Warrington Lib Dem News
Helen Speed and Laura Booth for Appleton Parish Council
By-elections will take place on 7th September to fill two vacancies on Appleton Parish Council. The Liberal Democrat candidates are Helen Speed in Thorn ward and Laura Booth in Cobbs & Hillcliffe ward.
Laura has lived in Appleton for 37 years and is married to David. They have three grown-up sons who went to local schools and one grandson. She is a retired primary school teacher and has served on the governing body of St Matthew’s Primary School. For many years, Laura was the Parish Secretary of St Matthew’s Church in Stretton and St Cross Church in Appleton Thorn. Her interests include theatre, amateur dramatics, singing, painting and playing bridge.
I am passionate about keeping this lovely area free from overbuilding and preventing the countryside from being destroyed. Maintaining the surface of roads and pavements is important too, and as a retired teacher the welfare of children is always high on my agenda.
Laura Booth
Helen is a former Director of Nursing and ran a management consultancy for ten years. She is a past Chair of Healthwatch and currently chairs the CARE UK Charity which helps people in need. With her colleague Mark Browne, she was elected as a Borough Councillor for Grappenhall and Appleton Thorn last September. Since then, she has been working hard to improve the lives of residents on issues such as traffic calming and speeding, new crossings, dropped kerbs, clearing pathways from overgrown bushes and flooding not to mention faster internet services.
As a member of the Parish Council team, I will be able to do more to look after the interests of residents in the village. Parish Councils can make a real difference and get things done.
Helen Speed
Our two candidates issued the following joint statement:
We are very proud that until 2021, the Liberal Democrat run Appleton Parish Council achieved a lot. It funded play equipment, planted trees and flowers, supported the Millennium Green and the Broomfields Youth Project and funded Police Community Support Officers.
The Council was a key player in setting up the non-party-political South Warrington Parish Councils’ Planning Working Group which has been fighting on behalf of residents against over-development and for the protection of the Green Belt. We are delighted that the Local Plan Inspectors have stuck to their recommendation to keep the land next to the M6/M56 junction in the Green Belt, but the fight is not over yet, because Langtree is still intent on building the massive Six56 logistics site there.
Thanks to all those who have completed our summer doorstep survey. We value this because we find out what matters to people. Liberal Democrats work hard all year round and keep you in touch with what is going on.