Welcome ...
Welcome to this my 59th electronic news bulletin.
With Parliament in recess, it gives me a welcomed opportunity to spend extra time in the constituency. I have been able to catch up with many constituents and meet with local businesses, as well as attending lots of events in Crewe and Nantwich.
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.
Best wishes,
Edward Timpson
Member of Parliament for Crewe & Nantwich
I have recently ...
- Visited Crewe Heritage Centre, meeting with staff & volunteers
- Been given a bowling lesson at the Hop Pole Bowling Club, on Wistaston Road in Crewe
- Visited local business, Travel Visa Company, in Crewe
- Attended Wulvern Housing Big Summer Fun Day, in Crewe
- Met with representatives of the Academy of Hospitality, in Crewe
- Attended the launch of Nantwich Beer at the Nantwich Food & Drink Festival
- Met with respresentatives of local Connexions, in Crewe
- Attended the topping-out ceremony & laid the final tile of Belong's new village at Brookhouse Drive, in Crewe
- Met with Indoor Market Traders in Crewe to be updated on their situation
- Met with Alternative Hotel Group to learn more about their Academy of Hospitality opening at Wychwood Park Next month
Photos & Video ...
You can view all my photos and video at edwardtimpsonmp.com
Update from local MP Edward Timpson
Crewe Blog
Local Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson has this week highlighted a number of new Government measures that have been raised with him by constituents. An increase in the amount of parliamentary time since the General Election has allowed the Coalition Government to pass a large number of new measures in the the first 100 days in power.
As well as the Academies Bill, which has already proved of benefit to Brine Leas High School in Nantwich, Mr Timpson said he was pleased to see the Government getting tough on travellers’ sites. He said: “I saw first hand how the previous set of rules was being abused when 400 of my constituents opposed a site on Wybunbury Lane in 2008.” Under current rules trespass is treated as a civil rather than criminal offence, which means landowners are forced to go to court to remove travellers from their land. But Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has written to all local authorities encouraging them to use all their available powers to deal with breaches of planning control. And he pledged to give councils greater powers to ensure fair play in the planning system. Mr Timpson went on to emphasise the action being taken to combat the problem of rogue wheel clampers: “In my first two years as Crewe and Nantwich MP, I was contacted a number of times by people who had been hit by large fines for parking in areas patrolled by some of these unscrupulous companies,” he said. "The Chronicle even made it a campaign of theirs," he continued. The measures were announced earlier this month by the Home Office, and will ban wheel clamping on private land.
The MP also welcomed the commitment on the Conservative election promise to scrap the jobs tax. George Osborne’s emergency budget contained a number of measures aimed at providing relief for small and medium sized businesses, which the Treasury has described as the "backbone of our economy". The Chancellor slashed corporation tax to make the country one of the most attractive in the world for businesses. Mr Timpson said: “I have visited a number of firms in Crewe and Nantwich who will genuinely benefit from the measures announced in the budget. It should provide a real kickstart to our economy both locally and nationally. I think the first 100 days of the Coalition Government have demonstrated our commitment to roll up our sleeves and get stuck into the problems that really affect people here in Crewe and Nantwich and across the country. If anything the critics now say that the Government is being too radical, but we ran on a platform for change, and we’ve proved that we’re going to deliver it.”
© 2010 Crewe Blog
New village is opened by MP
The Sentinel
AN MP has performed a topping-out ceremony at a £7.9 million community village.
Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson placed the last tile on the roof of Belong Crewe in Brookhouse Drive.
Helping him lay the tile was Melanie Saywell, the village's general manager.
Known as 'topping out', the ceremony marks the end of building work at the village, which has a bistro, gym, an internet café and hair-and-beauty salon.
There is also a venue that can be used for cinema screenings or dancing, complete with licensed bar.
The village has 12 stylish apartments and six family-sized, open-plan households with large en-suite bedrooms.
These will provide accommodation for up to 66 people, including specialist residential, dementia and nursing support.
Mr Timpson said: "This village will be an important addition to Crewe, which is in an area with a proportionately higher ageing population than the national average.
"I was asked if I was going to sign up for a room."
© 2010 The Sentinel
MP marks end of construction on community village in Crewe
Crewe and Nantwich Chronicle
CONSTRUCTION of a new £7.9m community village in Crewe has been formally completed.
Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson laid the final tile on the roof of the groundbreaking facility, Belong Crewe, at a special topping out ceremony at the Brookhouse Drive site.
