Frank Marsh

As a result of continuing neglect and inaction over very many issues affecting Panshanger by your existing Conservative Councillors, I am forced to stand in the forthcoming Council elections on 6th May to offer you an alternative.
There are many long lasting problems, which are not being dealt with.  Here are just a few examples:

•   Litter: There are enormous amounts of litter in many parts of Panshanger, including in Moneyhole Lane Park. Your councillors should be dealing with this and ensuring Finesse do a better job. Why do they not get this sorted?

• Moneyhole Park: lots of problems here - vandalism, cars entering the site late at night, car racing, rubbish being dumped, under-age drinking, loud music and noise late at night/early morning, making nearby residents’ lives a misery. Your councillors should be working with the police to confront these problems. They may claim they are, but what is the reality?

• The pavilion at Moneyhole Park: Residents and local groups cannot use the community pavilion at Moneyhole – the only one in Panshanger ward. Last year the tennis court was also removed, with no consultation to local people, some of whom had used it for years. I have a lot of respect for Panshanger football club, and the good work it does with young footballers, I would be keen to work with them to promote the club. However, when the club isn’t using the pavilion it stands idle. I would like to explore, alongside local community groups, whether other activities could take place at the site when the football club aren’t using it. Activities which might of course might be of interest to Panshanger’s young footballers as well!

• Lack of Spending from Community Chest by the current Conservative Councillors. At the start of February only £3,663 has been spent in Panshanger in almost two years. In neighbouring Haldens, over £15,000 has been spent. In Peartree, where LibDem councillors are active, it is even higher. The Community Chest scheme allows for funding of small local projects that enhance life in the community concerned. Quite rightly, funding applications that do not meet the criteria for inclusiveness and community benefit should not gain funding. This scheme may well be cut back in coming years, Panshanger ward currently sits very near the bottom of the table in terms of how much money councillors have been able to get for community projects and groups in Panshanger. Funding from the Community Chest is driven and planned by ward councillors, only they can apply for it. To date there seems to have been very little Panshanger councillor/resident interaction to determine what projects could be funded from the chest. I would very keen to change that and engage directly with local people to see what local improvements could be made with Community Chest money.

• Replying to you. There are many complaints about how poor the Conservative councillors are at replying to letters and emails from residents. Welwyn Hatfield Council scored poorly in this area in the most recent audit commission report. They noted how local people felt that the council didn’t listen to them.  Click here to read the report summary.

I believe people in Panshanger need and deserve better than this. If elected as your councillor I would strive to do my utmost to make sure people’s views are listened to, and acted  upon,  by the officers within our local government. We pay out council tax, therefore we deserve a voice.

There are of course many other issues, both in Panshanger and in Welwyn Garden City in general. I am keen to work for the good of our town and make it an even better place to live. As a member of both the local town societies I have a lot of respect for the ethos of Welwyn Garden City and the fantastic vision and legacy of Ebenezer Howard and Louis DeSoissons.

If elected I pledge to represent Panshanger properly. I do not make false promises and I will look to deal with your issues and concerns promptly and effectively, not just at election time. I will keep you regularly updated on what is happening in Panshanger, at no cost to the tax payer.

This sets me apart from the other candidates and I hope you will consider voting for me at the local elections, probably in early May.

Keep checking back here for more local news and information, my website will soon be expanding.

Yours sincerely
Frank Marsh
Liberal Democrat Council Candidate for Panshanger

Please contact me for more information, or just to say hello!

The picture below was taken quite recently, I’m sure most residents have seen the broken sign already, but if you haven’t it’s by the roundabout on Shackleton Way.

A small thing like this really makes an area look uncared for. If you add all these small things up the result is that Panshanger, a great part of Welwyn Garden City  to live in, begins to look neglected and shabby. I have of course reported the broken sign to the borough council who maintain the street signs. I’m also aware they can take a long time to get things done so I’ll be chasing them up regularly. Signs are supposed to fixed within 12 weeks of being reported, but other Panshanger residents have shown me examples of broken signs not being replaced after nine months or more.

As your councillor in Panshanger I would apply pressure to local and county authorities to get things done, and in a timely manner. We pay our council taxes and deserve better than this. It also leaves me wondering just what the  current Conservative councillor has done for the area lately?

I certainly wouldn’t be happy that at the end of my four year term, sights like this around Panshanger are still fairly common.

Panshanger is the essence of a Garden City, a ward straddling town and country. Part of a councillor’s remit has to be to preserve that appearance and make sure the upkeep, which we all pay for, is actually delivered. Of course, visitors to the area will be equally unimpressed, not to mention lost, if the area has missing or broken signage. I will keep you updated on progress in getting the council to replace the sign. This is just one of many issues I plan to tackle in Panshanger, if elected as your councillor on the 6^th of May.