Fiona Duke Liberal Democrat

18/10/2026

Here is the Lancashire Lead article on Reform's pothole scandal in Lancashire. Brilliant piece of journalism.

Reform at Lancashire County Council told us that they are performing well but consistently refused to share performance data with councillors.

They reduced their own target for filling potholes so they look better than they are.

They have refused to have a cross party scrutiny committee to look at the performance on potholes in more detail.

In particular, we need to see how the contracts awarded to Reform's mates at Multevo are performing, and the value for money we are getting as taxpayers from this deal.

I still haven't forgotten the 100+ days it took for Garstang Road to be fixed. Should've been done in 20 days. And neither should you...

Preston and Wyre Liberal Democrats
North Lancashire Lib Dems

https://lancashire.thelead.uk/p/exclusive-lancashire-county-councils-pothole-repair-data-disputed-despite-freedom-of-information-request?fbclid=IwdGRleAVBdU5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAWZkaWQWUQhPvW8rDvaHYy-Nvmj3Jb6SNZ6imXNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR7lybBASe1fDEuTYcQUMFES1jWqCBcOiC2US0ApVrbrkUzM85W72d_yedEvNw_aem_quR1VWuG5jeQTjO3j-Q4pw

Lancashire County Council disputes the accuracy of the full six months of data provided by its own team

18/10/2026

Morning dog walk done alongside some casework. Spot the recurring theme below...

Daisy was unimpressed that the drains are still blocked on Broadway over a year on from reporting them. Reported yet again.

Faded lines at the junction of Oakwood Drive and Hazelmere Road reported again.

Potholes on Brookside Road (Janice Drive end) reported again.

Potholes at the Northway junction with Janice Drive reported again.

No parking issues at the south end of Janice Drive which a resident had reported to me. A mid-week trip is probably needed. LCC have been asked to do enforcement here.

LCC tell us that they are fixing potholes, but the reality is that many are left untouched for months despite the 20 day target to fix 90% of them. I will share a Lancashire Lead article showing quite how badly Reform are failing us at county hall on this.

Preston and Wyre Liberal Democrats
North Lancashire Lib Dems

Working for you all year round

17/10/2026

Canvassing in Grimsargh this morning with our candidates Jo Joyner and Rene van Mierlo, then survey delivery in Fulwood. Just a typical Saturday when I am not being ballet Mum...

Preston and Wyre Liberal Democrats

16/10/2026

20 days to be assessed .Disappointing time scale , hopeful it will not take another 20 days before it’s repaired.

16/10/2026

Evidence from Freedom of Information requests to Lancashire County Council show just how badly Reform are managing our roads and potholes. Absolutely disgraceful. We all knew it. Now here is the proof.

The latest figures expose Reform’s failure to fix and maintain Preston’s roads.

Their own data shows that fewer than 21% of potholes in Preston were filled within 20 days — against a target of 90%.

In one month, that figure slumped to a disgraceful 4.6%.

Reform is hitting Preston residents with money-grabbing bus gate fines and higher council tax, while failing to deliver the basic services we pay for.

16/10/2026

Fridays are my dedicated councillor work days. And they do tend to be busy!

First off, a bit of survey delivery in the Lightfoot Lane area. Nice to see some sun this week!

Then popping down to LCC's depot to collect some yellow 'Slow Down Save Lives' bin stickers for our next PACT meeting.

Then off to Sharoe Green Library 13:00-14:00 for the Preston North, Greyfriars and Sharoe Green councillor drop in. Cllr Tony Raisbeck and Cllr Mike Peak LibDem are joining me today.

After that it will be casework emails, of which I have a lot to get through...

Nothing major to report from the LCC full council meeting yesterday. A lot of hot air and a bit of grand standing by the usual suspects. But I now have the wreath to lay at the Harris Orphanage memorial in November.

Preston and Wyre Liberal Democrats
North Lancashire Lib Dems
Working for you all year round.

15/10/2026

A reminder of our councillor drop-in on Friday at Sharoe Green Library, 13:00-14:00.
Preston and Wyre Liberal Democrats
North Lancashire Lib Dems

14/10/2026

14/10/2026

Warning of a dangerous hazard for pedestrians and cyclists at the junction of Lytham Road and Douglas Road North.

A resident got in touch after he walked into some monitoring cameras that have been fixed just 5ft 8inches off the ground. A badly cut eyebrow, a hospital trip and three stitches later, he got in touch after struggling to contact LCC Highways.

I have spoken to LCC Highways this afternoon and they will try to get someone down to check it/make it safe as a matter of urgency.

Please be very careful at this junction until the hazard is removed.

Preston and Wyre Liberal Democrats
North Lancashire Lib Dems
Working for you all year round.

11/10/2026

NW Preston Shows Why Infrastructure Must Come First

As a councillor in North West Preston, I know what happens when housebuilding races ahead of the infrastructure needed to support families moving in. Cottam and the wider NW Preston Masterplan area have become a textbook example of development done backwards: thousands of new homes, but no essential community services — from GP surgeries to new schools.

That’s why the national debate on housing policy matters so much locally: the choices made in Westminster shape the reality on our streets.

The Liberal Democrats have set out a clear, practical approach — infrastructure must come first. Their recent “GP Guarantee” is one part of a wider principle I strongly support: new housing should not be approved unless essential services are already planned and funded. Developers would contribute directly to new GP surgeries and staffing, ensuring residents aren’t left fighting for appointments in overstretched practices. It’s a model designed to prevent exactly the problems NW Preston has been living with.

The Conservatives, by contrast, used their 2026 conference to propose scrapping the mechanisms that fund local infrastructure — Section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy. These are the tools councils rely on to secure affordable housing, GP expansions, school places, road upgrades and community facilities. The Tories talked of introducing an unspecified new housebuilders’ levy, but claiming it would lower costs by £50,000 per home suggests councils would receive far less funding.

The suggestion that abolishing infrastructure funding obligations will somehow reduce house prices is, frankly, not credible. What it is far more likely to do is unleash further rounds of greenfield development — without the GP capacity, school places or transport links communities need. NW Preston already knows what that looks like.

So the choice is clear. One approach insists on infrastructure upfront, protecting communities from being overwhelmed. The other strips away the safeguards that make development sustainable. For areas like ours, where the consequences of getting this wrong are felt every day, that difference matters.