Work began on the project in October. The laying of the roof tile marks the end of a busy 10 months for building firm Cruden Construction and Nant- wich charity Belong, which is overseeing the facility.
Mr Timpson was given a tour of the community village by general manager Melanie Saywell.
He said: “This village will be an important addition to Crewe, an area with a proportionately higher ageing population than the national average.
“The apartments are absolutely delightful, and I will come back when it is complete to sample a panini and have a cup of coffee in the bistro.”
It is anticipated the village will make a key contribution to the National Dementia Strategy and put Crewe at the forefront of dementia care in the UK.
At its heart will be a bistro, gym, an internet café, hair and beauty salon and a venue that can be used for cinema screenings or dancing, complete with licensed bar.
The advanced design includes 12 apartments and six family-sized, open plan households with large en-suite bedrooms. These will provide accommodation for up to 66 people, including nursing support.
Belong will hold open days at the village in mid-November. For more details visit www.belong. org.uk.
© 2010 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd
Great Fire of Nantwich beer launched
Crewe and Nantwich Chronicle
A NEW beer marking one of Nantwich’s key historical dates has been launched.
The exclusive beer, brewed locally in Stapeley, has been named Great Fire after the blaze which devastated Nant- wich in 1583.
And it will be on tap throughout the Nantwich Food & Drink Festival weekend, September 24-26, as part of a CAMRA Beer Festival event at Nantwich Cricket Club.
It is made to a secret family recipe by the Woodlands Brewing Company. Owner John Skeaping, said: “What makes the taste of our beers so special is the mineral spring water we use. For the festival we wanted a brew that would appeal to the ladies as much as the men, and we think this one will. It’s sweet, yet with a real fire in its belly.”
One of the first to try it was Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson when John, and directors from Nantwich Food and Drink Ltd, staged a launch in the town centre on Friday.
The MP said: “The food festival volunteers are doing a great job to keep this important event alive in Nantwich. As for the beer, it certainly has a kick that real ale fans will enjoy.”
The CAMRA event will run alongside a packed programme of activities that will turn Nantwich town centre into a paradise for foodies over festival weekend.
Nantwich Food and Drink Ltd, the not-for-profit company set up to stage this year’s new-look festival, is laying on feast of free family entertainment over the three days.
Every spare nook and cranny of Nantwich, including the town square, will be filled with food and drink stands offering lots to sample, or entertainment geared towards families.
Most shops across town are also joining by staging tastings and demonstrations such as sausage-making at Clewlow’s butchers, children’s cup cake decorating at The Aga Shop, whisky sampling at Edencroft and wine tasting at Rodney Densem.
Visit www.nantwichfoodfestival.co.uk
© 2010 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd
Crewe visa company gets visit from MP Edward Timpson
Crewe and Nantwich Chronicle
STAFF at a Crewe visa application business were visited by MP Edward Timpson, to discuss changes to the travel market.
The Travel Visa Company, which is based at Crewe Hall, supplies visas to individuals and independent and corporate agents and has cultivated partnerships with companies including Kanoo, Amex, and Thomas Cook.
Company directors and the Crewe and Nantwich MP discussed issues including the impact of government regulations upon the company, global economic concerns, and how the company supports the local community.
A spokesman for the company said: “We’re extremely pleased that Edward has chosen to recognise the recent growth and success of our company.”
© 2010 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd
Words from Westminster
Edward Timpson, Crewe and Nantwich Chronicle
The Conservatives at the election set out an ambitious agenda to build a society based around social responsibility and community action at the General Election.
We have seen recently in Nantwich the results that volunteer movements can bring about with the success of our First Responder campaign.
Across Crewe and Nantwich I have seen for myself the positive impact charities and community groups like Christian Concern, Ray of Hope and Marshfield Bank Community Centre can have.
Under the Coalition government, charities, voluntary groups and a new generation of community organisers will help tackle some of the most stubborn social problems.
We committed to introducing National Citizen Service: a new volunteering programme to help 16 year olds develop their skills, mix with people from different backgrounds and get involved in improving their communities.
We also want to ensure a fair deal on grants so charities and voluntary organisations can make a competitive return when providing public services, just as private businesses already do.
I know from discussions with enterprising people in Crewe and Nantwich that there is a real appetite for this locally.
But most importantly, as a Government, we want to lead by example, and transform the civil service into a ‘civic service’ by encouraging civil servants to volunteer and participate in charitable projects.
I’ll be doing that too, setting aside time in the constituency to volunteer with the charities I’m involved in, such as Home Start Central Cheshire and Supported Community Business.
