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Forests and Woodlands/ Privacy for arrested persons/Stapleford Walk In Centre

1st February 2011

Hello again,

This is a mixed bag of news, views and dates for your diary. If you have been following the news you will know I have been particularly busy in the last few weeks, as my Private Member's Bill is set to be debated in Parliament on Friday (see below).

The future of our forests and woodlands

I would like to start by thanking everyone who has emailed me to express their concerns about the future of our forests and woodlands. Parliament is set to debate the matter tomorrow (Wednesday) after the opposition tabled a motion condemning the Government's plans for the future of our publicly owned forests. In fact, only 18% of our Forests are owned by the Government via the Forestry Commission, which both fells and sells wood and regulates our woodland areas.
Residents of Toton know the important role of the Forestry Commission which issued a re-stocking notice to the owners of land at Toton Sidings after they decimated many thousands of trees on the site. I have spoken with Caroline Spelman, the Secretary of State, about this part of the Forestry Commission's work and she assures me it will continue.
I have to say I think it’s a little rich of the opposition to criticise the Government's plans given the last Government sold 25,000 acres of forest and woodland.
However, I have been struck by the number of emails I have received and the genuine concerns of many people on the issue; I can assure you I will raise all the concerns with Ministers and leave them in no doubt about the strength of feeling in Broxtowe.
The proposals regarding the woodlands are at a consultation stage and the consultation document can be found on the Defra website http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/01/27/englands-forests/. I would urge people please to take part in the consultation.
Wednesday’s debate is not a final decision but a call for a re think which I think is premature at this stage as the consultation has only just begun, so I am not inclined to support the motion.
What I think is important to remember is that Heritage Forests, like Sherwood Forest (which is currently owned and run by a charitable trust), the Forest of Dean and New Forest will not be sold to the private sector. The Government plans would mean voluntary, charitable and private sectors would have a greater role in the management and ownership of forests and woodlands currently owned by the Forestry Commission. Rights of way and public footpaths would continue to be protected and as most woods and forests form part of the green belt they will continue to be protected from development. I will post more on the subject on my web site www.anna4broxtowe.com

Arrested people are entitled to their privacy – Private Members Bill.

My Private Member's Bill receives its Second Reading on Friday (February 4th). You may remember I was drawn in sixth place last May and chose my subject at the time - as it happens recent events have made it highly topical.
Towards the end of last year the media reported the arrest of a former teacher in Bristol following the murder of Joanna Yeates; I believe there was a disgraceful media “feeding frenzy” that divulged details of his private life which destroyed his reputation.
In the past, when I worked as a journalist, the reporting of this man's personal life, the slurs and innuendos would not have been published and neither would his name and his address. Unfortunately, the media will not self regulate and so I propose it should be a criminal offence to publish the name or address of an arrested person until such time as he or she is charged. But, my Bill would allow the police, the arrested person or the press to apply to a Judge for leave to print the name and address if it was in the interests of justice or the public interest.
There’s been a healthy interest from the media with reports in most of the national papers and the Nottingham Evening Post. I was also live on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme and did a recorded interview with Radio Nottingham.
I am pleased that The Independent newspaper is backing my bill and I have had emails and phone calls of support including journalists throughout the media. For more details about my Bill please check out my web site www.anna4broxtowe.com and Parliaments web site
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmbills/009/11009.i-i.html
Stapleford Walk In Centre
On January 13th, I went to the first meeting as part of the consultation about the future of the Walk In Centre which is highly valued by people in Stapleford and other parts of Broxtowe . I have written to the PCT about a number of matters that are causing considerable frustration to campaigners, notably our desire to obtain a full breakdown of the £860,000 a year the PCT pays for the service. On a more positive note it seems local GP’s are now making a concerted effort to improve the service they offer to people in the event of the walk-in centre closing. However, I remain opposed to the closure of the walk-in centre.

As residents of Stapleford will know the Care Centre, or LIFT building, was built a few years ago at a cost of £11.4 million and was intended to house various organisations and services. Unfortunately the building is one third empty and to compound matters, the building was constructed as a result of a PFI agreement which will run for at least another twenty years at considerable cost to the tax payer - full or empty. In relation to the future of the Care Centre building we need a radical approach to make full use of it, to include not just the borough and county council but the police, local businesses, charity and voluntary organisations. I have discussed the future of the Centre with the PCT and others; my aim now is to bring everyone together and make the building work for the benefit of the people who have to pay for it!

Anthony Giles
Thank you to everyone who helped bring Anthony back from Thailand. Anthony has now been discharged from the QMC and is back home in Stapleford.

