Shame on me for not blogging for a fortnight – too much happening!

But yesterday was a special day because we had David Cameron and the Shadow Cabinet meeting in Preston, and then David went on to do a Town Hall meeting in Fleetwood. I went along to the Conservative Club there with some of our local activists to hear David, and also listen to the excellent Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, our excellent community cohesion spokeswoman.

David was excellent at the Town Hall. He promised that Blackpool would be a priority, that we would kickstart the funding for the Colleges – the collapse of which he described as  ‘shambolic’ and ‘appalling’. He also backed Blackpool Council’s regeneration plans, and pledged support for improving the local infrastructure.

Next day, we had our Party Chairman Eric Pickles along to examine progress at the garden in Grange Park which we did a makeover on during the 2007 Party Conference. Eric met with our ward councillor Peter Collins as well as garden supporters. The only sadness was that Maureen Horne, the driving force behind the garden, wasn’t there to greet the guest as she is ill in hospital. Get well soon Maureen! When she comes back, though, she will be in for a nice surprise as the toilets are being installed at last.

These high profile visits around the Fylde – including George Osborne visiting BAE Systems – are a sign that the Party considers Blackpool North & Cleveleys a key battleground. Over to you!