But I also want to participate in new charities and broaden my understanding of the hugely important voluntary sector in Crewe and Nantwich.
So, if you’re involved in a charity or local group that I haven’t yet visited, and would like me to come and get stuck in, why not write to me with a suggestion for me to bear in mind over the coming year?
Edward Timpson can be contacted at 30 Victoria St, Crewe CW1 2JE, on 01270 501 725, or through www.edwardtimpson.com.
© 2010 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd
Woodlands launch Food and Drink Festival beer
Nantwichnews
Organisers of the Nantwich Food and Drink Festival are catering for all tastes this year – including those with a thirst for real ale.
An exclusive beer, brewed locally in Stapeley, will be on tap throughout the festival weekend, September 24-26, as part of a CAMRA event at Nantwich Cricket Club.
Made to a secret family recipe by the Woodlands Brewing Company, the bottled beer has been named Great Fire after the blaze which devastated Nantwich in 1583.
Brewery owner John Skeaping, said: “For the festival we wanted a brew that would appeal to the ladies as much as the men, and we think this one will.
“It’s sweet, yet with a real fire in its belly.”
One of the first to try it was Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson when Nantwich Food and Drink Ltd staged a launch in the town centre on Friday.
Mr Timpson said: “The food festival volunteers are doing a great job to keep this important event alive in Nantwich. As for the beer, it certainly has a kick that real ale fans will enjoy.”
The CAMRA event will run alongside a packed programme of activities over festival weekend.
Festival chairman, Graham Fenton, said: “The Nantwich Show saw the launch of Nantwich blue cheese so we asked the Woodlands Brewing Company if they could come up with a new beer especially for the weekend. John and his team did us proud.”
Every spare nook and cranny of Nantwich, including the town square, will be filled with food and drink stands during the festival.
Most shops are joining in by staging tastings and demonstrations such as sausage-making at Clewlow’s butchers, children’s cup cake decorating at The Aga Shop, whisky sampling at Edencroft and wine tasting at Rodney Densem.
The NFU is bringing a mini farm to Volunteer Fields, off Barony Road, and the venue will also be used for displays by the RSPB and National Trust.
Children can enjoy free miniature train rides at Nantwich Methodist Church on Hospital Street while St Mary’s Church will be staging its harvest festival.
Cllr Andrew Knowles, Portfolio Holder for health and well being, said: “Everything is shaping up into a fabulous festival.
“New attractions are being added daily so we advise anyone who is interested in coming along to check out the website which is being constantly updated.”
Visit www.nantwichfoodfestival.co.uk
© 2010 Nantwichnews
Topping occasion as building work comes to an end at Belong Crewe
Belong
It was a topping occasion when MP Edward Timpson placed the last tile on the roof of Belong Crewe, the town’s new £7.9 million community village in Brookhouse Drive.
Helping Mr Timpson to lay the tile was Melanie Saywell, the village’s General Manager.
Known as ‘topping out’, the ceremony marks the end of building work at the village.
After Edward Timpson had topped out the village, he was given a preview of one of the modern apartments and had a brief tour of the site.
Later, addressing an audience of Belong directors and staff, construction workers, architects and other guests, he said: "This village will be an important addition to Crewe which is in an area with a proportionately higher ageing population than the national average.
"I was asked if I was going to sign up for a room. The apartments are absolutely delightful, but I am going to hang fire on that decision for a few years yet!
"But I will come back when it is complete to sample one of your paninis and have a cup of coffee in the bistro".
© Belong
Work at Royal Mail sorting office in Crewe to finish for good
Crewe and Nantwich Chronicle
WORK at Crewe’s famous Royal Mail sorting office will cease on Monday.
For two years, uncertainty has surrounded the hundreds of workers at the Weston Road site, sparking on-street protests and rows between union officials and Royal Mail bosses.
Royal Mail wants to shift all operations to its Warrington base. The company has said the take-up in voluntary redundancies means no compulsory action will be taken.
Royal Mail will run a shuttle bus from Crewe to Warrington, but many of the workers who have now volunteered for voluntary redundancy are refusing to budge.
One of them, who preferred not to be named, said: “It’s terrible. They are going to do us out of 90 days’ redundancy money unless we go to Warrington.
“But we’ve told the bosses in no uncertain terms we won’t go there.
“There’s an awful atmosphere here – people are ready to tear heads off. I hate to think there would be industrial action - but there could be.”
The move has been on the cards for two years. Hopes had been raised that the decision would be reversed under the new Government.
Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson has campaigned against the sorting office closure since he was elected in 2008.