Rumbletums Community Café, Kimberley
I am more than happy to give a plug for a really excellent idea that is getting off the ground. The idea came from parents at the Foxwood Foundation School and Technology College in Bramcote which is a special school for children aged from 3 to 19 who have moderate to severe learning difficulties and, in some cases, additional physical disabilities. The difficulty is that there is shortage of post 19 training opportunities so, in the words of Jeff Buck who is working hard on the project, “we decided to set up a not-for-profit community café project to offer supported training and employment opportunities for those young people who wanted them.” Rumbletums is the result and they have started the project at The Hub in Kimberley on the corner of Victoria and Newdigate Street. Notts County and Broxtowe Borough Councils have offered help and support and other organisations are interested. If you want any more info or feel you could help in some way please let me know and I will put you in touch with Jeff and the team.

Chinese New Year Celebrations – Beeston, Saturday February 5th
The celebrations begin in Beeston Square from 10am on Saturday February 5th and continue throughout the day ending at Bartons from 1pm until 4pm where there will be all manner of events including performances, artwork and stalls. Beeston is rightly proud of its Chinese community and I am looking forward to visiting the Chinese School having met the head Dr Yi Wang. I will be attending the start of the celebrations before my advice surgery in Nuthall on Saturday.

Chetwynd Barracks Development / Chilwell Meadows
The work on making good the roads and pavements is (finally) underway and I am hopeful the tarmac will soon be laid. I have had a few complaints and requests from residents in relation to aspects of the work and am liaising with the lead builder to try and resolve them.

Advice Surgery details.
If you would like to attend one of my advice surgeries then please contact me by email (anna.soubry.mp@parliament.uk) or by ringing Rebecca at the constituency office (0115 9436507)
Feb 5 Nuthall
Feb 12 Stapleford
Feb 26 Kimberley - this will be a drop in surgery. More details nearer the time.
March 4 Toton
March 19 Beeston

Meetings
Many thanks to everyone I’ve met up with in the last few week, notably my sincere thanks to all the soldiers , service personnel and families I met on my visit to Chetwynd Barracks. Chetwynd is right to be proud of its support and training for TA and Reservists going out to serve with 49 Brigade and the rest of our troops in Afghanistan.
I met with staff at Boots and inevitably talked about the need to improve the A453 and the work place parking levy – I continue to campaign for the former and against the latter!
In the next few weeks I am meeting with traders on Beeston/Chilwell High Road in particular to talk about compensation as a result of the planned tram works. I have met with a representative of Beeston's BID who have my support in their efforts to make the town a great place to shop, work and live.

Cossall and Trowelll Open Cast Mining
I am delighted that Kimberley Town Council has agreed to make money available to fight UK Coal’s plans for open cast mining at Cossall/Trowell and hope other parish councils will follow suit. I’m arranging another meeting with elected representatives from parish, town, Borough and County Councils in the next few weeks. As soon as we have fixed a date for a public meeting I will let you know.

Cuts in public expenditure and our Library service

Notts County Council have announced a stepping back from the proposed cuts in Library opening hours and I would like to think that my representations on the subject have had some bearing on the decision. Toton Library was set to have its hours reduced to just over eight a week and that has now been doubled.
I try to make my email newsletters non partisan but I think there is a need to remind us all of a few facts. In the run up to last year’s General Election all three political parties agreed the deficit had to be reduced as a matter of priority and that public spending would accordingly have to be cut. Labour would have made cuts of 20% and would have included the NHS, Education, the police and defence in their cuts programme.
You may remember Alistair Darling's predictions that Labour would make cuts greater than "Thatcher" and that we faced severe economic times on a scale not seen in 70 years. The deficit is Labour’s legacy and was caused not just by a worldwide economic crisis but significantly, by massive overspending by the then Government fuelled by debt. That’s why our deficit is the largest of any of the countries in the G20.

The Colaition Government has been forced to make cuts in public expenditure, however spending on the NHS will rise, spending on schools has been ring fenced and defence has been cut by 8% over four years.

Nationally and locally Labour are suffering from a huge dose of amnesia! Bizarrely, in Broxtowe Labour activists give publicity and support to organisations opposed to all cuts in public expenditure.

Nottinghamshire has 61 Libraries compared to Derbyshire and Leicestershire which have 42 each. Notts is not closing any Libraries and whilst I remain concerned about the proposed cuts in opening hours at Toton, Inham Nook and Stapleford - Beeston is set to lose five hours a week leaving a total of over 50 hours.

