Season's Greetings! Welcome to this my thirty-fourth electronic news bulletin, and the last of 2009. Remember, you can always contact me directly if you have any questions for me. You can forward the bulletin on to your friends and family, who can sign up themselves by clicking here for my website. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 
Edward Timpson
Member of Parliament for Crewe & Nantwich back to top I have recently... - Drawn the winning tickets for the Crewe & Nantwich Lions Club fund-raising raffle
- Visited British Heart Foundation in Victoria Centre, Crewe
- Met with local councillors regarding Community First Responder Services
- Attended the Supported Community Business Christmas Party in Haslington
- Met with Traders from the Indoor & Outdoor Markets in Crewe to discuss the imminent refurbishment of Lyceum Square
- Visited Crewe & Nantwich Gymnastics Club in Crewe
- Attended West Street Christian Fellowship Carol Service in Crewe
- Attended a Polish Community Christmas Reception in Crewe
back to top National Pandemic Flu Service Information The National Pandemic Flu Service is a new self-care service comprising a dedicated website. It will allow people to check their symptoms and, if necessary, get a unique number which will give them access to anti-virals at a local collection point.
Visit: www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu Tel: 0800 1 513 100 or 0800 1 513 200 (textphone) back to top 'Pleasant surprise' for clubs as Government lowers bingo tax Crewe and Nantwich Chronicle THERE were cheers in the Commons and in bingo halls across South Cheshire when the Chancellor announced a Government U-turn on the controversial Bingo Tax hike. In his Pre-Budget Report, he said the tax on bingo would be lowered from 22% to 20% from April 1. Earlier this year, the Budget raised the level of taxation on bingo from 15% to 22%. It made bingo the highest taxed form of soft gambling in the UK, as tax on other forms was left at 15%. The announcement sparked outrage in bingo clubs, and with the 5-6 million bingo players up and down the country. Crewe and Nantwich has some 20,000 players – including Mr Timpson. Leading European gaming business Rank Group, along with Gala Bingo the Bingo Association, Castle Bingo and Mecca Bingo, who front the campaign, are just some of the organisations who started campaigning against the increase in bingo duty. An online petition not to increase bingo taxes was signed by 2,578 people, and player and members of the industry protested outside Parliament on July 1st. Many MPs, including Crewe and Nantwich’s Edward Timpson who attended the protest, also lent their support to the campaign to scrap the tax. In May Mr Timpson spoke out in the Commons against the tax, declaring: “Bingo halls are essentially clubs for people. We should not deny them that opportunity in an attempt to claw back what is a miniscule amount compared to the overall deficit in the Government’s finances. “It’s time the Government thought again because the bingo industry feels exasperated and betrayed.” The industry has reacted positively to the Chancellor’s latest announcement, Chief Executive of the Rank Group Ian Burke said: “Today’s announcement is a step in the right direction. “However, it is still not clear why Britain’s bingo clubs should be subject to a higher tax rate than that applied to other forms of gaming and betting.” And Paul Talboys of the Bingo Association called the move “a pleasant surprise”. Mr Timpson echoed these sentiments. “I’m pleased that after months of campaigning and lobbying both in and outside of Parliament as well as in Crewe itself, the government has belatedly accepted that bingo is being unfairly taxed. “However they have done the minimum possible and so I will continue to press for the return of the 15% tax, in line with other forms of gambling.” © 2009 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd. back to top Crewe and Nantwich MP welcomes vetting scheme u-turn Crewe and Nantwich Chronicle CREWE and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson has this week welcomed news from the Secretary of State for Children that the Government has backtracked on its plans to force anybody with any contact with young people to have criminal checks. The so-called “vetting and barring” scheme faced widespread public opposition when it emerged that it could potentially target anyone coming into contact with children – including parents organising school runs. MPs were sent a letter last week following recommendations made in a report by Sir Robert Singleton. Sir Robert said: “I shall now make the necessary changes to the scheme, to ensure it strikes the right balance.” The revision means the number of people required to register will fall from 11 million to nine million. Mr Timpson said he had been contacted by a number of people in Crewe and Nantwich concerned about the checks. “A number of constituents have contacted me in the last few months to make their concerns about this unpopular scheme heard,” he said. “ I am very pleased that the Government has seen sense and listened to our opposition on this matter. “I have three young children, so I know that their safety is a top priority, but we certainly don’t need to be expanding the Big Brother State any more than is absolutely necessary.” © 2009 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd. back to top MP's adoption role Crewe and Nantwich Chronicle Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson is the new chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Adoption and Fostering. The group is a communication forum for MPs and outside organisations with a specific interest in adoption and fostering policy. Mr Timpson was selected because of his wide experience in the field, gained from an extensive background in family law, as well as the fact that his family members have adopted over 80 children between them. Speaking after his first meeting, Mr Timpson said: “I feel privileged to have been asked to chair this important group. “Hopefully with my knowledge of the area, I can lend some insight to the issues. “I hope to involve a wide cross-section of