Mercy Ships UK

I had the pleasure of meeting Terry Harrison of Melbourne just before Christmas and he told me all about his involvement in an amazing Charity called Mercy Ships.
I have copied their website front page for you to read a taster about their work. I hope you want to find out more so please look them up at www. Mercyships.org.uk and maybe you will be moved to donate.
Terry talks passionately about the work done onboard the ships with lifesaving and enhancing surgery and healthcare.
It is great to meet such committed people. We are so lucky to have people who care so much about other’s lives living here in South Derbyshire.
Mercy Ships UK
Mercy Ships UK is a charity registered in the United Kingdom and governed by a Board of Trustees. The UK Office, based in Stevenage, is part of a global network of offices whose mission is to raise awareness and support for the work of Mercy Ships through fundraising, volunteer recruitment and the procurement of materials and services.
UK Board of Trustees
Lord McColl CBE (Chairman)
Lord Anderson
Suzanne Avery
Henry Clarke
Ruth Guy
Terry Harrison
Jim Paterson
Don Stephens
Dr Keith Thomson (Vice Chairman)
UK Patrons
The Rt Hon John Major CH
Dame Norma Major DBE

Give Blood

Today, 4th December, I joined over 160 other local people in giving blood at Swadlincote Church Hall.

The National Blood Transfusion service regularly use this venue and have a great turnout.

The Nurses will take you through the registration process calmly and thoroughly, at any time that you want to back out even when you are hooked up they reassure you and make you feel you are in charge.

It was an uplifting experience to be part of something that makes our society so special. Individuals, teams from local businesses, all ages and sexes were there.

Look at The National Blood Service - do something amazing give Blood
The National Blood Service web site, do something amazing today - give blood and save a life.


In the run up to the Festive season please see if you can do something, to give a little back, to help keep operations on the NHS running smoothly by giving blood.

It was the most rewarding hour of my day today.

Charles Edward Stuart Society

RE-ENACTMENT AT SWARKESTONE BRIDGE

For a number of years now the Charles Edward Stuart Society have re-enacted a battle that local history says took place at Swarkestone Bridge around the 6th of December 1743. Bonnie Prince Charlie and his forces got as far as the Bridge just south of Derby and lost a skirmish against Government troops. The Duke of Devonshire raised a battalion called the Derby Blues and after the skirmish a meeting was held at Essex House in Derby and the Prince decided to return up north.

The re-enactment was great fun, a good crowd came to watch and I am grateful to Peter Herbert (in the photo) for kindly inviting me along.

I’ll remember the day for a long time and should anyone else come and try and take over our land I think we in South Derbyshire will be ready and able to fight them off successfully again.

EU finally sees sense Misshapen vegetables no longer banned

Hooray finally the EU sees sense and has re-written its rules and will allow misshapen vegetables to be sold and not kept from the market. Below are press releases on behalf of the EU and East Midlands regional Assembly.
I remember reading from our Euro enthusiasts that these rules were figments of us Euro-sceptics imaginations. Well we had to wait a long while but we have been vindicated. Interestingly there are still rules that apply to fruits and of course we have to wait and see what the Labour Government do – will they accept this new ruling as is or ‘gold plate’ it as usual?
Press releases:-
BRUSSELS -- Misshapen fruit and vegetables may be sold across the European Union from next year after member states voted on Wednesday to scrap the bloc's much-maligned standards for size and shape.
Bent cucumbers, nobbly carrots and undersized melons can be sold by retailers from next July following the approval of proposals by the EU's farm chief to ditch EU marketing standards which set permitted sizes, lengths and "bendiness'' for produce.
"This marks a new dawn for the curvy cucumber and the nobbly carrot,'' EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel said in a statement.
She hopes the move will help end years of jibes about EU over-regulation in which European Commission bureaucrats are portrayed as over-zealous, and at the same time provide more affordable fruit and vegetables amid high food prices.
"We simply don't need to regulate this sort of thing at EU level. It is far better to leave it to market operators,'' the commissioner said.
"In these days of high food prices and general economic difficulties, consumers should be able to choose from the widest range of products possible. It makes no sense to throw perfectly good products away, just because they are the 'wrong' shape.''
Wednesday's vote means an end to minimum shapes and sizes for 26 fruits and vegetables, such as aubergines and apricots, cherries, garlic, leeks, peas, spinach and watermelons.
But 10 standards will remain, including those for apples, citrus fruit, peaches, pears and tomatoes. The 10 categories account for three-quarters of EU cross-border fruit and vegetable trade.
However, governments could let shops sell these 10 products as long as they are labelled properly. For example, an apple not meeting the standard may still be sold as long as it is labelled "product intended for processing'' or equivalent wording.


“The Regional Assembly has welcomed the abolition of European size standards for fruit and vegetables, claiming it could boost local farmers and producers.

At the moment, stores reject around 20 per cent of produce, because it does not meet EU marketing standards, which specify shapes and sizes for 27 types of fruit and vegetables.

Today, a European Union committee was due to back European Commission plans to relax the standards, which would enable stores to sell misshapen fruit and vegetables at cheaper prices from June next year.

EMRA’s chairman, Councillor David Parsons, said: “I welcome this very sensible step forward.

“In the current economic downturn, it makes sense, for both producers and shoppers, if perfectly edible but oddly shaped food can be sold at a discount price.”

Remembrance Sunday 9th November 2008

Along with many South Derbyshire Folk and visitors
I attended our remembrance ceremony at the Memorial gates to Eureka Park in Swadlincote this Sunday.
I have been going to this ceremony for years. It is always very moving and is a way of honouring our dead. In South Derbyshire we have such a vivid history of lost service personnel. In recent years we have lost three good men: Moult, Aston and Hylton.

This Sunday the Cadets and band were impeccable. It was a proud moment sharing our thoughts and prayers with families who have lost loved ones and with those who are serving in our Armed forces today.
After the Swadlincote ceremony I went up to Church Gresley and paid my respects there too.

Although it is a sad day I find it both incredibly moving and also uplifting.
Nobody likes war but how proud we are of our people out there putting their lives on the line for us.

HAVE A HEART APPEAL

Helping the homeless


Derbyshire Housing Aid, based in Phoenix Street Derby, launched their ‘Have a Heart’ Appeal today, Tuesday 28th October 2008.

The Patron High Sherriff Lord Ralph Kerr, assorted Mayors, celebrities, Councillors and my fellow Parliamentary Candidates Pauline Latham and Stephen Mold all attended this launch for this excellent cause.

The appeal is to combat homelessness across the county. To help local people in desperate circumstances to change their lives positively.

The appeal funds go directly to extending services for local people in need of food, provisions, shelter, accommodation, and support towards independent living, education and employment, as well as provide essential support ensuring that no one is left in the cold this winter.

Here in South Derbyshire we team up with Derbyshire Housing Aid with their attendance at the CVS offices in Swadlincote one day a week, offering help, advice and signposting to services.