Prisoner voting rights

There is widespread opposition to prisoners being given the vote. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR, which is nothing to do with the European Union or the Human Rights Act) made a ruling five years ago that the longstanding principle was illegal. The last Government put the issue not so much on the back burner as off the hob. In the meantime solicitors signed up clients in custody to pursue compensation from the Government for being denied the vote. Any such actions could cost us many millions of pounds so the Coalition Government has decided to sort out the matter once and for all.
There’s been talk of allowing prisoners sentenced to less than four years the vote but denying it to ones serving over four years. There appears to be no logic to determining four years as the “cut off” as the previous distinction between prisoners who received under or over four years was abolished some time ago.
With considerable reluctance I accept we are bound by the judgment – though I believe it is wrong that the ECHR can, in effect, determine the matter and not Parliament. I am currently working with colleagues to find a solution to the problem and at the moment very much favour a proposal from fellow barrister Robert Buckland MP that anyone sentenced to a custodial sentence in the Crown Court would lose their right to vote. I would greatly appreciate your views on the issue – and your ideas as to how this tricky matter might be solved.


Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

Thank you again to everyone who has emailed me on this subject. The scheme cost over half a billion pounds a year and was available to 16-18 year olds in households with incomes up to 30,800 a year. The last Government commissioned a survey of youngsters who received EMA and discovered that 9 out of 10 of those young people would have gone into further education with or without EMA. So there were real concerns that EMA was an expensive scheme that wasn’t targeting young people from the poorest of households. The Coalition will abolish the scheme and replace it with a scheme that makes sure those youngsters who face genuine barriers to participation in education get the financial support they need. Please email if you would like to know why I support the Government's policy on EMA and please tell me your views on the subject. I would particularly like to hear from youngsters and their families who currently receive EMA.

The future of the NHS

Yesterday saw the second reading of the health and Social Care Bill, which I supported. It was an interesting debate and especially as the majority of MP’s who spoke with a background of working in the NHS were from the Government benches. I do believe the NHS needs reform and that transferring the power and responsibility for decisions about NHS services into the hands of doctors and nurses at the frontline will deliver considerably improvements and reduce costly bureaucracy. It means that in Broxtowe the well established North West Notts GP consortium will manage and control the money and decisions to deliver the very best care and treatment their patients need and want throughout Broxtowe. Please let me know if you would like more details as to why I support the reform of the NHS.

If you have an issue of concern, a point of view, or I can help in any way then please contact me.

As ever,
Anna

Citizens Advice Bureau/ Chetwynd Barracks Development/ Toton Trees December 17th deadline

29th November 2010

Hello again,

I would like to thank everyone who has contacted me with invitations to meetings and events. I enjoy “getting out and about” meeting, listening and talking with constituents as it’s one of the most enjoyable and important roles of an MP. Please call the constituency office or email me if you have an invitation.

I appreciate the “festive season” seems to arrive earlier every year but the various Christmas lights switch on’s at Kimberley and Beeston, this weekend don’t seem a day too early given the snow and frost!

As ever,
Anna

Broxtowe Citizens Advice Bureau

I have added my name to the long list of people very concerned about the future of the Citizens Advice Bureau in Broxtowe and accordingly appeared on yesterdays (Sundays) BBC East Midlands Politics Show. This outstanding organisation is part of a nationwide service that has been helping people with a variety of problems for over seventy years; the vast majority of its advisors are volunteers with a small and dedicated staff who provide invaluable training and support.

Notts County Council , like all Councils, is having to make huge savings, some of which will be ploughed back into the protection of children. However, Notts have proposed a two third cut in the contribution they make to CAB’s throughout the County. This will have a profound effect on Broxtowe’s CAB which heavily relies on the County Council for funding .

I have made a submission in support of the CAB as part of the “consultation” process and have written to, and have met with, the Justice Secretary, Ken Clarke MP who spoke in Parliament the other week about the need to retain the services provided by the CAB. I have also spoken to Francis Maude about whether the £100 million transition fund the Government has established, can be used to help the CAB should their budget be radically reduced.

Toton trees – December 17th deadline to fight the appeal

I do a separate email newsletter to constituents who are particularly keen to protect land at Toton Sidings/Fields , especially after the trees at the Sidings were decimated earlier this year, so scroll on if you have already read the following. The Forestry Commission (FC) has appointed the appeal committee to consider the owners appeal against the re-stocking notice and people can make their submissions. The FC has said

"All correspondence, anecdotal evidence and photographs that we have received to date will be forwarded onto the committee. If however you wish to make further representations to the committee, I would ask that you do so either by letter and send to the address (below) or by email and send to the email address (below). All details must be received by Friday 17th December, to be sure that they can be passed to the committee in time for them to read, prior to the date they are due to hear the appeal.”

the postal address is

The Forestry Commission East Midlands Region, Edwinstowe, Mansfield, Notts

the email address is

eastmidlands.fce@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

If you would like to receive my Toton Trees email newsletter please let me know.

I am very pleased that TEPS has agreed to apply for Village Green status; they are asking people to help them in the process and need to establish the land has been used by members of the community for all manner of activities over the last twenty years.
If you can help in any way or want more information then please let me know.