groups to establish a proper dialogue between the politicians making the policy and the people on the ground who are best placed to judge its effects.” “These vulnerable children and hard working carers need the best conditions the country can provide them with.” © 2009 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd. back to top 'Tax spending' panned Crewe and Nantwich Chronicle Edward Timpson, MP for Crewe and Nantwich, says Britain will be paying for Labour’s mistakes for years to come. He has responded to the Government’s new tax and spending proposals – the so-called Pre-Budget Report – by warning of Labour plans for higher taxes and record levels of national debt included in the small print. Mr Timpson highlighted several of the new taxes including National Insurance increases for workers, meaning a smaller pay packet for anyone earning £20,000 or more, and higher Stamp Duty, meaning the average first-time buyer will now pay £1,745 in duty. © 2009 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd. back to top MP emphasises benefits of keeping warm in winter Crewe and Nantwich Chronicle Local Mp Edward Timpson says the importance of people staying warm in their homes over winter can’t be over-emphasised. New figures show ‘fuel poverty’ is at its highest level since 1998. The figures reveal that 13.3% of households in Crewe and Nantwich live in fuel poverty and that during the 2007-2008 winter there were 50 ‘excess winter deaths’ attributed to the cold. The MP said: “I was shocked to discover that there were 50 preventable local deaths two winters ago. We need ways of improving the energy efficiency of our homes and bringing down bills.” Anyone in trouble with their energy bill can call the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99. © 2009 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd. back to top Eddisbury MP Stephen O'Brien calls for better ambulance response times in rural Cheshire Chester Chronicle CHESHIRE MPs have held talks with the North West Ambulance boss to address the service’s poor response times in the rural area. MPs Stephen O’Brien MP (Eddisbury) and Edward Timpson (Crewe & Nantwich) had a “constructive” discussion with ambulance chief executive Darren Hurrell at The Swan in Tarporley. Last year the service only managed to reach 67.31% of life-threatening calls within eight minutes in Western Cheshire. Mr O’Brien said: “It’s unsatisfactory in that response times need to be improved, particularly in more remote areas.” The MP has been told of cases where it has taken 40 minutes or a hour for an emergency ambulance to arrive which he dubbed “unacceptable”. Mr O’Brien, who was joined at the meeting by Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust chief executive Mike Pyrah, has asked for a postcode break-down of incidents to gain an insight into what the service “can and cannot achieve”. The MPs support the idea of promoting volunteer First Responder scheme in remote areas to “plug the gap”. But Mr O’Brien continues to argue Cheshire First Responders, who are trained to a higher level than colleagues elsewhere, should be allowed to retain their skill base enabling them to deal with a wider range of incidents. A Care Quality Commission report showed the North West Ambulance Service last year narrowly missed the target of responding to life-threatening calls across the region within eight minutes, 75% of the time, and only reached serious calls within the 19 minute target, 87.62% of the time – the target being 95%. Meanwhile, the North West Ambulance Service is looking for members of the public to sign up for the new Community First Responder team in Tarporley. Residents of the village, which is home to 2,500 people, would need to commit four hours per week or 16 hours a month if they choose to join the voluntary service. Community First Responder groups are trained to deliver basic life support and defibrillation to heart-attack patients. Members will not be sent to incidents considered dangerous, such as an assault or road traffic accidents. For further information visit www.nwas-responders.com or call 01772 903 989. © 2009 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd. back to top 2009 memories... February Crewe Blog (extract) Continuing our look back at 2009, February brought a few announcements. First up was a planning application by Aldi who wanted to bulldoze the Earl pub on Nantwich Road and build one of those supermarkets that sell you stuff you never knew you needed. Nice. That's still ongoing...
In the centre of town, it was revealed that Lyceum Square would have a facelift - including a swanky new cafe. The project has proved troublesome, and just this week local MP Edward Timpson met with market representatives to discuss the situation. Most of the outdoor stalls will move (rather appropriately) to Market Square when the refit starts in February/March 2010. Not all are happy! © 2009 Crewe Blog back to top Wyche Primary pupil wins MP's Christmas card competition Nantwichnews A Nantwich pupil scooped first prize in a Christmas card competition run by MP Edward Timpson. Laura McMeeken, of Wyche Primary School, was judged overall winner and her picture will adorn the front of Mr Timpson’s Christmas card. Local primary schools were asked to get their pupils to enter by designing the card’s front page. Prizes were presented at Crewe’s Municipal buildings with parents in attendance. There were nine runners-up from primary schools across the constituency. Mr Timpson said: “It’s great to see so much hard work go in from so many children of different ages. Judging this competition is one of my favourite activities as an MP!” Runners up were Tendai Mutanda from Brierley Primary, Michael Brindley from Bridgemere Primary, Aaron Evason from Hungerford Primary, Cameron Young from Leighton Primary, Ryan Stacey from Stapeley Broad Lane CE Primary, James Briggs from St. Mary’s Church Primary, Toni Wilson from Underwood West Primary, Hannah Ingram from Weaver Primary, Diego Fryer from Wistaston Green Primary, and Kayley Price from Wyche Primary. © 2009 Nantwichnews back to top 5 ways to contact Edward Timpson | 
No comments:
Post a Comment