This is an excellent cause and I wish them well.
You can contact them at DHA
Phoenix Street
Derby, DE1 2ER or by phone on 01332 287850 to make a contribution

Photo Heather outside DHA offices in Derby 28th October 2008

Council of Governors for Queen's Hospital Burton Trust

This Thursday (24th October 2008) I attended my first meeting as a Governor of the Council of Governors Queen's Burton Hospital Trust.
There are people representing all the feeder areas that send patients to Burton: Tamworth, Lichfield, Leics and of course Staffordshire. From South Derbyshire we have three other representatives Sheila Jackson (Castle Gresley Parish Council Chairman); Gill Farrington (Swadlincote 50+ Forum Chairman) and Peter Bailey-Bligh from Netherseal. I sit on the Board as the Local Authority representative for SD, NW Leics, Derbyshire and Leics County Councils and will report back to them as the meetings unfold.
I was hugely impressed with the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and our Trust (Company) Secretary who took us through our initial 'need to know' induction process.
We had a chance to meet a number of the Directors and have a taster of their responsibilities and finally the Chief Executive Paula Clark.
The whole process and what the future holds is still awaiting a final announcement about the Hospital receiving Foundation Trust Status. When this hopefully arrives, in the next few days, then the real work begins.
What do we want our Hospital to provide for us? What specialities? What are the priorities for the future?
I am looking forward to being a Governor enormously and will keep you posted on progress.

Meeting with the local National Farmers Union

Following my recent ‘farm walk’ with Angela and Barry Sargent the local NFU kindly invited me to speak to their monthly meeting in the Hawk & Buckle, Etwall.

The Chairman Ian Crabtree and Group Secretary Jim Watt opened the meeting and gave me the opportunity to speak and answer questions for an hour and a half. A really interesting evening.

As I have mentioned before the red tape and regulation that farmers have to follow is horrendous. Comments ranging from caring for wildlife (particularly hedgehogs) to the price of wheat to importing of milk from Europe led to lively discussions.

I was extremely grateful to be able to meet a real cross-section of our local farmers. Without a doubt they love what they do and are stewards of our countryside but my goodness they do not have an easy life.

We left on good terms and hope to continue the dialogue in the coming months.

Party Conference Birmingham 2008

South Derbyshire was well represented at the Party Conference in Birmingham this year with 14 of us attending. A hectic round of catching up with friends, catching up with news and making speeches. I was lucky enough to be asked to take part in the LGIU’s fringe meeting with Eric Pickles. A good crowd found there
way to the Central Library to hear our views on Local Government and Democracy.

Apart from speaking at Fringe meeting I managed to get to talk to Liam Fox and William Hague. Two of our superb front bench spokesmen.

ROSLISTON FORESTRY CENTRE

UPBEAT LAUNCH FOR THE GLADE

Flags, voices and clapping hands were all raised in South Derbyshire on the 12th September at a Last Nights of the Proms concert staged to officially launch Rosliston Forestry Centre’s new outdoor arena, The Glade in the Forest.

Around 150 people enjoyed a feast of music by Newhall Band that invoked national and local pride. Among the prommers’ favourites included in the programme was The Dam Busters March, Elgar’s Land of Hope and Glory and the Radetsky March.

The guests included representatives of the Rosliston Forestry Centre partners – the Forestry Commission, National Forest and South Derbyshire District Council - and organisations including The National Forest Company and Derby and Derbyshire Economic Development Partnership that have helped fund the new facilities, with contributions totalling in excess of £500,000.

As well as The Glade in the Forest, the new features on the award-winning site include new forest lodge accommodation. Our guests at Friday’s celebration were given the opportunity to have a look at these ahead of the concert.

John Foxcroft, Chair of Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership (DDEP), myself and South Derbyshire Chairman Councillor Mrs Ann Hood, carried out the official opening ceremony of The Glade in the Forest.

We cut a ribbon across the stage, after which Newhall Band played a rousing fanfare written specially for the occasion.

Commenting on the evening, Debbie Chesterman, one of the Centre Managers, said: “Rain may have dampened the grass and trees in and around The Glade, but the spirit of the occasion remained very upbeat.

Flooding

Flooding - what can be done?

The issue of flooding and how it devastates families and homes when it happens is upper most in my mind. As you will have read before our Conservative Administration have made sure it stays in the Council’s Corporate Plan and appears in our Budget.

Our Officers have found an amazing product to protect against flooding and we are rolling this opportunity out to the 73 family homes that were flooded July 2007and September 2008.
I was shown an example of how it works on the front door of Mrs Hall in Swadlincote, who kindly agreed to be a guinea pig for the press. The story was taken up by the Burton Mail, Derby Telegraph, Radio Derby and Touch FM. I am grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to get this information out there. Of course it will not stop the rain falling, the water run-off or even the flood but at least we are doing what we can to help protect people.

The article below appeared in the Burton Mail 7th October 2008 and says it all.

Flood victims get protection shields
by JAMES BRINDLE
RELIEF is on the way for householders struck down by flooding as a new protection scheme is to be piloted in South Derbyshire.It was confirmed at a full meeting of South Derbyshire District Council that £10,000 has been allocated to help flood victims to install special shields.Staff at the council are in the process of contacting the 73 residents who have suffered from flooding, both during last month's floods and those in the summer of last year.Those affected will be invited to take part in the scheme to have the door barriers fitted to their homes to protect against flood damage.Residents can put the flood shields - supplied by the council via specialist supplier UK Flood Barriers - on their front and back doors for just £50 per door, directly from the council. The usual price for each door guard is £249.Those claiming certain benefits or who are registered disabled, will have the shields provided at no charge.Council leader Heather Wheeler said: "It's the South Derbyshire way to work with local people to help them to help themselves."Sandbags can do an effective job but these flood shields are even better, as they can be fitted in a few minutes by the resident to help seal up doors and holes in air bricks at flood level."Labour member Trevor Southerd told the council meeting he congratulated Councillor Wheeler on her work at bringing this scheme to the district.He said: "I have to say I think it is a fantastic idea and I congratulate the leader on bringing this forward."I also presume this will affect insurance positively for these homes, so that must be a good thing."Anyone who thinks they may be eligible for the scheme flooding should telephone Tim Summers on 01283 595950 or visit the council's website at www.south-derbys.gov.uk for further information.

New Investment in Swadlincote

Over the last few months we have been working hard to bring forward plans that have been around for a few years to enhance and re-vamp the commercial/retail side of Swadlincote.

I was delighted when the Plans were passed and now, as reported in the article first printed in the Burton Mail 23 September 08, this old neglected end of town looks close to starting to get to get developed.
The credit crunch is no joke but I am determined to bring as much exciting new economic investment to South Derbyshire, in the appropriate places as possible.

