Hemsworth South Ward Election

Ferret has been asked on a number of occasions, for my opinion on the candidates for the upcoming election in the South Ward of Hemsworth.

As my readers already know, all of my posts are factual and truthful, here are some of my thoughts which I hope you, the voters, will consider when making your choice on Thursday.

You are already aware of some of the actions of Mr Jim Kenyon, Chair of Independent Hemsworth Town Council, and the potential consequences to you and your assets.

Please also remember that Independent Councillor Ian Womersley continues to support Mr Jim Kenyon and in doing so, must feel comfortable in endorsing his ongoing decisions.

The majority of the other Independent Councillors also continue to provide him with their full support as evidenced in the recent vote of no confidence put forward by Labour Councillor Maxine Hird.

You will soon have a chance to send a message to these people on Hemsworth Town Council, who sought and were elected on the basis of lies after lies.

Already you will have noticed in your pockets, the broken pledge of reducing the precept in their first year of office by £200,000.

The precept they received from you has actually increased by nearly £30000 in the last 2 years.

The ongoing and ever costly Venga boys’ concert now with added marching band, subsequent road closures and private security all paid for by you.

Incidentally, this event is happening on the day of our Queens Golden Jubilee – A day when you will be unable to celebrate at your Waterpark with your families and friends.

They made the foolhardy decision to convert the Lakeside cafe into a Licensed Bar without any Business planning or risk management processes in place at all, passing the resolution at “whatever the cost”. The cost paid for by you.

Then alterations took place with blistering speed, cashbook and petty cash payments becoming a preferred payment method.

Then repair after repair appeared on existing equipment, again cash payment accepted.

Thousands of pounds of your money spent on land clearing and the fencing of the land belonging to Councillors Gordon and Jean Eccles.

A burger van then bought at a highly inflated price, but yet still needing thousands of pounds spent on it before it could be used.

Groundworks equipment, excavator, digger, tractor, trailer and other equipment procured from dubious sources, again costing you thousands of pounds.

Artistes and security bought in for the Lakeside Café Bar, but not shown on the Lakeside accounts which still showed a massive £220000 loss in one year.

Two Quad bikes stolen despite CCTV, gates controlled by Councillor Eccles and security living for free on site.

The continuing threat to your Waterpark and the use of a trust/covenants to take ownership away from the people who paid for it, in preparation to hand it over to their fellow Independent Councillor Gordon Eccles.

The list is growing and seemingly endless.

The Chair, Mr Jim Kenyon already exposed as being a former bankrupt, debtor, hypocrite and a liar with serial disasters left in his wake whatever he touches. “Reel them in, bleed them dry” would make a good motto to suit his despicable way of life.

His ongoing vendetta against Saul Construction. These actions have already cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, not his money, but your money either from your Town Precept, your District Council Tax or the Legal Aid system, all once again funded by you.

Not content with all this, again he is taking this to new heights, again with your money, this time it could even bankrupt your community.

He is on record as saying that the solicitors he has engaged against Saul Construction, in the upcoming Court Case are working on a no win no fee basis – This is another lie, Ferret has learnt they are charging you over £100000, and this just to start with.

Councillor Ian Womersley has gone very quiet and given the chance to remove this obnoxious Chairman, in a vote of no confidence, he actually cast his vote to support him, whilst fully aware of this unacceptable conduct.

Draw your own conclusions from that.

On Thursday you will have a choice between two candidates. This is not a time for party politics or not voting as a protest.

Ask yourself just one question –

Do you want two more years of the same under Chair Jim Kenyon?

If so, vote for another one of his self-declared independent supporters, Shane Folletti – A man who has declared his support and allegiance in public on more than one occasion to Mr Jim Kenyon. A man, whose organisations have already benefited from £1000s of your money in grants from Mr Jim Kenyon and Independent Hemsworth Town Council. At a time when arguably other more deserving organisations such as food banks received very little or nothing at all.

or

If you want honesty and decency, please consider voting for Lyn Morton. Lyn is the Green Party Candidate and works tirelessly in our area for what she believes in and helps others wherever she can. Ferret is aware she has already challenged Mr Jim Kenyon and his Independent cronies on more than one occasion and continues to do so.

Please leave any party allegiance for another day, another ballot which comes in two years’ time.

Finally, Ferret has also learnt of at least one voter who has not received their postal vote. If you are in this position you are still allowed to go to the polling station at the Community Centre on Bullenshaw Road to vote. Please do not let this stop you having your say – Your vote could be the one that makes the difference.

Will we ever get a written response to our questions submitted to Independent Hemsworth Town Council and Mr Kenyon from the meeting held on 12 October 2021?