Friday 9, March 2012
Welcome ...
Welcome to this my 114th news bulletin.
The Post Office is a tremendous national asset, and I know from using local branches myself that it is an important local asset to the people of Crewe and Nantwich. That's why I'm pleased the Coalition Government is determined to turn the Post Office network around and end years of decline.
There will be no return to Labour's closure programmes, when over 6,000 post offices shut their doors, affecting the most vulnerable in society.
Before I even became Member of Parliament for Crewe and Nantwich, I ran a campaign against Labour's closure of our local Post Offices.
They closed four whilst in government: Gainsborough Road, Millfields, Millstone Lane and Nantwich Road.
Thankfully the Coalition Government is committed to the remaining eleven Post Offices in our constituency.
To underline that commitment, Ministers are providing £1.34 billion of funding for the Post Office between 2011 and 2015. This will help put
the business on a stable financial footing and help modernise the network, refurbish branches, extend opening hours and reduce queues.
As part of this modernisation work, Ministers want post offices to become the natural place for citizens to access face-to-face Government services. The wide distribution and unparalleled national coverage of the Post Office network makes it ideally suited to act as a front office for local and central Government, building on its existing work in this area.
At the local level, the Post Office has recently begun delivering a range of 'front office' services on behalf of local councils.
I am confident that these changes will make the Post Office an even stronger retail partner for Royal Mail, and I will continue to support
Ministers as they explore new opportunities for our Post Offices in Crewe and Nantwich.
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...
- Met with the pupils of the Pebble Brook and King's Grove Schools on their visit to Parliament and held a Q & A with them
- Visited Air Products Crewe factory to see first hand how the business operates
- Spent time with the pupils at Kings Grove School to help them on a one to one basis with their reading
- Met with NSPCC to discuss how to improve support for children in care in situations where they are reunited with their families
- Asked for a debate on how the Government's £330million efficiency savings has enabled it to spend more on the NHS including £25.2 million on new units and equipment at Crewe’s Leighton hospital. To read more click here
This weekend I will be...
- Holding a surgery at the Morrisons in Crewe
- Attending the South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce's Annual Dinner
Westminster Report
Read my most recent Westminster Report
Click here or on the image
Photos & Video ...
Edward with the Pupils of the Pebble Brook and King's Grove Schools on their visit to Parliament
You can view all my photos and video at edwardtimpsonmp.com
Community News
Community & Voluntary Services Cheshire East
Looking to find opportunities to help out in the community? CVS (Community & Voluntary Services) Cheshire East is a Registered Charity whose aim is to be valued as the leading support and development organisation for the Voluntary and Community Sector in Cheshire East.
The CVS's volunteer team can support you in several ways:
- Help you to find a suitable volunteer role
- Help organisations to find suitable volunteers
- Encourage best practice in volunteer management
- To promote volunteering and the added value that it brings to our community
To find out more visit their website by clicking here
Do you have community news to share? Email me and it could be here too!
People of Crewe vote resounding 'yes' for a town council
Crewe Chronicle
THE people of Crewe have voted a resounding ‘yes’ for the formation of their own town council.
The results of the public ballot were revealed in the town square yesterday, where it was announced that a total of 10,810 residents felt the formation of a single town council was the right thing for Crewe.
This was the decision of almost nine out of 10 respondents (88.5%). The number of people voting ‘no’ came to just 1,390.
Speaking as the news was officially announced Cllr Michael Jones said: “This is a resounding vote. The work of the governance committee has been fantastic. Now we can move forward.”
But despite the clear consensus among voters, the turnout for the ballot was just 32% of the 37,750 electorate. This means the total percentage of the electorate voting for a town council was just 29%.
Cllr Jones added: “We always said this was an important time for the people of Crewe and, while it would have been nice to see more people voting, I’d like to thank them all for their input.
“It shows the vast majority of people who voted want more local representation so the town is placed in a stronger position to be able to manage certain services and assets, such as Crewe Market Hall, in future.
“The people responding to the ballot clearly want a town council, and if it is eventually formed, Cheshire East looks forward to working with its elected members in working together to secure an even brighter future for Crewe.”
The Crewe governance review sub-committee will meet on March 13 to consider the referendum results and discuss the next steps.
A final draft recommendation for the outcome of the review will then be passed to a full meeting of council in April or May, before a three-week second wave of consultation begins. A final decision is expected by August.
Responding to the news yesterday, MP Edward Timpson said: “The people of Crewe have indicated they want more control over their local governance, but at the same time they were not explicitly told they would have to pay for it in extra council tax.
“It’s impossible to estimate at this point how much that might be, and in the middle of an economic downturn it is worth looking at the other cost effective community governance options available to the council to implement.
“Crewe people want a voice in local government and well-run services, not unnecessary tax rises and more politicians.”
Crewe gypsy site campaigners say they have concrete evidence of plan's flaws
Crewe Chronicle
CAMPAIGNERS against the council’s proposed Gypsy site in Crewe say they’ve found concrete evidence the plan is ‘seriously flawed’.
They believe they have come up with a ‘defining document’ to suggest the Parkers Road site is too small for its intended purpose, and could end up putting tenants’ lives at risk.