Photo of Heather at the old Hepworth site taken by Neil Barker Burton Mail

Retail park talks at advanced stage
by LAURIE DEVITT
SEVEN high-profile retail stores are in 'advanced' talks with developers to fill units at South Derbyshire's multi-million pound leisure complex, it has been revealed.Negotiations between the as yet unnamed stores and developer Rokeby (Swadlincote) Ltd to fill retail space at the 3.6-hectare former Wraggs Pipes and Hepworth site, in Coppice Side, Swadlincote, are nearing completion, say scheme leaders.In July, the Mail revealed how ambitious plans to create a multiplex cinema, bowling alley and dozens of shops, restaurants, cafes and bars - incorporating four of the site's historic buildings - had been approved by South Derbyshire District Council's planning committee.The scheme, which will boost the town's economy by £21 million pounds a year, has made a major potential stumbling block removed after the Government Office of the East Midlands (GOEM) has decided it will not 'call in' the scheme.This is a process whereby the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears, can decide to conduct a planning inquiry if she feels any major scheme conflicts with national policies, could have significant effects beyond its locality, or raises significant architectural and urban design issues.However, Rokeby can now press ahead with the scheme without delay.While the firm's managing director, Adrian Goodall, has declined to name names until the deals are signed and sealed, he told The Mail: "We are obviously very pleased with the Government's decision not to call the scheme in.
"This news gives further confidence to push on with our efforts."Our agents are working very hard to secure tenants and are in detailed discussions with seven different parties."A spokesman for the firm said if the scheme had been called in, it would have almost certainly spelled disaster for the site, meaning 'advanced' negotiations with retailers would have to be abandoned and started from scratch.District council leader Heather Wheeler said the news gave hope for the site's future."While it recognises how difficult economic times are, our council works very hard with partners to bring the best results for everybody in the area," she said."It is this 'can do' attitude that means we are so far bucking the trend and are being successful in welcoming new investment to the area."We very much look forward to this development starting as soon as possible."

Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning

The local Citizens Advice Bureau, with CVS, invited me along to their office in Swadlincote for the ‘Macmillan World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ Friday 26th September.
Graeme Royall, the Manager and the team of volunteers welcomed everyone to this very special event which I was happy to support.

Being even handed later in the day I popped into the event being held at the Pirelli Stadium and met up with more generous South Derbyshire folk, all happily giving their time and money for this good cause.

Well done to everyone involved.

Visit to Barry and Angela Sargent’s farm in Ashe, near Etwall

Baldfields Farm

Angela invited me for a farm walk and to talk through issues local farmers are worrying about here in South Derbyshire. She and Barry have around 250 acres to farm and choose to vary each year between arable, pasture and rearing beef, sheep and pigs.

In an idyllic setting Angela also finds time to write articles on farming life and is building up a ‘buy their meat business’ too. As well at that they are heavily involved with the local NFU and following this visit I have been invited to attend their NFU meeting in the future.

Locally we have lived through Foot & Mouth, TB rearing its devastating head and blue tongue too. Farming the land means so much to Barry and Angela that when another load of regulation drops onto them from Europe, gold-plated by Westminster, they almost despair but carry on because it is the right thing to do.

Because we care about where we live, how we live and husbandry of stock have a look at their website http://www.baldfields-farm.co.uk/ and see how special their products are.


Barry and Angela SargentBaldfields Farm, Ashe Lane, Etwall

Website: http://www.baldfields-farm.co.uk/Quality assured, home bred and reared beef and lamb

Suppliers of Prime Local Beef and Lamb in Southern DerbyshireMember of the Countryside stewardship Scheme

South Derbyshire farmers are made of strong stuff, aren’t we fortunate.

St John’s Church Newhall

Sunday saw a special service with Bishop Alistair (The Right Reverend Dr. Alastair Perkins Bishop of Derby) joining the Rev Bob Hollings to celebrate the 175th anniversary of St John’s Church Newhall and in particular the new disabled entrance, ramp and seating.
Friends from the surrounding Chapels joined the congregation for this special event.
The changes are quite remarkable, all the old pews gone now in the main part of the Church. Certainly the congregation were very welcoming and the disabled access made entering the Church very easy.

Hilton Village Celebrates in Autumn sunshine

What an excellent atmosphere on Saturday when I visited the celebrations round the Village Hall and play area.

From Hilton Harriers, the Rotary, the bowls club to the Village Hall Management Team themselves (and many others) everyone was having a good time.
When Bob and I arrived we were told of and could see the crowds of children who had thronged to the open day with face painting, laser games and fun put on with the aid of volunteers and the District Council’s Sports and Youth officers.

Hilton is coping with a huge population growth. It is great to see the community building together to make it a village people really want to live in.
Thank you to the volunteers and particularly my co-councillors Julie and Amy for all their hard work.

HERITAGE WEEKEND

HERITAGE WEEKEND

In South Derbyshire we are very proud to be involved with the English Heritage sponsored ‘Heritage Weekend’ Events were taking place all over the Constituency and I managed to visit a few this time in Swadlincote, Church Gresley and Melbourne on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Friday took me to our Catholic Church St Peter and St Paul's, in Darklands Road, see the report that appeared in the Burton Mail below. On Saturday I visited the ancient church, based on an 11century Priory in Church Gresley (volunteers are hoping to have the Church open regularly on Saturday mornings in the future) and then on Sunday I spent a wonderful few hours on the Festival Trail in Melbourne.

We have so much to be proud of in South Derbyshire. This weekend showed us off at our best, our heritage and the enormous stock of volunteers that make us tick.

This is the report that appeared in the Burton Mail (15/08/09) about Friday’s event in Swadlincote.

Church helps celebrate town's heritage
by JAMES BRINDLE

A SWADLINCOTE church celebrating its 50th anniversary has taken part in a national scheme aimed at promoting English Heritage.St Peter and St Paul's Catholic Church, in Darklands Road, has opened its doors to all-comers during the National Heritage Open Days.Visitors have been able to experience the splendid architecture of the church and visit its war shrine, which dates back to the late-1800s and is still in use for services to the present day.Displays of the parish's history have taken place, as well as walks back through time to discover the church's early origins and what life was really like back then.Younger visitors have had the chance to take part in a history activity quiz based on things they had to look for in the church.Simon Thomas, chairman of the church's jubilee committee, told The Mail the church had seen a lot of visitors, including South Derbyshire District Council leader Heather Wheeler.He said: "It has been absolutely brilliant and it has all gone very well indeed. There has been lots of interest in the church and the community. Visitors have learned a lot by looking at the pictures and displays we have had of the church and the town since the 1800s."We are one of the only churches taking part in this national event in the region, so it is quite unusual. Even more significant for us is that it is the church's 50th anniversary this year."

Generous people – part 2

This time in Repton and this time for Marie Curie On Tuesday 9th September very kindly Sue and Bill Auden hosted a charity fund raiser jazz evening picnic in the marquee at their home in Well Lane, Repton.

The charity was founded 60 years ago with the proceeds of the sale of a donated diamond ring. On hearing the story and from Sue’s many friends a kind person donated another ring for this event’s raffle prize.
The raffle alone raised over a thousand pounds.

A great night, wonderful company, brilliant jazz and gracious hosts that believe in the good cause of Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Ladder to success

I get to be involved in many aspects of life in South Derbyshire but recently with Councillor John Bladen I launched a “replace a dodgy ladder” scheme.

