Welcome ...
Welcome to this my 83rd electronic news bulletin.
This week Sir Roy McNulty published his interim review into value for money of the UK's rail industry. In his report Sir Roy suggests we now have one of the most expensive railways in the world because the previous government allowed costs to spiral out of control. The purpose of the McNulty review is to reduce these costs so we can get a better deal for taxpayers and farepayers.
If the Government succeed in implementing the McNulty agenda over the next few years our aspiration will be to put the era of inflation-busting fare rises behind us. That will only be possible if the industry comes together to support the McNulty reforms so that we can get the costs of our railway back to a sustainable level.
Following the publication, I took the opportunity to ask the Transport Secretary in the House of Commons whether the terms and conditions of the West Coast Main Line franchise would include provision for train operators to play a more active role in the future of stations, especially in their infrastructure and presentation to passengers. For Crewe station this will be an important condition of the franchise if we are to see major improvements backed up by long term train operator buy in. You can read the Secretary's answer here.
Please 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 ...
- Held a Constituency Surgery at my office in Crewe
- Met with the Chief Executive of South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce to discuss how more support can be provided to local businesses
- Officially opened a new playground at Weston Primary School in Crewe, meeting staff, parents and pupils. Congratulations to them all for raising the £5,000 needed by holding an array of fundraising events including a mass bunny hop!
- Met with the Chief Executive of Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation to discuss the strengths and challenges of NHS plans
- Officially unveiled a public bench at Churchyardside in Nantwich to celebrate the work of Diabetes UK in Crewe & Nantwich
- Played a charity football match for the UK Parliament Football Club fundraising for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust at Stamford Bridge
- Met with MPs from the North West and BAE Systems to discuss the companies projects in the North West of England, and in particular at Radway Green
- Attended the annual general meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Asthma, to reaffirm my commitment as a supporting officer
- Chaired a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Looked After Children and Care Leavers, including panel guests Tim Loughton MP (Children's Minister), Robert Tapsfield (Chief Executive of The Fostering Network) and fostering parents.
- Asked the Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond MP, on the floor of the Commons, whether the terms and conditions of the West Coast Mainline franchise will enable train operators to take a more active role in the future management and infrastructure of rail stations. view here
- Officially opened the Haslington Show with my family
Photos & Video ...
- Edward plays a charity match for UK Parliament Football Club fundraising for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust
You can view all my photos and video at edwardtimpsonmp.com
Virgin London Marathon 2011
Raising money for Parkinson's UK in Crewe & Nantwich
In April I completed my 9th marathon, raising money for Parkinson's UK Crewe Branch. There's still time to sponsor me on my webpage and help support a great organisation!
Words from Westminster
Edward Timpson, Crewe & Nantwich Chronicle
It’s been a big month for our country.
Not only have we had local council elections at a time when councils are taking tough decisions on how to work more efficiently and fairly, but we’ve also had the AV referendum to decide how we elect MPs.
We achieved the right result in that referendum, choosing to elect the most popular candidate and maintain a direct link between MP and voter.
In Crewe and Nantwich people voted by a factor of almost three to one for the current system.
Also, after predictions of a tough day for English Conservatives, we saw gains in the Crewe and Nantwich constituency and countryside.
The Conservatives had an extra win in the rural areas, a great result in Leighton and Haslington, and maintained their base in Nantwich.
Labour benefitted from boundary changes in their favour and the collapse of the Lib Dem vote but still no councillors outside of Crewe or in Nantwich.
Congratulations to the successful Labour candidates, and I look forward to working with them.
Congratulations also to the Nantwich Independents, and I also look forward to continuing my relationship with Councillor Arthur Moran.
One of the most enjoyable activities for me as an MP is visiting youth organisations in the constituency.
Over the last year I’ve attended many events, including those of South West Cheshire Scouts, Nantwich Air Cadets, the Brownies and the Sea Cadets in Crewe.
All these organisations rely on volunteers to function.
I was struck by the number of volunteers and organisers I met who were frustrated by the red tape associated with criminal records checks and other bureaucracy that hampers their work and recruitment of new helpers.
The biggest frustration seemed to be the need for a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check for every voluntary post held by an individual. Some volunteers I spoke to had undergone nine checks in less than two years.
I’ve also had a number of constituents come to my surgeries dismayed to find that inaccurate or inappropriate information in the checks has hindered their search for a job, as employers discard applications on sight as a result of that information.
Last June, this Government commissioned a criminal records review to examine whether the current regime strikes the right balance between respecting civil liberties and protecting the public. This was to be undertaken in parallel with a thorough review of the Vetting and Barring Scheme which checks the records of those who want to work specifically with vulnerable groups.