Chetwynd Barrack Development/Chilwell Meadows/Kings Lodge

I chaired a meeting between the builders, officers from Broxtowe Borough Council and Councillor David Watts; the result was a pledge from the builders to start work on the pavements and general “street scene” on December 6th (a letter to this effect from the builders is being delivered to homes throughout the development).

The all important work on completing the spine roads and other unadopted roads is due to start in the New Year and, on the basis the weather we are currently experiencing eases up (!) , will be finished at the end of February.

I have already informed residents in detail in a separate email newsletter (please let me know if you would like to receive it), that there are still a number of matters to be finalised, but it really does seem this is the beginning of the end of this unfortunate saga.

My thanks to Ruth Hyde, the Chief Executive at Broxtowe Borough Council and to Cllr. David Watts for arranging the meeting and for their support.

Surgeries

My remaining surgeries for this year are pretty much fully booked but there is always room for an emergency and I continue to do home visits. I am in Nuthall this Friday and in Beeston on December 18th. Please email or call the constituency office if you would like to attend an advice surgery.

St Mary’s Church, Greasley

Saturdays Victorian Market was a great success and I also enjoyed the exhibition of mining photographs in the Church. All the lead was stolen from the roof and water is beginning to seep into the fabric of the building. The Church has decided there is little point in replacing the roof with lead as the fear is it will be stolen again; they are left trying to raise around £20,000 – all and any contributions much appreciated.

FYI The Christmas Carol Concert is on Thursday December 9th which I plan to attend

Speed dating/ Award ceremony George Spencer Academy

Along with a number of other MP’s and Peers I took part, last week, in a political “speed dating” event. Groups of sixth formers had 7 minutes or so to fire questions at a politician and then move on to the next table. George Spencer Academy had provided one of the biggest groups for the event which was organised through the Parliamentary Education Service. PES offers a wide range of excellent services to schools providing tours of the House of Commons and first class educational “packs” (they can also help with transport costs). Bramcote Hills has already visited the House of Commons and I very much hope all schools throughout the constituency will use the service. Visit http://www.parliament.uk/education/ or drop me an email if you would like your school

Finally, just a quick congratulations to George Spencer on their excellent awards ceremony. It was a great evening with the photographs of the staff and award givers (including the MP) when we were considerably younger, taking second place to the achievements of the pupils!

Tram – Neville Sadler Court/ Sandby Court

I have attended residents meetings at both Neville Sadler Court and Sandby Court in Chilwell.
Neville Sadler has faced the prospect of being partly demolished to make way for the tram for many years now and Sandby Court will view the tram at very close quarters.
Nottingham City Council anticipate a contractor will be in place sometime next year but as yet there is no meaningful timetable as to when we can anticipate the work will begin. This of course presupposes the current administration retains power in the Council House and they can either reduce the costs and/or raise more money locally to fund it!
I appreciate that many people welcome the tram, but, we shouldn’t forget those who stand to lose their home or have it changed in some way.
As your MP I am determined to do all I can to make sure the adverse effects of the building of the tram are properly and fully mitigated. Today I continued that process with a meeting with the Housing Association that runs Neville Sadler Court.

Bramcote Sunken Church/Honorary Freeman and an Alderman.

My thanks to everyone who gave me a fascinating guided tour of the Old Church Tower and grounds on a freezing Friday morning! I am particularly looking forward to next December when it will form part of the villages plans to stage a “living Nativity”.
The chill helped wake me up after the previous nights celebrations in Beeston. The Borough Council admitted as Honorary Freeman of the Borough, Paddy Farrell, Ghulam Mayauddin, Roy Plumb, Brian Sanders, Colin Slater MBE, Peggy Wainwright and Bill Wheatley MBE. Bob Lilley was made an Alderman. Each, in their own way, has served their local communities or the Borough at large for many years and my congratulations to them all.

Source: www.anna4broxtowe.com

Toton Library/Stapleford walk in centre/Car Park Charges/Cossall open cast

Friday November 12th

Hello again,
I have quite a lot of information and news so I thought I’d get straight down to business!

Remembrance Sunday

I will be attending the civic ceremony in Beeston on Sunday morning and am grateful to various Councillors and other constituents who have kindly agreed to lay a wreath on my behalf at some of the other services taking place throughout the constituency.
I do hope everyone will pause at 11 am and remember all those who have, over the years made the ultimate sacrifice in our name and for our freedom.
We will also remember all the men and women who have been injured in the service of our country in the various wars and conflicts.

Royal Legion in Beeston

I am pleased the sign to the Legion has been restored and thanks to County Councillors Jackson and Carr for getting the job done.

The Frankie Martin (Jock) Help For Heroes Tour
I want to congratulate Kimberley’s first rate crooner, Frankie Martin ( aka Jock) who is touring the pubs of Britain and raising tens of thousands of pounds for Help For Heroes.
This year long tour, will finish next spring in Kimberley and I’ll not hesitate to plug it nearer the time. Jock has a fabulous voice and it was a pleasure to watch him perform the other week in the Queens Head as part of British Pub Week.