This campaign to save the lives of workers in South Derbyshire by replacing their dodgy ladders has been a success into its second week.
Photo Burton Mail 13th September 2008
Ladder Exchange 2008 has had enquiries about new ladders and general ladder safety since its beginning on September 1.The aim of the campaign is to highlight the risks associated with using a dodgy ladder as well as giving employers the chance to exchange any faulty ladder for a new one, with discounts of up to 50 per cent.Enforcement officers from South Derbyshire District Council are also visiting premises to check ladders and offer advice on ladder safety.I am very pleased that the message is getting through, it is one that could save lives. Organised by the Health and Safety Executive, Ladder Exchange is designed to educate and we much prefer that to enforcement.Falls from height continue to be the main cause of death - and one of the main causes of serious injury - in the workplace.Ladder Exchange hopes to reduce the fatal injury figures which totalled 24 in 2005-06 and 3,351 major injuries as a result of falls from a great height before it ends at the end of the month.Any South Derbyshire employers wishing to find out more about the scheme can contact environmental health technical officer Ruth Boam on 01283 221000

£25m for flood defences in Derby – what does it mean for South Derbyshire

More news on what is happening with new flood protection schemes.
Up by Great Wilne the Trent and the Derwent converge. Because of recent history the Environment Agency have just launched their Strategy to deal with this stretch. It has a huge impact on Shardlow and Ambaston as well as Great Wilne.
FROM 1965 to the present day, the Lower Derwent has a well-documented history of flooding.
But with £25m, the Environment Agency hopes that the havoc wreaked when the 17-mile stretch of water bursts its banks will soon be a thing of the past.
The cash is to be ploughed into flood defences along the Lower Derwent, which runs from Milford to where it meets with the River Trent in Great Wilne.
Work is due to begin in five years and over the next three months the Environment Agency hopes to arm itself with ideas on how to spend the money from people living in the communities affected.
Yesterday, about 80 people attended a meeting to hear more about the Lower Derwent Flood Risk Management Strategy.

We will be putting forward suggestions to ensure people living in the affected areas of South Derbyshire eg Shardlow and Ambaston would be protected from future flooding.
My first impression from the information provided by the Environment Agency was its main priorities seemed to be protecting 3,000 plus homes from the Lower Derwent in Derby city.
As far as south Derbyshire is concerned, we will send in robust replies to this consultation.
This will be done to make sure residents in Ambaston and Shardlow gain as much benefit and do not lose from the proposals.
The existing flood defences along the banks of the river are mainly made up of walls and embankments that were built in the 1960s and 1970s.
There are as yet no firm plans as to what the Environment Agency will do with the £25m.
But among the suggestions it has put forward include increasing the amount of woodland, so the trees can naturally help drain excess water away, replace and raise existing defences, improve the flow of water through railway bridges and improving the existing flood warning system.
Among the ideas it has already dismissed are adding or removing weirs, underwater storage tanks and dredging.
People can found out more about the plans for the Lower Derwent and put forward their suggestions by calling the Environment Agency on 08708 506506 or e-mail enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Flooding - what can be done?

I was called at 7am by my co-Councillor Martyn Ford as the Brook at Pinfold Lane in Repton had burst its banks again and the Lane was flooded.
Our Emergency number at the Council was called and the lads were bringing more sandbags for locals to protect their properties.
Martyn and I were on site at 7.30am and met with the Ladies bagging up the entrances to the United Reform Chapel and the neighbours on Pinfold Lane. The Council lads arrived by 8am and deposited extra bags.
The Brook had begun to subside by then but the rain continued to come down so families were protecting their homes waiting should the Brook rise again.

Frizams Lane and Bakeacre Lane near Findern were also reported for Flooding signs to be put out.

Following the devastation caused by the floods last summer (as shown in attached photo that appeared in the Burton Mail August 2007) we have put in a bid to the Government to organise and pay for flood protection boards for those 75 houses affected in the July 07 floods in South Derbyshire.

The threat of flooding in South Derbyshire has been a high priority for me and our Council, with high level meetings with the Environment Agency, practise Emergency Planning days for staff, and this bid to the Government for storm board protection all undertaken since last summer. There is nothing I take more seriously than the threat of flooding and the turmoil and grief it causes to families in South Derbyshire.

When I have news about the storm boards and the flood defence works in the north of the District I will bring the news to this site.

Generous people - £4,600 raised for St Giles Hospice

In Bretby on Sunday 31st August friends Peter and Paul hosted an amazing Charity Fund Raiser for the St Giles Hospice.
More than 100 friends attended and managed to raise £4,600 and have a wonderful time doing it.
Peter and Paul corralled friends to help cook, serve, sing, play the saxophone and generally eat drink and be entertained in a marquee whilst the great British summer carried on pouring down with rain.
Were we down hearted? No! A great time was had by all and many many thanks to all who worked so hard to produce this great amount of money for our beloved Hospice.

Overseal Memorial Bowls Club – from the Ashes

A VILLAGE bowls club which almost folded after a devastating vandal attack five years ago has literally risen from the ashes.Overseal Memorial Bowls Club is facing the beginning of a new era now, after brand new changing and toilet facilities were finally delivered.The cabins, which were fitted at the Woodville Road club August 22nd, are part of a £25,000 revamp project to rebuild its facilities after they were destroyed by firework-throwing yobs in 2003.
This wonderful project has happened because of so many hard-working volunteers.I understand members were there at 6.30pm the day before to take out the fence so that the crane could get on to the site, and to oversee the laying of the special wooden plates so the lorries wouldn't sink in to the ground. This was after laying the cement corner plinths for the units to be placed on.If that isn't dedication, I don't know what is.
The blaze in 2003, which firefighters believed was started deliberately, destroyed a storage shed containing £30,000 of equipment, including five mowers and fertilisers.The club, which was established in the 1920s and has 30 members, has since been soldiering on without such facilities.Refusing to be beaten, however, its members have been working hard to generate funds for the project, securing £10,000 from the National Lottery, £9,000 from Veolia Environmental Trust's Landfill Communities Fund and £6,000 from South Derbyshire District Council.
Disabled access will be created and the cabins decorated, with completion aimed at the end of November.Club secretary Steve Bigg said: "This fantastic event is the result of a lot of hard work from our members and friends."The installation of the new cabins will mean that we can look forward to future development for the club and work to get the community involved in bowls, as well as accommodate visiting teams." Veolia executive director Margaret Cobbold said: "We are happy to be involved with this project, with its aims of creating new facilities so that bowls players of all ages and abilities can enjoy their game."I look forward to seeing the completion of the project and congratulate the club members on all their hard work so far."

Community Groups in South Derbyshire work so hard to make sure the quality of life is good here. We all fight hard against acts of mindless vandalism and this a great example of the Community fighting back.
The photos show progress from putting down the special wooden slats to help the lorry get to the site, lifting the purpose made units on to the site and the final touch – looking at the inside once they were in position

Gresley Rovers - real football

I have decided to take an advert in the programme for the season at Gresley Rovers.

They are an important part of life in the Urban Core. They have always been run by people who care about the area and particularly the youth teams.

My husband Bob and I queued up to pay at the turnstiles for the first round of the FA Cup to watch the match against Alvechurch.
Gavin Saunders scored the rebound after his spot kick had been saved with Jamie Barrett, David Blenkinsopp and Gavin Lock all adding to the total.
A great result a 4-1 win against the side that at best they had only drawn against before.
So the next round of the FA Cup Sat 13th September against Chase Town.
Come on Gresley Rovers!