The first phase considered whether the balance between civil liberties and public protection could be improved by scaling back the employment vetting systems which involve the CRB, whether the systems used could be made less burdensome, and whether police intelligence should form part of the CRB disclosures. Amongst the recommendations were:
- Children under 16 should not be eligible for CRB checks.
- Criminal records checks should be portable (transferable) between jobs and activities.
- The Criminal Records Bureau should introduce an online system to allow employers to check if updated information is held on an applicant.
- A new CRB procedure is developed so that the criminal records certificate is issued directly to the applicant.
- A package of measures to improve the disclosure of police information is overseen by an independent expert.
The recommendations are brought in via the Protection of Freedoms Bill, at Committee State in the House of Commons. That Bill also introduces a number of changes to the Vetting and Barring Scheme to scale back to common sense levels.
I’m very pleased this Government is scaling back the criminal records system and look forward to these measures having a positive impact on youth organisations.
© 2011 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd.
Traders rent petition stalls council decision
Nutsford Guardian
A PETITION collected by Knutsford’s market traders has stalled the borough council’s decision on whether to implement a 25 per cent rent increase.
The market hall stallholders, based in Silk Mill Street, collected a petition with more than 700 signatures in a bid to overturn the rent rise planned by Cheshire East Council.
George Osborne, Tatton MP, collected the petition from the market traders when he was in town for Knutsford Royal May Day.
Market stallholders in Crewe and Nantwich met with their MP, Edward Timpson, last week, to discuss the matter before deciding on their next course of action.
A spokesman for Cheshire East Council said the increase had not been brought in yet, and would not be introduced until the petition had been looked at.
“We have received the petition, which is currently being processed in the normal fashion,” she said.
“We acknowledge that the response has been supported by local shoppers.
“The proposed increase has not yet been implemented, and will not be implemented until the petition has been considered.
“A date for the meeting in which a decision will be made on the proposed increase is currently being sought and will be publicised in the near future.
“We would like to thank market traders for their patience in this matter.
“The UK-wide Valuation Office Agency initiative, to transfer the responsibility for the payment of business rates from the council to individual market traders, has complicated the challenge of being able to provide a breakdown of rent.
“Whereas under previous policy, Cheshire East Council paid a sum for the entire building, no market trader will be liable to pay business rates if their market stall has a rateable value of less that £6,000.
“The council is currently attempting to understand the financial implications of this situation at all of its indoor markets.”
© 2011 Newsquest Media Group
Call for CCTV to stop grave thefts
Crewe & Nantwich Chronicle
A WOMAN who supports bereaved parents says CCTV is the only way to stop child graves being ‘violated’.
Natasha Nuttall says the Teddy Bear Garden in Crewe Cemetery has become a target for thieves who steal ornaments and soft toys from the graves of young children and babies.
The Crewe woman is the founder of the South Cheshire and North Staffordshire Support Group of Sands – the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society – and has herself been victim to the heartless thieves.
Her baby daughter Tia tragically died just 15 hours after she was born.
Natasha said: “I’m very keen to see CCTV installed. It’s the best solution.
“When something’s stolen from your child’s grave, it feels like you’ve failed them and they’ve been violated.
“A grave should be somewhere for families to go to remember loved ones but it feels like they can’t put anything nice there because it will be taken.”
Natasha’s in contact with Crewe mum Heidi Norman who was 34 weeks pregnant when baby Jorgie Jasmine was stillborn last September.
Several ornaments have been stolen from her daughter’s grave.
Heidi said: “The council thinks wardens on patrol stops things from being stolen but unless CCTV’s installed, the situation won’t change.”
Natasha and Heidi met Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson who was appalled to hear of the thefts.
“The council assured me that both the police and community wardens were involved following the thefts and in improving security and they’ve offered to meet members of Sands.”
A council spokesman said: “The thefts are desperately upsetting and disappointing and we deplore the behaviour of a minority who have acted in this heartless and cowardly way.”
He added community warden patrols had increased and “we’re pleased there have been no repeat incidents.”
© 2011 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd.
Bright Future for solar panel firm
Crewe & Nantwich Chronicle
MP Edward Timpson will officially open the new offices for solar panel installers, the Green Electrician, on Friday.
The Green Electriciam has moved its offices to Wardle following significant expansion of the company over the last year.
Previously based in Little Budworth, the business has grown from four employees to more than 30 in just over 12 months.
"The expansion follows the introduction of the Government Feed-in Tariff for Solar PV Panels in April 2010," explained director Claire Davies. "The feed-in tariff pays a premium for every unit of electricity generated by solar panels, making it a very sound investment both financially and environmentally.