Toton Library

Thank you to everyone who has contacted me about the planned reduction in hours. I have already contacted Notts County Council.
I want to know on what basis the hours have been reduced from 34 a week to 10 and whether users have been properly and fully consulted. Please contact me if you are a user of the Library and share the concerns of others.

Open Cast plans at Cossall/Trowell

My thanks to all the Parish, Village and Town Councillors who came along last Sunday morning for a meeting about the anticipated application by UK Coal for an open cast mine on the edge of Cossall and Trowell.
I also invited the Borough and County Councillors from all the wards which will be affected should UK Coal be successful. We agreed to attack the plans on various levels and that we should work together.
We also agreed to hold a public meeting in Trowell if an application is made. I will of course keep people informed via this email newsletter and my web site.
This issue does not just effect the people of Cossall and Trowell because the planned route for the 8 coal truck movements an hour, is up to Nuthall on the A6002 then on to the M1 and then to the Radcliffe on Soar Power Station on the A453.
This is why I have already spoken to the MP for Nottingham South and North West Leicestershire and have contacted the various Councils on the route.

Stapleford Walk-In Centre

The consultation process has begun in relation to the future of the Walk-In Centre in Stapleford. The electronic method is via the Nottinghamshire PCT web site via this link.
http://www.nottspct.nhs.uk/component/content/article/78-news/682-launch-of-review-into-nottinghamshires-walk-in-centres.html
I have asked for a meeting with the PCT and am particularly keen to discuss the issue of funding. I am really not convinced this is an argument about money but more an argument about how to provide great services that patients want.
I cannot urge people strongly enough to make their voice heard directly to the PCT, I will certainly represent the views of constituents the PCT need to know just how many and how much people appreciate and want the Walk-In centre.

Chetwynd Barracks Development/ Chilwell Meadows

The preliminary work appears to have begun!
Builders William Davis have put up the money to survey the sewers and the drains and I had a report today (Friday) that the CCTV cameras and other equipment is on the development.
I am meeting with interested parties next week with a view to getting a commitment as to when the completion work will begin and when it will finish.
Meanwhile, I supported a Bill in Parliament which would go a long way to making sure builders construct roads and pavements as a large develop is built as opposed to waiting until the last house is sold.
Would anyone with a gripe/complaint/moan which they wish me to raise with the builders please email at anna.soubry.mp@parliament.uk

Car Park Charges

I have little doubt this issue is far from going away as a number of Borough Councillors might prefer! I am collecting a dossier of complaints from people fed up with their residential roads being used as an extension of the Borough Council car park and people who have been penalised for not buying a ticket for the first free hour!
I will send your complaints to the leader of the Borough Council and ask him, please, to review the policy and let us know if the money being raised by this bad idea, is on or off target.
I ‘m sorry this is a party political issue in the constituency but the policy was proposed by Labour and Lib Dem Councillors who control the Council and was opposed by Conservative Councillors.

Notice Board

Drop In Advice Surgery

I am holding a “walk in” advice surgery on Saturday November 20th at Chilwell Community Centre between 10 am and midday. You don’t need an appointment to come and see me for advice. I am holding surgeries around the constituency so if you live in the Chilwell area and need some help I look forward to seeing you.
Happy Birthday to the Rycroft Judo Club who celebrate their 50th Birthday on Saturday 20th November. I’m looking forward to the celebrations.

Have you a property available to Let?

St John’s College Nottingham regularly requires 3-4 bed properties in good repair and decorative condition to rent to our students in commuting distance to the Bramcote area, mainly to accommodate couples or families with school age children. There is an introduction charge and a cost associated with our managed housing scheme. If you have or know of quality housing available for rent in our area from September 2011 (particularly Bramcote, Beeston, Chilwell, Long Eaton, Toton, Stapleford), please send details to Paul Stuttle - email bursar@stjohns-nottm.ac.uk or contact him on 0115 968 3206.

And finally

There has been an amount of what can at best be called “nonsense” about what I did or did not say in Parliament about how many letters I did or did not receive from postal workers at the Beeston sorting office.
If you would like to know the accurate version please contact me!
I think matters can be best summed up in this way. Today, over two weeks after a debate about the future of our postal services and post offices I received a letter posted by the Communications Workers Union and written on behalf of one of their members which had been sent to me instead of to their Lincolnshire MP who has an NG post code.
When I was a shop steward if I had run a campaign as inefficiently as the CWU’s effort not only would my members have wanted some of their subs back I don’t think I would have lasted long in the role.
Most importantly it’s unfortunate the debate about the future of Royal Mail has been forgotten. Having heard Vince Cable on the subject I am in no doubt the Postal Services Bill, which was first put forward by the last Government is indeed the best way to secure the future of the workforce at the Beeston office, their pensions and the universal service they currently provides.
The Bill will also ensure no more Post offices are closed and my only regret that the Bill has come too late to save the three Post offices that were shut in Broxtowe in 2008/9.