He told the Chronicle: “This will obviously be a very sad day for the workers at the Crewe Mail Centre.
“The supposed policy of the previous government was to move public sector jobs to the north of England, but under their tenure Crewe only saw decisions that pulled these jobs away.
“Lord Mandelson has a lot to answer for, as does the management of Royal Mail who have been less than understanding throughout the process.”
A Royal Mail spokesman said the move should come as no shock to workers.
He added: “It was always our intention to transfer the processing work from Crewe to Warrington Mail Centre on a phased basis, with the last of the work moving during July and August.
“We first communicated this to all our people at Crewe Mail Centre in November 2008. Since then, we have provided regular updates to staff and we have worked with them individually to find them new roles at Warrington.”
© 2010 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd
Village festival on song
Crewe and Nantwich Chronicle
Residents celebrated the 10th anniversary of Richmond Village’s music festival.
The events started with a birthday tea which Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson opened. A performance by Willey’s Weepers jazz band, together with clarinet player Eric Newton wowed the audience.
A large audience was serenaded by the concert orchestra and Crewe Male Voice Choir spokeswoman Nicola Tooke said: “The music has been absolutely wonderful. The festival has been organised by the Friends of Richmond Village and we are all very grateful for the hard work that has gone in to making it the success that it is.”
© 2010 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd
MP watches Crewe & Nantwich girls beat US side
Nantwichnews
Crewe & Nantwich Girls Under 14s won 1-0 against the USA side Capital American Soccer League (CASL) in a friendly game at Reaseheath College.
CASL, based in North Carolina, are touring the UK and had been unbeaten before the game at the Nantwich college.
Among the spectators at Reaseheath was Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson.
He said: “I’m a big football fan so I know that getting these close victories against competitive opposition is vital.
“Huge congratulations to the girls, and let’s hope it sets them up for a great season.
“I welcome the Government’s plans to revive competitive games in schools and reverse the decline in competitive sport.
“In Crewe and Nantwich I have seen for myself the huge importance of, and appetite for, competitive sport, and its huge impact on many young people’s lives.”
© 2010 Nantwichnews
Recruitment firm joins Edward Timpson in tackling exploitation of temporary workers
Crewe Blog
A Crewe firm which took its fight to the government is celebrating news that the National Minimum Wage regulations will be changing to reduce the exploitation of vulnerable temporary workers in the region. Absolute Recruitment has been very vocal in its opposition to a tax loophole which meant that some of the region’s temporary workers on, or close to, minimum wage were actually agreeing to be paid a lower hourly rate. In return for their consent, workers' wages would be topped up with dubious travel expenses. This practice enabled both the workers and the recruitment firms who employ them to legitimately pay lower tax and National Insurance (NI) contributions. But the company which has offices on High Street had campaigned to get the regulations amended, because it felt some workers were unaware that they were losing out on vital benefits such as full holiday or maternity pay. And Absolute Recruitment feared that, in a worst-case scenario, HMRC could have tried to recover tax underpayments from individual workers.
The company’s managing director Jessica Marshall said she was delighted with the government’s announcement. She said: “Although it’s a perfectly legitimate practice, we felt it was wrong on a number of levels most notably because there was not enough information available for temporary workers who were paid through these so-called umbrella payment schemes. We were delighted earlier this year when HMRC announced that it was looking at closing the loophole, but then it seemed to stall which we found very frustrating. We knew that our industry body the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) was campaigning to close the loophole, but we decided to add our own voice and do our bit to try and get HMRC to take decisive action. Today’s announcement is great news for the temporary labour market in our area and the amendments to National Minimum Wage regulations come into force on the 1st January, 2011.”
Absolute Recruitment pledged to raise awareness of the issue in Crewe and the surrounding areas and part of its campaign involved taking the matter up with the local MP Edward Timpson and business leaders in the town. Fellow director Dan said: “I’m hoping our persistence and faith in local democracy played its part in the decision which we believe is good news for workers in the region.”
© 2010 Crewe Blog
International match starts new season.
Crewe Blog
There was an unusal addition to Crewe & Nantwich Girls FC U14s pre-season preparations this summer as they took part in the club's first ever international match. CASL, from Raleigh North Carolina USA, were the opponents, as the American side were taking part in a tournament at Keele University and were keen to play the successful C&N girls in an additional friendly match. Paul Antrobus at Crewe Alex soccer academy was delighted to offer the girls use of their fantastic facilities at Reaseheath. Edward Timpson MP, who follows the progress of C&N GFC and is a great supporter of the development of girls football locally, was also in attendance, and showed off some silky skills himself.