If you want to know more about Gresley Rovers check out their website and maybe see you at the Moat Ground http://www.gresleyrovers.com/

Credit crunch 'hits rural areas hardest'

A new report has confirmed that rural areas are being hit hardest by the credit crunch. The Conservative Party has commented to many media sources recently about the economic climate's effect on rural life, with rising fuel costs and related transport and heating woes, high food prices, rural crime including poaching and the continuing lack of affordable housing topping the list of problems faced by our residents. Mirroring our views, price comparison website moneysupermarket.com has published a report comparing urban and rural living costs. The report said. "The Lake District village of Patterdale is 16 miles from the nearest major supermarket, petrol and diesel are around 7p per litre higher than the national average, the average annual salary is £19,200, and council tax is over £1,460 for a Band D property. Contrast this with Edinburgh where supermarkets and petrol stations abound, public transport is plentiful, the average salary is £8,000 higher, council tax is £300 less and homes are gas heated. Barely any of Patterdale's homes have mains gas so heating oil or bottled gas provide the heat but at around double the cost that it was last year." Moneysupermarket.com said that "Over five million households without gas are paying double what they were last year to heat their homes. And this urban-rural divide, sadly, also extends to two of the other essentials of life - food and petrol or diesel. Rural Britain is paying more than urban Britain for its food, petrol and diesel, is travelling further and earning less. This is a crisis that the Government has yet to recognise."

An answer to risking losing local shops is that we would certainly urge everyone to use their village and farm shops to help beat the crunch. Until Gordon Brown’s team leave the stage we are all going to have to tighten our belts. At least he has not found a way to tax fresh air yet!

POST OFFICE CARD ACCOUNT UNDER THREAT

The Post Office Card Account (POCA) is a basic cash account run by the Department for Work and Pensions, which can only receive welfare, state pension and tax credit deposits.

The current Post Office Card Account contract ends in 2010. Gordon Brown’s Government is replacing it with a new contract (so-called ‘POCA2’), but due to EU rules, it has to put the new contract out to competitive tender. The National Federation of Sub-Postmasters has stated that 3,000 post offices will forced to close if the Post Office Ltd loses its contract for the Card Account. The Card Account is used by 4 million people each week to access pensions and benefits.


A Conservative Government will expand and widen the role of POCA, both enabling it to accept additional deposits – including housing benefit and any weekly wages – and create sub-accounts which can be used for direct debit payments on a full range of public and private sector bills, including utilities.

With our under Conservative proposals fees from utility companies for this POCA functionality are projected to generate £20 million in additional revenues for post offices each year. Post Office Ltd makes a saving of approximately £18,000 from the closure of each individual post office. The £20 million of additional revenues could therefore help to keep more post offices open and help suspend Labour’s programme of forced post office cuts.

These plans will also bring in additional revenue for Post Offices, helping maintain our important network and stave off more Labour cuts.

Join our campaign to save the Post Offices, Save the POCA Accounts and help with fuel poverty for those in need.

Swadlincote regeneration starts now

Tuesday 29th July was a very important day for the future of South Derbyshire and Swadlincote in particular.
The Development Control Committee voted in favour of a massive regeneration project on the Hepworth's land. When the project is finished, amongst other attractions, you will not have to go to Burton or Tamworth or Derby for a cinema or shopping.
South Derbyshire has changed and grown in the 20 years our family have been here and now we will see a Town centre that caters for today's and tomorrows needs.
See the article that appeared in the Burton Mail for more on this Click Here

Photo by Neil Barker (Burton Mail) Story By LAURIE DEVITT (Burton Mail)

TOYOTA CITY JUNIOR ORCHESTRA VISITS SOUTH DERBYSHIRE 25TH JULY 2008

What an amazing day Friday was. Toyota City Junior Orchestra visited and played twice, once in historic Melbourne Church and then finished the trip off by playing at the Toyota Plant in Burnaston.

In the morning they played in Melbourne, with Radio Derby there broadcasting interviews about the event. The children were introduced to the High Sherriff of Derbyshire and wife Lord and Lady Kerr, with Lord Ralph resplendent in ceremonial outfit. After the wonderful concert they had lunch at the Melbourne Hall tearooms and visited the beautiful gardens.

They finished the trip to South Derbyshire by playing a concert at the Toyota plant in Burnaston. They played pieces from Benjamin Britten’s Simple Symphony and a Japanese piece called Fantasia Toryanse.

The children very kindly allowed some photos to be taken. They were stunning, gifted, gracious and so talented.

A wonderful day that I would not have experienced if I was not involved in civic life in South Derbyshire. I hope they enjoyed their time with us. I know I enjoyed meeting them.

Photos of the Toyota City Junior Orchestra and one with a few of the young ladies with Heather

By-Election trail Darley Abbey for Derby City Council

Another by-election so out with the Team knocking on doors. This time we helped out in Derby’s Darley Abbey ward. This had in the past been Liberal seat. Our candidate Lorraine was fighting for the 3rd time and we were hopeful that we might squeeze a victory but unfortunately missed out by less than 80 votes.

Interestingly the swings for all the other parties were down and ours was up by over 4%, but not quite enough to take it.

Photo Heather out on the by-election trail

South Derbyshire Economic Development Strategy Launch July 21, 2008

On Monday 21st July we launched South Derbyshire’s Economic Strategy at Tetron Point, Swadlincote, in front of over 130 people.

The purpose of the Economic Development Strategy is to set out an understanding of the economic challenges we face and recognition of the wonderful opportunities available to us. The document incorporates the ideas put forward and developed through completing business surveys and attending focus groups. Involvement of local business, large and small has been crucial in this process and I thank them.

It puts forward our vision for the further development of the District with the attraction of more quality jobs and businesses.

I have visited some of them myself – I went to Star Micronics GB in Melbourne recently to see the computer controlled machines which are manufactured in Japan and sold in the UK and the Republic of Ireland and I made a tour of some of the district’s major names including Futaba, JCB Power Systems, Keystone Lintels, Nestle, Toyota and Zytek and saw their very latest products and production facilities.

In achieving this, we aim to develop the economic well-being of local communities but at the same time never losing sight of the importance of balancing and blending jobs with the environment and the value of South Derbyshire’s wonderful countryside.

I enjoy my role in promoting the economic well-being of South Derbyshire and the District is involved in numerous initiatives that directly contribute to the local economy and workforce of the district.

These include attracting inward investment, providing sites and premises for employment, attracting visitors, supporting business development and carrying out research, feasibility studies and project development.

I have briefly touched achievements, which so far have been significant and far-reaching, but we have much further to go. I believe that businesses and entrepreneurs look to politicians to give them encouragement to make them feel wanted and supported. The right mix of clear plans and warm welcome lets business grow the local economy and enhances the well-being of the District, to everyone’s benefit.

Photo Heather with a JCB Dieselmax engine built at the company's plant on the Dove Valley Business Park in Foston.