Contact Anna either at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA
or at Barton House, 61 High Road, Chilwell NG9 4AJ
0207 219 7211 or 0115 9436507

Source: www.anna4broxtowe.com

The Tram/Stapleford walk in centre/Cameron and Clegg/Toton trees/Cossall open cast

October 25th 2010

Hello again,

Thank you to everyone who contacted me with their comments on the Governments plans to change Child Benefit. Most people agreed that I could pass on their emails or letters to both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer and I will let you know of their responses.
We are receiving an unprecedented number of emails at the moment which means our turn around is not as swift as we had hoped. Personal emails tend to get a personal reply and people with genuine emergencies and immediate need get priority.
I do read all my emails and welcome your comments - so keep them coming!
As ever,
Anna

The tram – Is it a Green or an Amber?

Last week the Coalition Government gave the green light to the tram; or was it more amber?

I won't pretend the announcement was not a surprise and tinged with disappointment as so many people in Broxtowe have campaigned for a long time against the route through the constituency. Following my meeting with the minister, Norman Baker I knew the Government was settled on the route and it was the route I had always opposed. However, I didn't think the country could afford to fund the tram and I am opposed to Nottingham City Councils work place parking levy from which they plan to raise a significant part of their contribution. I certainly am in favour of using any available public money to fund the desperately needed dualling and improvement of the A453.

The Government has approved the funding mechanism for the tram extensions with the caveat that officials will meet urgently with the City Council to make sure the project is "delivered affordably". Given many people are not quite sure what that actually means and given the real need of people on the route to know when they will lose their home or business, I have put down a question for the Secretary of State asking him for clarity.

If I am pulled out of the ballot, I will let you know the answer.

Stapleford walk in centre / meeting with the town council.

It was a pleasure to attend Friday evening’s town council meeting in Stapleford. We discussed a number of matters notably the threat to the Walk In Centre in the town.

The public consultation begins on November 1st. Users of the service can complete a feedback form on line by visiting the PCT web site at www.nottspct.nhs.ukon

Please also send your comments to me – I am compiling a “dossier” which will form part of my submission. The consultation finishes in February and includes a public meeting.

The Lib Dems in Stapleford have started up a facebook campaign www.facebook.com/sswic?ref=ts&v=wall . They already have over 600 supporters and I would urge people to sign up.

Cameron and Clegg at George Spencer Academy

I got a call last Wednesday from David Cameron’s office saying that he and the Deputy Prime Minister wanted to hold a PM and Deputy PM Direct in Broxtowe and could I suggest a venue. I didn't hesitate in suggesting the George Spencer Academy.

I was then sworn to secrecy and that was pretty much the end of it until I was told many hours later to get there for 12 on Thursday - if I could persuade the whips to give me a day "off" .

These “PM Direct” events are genuine question and answer sessions from the public - party workers and members are banned. I got a few minutes with David Cameron considerably less (quite rightly) than the staff and a small band of pupils. The schools politics students were in the audience and asked two first class and tricky questions! It was a great event and everyone connected in whatever way with George Spencer should be seriously proud of the staff and pupils. I anticipate a video of the “PM and DPM Direct” will soon be posted on the No.10 web site.

Toton Trees

I have now heard from the Forestry Commission about the basis on which the owners of the land are appealing against the restocking notice. I will send out a more detailed email to residents (please let me know if you would like to receive it) .
In short the owners objections to the restocking notice is that it is neither "in the interests of good forestry" nor in the interest of "local amenities of the district".
I would urge everyone who knows the area or who uses it in any wayto write or email the Forestry Commission as a matter of some urgency.
Letters should be sent to;

Richard Barker,
Forestry Commission,
620 Bristol Business Park,
Coldharbour Lane,
Bristol, BS16 1EJ

Or by email to richard.barker@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

My advice is to express how you use the area, what the trees meant to your enjoyment of the area and to the community and area at large. To some extent there is a need to address the more technical side of the appeal – and I will certainly make representations on those points (as much as I can). As I said if you would like the full details of the appeal please email me as a matter of urgency. I will also post the details on my web site.

Cossall Open Cast

I went to the UK Coal Exhibition at Awsworth. I find the prospect of a 300 acre open cast mine horrifying and the proposed route for 8 “movements” of HGV’s appalling.

The route is under the M1 across Trowell Moor, up the A6002 to the Nuthall Roundabout , out to the M1, down the M1 to the junction with the A453 and onwards to Radcliffe on Soar power station.

There are many fronts on which to attack the plans – the route being a primary one.

