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COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION, THURSDAY 7th JUNE 2001, BLACKBIRD LEYS WARD

	Independent candidate Stuart Craft grew up on Blackbird Leys and now lives on the new part of the estate with his wife Lorraine. He is a building worker who has also worked at the Cowley car plant and as a postman at Becket Street, where he was an elected branch delegate in the Communication Workers Union. Since his involvement in the anti-poll tax movement in 1989, Stuart has played an active part in many other community campaigns. He describes his decision to help launch the Blackbird Leys Independent Working Class Association in August 1999 as follows:			Stuart Craft is standing on behalf of the Blackbird Leys Independent Working Class Association The IWCA’s track record Stuart Craft: what I will do if elected
		‘It was clear, especially after New Labour came to power, that the working class no longer had a voice. This left all of us on Blackbird Leys in a vulnerable position. ‘For more than a decade we've been forced to stand by helplessly while the rights and entitlements won by previous generations of working class people are taken away. None of the existing political parties were going to stop this so we had to take action ourselves.’
	The IWCA is committed to representing the immediate interests of working class people.
	In less than two years Blackbird Leys IWCA has: • mounted successful campaigns against antisocial neighbours; • highlighted the bus companies' indifference to violent attacks on their drivers and passengers on Blackbird Leys routes; • brought public pressure on the housing authorities to meet their obligations towards Blackbird Leys tenants; • carried out an extensive door-to-door survey to find out which issues most concern residents; • organised popular day trips to Drayton Manor theme park, France and Belgium; • initiated the ongoing IWCA Children's Cinema project; • produced and hand delivered six issues of the Leys Independent to keep you fully informed of developments. Already our track record proves that, unlike the other parties, the IWCA is active—and not only around election time. If you support what the IWCA is doing, and would like us to be able to do more, a firm mandate at the County Council elections will help us to better represent YOUR interests!			Top

	In our recent ‘Your Point of View’ survey carried out door-to-door across the estate, IWCA canvassers spoke directly to over 750 households.
	The principle concerns raised were: Class A drug dealing, burglary and car crime, lack of facilities, parking arrangements, housing repairs and the failure to maintain roads and the general upkeep of the estate. If elected I will Confront the council on the issue of Class A drug dealing Initiate a long term solution to antisocial behaviour on Blackbird Leys Fight for improved youth facilities Demand that the housing authorities meet their obligations as landlords in regard to maintenance Insist residents’ wishes in regard to parking on Pegasus Road and other areas of the estate are adhered to Step up IWCA social activities for Blackbird Leys residents *Oppose New Labour government* plans to privatise council housing Consult you on any other issue that affects Blackbird Leys before voting in the council chamber**			Top
	For further information contact Stuart Craft on 07733 274 324 or visit www.bliwca.fsnet.co.uk