How does everyone think Andy Preston has done?

J

JustTheGent

Well-known member
With the local elections just around the corner, there'll be plenty of debate and talk about what comes next. I guess it's reasonable to consider the following things.

How has the Town Centre fared in the last four years? How do people see it - has it got better or worse and by how much?

What's happening in areas and communities right across the borough? Are things looking good and on the up? How's crime and anti social behaviour, etc? What community initiatives are in place and are they working?

How is the Council overall performing as an organisation? Is it doing well for residents? Is Andy Preston as an Independent managing to unite elected members and bring them together to work for the good of the town?

Is the Council's executive delivering? This is effectively Andy Preston's team who are helping to make and shape some of the big decisions.
 
From what I see, fairly disastrous.
I’ve never seen the town in such a dire state.
He’s up against central Government cuts but still seems to have wasted the little money left and is a bit of a Teesside Trump in terms of policy and his inability to be honest and dignified.

The person running the homeless cafe has made some big claims about bullying tonight, saying it’s a politician in Boro. From her cryptic description it sounds like it might be the Mayor. If so it’s just further proof of his inability for the position.

For me, do away with the Mayoral position. Stockton is not perfect but certainly has done better than Preston over the last few years and they don’t have it.
 
The town centre is a ghost town - really sad to see. It has got markedly worst in the last couple of years (since I returned to the area). There appears to be no vision to do anything about this other than soundbites. The proposed regeneration will have no long lasting legacy impact.

It's quite clear ASB is out of control. Often see teenagers racing around on scrambler type bikes with balaclavas with seemingly no concern for road and pedestrian safety.

The council clearly isn't functioning effectively - it could very easily be taken in to special measures. Preston can't unite the members and the officers are disillusioned. Clearly comes from a lack of leadership. Council tax is at its highest and we top some of the worst tables - children's services is in disarray.

The situation around the MDC does nothing for public confidence, nor does his relationship with the TVM and what's going on in the Freeport.

Time for a change.
 
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Guaranteed ton.
The late night post awaiting the early risers is a sound strategy.

But as for the points.
1) Better.
2) Worse, a nationwide problem mind too.
3) No
4) Undecided.
 
I saw an off road bike, lad with a balaclava, following a police van down Ormesby bank obviously goading the police inside, weaving in and out of the traffic...no respect for the police or the law. There is absolutely no deterrent if they get caught so the justice system isn't helping TBF....
 
If you live in Middlesbrough, step outside your door, walk down your path, look at the curbs, the road and the general state of your area.

Remember that Preston has just reduced the road and path budget by half in the last budget.

It's not going to get better.

The weekend, have a walk through our town center, go into the last few remaining big shops, like boots, look at the shelves, it's not going to get better.

Middlesbrough council is over 50 years old, for the first time in it's history the government- a Tory government is threatening it with special measures.

For 4 years Preston has been mayor, have picked his own executive and has had the majority in the council chamber- He will blame anyone but himself, but mainly Labour.

With Preston It's not going to get better.


If Preston wins next week the council will go into special measures that much is certain- and you really don't want this Tory government running our council.

Vote for change.

Even if you have to turn your nose, vote for Labour Councillors and the Labour mayor, it's the only chance we have to get rid of Preston and have a chance to save our council.

I 100% will be demanding a referendum to cancel this silly mayoral system this October- which is the earliest we can by law.
 
Can’t say I’m a fan.

Lots of wastage on vanity projects that never delivered.

We have built a lot of new office spaces - in a backdrop of more companies turning to remote work / needing less office space. Never made sense to me.

Are those new offices occupied? The ones near the bottle always look empty when I walk past.

I don’t think we’ll get change. People are still happy to blame Labour (not to say they’ve been brilliant over the years).

I had a recent conversation with somebody who was saying the Labour council was holding us back. I had to point out Labour now have 20 seats and the rest of made up of Tory / Independents. He wasn’t having it though. Labour were still to blame.

However, they were very quick to compliment Preston on Level X and Captain Cook redevelopment.

This is where we are. People are happy to pick and choose what they see as positive / negative things and just pin the blame / praise on whatever suits their narrative. Facts Shmacts!
 
Nobby_Barnes said:
I saw an off road bike, lad with a balaclava, following a police van down Ormesby bank obviously goading the police inside, weaving in and out of the traffic...no respect for the police or the law. There is absolutely no deterrent if they get caught so the justice system isn't helping TBF....
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It's worth reading the Secret Barrister to see the attacks made on the justice system in the last decade or so, and it's also worth considering the cut in police numbers.

As for Preston, like Houchen he's part of the problem. Their roles really shouldn't exist.
 
He has been a disaster. He is to public order what Ray Mallon was to our housing stock! Dreadful and does not understand the problems at hand. I do wish the Labour guy had a bit more about him and put himself out there a bit more. Unfortunately boro Labour don’t come across very well at all and Pish Poor Preston will probably get back in!
 
newyddion said:
He has been a disaster. He is to public order what Ray Mallon was to our housing stock! Dreadful and does not understand the problems at hand. I do wish the Labour guy had a bit more about him and put himself out there a bit more. Unfortunately boro Labour don’t come across very well at all and Pish Poor Preston will probably get back in!
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You can't 'put yourself out more' if the media don't allow it.
 
Corcaigh_the_Cat said:
You can't 'put yourself out more' if the media don't allow it.
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Pretty sure Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and TicTok still exist. Plenty of updates out there from Boro Labour on how bad Preston is doing. Can’t see anything positive being pushed about the Labour guy. Chris something?
 
To be replaced with another MP who will want their nose in the trough, all the same regardless of political belief.
 
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