Members of Crewe Against Traveller’s Sites (CATS) are once again urging the council to withdraw the plans immediately.
Aided by Government guidance on good design practice for Gypsy sites, the document centres on the site’s unsuitability to house 10 pitches and an amenity block.
It states: “Using measurements on the plans, the pitch for each static is only seven metres long. Government guidance states the site should be capable of providing sufficient space for the average-size trailer of up to 15m.
“Thus, the pitches are of insufficient size to accommodate the average-size static caravan.”
Concerns are also raised surrounding the accessibility for the emergency services.
The plans show the site road is only 4.5m wide, meaning emergency vehicles would struggle to pass to reach some pitches.
The document concludes: “The Parkers Road site is by far the smallest of all proposed sites. We believe the assessment of alternative sites was a sham.”
Chairman of CATS Glenn Perris said: “We believe this is a defining document as to the serious flaws within the planning application.
“The overriding factor is that this site is too small for its intended purpose, to the point that tenants’ safety could be compromised.
“It’s now time for Cheshire East to stop its arrogant march on the good people of Crewe and bring a halt to this ill-thought out proposal. The taxpayer is seeing their money being wasted on a scheme that simply isn’t fit for purpose.”
Edward Timpson MP added: “This is a fascinating and devastating technical deconstruction of a flawed planning application.
“This is clearly the wrong location, and the council should ensure the plan is shelved as soon as possible for the good of my constituents.”
The council has always maintained the site is the most suitable location and submitted a planning application on January 18.
The plans are due to be discussed at the next meeting of full council on February 23.
To view and comment on the application visit www.cheshireeast.gov.uk.
MP Edward Timpson champions Cheshire cheeses in Parliament
Nantwich News
Nantwich MP Edward Timpson has called on Parliament to promote local produce by championing the cause of Cheshire cheese.
Mr Timpson called on Leader of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon Sir George Young MP, to hold a debate on produce.
He said: “Members may be aware Nantwich plays host to the world’s largest cheese fair, which showcases outstanding local produce including the unbeatable Cheshire cheese.”
The Leader of the House replied: ”He (Timpson) has drawn attention to the wide range of cheeses that are available in this country and available for export, and I commend what he has done to promote that fine product.”
Mr Timpson added: “Demand for cheese in this country is still high, we spend more on cheese per week than we do on charitable giving, yet we still import from France despite having a rich domestic dairy industry of our own as in the south of my constituency.
“This is really an effort to support the local industry and remind people of the hidden gem that is Cheshire cheese.”
Local cheese producers like Joseph Heler sell more than 1,000 tonnes of Cheshire cheese a year, and are capable of producing 9,500 tonnes a year.
© 2012 Nantwich News
Cheshire East pupils missing out on millions of pounds of education funding
Crewe Chronicle
CHESHIRE East pupils receive one of the lowest funding levels in the country – with neighbouring Cheshire West and Chester getting an extra £10m.
For the year 2012/2013, pupils in the area will each receive £4695.01 in guaranteed unit funding (GUD) – £200 less per pupil than Cheshire West’s £4895.89.
The reasons for the disparity between the two authorities have not yet been made clear, with one councillor branding the Government’s funding system a ‘postcode lottery’.
At a meeting of the full council, Cllr Hilda Gaddum, cabinet member with responsibility for children and family services, submitted a notice of motion to write to the Department of Education asking them to look again at the way schools are funded nationally.
The letter, from all political group leaders, will thank local MPs for bringing the issues to the government’s attention and welcome the government’s commitment to review the funding system for schools and support an approach which provides a fairer level of funding nationally.
It will also highlight that Cheshire East receives well below the national average from the Dedicated Schools Grant, and the reasons why are not clear.
Cllr Michelle Sherratt, Labour spokeswoman for Cheshire East Council’s Children and Family Scrutiny Committee, said: “At a time when we need to invest more heavily in children and young people, it’s shocking that children in Cheshire East are more than £200 worse off when compared to our Cheshire West neighbours.”
Cllr Sherratt also said that education had become a ‘postcode lottery’ and that it is ‘unacceptable’.
The council is also asking the government to look at the funding arrangements for academies and the effect this has on local authority grants.
The letter will state that the reduction in formula grant to reflect academy conversions is not appropriate – particularly as there is no clear basis on which such deductions have been made.
Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson said he is in touch with the Schools Minister about getting a fairer deal for Crewe and Nantwich schools, pupils and parents.
He added: “In July last year, the Education Secretary launched a consultation on proposed reforms to the system. Included in the reforms is the introduction of a new national formula.
“I understand that the Government is currently working on developing further proposals in light of the consultation responses, with a view to introducing the new funding system for 2013/14.”
Councillor Gaddum said: “The achievement of pupils is a priority for Cheshire East but low base funding from government is making this increasingly difficult.
“In addition, the extra money being given to academies, who predominantly have the fewest children with educational problems, exacerbates the problem.
“To have unanimous cross-party support on this is extremely encouraging and shows how important the future of our education system is to my fellow councillors.
“I hope that the Department for Education will note the contents of our letter and use it as part of their review into school funding.”
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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