Despite not having played any competitive football for several weeks the C&N girls were up for the occasion, and Megan Naylor put the hosts into a deserved lead. There were two distinct styles of play, and the passing game and strong defending of the English was always too much for the individual flare that the USA girls demonstrated. The C&N girls won their first ever international result and at the same time denied the visiting girls a 100% record on tour. The occasion was always bigger than the result and the game was played with great spirit and endeavour throughout. Aterwards, all girls enjoyed ice cream at Snugbury’s farm, when they kindly opened up their doors in the evening to show good British hospitality where plenty of new cross-Atlantic Facebook friendships were made.
Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson voices concerns over radio switchover
Crewe and Nantwich Chronicle
CREWE and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson used the debate in Parliament before the summer recess to signal his displeasure about the switchover to digital radio.
He said he had been contacted on a number of occasions by older people concerned about the switchover to digital radio.
He told the House: “A hundred million analogue radios are still being used in the UK and 20 million car radios can receive only AM and FM radio. The previous Government was going to press ahead with the fairly arbitrary date of 2015 for the switchover, yet only 24% of radio listening is through digital channels.”
He added later: “If the switchover is rushed, the impact on the commercial radio sector could be damaging.”
“I’m pleased the Government says the FM service will continue, even if DAB is brought in as the preference for radio stations.”
© 2010 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd
Words from Westminster
Edward Timpson, Crewe and Nantwich Chronicle
Parliament has risen, summer is here and this coalition government is nearly at the three month mark. It's a good time to take stock of what it has done so far and where we're going. Eleven weeks in and I believe the Coalition has made a good start for Crewe and Nantwich.
For my own part, I have spoken in the House of Commons about a whole range of issues affecting Crewe and Nantwich people.
These include the digital radio switchover for older people, local sports clubs, littering in our streets, government attention for our local sorting office, local health inequalities, ambulance response times, local transport infrastructure, deregulation for local small businesses, reduced fuel duty for dairy farmers, school bullying, and the pension credit system.
On a national level, the Coalition has scrapped Labour's jobs tax, scrapped ID cards, completed an in-year spending review to save £6 billion of waste and presented an emergency Budget that will balance the books within five years.
The Coalition promised radical reform of our public services and it is delivering, with a big expansion of the academy programme in schools and unprecedented reform of the NHS – £1 billion of bureaucracy cut, pointless targets scrapped, whole tiers of bureaucracy abolished and real power for GPs and patients.
We campaigned relentlessly on pushing power out from London and we're making it happen. We’ve been busy scrapping the top down control in local government, including the regional assemblies and strategies, and giving that control back to local people.
I said we'd do the right thing by our troops, and we've been doing that too. We have established a National Security Council, made sure we have a clear strategy on Afghanistan and doubled the Operational Allowance pay for our Forces.
This isn't an exhaustive list, but it does show that despite the tough decision to bring responsibility back into managing the economy and reduce our unaffordable debt, this Coalition government has been quick to act in the interests of the people both in Crewe and Nantwich and nationwide.
I’ll be around as ever over the summer, catching up in my Victoria Street office and visiting all sorts of different places around the constituency.
© 2010 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd
Girls' international win
Crewe and Nantwich Chronicle
Crewe and Nantwich Girls FC U14’s welcomed a special guest to their first international match on Thursday.
The team, which played at the Crewe Alex training ground at Reaseheath College, welcomed US side CASL (Capital American Soccer League, North Carolina) and were watched by MP Edward Timpson.
The South Cheshire team endured a very close game, but held on for a 1-0 victory against their North American rivals.
CASL are in the country in a tour; and are currently unbeaten in the tournament they came to play in.
Mr Timpson said: “They’ve clearly played their hearts out this evening. I’m a big football fan so I know that getting these close victories against competitive opposition is vital.”
Earlier in the week the MP had spoken in the House of Commons about the importance of competitive sport for young people.
He said: “I welcome the Government’s plans to revive competitive games in schools and reverse the decline in competitive sport. In Crewe and Nantwich I’ve seen the huge importance of, and appetite for, competitive sport, and its huge impact on many young people’s lives.”
© 2010 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd
5 ways to contact Edward Timpson
- By email: timpsone@parliament.uk
- On the web: edwardtimpsonmp.com
- By phone: 01270 501 725
- By post: 30 Victoria Street, Crewe CW1 2JE
- In person: Click here to see surgery times
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