Annual Report for South Derbyshire District Council 2008

Click Here for Full Report
Well we have passed the milestone of our first 12 months in running South Derbyshire District Council. We have produced our first (ever!) Annual Report. Please click on the link below and read the contents.
It has been an exciting 12 months. I have learned a lot and the experience has made me more determined than ever that South Derbyshire needs and deserves elected representatives who really know and care about where and how we live. Please feel free to send me feedback about the Report by emailing me at heather@heatherwheeler.org.uk

Welcome to our first Annual Report, which takes a look at what we, your Council, have achieved for you last year and how we plan to make life even better in the coming year and beyond. You can see how your money has been spent and how we have performed against our priorities.
In 2007/08 we were nationally recognised for our improved service, in particular:

• The Audit Commission judged that we were "performing well" in all the ways in which a local authority can use its resources. This is a significant improvement on the previous two years.

• Our Cultural Services were given a "good" two star rating by the Audit Commission following an inspection of our work in tourism, sports, play, heritage, arts and leisure. We were praised for having a strong focus on providing activities for young people and reducing anti-social behaviour as well as improving health.

• The Cabinet Office awarded Charter Mark, which recognises excellent customer service, to Housing Services in 2007. The Charter Mark assessor said that we have "excellent staff who are committed, professional and dedicated to providing a high quality service." This follows the Charter Mark success of Environmental Services in 2006.

• Rosliston Forestry Centre won the Government's Green Flag Award, recognising it as one of the top quality parks and green spaces in England and Wales.

• We were also the first council in Derbyshire to introduce an on-line thermal map so that local residents and businesses can stop expensive heat and damaging carbon emissions escaping from their properties.
This year we have set the lowest Council Tax increase in Derbyshire at 2.5%. The average Council Tax increase in England is 3.9%, with the district average at 3.5%, which also puts us among the lowest in England.
This is our report back to you. We want to work with you to make South Derbyshire a healthier, more prosperous and safer place to live by continuing to offer value for money services.

Henley By-election June 2008

At the interesting Henley By-election I led a team of workers from South Derbyshire.

The Conservative candidate, John Howell, won with a majority of over 10,000.

He received 19,796 votes, while the Liberal Democrat candidate, Stephen Kearney, polled 9,680 votes.

Labour were beaten into fifth place, with their candidate, Richard McKenzie, losing his deposit as he received only 1,066 votes.

It's clear that the New Labour coalition is falling apart.

The British public has sent a message to Gordon Brown to get off our backs, stop the endless tax rises and help us cope with the rising cost of living.

What was even better about this result was that it was run entirely as a "positive" campaign. When we were out on the doorsteps residents were telling us how they wanted to send a message to Brown, ‘it’s time to go’ and to other Parties to stop using negative campaigning, saying that a Candidate from another City was ‘local’ just infuriated them.

Who knows when Brown will go to the Polls but with the state of the economy and for everyone’s sake it can’t come soon enough.


The attached photograph shows me at Conservative HQ in Thame
helping in the by election.

BT 18 proposed sites for removal of PayPhone Boxes

Here is copy of a Public Notice for display in Stanton by Bridge. This is an attempt to get the message across to our community about BT's proposal to remove 18 public payphones that are within the district - these proposals will greatly impact our local area!

URGENT ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC
From District & County Councillors
John Bladen, Heather Wheeler and Martyn Ford
John.bladen@south-derbys.gov.uk & heather.wheeler@south-derbys.gov.uk or martyn.ford@derbyshire.gov.uk

PROPOSED REMOVAL OF BT PAY PHONE BOXES

STANTON-BY-BRIDGE BY STABLE COTTAGE, DERBY ROAD
BT has now started a formal consultation with South Derbyshire District Council & the local community about the proposed removals.

Your District Council is unanimous in its condemnation of the proposals to remove the facility of many Pay Phone Boxes within South Derbyshire. We appeal to all members of our community to join them in raising serious opposition to the proposals. You can do this in one of two ways:

Send your letter of objection to South Derbyshire District Council or e-mail yourviews@south-derbys.gov.uk BY FRIDAY 11th JULY 2008
Write direct to BT PAY PHONES, PP 05A23, Delta Point, Wellesley Road, Croydon, CR9 2YZ or e-mail btp.authorisation.team@bt.com BY FRIDAY 18th JULY 2008

The South Derbyshire District Council website has listed the BT 18 proposed sites for removal as follows:
• James St, Midway, Swadlincote
• Outside Rodney Inn, Main St, Hartshorne, Swadlincote
• Goseley Ave, Hartshorne, Swadlincote
• Junction of Princess St, Castle Rd, Castle Gresley, Swadlincote
• Main St, Church Broughton, Derby
• Outside John Port School, Main Street, Etwall, Derby
• Junction of The Green, Main St, Egginton, Derby
• Main St, Cauldwell, Swadlincote, Derbyshire
• Greenacre Park, Coton In The Elms, Swadlincote
• Main St, Rosliston, Swadlincote
• Coton Park, Linton, Swadlincote
• Outside Post Office, Church Ave, Hatton, Derby
• Junction of Burton Road, Doles Lane, Findern, Derby
• Junction of Broad Lane, Yew Tree Lane, Thulston, Derby
• Outside Shardlow School, Ambaston Lane, Shardlow, Derby
• Outside Stable Cottage, Derby Rd, Stanton By Bridge, Derby
• Outside Leisure Centre, High Street, Melbourne, Derby
• Near Post Office, Main St, Smisby, Ashby De La Zouch
I am very pleased that at the SDDC Full Council Meeting on Thursday 3rd July, the vote was unanimous that our Council should strongly object to the proposed removal of these valuable public amenities.
Please use the contact details shown on the notice to put in your objections too.
BT 18 proposed sites for removal of PayPhone Boxes
Here is copy of a Public Notice for display in Stanton by Bridge. This is an attempt to get the message across to our community about BT's proposal to remove 18 public payphones that are within the district - these proposals will greatly impact our local area!

South Derbyshire is famous for its world-class businesses.

Recently I visited Star Micronics GB in Melbourne to meet the company's managing director Bob Hunt and see the computer controlled machines which are manufactured in Japan and sold in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

This company fits alongside many other multi-national companies locally, at Burnaston the District boasts Toyota's global production centre for the European region. South Derbyshire's Dove Valley Business Park is home to JCB's diesel engine manufacturing plant. Swadlincote is the base for Extec which creates mining and demolition equipment.

Commercial enterprises in South Derbyshire are not limited to just a few major areas. Throughout the District, South Derbyshire offers the right mix of talented people, major road networks and a great environment for a balance between work and life so that businesses are choosing South Derbyshire as their ideal base.

We are committed to developing and expanding our local economy. We want to increase private sector inward capital investment by 1% this year. We want to encourage companies like Star Micronics to grow in our District, which is indeed one of the fastest growing in the East Midlands.

Soon we will launch our Economic Development Strategy which will show our drive to develop businesses in South Derbyshire for the benefit of our people and our industries. One of the key factors in expanding our local economy is education and skills. The Council itself is committed to developing young people through its modern apprenticeship scheme. I am pleased that Star Micronics has an apprenticeship scheme with one success already and that it is to employ a second young person later this year.

