This does mean that the Independent parties have considerable say in how the Council is being run and what policies are pursued; and that voters are prepared to ‘take a risk’ on the non-mainstream candidate.
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Here in Westhoughton by making your Westhoughton First Independents candidate one of your choices you could be having a greater say in Bolton Council politics - should there be no overall control. Independents being the larger group it becomes a more savvy decision voting Westhoughton First Independents over the Liberal Democrat candidate.

In ‘Westhoughton North and Hunger Hill’ our candidate is Jack Speight, who has been a town councillor since 2012 and in ‘Westhoughton South’ it is Sharon Gough, a local business woman with a well-established manufacturing business. Should they come third they will have a chance to make a difference over one year – if it doesn’t work out, they are out; if you they do a good job, they can ask for your support again next year.
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When you think about it, this presents voters with a real democratic opportunity to effect some real change in local politics!

28/04/2023

Wishing all our new WFI all the very best of luck for the 4th of May. A very big thank you to Jack Spaight who encouraged me to be part of the team 4 years ago, sharing many positives for our town and highlights along the way. Becoming Mayor was indeed an absolute honour within that time and I'm sorry to be stepping aside from the elections this time, this is purely through personal circumstances but I shall still be supporting WFI in any way I can.
Good luck team WFI!!
Kind regards

Lisa Reilly

27/04/2023

Good Evening everyone,

Just a small request to share our page or this post.

We at Westhoughton First Independents want to encourage the community to have their right of freedom to have a say in our community and with the right group (us) to be the communities true representatives.

We want to listen but most importantly act upon your concerns and the things you love about the Westhoughton community.

So please like, share and let's start with getting our voices heard and for positive change.

27/04/2023

As you may have noticed our output on here has been pretty abysmal! Jack being one of those people who doesn't do social media or Facebook! We have been out and about and representing you at the Town Council. We will and must do better to communicate.
One of our younger more IT savvy candidates will be helping with content and activity. We would like to thank Lisa for her help in recent times especially as Mayor; she has stepped down from the fray and we wish her well.
The website - www.westhoughtonfirstindependents.co.uk - has been updated for the 2023 Local Elections and has information about the party and details of our candidates and what we are hoping to achieve. Leaflets now produced which are now going out to Westhoughton residents and you will get a chance to meet some of our candidates and some fresh faces.
We will give you more information over the coming days and weeks.

Westhoughton First Independents - A New Voice in Local Politics.

01/12/2021

Wonderful hospitality at Koo Market Street! Another fantastic small business in Westhoughton x warmed us up with amazing cocktails and made us very welcome after the Christmas Light's switch on !!

01/12/2021

Very blustery Christmas lights switch on this year!
But a big THANK YOU! to all the children who sang and made the evening very special.
Wishing everyone a wonderful, peaceful Christmas!!🥰

01/12/2021

Remembrance Sunday, it was a huge honour to be a part of the wreath laying, very humbling.

01/12/2021

Had a really lovely visit to Thyme for Tea this morning and enjoyed a delicious breakfast. Great food, great value and lovely service, beautiful little tea room. Well worth a visit, and they have really cool Owl!!