First or Worst Bus?

 

Cllr David Blackburn (Farnley & Wortley ward) of the Green Party has received many complaints from local residents about the bus services they endure, and shares their desire to improve the buses in Leeds. Cllr Blackburn said of the issue:

“We continue to take up the many complaints about the bus services operated by First Bus, particularly the Nos. 4 and 42. In the meantime, First Group, the owners of First Bus have successfully made a bid of approximately £390 million a year over 13 years for the West Coast Mainline rail franchise (London Euston to Manchester & Glasgow). In our view it is a pity that First did not use some of that money to invest in the bus services they run. This, of course, comes from a company who actually had a passenger strikes on its First Great Western train services due to their unreliable services.

Cllr David Blackburn

 Here in West Yorkshire (the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority) Metro has come up with proposals to take over the full bus network in West Yorkshire. They would be able to set the level of fares, including multi journey tickets, set the timetables and services and would decide which operator runs the services (similar to how bus services are run in London). Of course, the bus operators are opposed. We understand the proposals will go out to public consultation some time in October, and we would ask all those people who are dissatisfied with the current services to write to the Traffic Commissioner during the consultation.”

Cllrs. Ann & David Blackburn have also written to the US born Chief Executive of First Group, Tim O’Toole, inviting him to spend a day with them living the First Bus “experience” in Leeds and meet some of his disgruntled customers.

May 2012 Local Election Results

Farnley & Wortley Ward Green Party Candidates cover the Leeds West parliamentary constituency. Their results in the local elections held on 3rd May 2012 are as follows:

Armley Jane Morrison   596   13.57%

Bramley & Stanningley Kate Bisson   304  7.14%

Farnley & Wortley David Blackburn  2516   48.88%  Elected

Kirkstall Morgan Tatchell-Evans   437  9.84%

 

The rest of the Green Party candidates in Leeds polled the following results:

Adel & Wharfedale Paul Marchant   217  3.12%

Beeston & Holbeck David Smith  256  6.65%

Burmantofts & Richmond Hill Pete Exley    312   7.81%

Calverley & Farsley Clive Lord   297  4.55%

Chapel Allerton Colin Noble  409  7.68%

City & Hunslet Neil Seepujak   331   9.29%

Crossgates & Whinmoor Ben Goldthorp   243  4.72%

Guiseley & Rawdon Colin Avison   621   9.87%

Harewood Patricia Capstick 262   4.43%

Headingley Christopher Foren  457   16.56%

Horsforth Andrea Binns  317   4.81%

Hyde Park & Woodhouse David Webb  387  14.47%

Otley & Yeadon Steven Crossan   474   6.34%

Roundhay Paul Ellis  486   7.17%

Weetwood Martin Hemingway  468   8.52%

David Blackburn wins with ease and good results elsewhere

David Blackburn at the Civic Hall

 

David Blackburn was returned as a Councillor for another four years following victory in the Farnley & Wortley ward on 3rd May. Cllr Blackburn, who in 1998 became the first Green elected in Leeds, polled 2516 (48.88%) of the vote. Cllr Blackburn obtained a 908 majority over the Labour candidate David Dresser who received 1608 votes (31.24%). David Blackburn will now serve along side his wife Ann who was re-elected in 2011 and who leads the Green group on the Council.

Click here for the full story

Latest FWWGP Newsletters

The newsletters distributed in 2012 so far:

Farnley & Wortley Ward

Farnley & Wortley Green View January 2012 

Farnley & Wortley Green View February 2012

Farnley & Wortley Election Leaflet 3rd May

For previous newsletters click here

Green Party Leader Caroline Lucas MP visits Leeds

Caroline Lucas MP & Cllr David Blackburn

Caroline Lucas MP, the Leader of the Green Party of England & Wales, was in Yorkshire today lending her support to Green Party local election candidates in both Leeds and Huddersfield.For full story click here

Green Party 5th May 2011 Local Election Results

The Green Party results in Leeds for the Local Council Elections on 5th May 2011 are as follows:

Adel & Wharfedale Paul Marchant  337 (4.08%)

Armley Jane Morrison  748 (13.70%)

Beeston & Holbeck David Smith  308 (6.56%)

Bramley & Stanningley Kate Bisson   514 (10.01%)

Burmantofts & Richmond Hill Peter Exley  356 (6.56%)

Chapel Allerton Colin Noble  484  (7.47%)

Crossgates & Whinmoor Ben Goldthorp  253  (3.94%)

Farnley & Wortley Ann Blackburn  2995 (47.42%) ELECTED 

Guiseley & Rawdon Colin Avison  529 (6.92%)

Harewood Patricia Capstick  400 (5.36%)

Headingley Christopher Foren  682 (17.57%)

Hyde Park & Woodhouse Robert Simpson  689 (18.30%)

Kirkstall Morgan Tatchell-Evans  527 (9.35%)

Pudsey Irene Dracup  321 (4.67%)

Roundhay Paul Ellis  559 (6.53%)

Weetwood Martin Hemingway  596 (8.96%)

Thank you for your support.

Farnley & Wortley Success Brings Double Celebration

Today’s announcement of Cllr Ann Blackburn’s re-election brought a double celebration for the Blackburn family as the count was held on David’s 60th birthday. Standing in the Farnley & Wortley ward, Ann Blackburn polled an excellent 2995 votes, a 47% share. Her nearest opponent, Labour’s Stewart McKenna, polled 2353 around 37% of the vote. The Conservatives claimed 769, while the Liberal Democrats were last with 199 votes.

Cllr Ann Blackburn said of the result:

“I’d like to say thank you to the dedicated team who helped me, and to the people of Farnley and Wortley for their continued support. It was lovely on the day to have people coming along giving me the thumbs up and seeing the Green Party posters in people’s windows. You get a continuous buzz from people’s support. The idea is to have someone in the ward who they know and works hard for them. That’s the key. But it was a good clean campaign between the candidates and a lot of work went into it. I look forward to carrying on doing my best for the people of Farnley and Wortley.”

Elsewhere the other Farnley & Wortley Green Party candidates returned improved figures. Jane Morrison in Armley polled 748 (13.7%), Kate Bisson polled 514 (10%) in Bramley & Stanningley, and Morgan Tatchell-Evans polled 527 (9.35%) in Kirkstall.

Farnley & Wortley Green Party would like to thank you for your support.