this morning I attended the Wirral Fuel Poverty Forum, which is a body consisting of service providers and other agencies where the issues surrounding fuel poverty are discussed.

It was an interesting morning with various speakers all giving an extra insight into the plight of those in fuel poverty, of particular interest was a speaker from the Citizens Advice Bureau who explained that the definition of fuel poverty is where fuel costs exceed 10% of income, obviously those on benefits or low incomes are likely to be classed as being in fuel poverty, a situation which will be made worse by the Tory led coalition attack on the most vulnerable in society with benefit cuts and the rise in VAT.

On a more positive note we were given an update on the Wirral wide free insulation program, which is a scheme incepted by the previous Labour led administration on Wirral Borough Council, whereby every home in Wirral will be entitled to free loft insulation, initially the scheme will be targeted at areas of high fuel poverty at the same time as trying to identify those hard to reach people who may need help with various issues.

Today myself and my wife had the pleasure of spending a very pleasant hour or two at the summer fair held at Meadowside School on Woodchurch where I am one of the Governors.

Whilst we were there as well as supporting other stalls we purchased some dishes that were decorated by the students at Meadowside.

There were performances from the Green Blade Singers and Wirral Taiko Dragon Drummers, there were also demonstrations of Tai Chi and Karate. But the highlight of the day had to be the unveiling of a new Mini Bus, which is the result of lots of hard work fundraising by all at Meadowside.

Well done to Paula and everyone at Meadowside for a superb day and special thanks to all those who helped raise the money that made the new mini bus a reality.

Work is due to start shortly on improvements to the junction with the Asda store and Woodchurch Road.

Part of a bigger scheme which will see traffic lights installed on the M53 roundabout, improved drainage under the metal bridge and a cycle lane, the improved junction will allow traffic to turn right out of Asda onto Woodchurch Road, instead of having to turn left and go round the M53 roundabout.

For the first time in decades, a Minister For Hunting & Shooting has been appointed, so much for the new politics eh Mr Cameron & Mr Clegg!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who lives in Arrowe Park, Overchurch, Upton & Woodchurch for giving me the honour of representing you on Wirral Borough Council as Councillor for Upton Ward. As your Councillor I will do my best for all residents of Upton ward regardless of which political party you support.

Though of course it is desperately sad for millions of hard working families that Labour is no longer in Government, but Labour did deny Cameron’s Tories the parliamentary majority he believed he had in his back pocket.

Labour did well in Merseyside as a whole, holding all our parliamentary seats on the Wirral (Wirral West was notionally a Tory seat anyway due to boundary changes so it wasn’t a Tory win)

In the local elections Labour did even better winning Bromborough, Liscard, New Brighton and Prenton wards giving Labour the largest share of the popular vote by some margin.