Love Parks week 2008

To celebrate Love Parks Week 2008, on the 17th of June I joined children from Eureka Primary School and Rosalind Allen of Groundwork Derby & Derbyshire to discover the treasures in Eureka Park.
Love Parks Week is an annual campaign promoting parks in Britain. This year it is highlighting parks as places for children to exercise.
As well as helping the youngsters from Eureka Park develop a love of nature, Groundwork Derby & Derbyshire is working with our Council to develop plans for the park.
Everyone loves parks. They are green oases in our towns where you can escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life and lower your stress levels. Parks are places where children can let their imagination take over and spend time with nature and exercise for free in the fresh air.
At Eureka Park Rosalind Allen was involving youngsters in mini-beast hunts, showing them how to identify trees and organising an orienteering exercise to get them to explore the park. The children from Eureka School were fascinated with everything Rosalind explained to them. They were particularly good at leaf rubbing and made some great pictures. It was lovely to be with them.

Visit to Westminster to attend the All Party Parliamentary Local Government Group

I received an invitation to attend the All Party Parliamentary Local Government Group in Committee Room 12 in Westminster. It was chaired by Clive Betts MP and had two main speakers Minister of State Michael Wills MP and Professor John Stewart from Birmingham University.

The main speech was about new legislation the Government are planning on putting before Parliament. A Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. We are a Nation that actually does not have a Bill of Rights, we rely on Common Law and the Magna Carter.

Warning to illegally parked drivers

From the autumn there will be council traffic wardens in South Derbyshire to stop selfish motorists parking where it's not allowed.

There will be a seamless change from police wardens on the street to wardens working for your local authority. The traffic wardens will have the same powers to stop people parking on double yellow lines and in no waiting areas. They will stop those reckless people who park on the zigzags outside schools which are there to protect our children. They will also fine those people who take over disabled drivers' bays and deny the spaces to those who need them.

This new service is being provided across Derbyshire by the County Council and District Councils working together for their local residents. A specialist contractor will be policing the whole county.

I have had so many complaints about people who park in disabled driver’s bays without a blue badge. There's a reason for parking restrictions but some people think that the laws don’t apply to them. They might decide to change their anti-social behaviour when they are faced with an on-the-spot fine.

Our Wardens are already cracking down on people who park in disabled driver’s bays without a blue badge. We’re giving them warning notices to encourage them to have a conscience and to think of other people. Come the autumn if they don’t feel it in their hearts, they will feel it in their wallets.

Goseley Estate MUGA

I am so pleased our Council is creating something for children to do over the long summer holidays and in the coming years. We promised to provide four new youth facilities for young people. Two are opening later this month and the final two are now being built.
Work began last week on multi-use games areas at Salisbury Drive recreation area in Midway and at Mount Street recreation area on the Goseley Estate in Hartshorne. The work will cost £152,000 and has been funded by Sport England, though its Community Investment Fund, the Safer South Derbyshire Partnership and Hartshorne Parish Council.
Having built two multi use games areas at Overseal and Woodville, work at Midway and on the Goseley Estate has started. We opened the new play area at Salisbury Drive last month and promised an area for older children.
These multi use games areas, known as MUGAs, provide a hard surfaced, all-weather playing area with goal ends and markings for a variety of ball games, such as five-a-side, tag rugby, netball, basketball and kwik cricket. During the summer holidays there will be coached sessions from the Council’s Sport and Youth Development team.

The MUGAs are being built so that young people have more healthy and active things to do.

Newhall Centre 5* Certificate

On Tuesday 10 June I presented Cheral Eidukas, Manager of the Newhall Centre and also members of the Centre with Council's Five Star Certificate to mark National Food Safety Week. This Certificate shows star ratings for organisations which provide food including cafes, shops, schools and clubs.

The South Derbyshire way is to make life better for everyone. The Council are giving ratings to all organisations which provide food ranging from five stars to no stars. If they don’t make the top rating, the Council’s Environmental Health Officers will provide help and advice so they can be amongst the best.

Everyone benefits. The organisations have staff who look after food correctly. The people of South Derbyshire have more top standard places to eat. One of our aims is to make the District healthier and this is one way of us achieving this together.

Derbyshire County Council’s Newhall Centre is helping people in the community. Its five star café based in its garden centre not only provides refreshment for local people, it also offers training for adults with learning disabilities.

Blooming Marvels is a garden centre with a café which is available for the whole of our community. Blooming Marvels is run and financially managed by adults who have learning disabilities who are developing skills to become ready for work. People are getting skilled not only through work experience, but also by attending courses such as food hygiene, computer and customer service skills.
picture shows me with Cllr John Lemmon presenting Cheral Eidukas, Manager of the Newhall Centre and also members of the Centre with the Council's Five Star Certificate

Castle Gresley and the Designated Public Place order

A momentous, historic day. I went to Castle Gresley to meet with local Parish Councillors and concerned residents to talk about the first ever DPPO placed in South Derbyshire.
This has caused great interest in the media with Radio Derby, ITV Central News and the Derby Telegraph running pieces on it.

For years the locals have had to put up with Adults Behaving Badly so after consultation our Council passed the first ever DPPO. In this specific geographic area around Arthur Street play ground, part of Linton Road by the parade of shops and part of Bass’s Crescent that backs onto these places any Adult misbehaving with Alcohol can now be apprehended by the PCSO’s and Police. £50 Fixed Penalty Notices can be given, the alcohol removed and if the bad behaviour carries on they can be arrested by the Police, removed, charged and face increased fines of up to £500, with stringent Bail conditions whilst they await trial.

The locals have been calling on the Council to do this for years. The legislation that we have used came into force in 2001. Yet again it has taken our new Conservative Administration to actually take action.

Speaking to residents and shopkeepers the relief that they had finally been listened too and action taken was palpable.

I thank the police and the council staff for getting the paperwork in order and particularly PCSO Dave and local PC Debbie for their future action.
South Derbyshire is a safe place to live but we will not hesitate to use every piece of legislation to crack down on the few mindless people who ruin it for others.

Sustainable Communities

I went down to London (by train) for a Conference to listen to the experts about Sustainable Communities. It was a packed day. Iain Wright MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Communities and Local Government kicked us off followed by an interesting talk by Shaun McCarthy about the Olympics. He is the Chair of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012. I was able to tell him about the 19 special ‘green’ elements to the new Leisure Centre being built in South Derbyshire, helped along by a grant of over £400,000 from Sport England for badminton – making us ready in 2010 to train for the 2012 Olympics. He was impressed that we had opted for the green option in SD. Sustainable Olympics is us.

In the afternoon a couple of sessions stood out. One an excellent speech from Anders Franzen the Head of Planning and Development form Vaxjo – the ‘greenest’ city in Europe. They were particularly successful because they had introduced waste into heat exchangers and used hydro-electric power. Practically nothing went to landfill so no landfill tax to pay and between the two sources over 80% of their electricity was generated locally with minimal CO2 emissions. His story was truly inspirational. The Council is of course run by the Conservatives and has a high proportion of women Councillors!