"Installations in Cheshire have boomed over the last year, there is a lot of good south-facing roof space in the towns, villages as well as countryside.
"We are installing as many solar panels on agricultural and commercial buildings as we are on private homes.
"The office and warehouse in Wardle is ideally located to serve customers in the North West. It has excellent access to routes in all directions."
© 2011 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd.
Conservatives win in Cheshire East but Labour gain seats
Crewe & Nantwich Chronicle
THE Conservatives are still the biggest party in the Crewe and Nantwich area on Cheshire East Council, with 12 councillors after Thursday’s local elections.
But Labour gained ground on them, picking up three seats to take their total to eight.
The fate of the Liberal Democrats nationally was mirrored in the Crewe and Nantwich area and the Lib Dems now have no seats in Crewe and Nantwich.
Long-serving Lib Dem councillor David Cannon lost his seat.
It is not possible to make direct comparisons with the council line-up before the election because of the boundary changes. However, Labour have made the greatest inroad in the Crewe and Nantwich area of the borough.
There are now 12 Conservative councillors, eight Labour and three Independents.
The election in the Crewe South ward has yet to take place because of the death of Lib Dem Cllr Betty Howell. Those two seats will be contested on June 16.
Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson said: “After predictions of a tough day for English Conservatives, we’ve actually seen gains in the Crewe and Nantwich constituency and countrywide, and a hugely successful result in the voting system referendum.”
“In Cheshire East, 88,669 voted against AV with 33,241 in favour.
“In the referendum, the people chose to elect the most popular candidate as their MP and maintain a direct link between MP and voter.
“In the local elections, the Conservatives had an extra win in the rural areas, a great result in Leighton and Haslington and maintained their base in Nantwich.
“Labour benefited from generous boundary changes in their favour and the collapse of the Lib Dem vote, but still have no councillors outside of Crewe, and none in Nantwich. Congratulations to their successful candidates. I look forward to working with them.
“Congratulations also to the Nantwich Independents and I look forward to continuing my relationship with Cllr Arthur Moran.”
In the former Congleton borough area the biggest losers were again the Liberal Democrats.
They managed to hold on to their three Alsager seats but now have no representation in Sandbach or Middlewich.
Elsie Alcock, who lost her seat to Labour’s Sam Corcoran in the Sandbach Heath and East ward, said: “I’m afraid people may not have gone for those who have local people’s interests at their heart.
“A lot of people have gone with the country and not with the local community.”
In the former Congleton borough area, the Conservatives now have 14 seats, Labour has one, the Lib Dems three and there are three Independents.
Overall the whole of the Cheshire East Council – which also includes the former Macclesfield borough – is still very much Conservative dominated.
The make-up of new council is: 52 Tories, 14 Labour, four Lib Dems, 10 others and two vacant seats.
There are now 82 seats on the council – prior to Thursday there were 81.
Before the election there had been 58 Conservative councillors, six Labour, 12 Lib Dems and four others.
© 2011 Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Ltd.
Full Election Results for Crewe & Nantwich
Crewe & Nantwich Guardian
DESPITE Labour victories in Crewe, Conservatives remain the biggest party in Crewe and Nantwich following the Cheshire East Council elections on Thursday.
The Tories now have 12 councillors, with Labour increasing their total to eight.
The Liberal Democrats suffered the most and now have no seats in Crewe and Nantwich. There are three Independent councillors.
For the full results please click our 'election results' link on this website.
Conservative campaigners claimed that Labour's victories were partly down to ward boundary changes.
The election in the Crewe South ward was postponed because of the death of Clr Betty Howell.
Those two seats will be contested on June 16.
Voters across Cheshire East rejected the Alternative Vote system by almost three-to-one.
In the local referendum, 88,669 said ‘no’ to AV - with 33,241 voting in favour.
Following the local election count, local MP Edward Timpson said: "After predictions of a tough day for English Conservatives, we have actually seen gains in the Crewe and Nantwich constituency and countrywide, and a hugely successful result in the voting system referendum.
"In that referendum, we chose still to elect the most popular candidate as Member of Parliament, and maintain a direct link between MP and voter.
"In Crewe and Nantwich people voted by a factor of almost three to one for the current system - a greater proportion than the national average.
"In the local elections, the Conservatives had an extra win in the rural areas, a great result in Leighton and Haslington, and maintained their base in Nantwich.
"Labour benefited from generous boundary changes in their favour, and the collapse of the Liberal Democrat vote, but still have no councillors outside of Crewe, and none in Nantwich.
"Congratulations to their successful candidates, and I look forward to working with them.
"Congratulations also to the Nantwich Independents, and I also look forward to continuing my relationship with Councillor Arthur Moran."
© 2011 Newsquest Media Group
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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