Roger Hayes

Liberal Democrat Councillor for Smithills Learn more

SCOTTISH REFERENDUM

by rogerhayes on 19 September, 2014

Scotland has decided it wishes to remain as part of the United Kingdom by a majority greater than many pundits were predicting. As somebody who is proud to be part Scottish myself, I am relieved, and applaud the good sense of the Scottish people. I think that the whole of the UK is stronger together […]

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20 mph speed limits

by rogerhayes on 28 August, 2014

There has been a lot of debate recently about whether or not 20 mph limits in areas work.         It depends what you mean by ‘work’. If you mean do all drivers start to drive at 20 mph or less, then of course they don’t. Evidence shows that two things happen: the general speed in the […]

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A question of priorities …

by rogerhayes on 15 August, 2014

Several residents have asked me why the Council is spending a lot of money removing perfectly good paving in the town centre to replace it with new, when they cannot to keep roads repaired in outlying areas like Smithills. First there was the new paving in Deansgate by Marks & Spence and the Natwest Bank – […]

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Steps at Barrow Bridge

by rogerhayes on 29 July, 2014

The steps that lead from Bazley Street down to Barrow Bridge Road had got into a very poor state. They were getting overgrown with weeds and slippery. Many people from the village us them. We have got the Council to clean them several times in the past, but this time they were tackled by Community […]

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Congratulations Bolton At Home

by rogerhayes on 26 July, 2014

I must congratulate officers of Bolton At Home for their swift action in one recent case. Residents of the bungalows on Moss Bank Way (Johnson Fold) complained to me about the mass of long grass and weeds in front of their homes. This was in the space between a wall and fencing erected several years […]

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‘Bedroom Tax’ – room for hope

by rogerhayes on 22 July, 2014

Liberal Democrats in Bolton have been opposed to the so called ‘Bedroom Tax’ since its introduction. We accept a need to reduce the colossal benefits expenditure, but many aspects of this legislation are unfair. In particular, we believe that it is totally unfair to penalise people who would like to move to smaller accommodation, but […]

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DOFFCOCKER ROUNDABOUT

by rogerhayes on 10 July, 2014

Last year we got very positive feedback about the attractive planting of wildflowers on the Doffcocker roundabout (junction of Chorley Old Road with Moss Bank Way). This year we decided to repeat that, but using a seed mix with poppies included to mark the anniversary of the start of World War 1. It is beginning […]

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Tremendous Local Election Win

by rogerhayes on 15 June, 2014

On 3rd May I marked the 30th anniversary of my first election as a Liberal Councillor for Smithills Ward. In those days it had been a relatively safe Conservative seat, but we managed to grab it by a close 151 votes. This year one of the ways I marked the anniversary was by casting a postal […]

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Visit from Chris Davies

by rogerhayes on 7 April, 2014

On Saturday 5th April Bolton Liberal Democrats hosted a visit by Chris Davies, MEP. Two of the events featured campaigns Chris has been involved in at the European Parliament. Chris has been closely involved in moves to conserve fish stocks, and he had the opportunity to discuss the impacts with stallholders at Bolton Market.        Later in […]

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Cut the ‘Fat Cats’!

by rogerhayes on 11 March, 2014

Labour talks a lot about cuts. When last year Liberal Democrats suggested that Councillors should take their fair share of the cuts by reducing the Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs) paid to some senior Councillors, Labour refused to touch their own, but did reduce those paid to senior opposition Councillors!                                                                                    Many residents were amazed to […]

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