Leaders all set for tight poll battle
LOCAL Democracy reporter BILL JACOBS looks at the likely outcome of next week’s local elections for Rossendale Council - where control can change hands when just a handful of voters switch party.
THE Conservative opposition leader on Rossendale Council Cllr David Foxcroft says he is not expecting to take control of the authority but its current Labour boss is taking nothing for granted.
For wards in the largely rural borough surrounding Rawtenstall and Bacup can change hands with just a few votes.
Cllr Alyson Barnes says the Labour Party is ‘taking nothing for granted’ in May 4’s elections.
Last year saw her party keep control and it now has 19 of the 36 councillors to the Tories 11 but the majority in many wards is the low dozens.
The Goodshaw ward north of Rawtenstall is a good example of how volatile politics is in Rossendale with both party leaders representing it.
Cllr Barnes won it last year by 223 votes and Cllr Foxcroft in 2021 by just 60.
Valley Conservative MP Sir Jake Berry has been doing his best to boost the party cause in the run up to polling day calling for new penalty charges on utility companies who dig up roads in the mainly rural borough and winning a campaign for the southbound carriageway of the A682 from Rawtenstall to the M66 to be resurfaced.
The current Labourcontrolled council has two Community First councillors in Healey and Whitworth ward, 11 Conservatives making up the main opposition, one Green Party representative in Julie Adshead who switched from Labour in July 2021, two former Tories turned
Independent Jimmy and Janet Eaton and another Independent Janet Whitehead who beat Labour in Facit and Shawforth ward in 2021 and 19 Labour councillors making 36 in total.
On May 4 there are 12 of the 14 wards up for election but not Goodshaw and Eden.
In all there are 39 candidates.
The Conservatives are fighting all the seats while Labour are contesting 11 but not Healey and Whitworth where Community First’s sitting councillor Dayne Powell is standing.
But the party is contesting Facit and Shawforth
where another Community First candidate Michael Whitworth is up for election.
The Liberal Democrats have just one candidate Steve Nelson in Helmshore.
The real Jack in the Box contest is in Irwell ward where sitting former Tory turned Independent councillor Janet Eaton faces a contest with new Labour Parliamentary candidate Andy MacNae (who has moved from his previous Stacksteads ward), Conservative Stuart Haughan and Green Daniel Brogan.
Mrs Eaton left the Tories when her fellow councillor husband Jimmy was expelled from Conservative Party in 2021 for standing unsuccessfully as an Independent in the Lancashire County Council elections against its official candidate Margaret Pendlebury.
Now she hopes to replicate his success as an Independent in last year’s borough elections
“Labour takes nothing for granted in Rossendale. Experience has taught us that.” Labour Council leader Alyson Barnes
“We are seeking to hold onto the seats we have. We are not expecting to make gains.” Conservative group leader David Foxcroft
in holding her ward despite her switch of allegiance.
Cllr Barnes said: “The big issues in Rossendale are roads, the cost of living and the council tax.
“We are doing everything we can to persuade Lancashire County Council and the government to improve our roads. The issue comes up again and again on the doorstep.
“The council is doing everything it can to support hard-pressed residents and families with the rising cost of living.
“Labour takes nothing for granted in Rossendale.
Experience has taught us that. On a good day we could win every ward. On a bad day lose them all.”
Cllr Foxcroft said: “Given the current national situation we are seeking to hold onto the the seats we have.
“We are not expecting to make gains.
“We are concentrating on remaining a strong opposition to Labour financial mismanagement and highlighting the black hole in the council’s finances which means it will go bankrupt if radical action is not taken soon.
“We are focussing on the council’s empty homes scandal and Labour’s failure to bring investment and revenue into the borough by supporting businesses.”
Cllr Adshead, fighting Whitewell ward for the first time since she defected from Labour, said: “We are fielding candidates in all wards up for election. The local party wants all voters to have the chance to vote for a fairer, greener future.
“Formed less than two years ago, Rossendale Green Party has a rapidly expanding membership.
“The local party is not only active in fighting climate change but is also committed to maintaining and improving social justice.
“I am definitely hopeful of winning Whitewell ward and also of gaining some more seats on the council.”
As ever in Rossendale nothing can be taken for granted.
How the Greens, who did badly in last year’s local authority elections, fare could make a crucial difference to who actually controls Rossendale Council whether they win any seats or not.
It is a borough where pretty well anything can happen when its residents head to the polling station and often does.