Mr Fitzpatrick, a well-known local market trader and Independent politician, and one of Northampton's best-known blogging personalities, will be campaigning in his customary forthright manner through all the usual outlets, and even plans to campaign from his market stalls at the Grosvenor Centre top corner of the Market Square, where he invites anyone to come and talk to him.
'Fitzy' believes the controlling Liberal Democrat party on Northampton Borough Council has done a great deal of harm to both Northampton's Town Centre, and the Town Centre Market. He points out that when the Liberal Democrats came to power there were around 100 regular traders on Northampton Market; now there are only sixty-odd.
Leading the 'Save the Market' campaign just over a year ago, Mr Fitzpatrick and other market traders obtained 11,000 shopper signatures on a petition to say that the market should not be moved. Despite this, the unpopular Liberal Democrats moved the market to its present position at the top of the Square, with a subsequent loss of trade to those traders who stayed on.
Now the 800-year-old historic market is again under threat, as the Liberal Democrat controlled council seeks to take down its traditional stall layout, replacing it with poorly-designed pop-up alloy stalls which are far more vulnerable to bad weather.
As if this wasn't bad enough, the council plans to take away all boards and trestles from the market, something traders have paid for as part of their market stalls since the 1940's. As a direct result of this, many traders may have to leave the market.
Fitzy, often known as 'The Voice of Northampton' is therefore campaigning not only for himself as an Independent candidate, but also to draw attention to the cavalier fashion in which the market traders and the people of Northampton have been treated by the Liberal Democrats, and to ensure that the Liberal Democrat party candidate in Northampton North is not elected.
As an Independent candidate, Mr Fitzpatrick is strongly against the propping-up of failing banks at the tax-payers' expense, the current MPs expenses scandal, and British involvement in the seemingly endless American war in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Mr Fitzpatrick supports the 'Save Our Services' campaign, supports the nationalising of banks which have been 'saved' with public money, and supports all work for a more equitable society where there will be training and work available for everyone.
As a local long-standing Northampton blogger, Fitzy's opinions on a great many subjects, both local and national, are available at: www.fitzynorthampton.co.uk
Click Here to email me