I have invited all Parish, Borough and County Councillors for the affected areas to a meeting, along with the County Councillor responsible for Highways and the leader of Broxtowe Borough Council.

In the meantime there are already various campaigns springing up which I hope the group set up after the public meeting we held earlier this year, will co-ordinate.

I have met with the North West Leicestershire MP to discuss the application in his constituency and his plans for a Private Members Bill to create a 500 metre “buffer zone” between any opencast and residential homes.

We are in the early stages (UKCoal have yet to make the application) in what I anticipate will be a long hard campaign.

Parliamentary work

At the moment we are debating the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill which has moved into the Committee Stage. The bill reduces the number of MP’s, which I support and will allow a referendum on changing our voting system. I am in favour of the referendum but not in favour of the AV system (which in my view will not deliver proportional representation in any event). The Justice Select Committee meets every week and is occasionally televised.
Tomorrow (Tuesday October 26th) I will be attending a meeting we have arranged between the leader of Broxtowe Borough Council, The Cheif executive and Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Contact Anna either at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA
or at Barton House, 61 High Road, Chilwell NG9 4AJ
0207 219 7211 or 0115 9436507

Source: www.anna4broxtowe.com

Severn Trent/Toton Trees/Open Cast Meetings/Stapleford Walk In Centre

16th October 2010

Hello again,

Just a few matters before what is going to be an eventful week.
On Wednesday the Chancellor will announce the results of the Coalition Governments Comprehensive Spending Review which will no doubt contain some of the most extensive cuts in public expenditure for decades. It is to be hoped the announcements will be fair and I would urge everyone to remember that these difficult decisions are the result of the deficit the Government inherited rather created.

Burst water main
Severn Trent have repaired the burst main and water has now been restored to the many thousands of homes in Bramcote, Chilwell, Toton and Stapleford many of which were without water for twenty four hours. Of particular concern is the fact that some homes on Ilkeston Road were flooded. I’ve had a number of complaints that Severn Trent’s web site postings were inadequate and the emergency phone line lacking in updates (I think the first message said water supplies in Basford and Clifton had been affected !). I will pass on these complaints to Severn Trent.

Toton Trees
It’s not come as a surprise that the owner of the land who destroyed the much loved trees by Toton Sidings has appealed against a Forestry Commission re-stocking notice. The owner has instructed a barrister who specialises in the law concerning trees, which is not good news but contrary to some reports we have a month to make submissions. What is vital is that we concentrate on the grounds of the appeal. The Forestry Commission will tell us what they are and they will give us a “steer” as they put it, on what the appeal committee will be looking to hear in our submissions (and I will of course forward on this information to everyone).

My advice is to wait before making any submission for the FC’s advice. But If, you cannot wait then please write to Richard Barker, Forestry Commission, 620 Bristol Business Park, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1EJ.

I will post any updates on my web site. www.anna4broxtowe.com

Cossall open cast mining application/UK Coal meetings tomorrow and Thursday

Just a reminder that the UK Coal “Public Information and Consultation Exhibition” will be held tomorrow (Sunday) at Trowell Parrish Hall (10am -2pm) and on Thursday October 21st at Awsworth Parish Hall from 4pm until 8pm .

I have spoken with the MP for North West Leicestershire, Andrew Bridgen where a similar application is still being considered two years on. I have pledged Andrew my full support for his private members bill to outlaw open cast mining within 500m of residential homes.

Again I will post any information or updates on the web site.

Leicester Housing Association

I am very grateful to Councillors Steve and Barbara Carr for informing me about some long standing problems residents of Leicester Housing Association have encountered – notably leaseholders being saddled with what appear to be overly high service charges. If you have a complaint about LHA or have had similar problems with service charges I would very much like to hear from you. Please email me and be assured that unless you indicate to the contrary, your complaint will be dealt with in confidence.

Stapleford Walk in Centre

Many thanks to everyone who has emailed me thus far with their comments on the threat to Stapleford Walk-In Centre please keep them coming. I can assure you this is not a “Tory cut”; Nottinghamshire PCT has made it quite clear that they are making savings of £80 million based on changes to their budget imposed last year.

Many people have expressed their dismay that the LIFT centre in Stapleford is going to continue to cost a huge amount of money whether the Walk In centre remains or goes. This is because it was built using a PFI agreement, something the last Government was keen to encourage. The PCT believe it would be a better use of public money to move the Walk-In facility to the QMC even though the building will continue to cost the tax payer even if it remains three quarters empty!
From a users perspective the walk-in centre is a great service and its loss will be acutely felt by people throughout Stapleford,Bramcote, Toton and Chilwell as I know from the emails I have received.