The other session was about the demise of Regional Assemblies and changes to Regional Development Agencies and how this would affect us here in South Derbyshire. An array of Civil Servants were lined up to explain how they were implementing government policies. As so often happens what others might think is a good idea on paper, particularly for Unitary and the City Councils just turns into a complete muddle for us Shire Districts. I am keeping a very watchful eye on this. Expansion of the economy in SD is a priority for us and anything that knocks us off course or makes things more difficult will not be welcomed. The Civil Servants certainly left with my thoughts ringing in their ears. I wait and see how this unfolds.

New super-hospital

I was given a behind the scenes look at Derby's new super-hospital as the development enters its final 12 months of construction work.
As part of a special guided tour at Derby City General Hospital
As you can see from the photo I was shown the new amazing helipad.

I was also shown the hospital's state-of-the-art pharmacy, boiler house and main hospital plant room. Anyone who has had reason to use our hospitals probably doesn’t give a thought to how the place is kept warm or the electricity is kept running. It has been a fascinating opportunity for me to see behind the scenes how the place buzzes.

At every stage of the tour I was struck by the integrity and devotion of the staff involved with their bit of the enormous jigsaw that makes the hospital work.

The super-hospital development is on target to be completed next Spring and over the next 12 months, as building work finishes, services will begin to be moved over from the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary.

The final move will involve a middle-of-the-night operation to take the Accident and Emergency Department from its current location at the DRI to its new home at the City General.

Crewe and Nantwich By-election May 2008

I led a team of workers from South Derbyshire to assist in the vital Crewe and Nantwich By-election.

When we were out on the doorsteps it was heartening to hear people’s stories. Hardworking families and those living on fixed incomes and pensions wanted to send a clear message to Gordon Brown.
They were telling us Brown wrecked pensions as Chancellor, reminded us that he sold our gold at a knock down price and as both as Chancellor and Prime Minister continued to raise taxes…hurting those who have worked hard in the past and continue to work hard today to support their families. In Crewe the issues were clear:

Sort out crime
Sort out the economy
Stop punishing the motorist

The Conservatives secured a 17.6% swing from Labour in the Crewe and Nantwich by election – a similar swing would see the so far unselected Labour candidate for South Derbyshire defeated by 16,000 votes…overturning Labour’s current slim majority of 2,800. (Estimated result 2005 based upon the new parliamentary boundaries and 74% turnout)

I have no doubt that sooner or later the people of South Derbyshire will benefit from this stunning Conservative victory: Brown will either listen to us…or go.

Only the Conservatives understand how to improve the economy and our quality of life.

The photograph shows me at Conservative HQ with Shadow Health Minister Stephen O’Brien (MP for the constituency of Eddisbury , which borders Crewe) helping in the by election.

Ground-breaking ceremony for the new leisure centre and sports facility

On Monday 21 April, 2008 we held the ground-breaking ceremony at John Port School in Etwall to celebrate the start of work on the new £7 million multi-purpose leisure centre and sports facility.

A new leisure centre has been needed for the last two decades. The patience of people in the northern parishes has finally paid off. Now at last the long-held dream has been made a multi-million pound reality.
The financial contributors include not only South Derbyshire District Council but also Derbyshire County Council, John Port School, Sport England, the East Midlands Development Agency through the Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership, Toyota Manufacturing UK and not least the Etwall Leisure Centre Community Group.

The long-awaited leisure centre offers far more than was originally planned in the 1990s.
This replaces the existing leisure centre's swimming pool and spectators' room.
It will have a 25m six lane swimming pool, a six court sports hall to accommodate a wide range of sports, a regional badminton facility with Olympic training potential, a fitness suite, meeting rooms, a café with parking and landscaping. The leisure and sports facilities will be constructed to Sport England standards. The innovative design and construction include 19 special ‘green’ elements making it as eco friendly to build and run as possible.

The multi-million pound leisure centre and sports facility is being constructed by Tomlinsons who
plan to have all work completed by Summer 2009 so that local people can enjoy these state of the art facilities in good time for the Olympics in 2012.

The centre will be particularly used by people in the surrounding area and I was delighted to be joined at the event by Councillors Amy Plenderleith and Julie Patten shown here with me in the photo.


.......................................................................

Broadband Blues

Broadband Blues

In South Derbyshire it is noticeable how variable the quality of Broadband connectivity is. In different locations people have complained to me saying that their complaints have fallen on deaf ears with BT.

Because of these concerns the Scrutiny Committee at our Council started an investigation, calling Tom Hamilton, Regional Manager for the East Midlands from BT to answer questions about broadband access.

At the February meeting Tom Hamilton told the Scrutiny Committee that only 90 specific properties in South Derbyshire were unable to get a broadband internet connection. We were concerned about variability in quality as well as lack of service. These issues all seemed to be a surprise to Mr Hamilton.

We have asked people to contact us to put together a dossier of Case Studies to present to BT. If they know the facts they can then get on with fixing the problem.

If you live in South Derbyshire and are having problems with broadband access, please contact the District Council by the end of May. Please outline the specific details of any problems you are experiencing and the broadband provider you use and either email broadband@south-derbys.gov.uk, or write to Broadband, Customer Services, South Derbyshire District Council, Civic Offices, Civic Way, Swadlincote Derbyshire DE11 0AH or by phone Customer Services on 01283 595795.

It is interesting that this is not just a problem in South Derbyshire as Simon Hart of the Countryside Alliance writes …..

Rural broadband revolution? “Reports that 59% of rural people are now connected to broadband in comparison with 57% of their urban counterparts confirmed the rural digital revolution, but fails to examine the full story.
While broadband use within the British countryside has recently soared, the figure quoted fails to take connection speed into account. Most consumer broadband providers offer 2mbps or 8mbps, with those who cannot receive these connections required to pay the same price. Large parts of rural Britain are unable to receive faster connection speeds and as such, are stuck paying higher prices for lower service. BT's own research confirms that people who are living just three of four miles away from the local exchange will probably receive actual thoroughput speeds in kilobites that than megabites per second, while still paying exactly the same price as those who receive the same services but much faster.
There was also comment on the variety of services used over the internet, with rural people mostly making use of banking, shopping and entertainment sites. This comes as no surprise to those of us who have been campaigning long and hard to protect rural bank branches, the post office network and championing local food providers. What other options do those in rural communities have when banking services may be several miles away and only open during the working day? The closure of local services within rural communities have made the internet more vital than ever, and means that slow connectivity is even more of a problem than within some urban areas.
The digital revolution is readily welcomed in rural communities, and is a great step forwards for rural enterprise, but such unfairness in connection speeds must be addressed by broadband providers. Rural people deserve the same service provided in urban areas, and should not have to suffer simply because of their location. “
Simon Hart


How I agree with that.

Eco Town Rejected

I am pleased to let you know that the proposed eco-town of Grovewood has been rejected by the Government. Grovewood will not now be one of the first new towns to be built in England in 40 years.

We knew all along that this was a bad idea, wasting excellent farm land, demolishing swathes of The National Forest. It was announced following zero consultation with local people.

I have been able to meet so many residents fighting this proposal. They all felt that they were being ignored and their wishes over-ridden by developers from the North East. We have lobbied extremely hard in Westminster against this proposal and I am delighted for everyone involved. I believe it proves that, when South Derbyshire folk come together and put forward a good argument, we can fight to save what is special about where we live."