I will represent your views to the PCT without hesitation and I am meeting Stapleford Town Council on Friday evening to work with them in their efforts to save the centre.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend,

Anna

The Kimberley brewery site, Stapleford Walk-in Centre, Boots Job Losses

7th October 2010

Hello again and apologies for the daily email newsletters but there is a great deal going on!

The Kimberley brewery site

I was contacted yesterday (Wednesday) morning by Greene King who asked me to keep the following to myself until they had completed their discussions with tenants in houses connected with the Kimberley Brewery Site.

Greene King have decided to sell the former brewery site at public auction in December and some of the properties will be divided into lots. Most notably the homes will be sold in a separate lot.

Most of the occupants of the houses do not have protected tenancies and are on six month leases. I have already been contacted by one householder who like many other tenants is very concerned about their family’s future. I am aware that there has been a lot of talk in the past about how tenants can be protected with speculation about housing associations or co-operative housing schemes buying the homes and letting them back. A lot of talk but no results.

What hasn’t been explored is whether the existing tenants can form themselves into a housing association and be part of some scheme to buy the houses as a whole or in part. I have suggested we at least explore this and that work has begun.

The brewery closed almost three years ago and has lain empty ever since becoming a target of vandals and thieves , lying unkempt and a rather depressing sight. It needs to be bought by someone with a vision of a place that will be considerably more than housing development. I will be campaigning for the site to be a mix of homes, business and community facilities. It really could be a very exciting venture bringing much needed jobs back into Kimberley.

Stapleford Walk-In Centre

Nottinghamshire PCT have announced that their “preferred option” is to close the
Stapleford Walk-In Centre and move the service to the Accident and Emergency
Department at the QMC . Under the last Government Notts PCT had restraints placed on its budget which means they must make savings of £80 million in the next two years. The PCT believe it makes monetary and clinical sense to improve services at the QMC by offering a walk in centre there rather than continue the service in Stapleford.

It is undoubtedly the case that many people (12,000) use the Stapleford Walk-In Centre; it is highly appreciated and with good reason. However , people are using it rather than going to see their GP with the result that GP’s throughout Stapleford have empty appointments. People from Derbyshire use the service in considerable numbers and perhaps understandably, Notts PCT is concerned that they are providing a service to Derbyshire residents which they are not funded to do.

My concern is that many thousands of my constituents believe they are going to lose a
highly valued service “on their doorstep” and I will certainly represent their views to the PCT.

I have already contacted GP’s in Stapleford for their views and have had a number of emails from users of the walk in service telling me in no uncertain terms that they want it to remain open!

There will be a 100 day consultation period and I will make a submission representing the views of users of the walk-in centre and the towns GP’s.

I would be very grateful to hear the views of everyone who uses the Stapleford Walk-In Centre. Please email me your comments. I will give an update and more information in my next email newsletter.

Boots job losses

I met with the Chief Executive of the Health and Beauty division of Boots, Alex Gourlay on Wednesday afternoon.

I thought it was a constructive meeting and I was reassured about Boots long term
commitment to the Beeston site.

Mr Gourlay explained that the job losses will fall in three main areas.

1. About 250 jobs will go over a three year period as the company replaces its current
computer systems. Boots have a number of outdated systems that amongst other failings require a large team of staff to input data by hand. This work will go as new £50-100 million system is installed.

2. Integrating businesses bought by Boots has led to a number of project management type jobs which will be phased out as that integration work is concluded. It is however, anticipated that new similar jobs will be created within Boots as the business develops.

3. Twenty management levels will be reduced to eight cutting 200 people in senior
management positions most of whom earn over £100,000 a year. Some of these people will take early retirement or voluntary redundancy.

The loss of so many jobs remains bad news but a significant number of people will continue to be employed by Boots.

We talked about the manufacturing plant at the Beeston site which employs about 2,000 workers and was making a £20million loss three years ago. It is now set to break even this year and that is largely due to the change in working practises agreed with the workforce and the Unions all of whom should be congratulated on turning round this part of the company.

As for the future Alex Gourlay insisted Boots is committed to Nottingham and Beeston. His biggest problem? The “dreadful” transport links to Nottingham. The hours spent by Boots lorries stuck on the A453; the inadequate train service to London and the threat of the work place parking levy.

These are problems that can and must be solved by politicians. I will resist the logical
conclusion that it’s “regrettable” the last Government didn’t sort out the A453 in the
thirteen years it was in power and will certainly continue to lobby for the improvements to be given priority.

As for the work place parking levy – if the City Council insist on imposing it, tram or no tram, it will prove to be a tax on jobs. Successful businesses like Boots do not have bottom less pits of money to throw at schemes that bring them no benefit.

If nothing else I hope this week’s job losses at Boots will serve as a wake up call to the City Council that they must make Nottingham a great place to do business.

As ever,
Anna Soubry

source:http://www.anna4broxtowe.com/images/stories/Kimberley_Brewery_Site_Auction.pdf