Thursday 29, November 2012
Welcome ...
Welcome to this my 130th news bulletin.
Many of you will have heard of the case of Sgt Danny Nightingale. If you are sympathetic to his plight and want to make sure your support counts you can sign up to Danny's petition at http://bit.ly/Uywpre. It already has over 72,000 signatures, but we need to keep them coming in, so you'll be in good company!
As a Member of Parliament for a railway constituency, I am delighted that the government has embarked on the biggest rail modernisation programme since the Victorian era.
This will mean faster journeys, more seats, improved access to stations like Crewe, better freight links for companies based here, and a world class rail network.
In fact, improvement work at Crewe station is beginning again shortly.
The Government is delivering its vision for a railway which is more financially and environmentally sustainable, supports growth, and delivers not only for passengers, but also the freight customers that are so important to our local economy.
£16 billion is currently being spent, including £9.4 billion for infrastructure.
New projects include:
• Increased rail capacity for commuters and over £400 million for projects including the Northern Hub linking key Northern cities. This will provide for 20,000 additional commuting trips per day into our major cities outside London in the morning peak.
• The creation of a new electric spine from Yorkshire and the Midlands to South Coast ports, with more reliable electric trains cutting journey times and boosting capacity.
All of this means better rail connections to Crewe, more potential business for our local economy, and more jobs.
I can't wait for all the work to be completed. It's long overdue.
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
Locally I have...
- Laid wreaths at the Remembrance Services in Crewe and in Nantwich in memory of our fallen soldiers
- Held a number of surgeries around the constituency
- Met with Sally Nightingale, wife of Sgt Danny Nightingale, to discuss their ongoing efforts to bring him back to his family and update her on my correspondance with the Prime Minister on the issue. Sign up to Danny's petition at http://bit.ly/Uywpre
- Received Cllr Bebbington's Green Gap petition which I have presented to Cheshire East
- Lit the Nantwich Fireworks alongside Michelle Keegan as part of the Halloween Spooktacular a joint fundraising effort between Blitz fireworks and Nantwich Agricultural Society
- Lit the Crewe Bonfire on Guy Fawkes Night
- Supported Helen Spencer, a fitness instructor whose husband is serving with the RAF in Afgahnistan, as she raised money for Help for Heroes. Helen held a one hour Kettlercise class at Shavington Leisure Centre near Crewe
- Opened Cheshire Academy's new garden at Broad Street School created by the Princes Trust Crewe 37 Team
- Dropped one of my children's old bikes off at Recycle Cycles at 1 Coronation Crescent, Maw Green, Crewe, CW1 4EJ which I recently opened. I encourage anyone with an old bike to do the same, contact Dave Sudden on 01270 583019 if you have any queries
- Participated in a classroom session at Wistaston Primary provided by NSPCC ChildLine Schools Service
- Assisted at a LATH Group stall on Crewe Market Square to raise awareness of the organisation and to recruit Volunteers and Friends of LATH
- Joined local charity Crewe & Nantwich Open Minds at the Gresty Road YMCA (Foyer 169) to discuss mental health issues and what the Government is doing to help those with mental health needs
- Attended a Youth Work Week event at Beech Drive Family Centre to meet with young people, hear about their involvement in the National Citizens Scheme, what they are doing, and in return talk a little about what I do in my role as an MP
- Visited Adelaide School at the request of some of the pupils to participate in their project on government
- Supported the Home Heat Helpline campaign to increase awareness of the service. The helpline advises people worried about paying their fuel bills and keeping warm during the winter. It also gives advice to low-income households in urgent need of heating help and advice
Westminster Report
Read my most recent Crewe & Nantwich Talk
Click here or on the image
Photos & Video ...
Edward opening Cheshire Academy's Garden at Broad Street School created by the Princes Trust Crewe 37 Team
You can view all my photos and video at edwardtimpsonmp.com
Community News
Home Heat Helpline
The helpline advises people worried about paying their fuel bills and keeping warm during the winter. It also gives advice to low-income households in urgent need of heating help and advice. It is free to call and is open 9am-6pm Monday to Friday, and 10am-2pm on Saturdays.
Calls to the helpline are answered by friendly expert advisors at the Home Heat Helpline call centre. They can give you quick, clear information on the grants, benefits and payment schemes that you may be entitled to as well as basic steps that you can take to save money on heating bills by making your home more energy efficient.
For information visit the Home Heat Helpline website or call them on 0800 33 66 99.
Do you have community news to share? Email me and it could be here too!
MP Timpson backs Crewe and Nantwich “Green Gap” 4,000-name petition
Nantwich News
A 4,000-name petition calling for the Green Gap around Nantwich and Crewe to be protected, has been backed by local MP Edward Timpson.
Campaigners launched the "Save the Green Gap" effort in Willaston two years ago to safeguard the area from excessive urban development.
Mr Timpson, MP for Crewe and Nantwich, has thrown his support behind the campaign and presented a petition with over 4,000 signatures to Cheshire East Council and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
The petition is made up of over 250 children's signatures and 4,000 signatures from Crewe and Nantwich residents, collected by Cllr Derek Bebbington and his team.
Mr Timpson said: "I stand behind the residents of Crewe and Nantwich, who are understandably worried about the plans that Cheshire East Council have for our green fields.
"The council needs to understand that people care deeply about their local environment and want it protected."
The Green Gap around villages such as Shavington, Willaston, Wybunbury, Weston, Haslington, Leighton and Maw Green was originally protected from development by the former Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council in 1993.
But Cheshire East Council has been reviewing its plans for the development of the borough, and current draft plans do not mention the Green Gap.
In November 2010, a campaign was started by the Willaston Green Gap Action Team.
They handed in a petition of 1,221 signatures to Cheshire East Council in December 2010 asking for the retention of the Green Gap to be included in the Cheshire East Core Strategy development document.
Free wifi launches on Crewe housing estate
Crewe Chronicle
CREWE and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson pushed the button to officially switch on a new service offering free WiFi access in South Cheshire.
The free internet access is being offered by Wulvern Housing, local community group the Beech Drive Project and Internet Central. It will be available to Sherborne Estate residents in Crewe with plans to expand the service across South Cheshire soon.
The project is the first in the North West.
Wulvern director and All Change for Crewe board member Rob Allen said: "All Change for Crewe recognises that there is a need for wider access to the internet in our priority neighbourhoods, particularly for vulnerable people.
"Access improves the quality of life for residents. It impacts on a whole range of issues from education, to finding the latest money saving offers.
"Our aim is to make the internet accessible to communities across South Cheshire giving them opportunities and support to get connected.
"After registering with Wulvern WiFi, users can access the internet via any enabled device as well as a whole host of services, local businesses, schools and community facilities."
Wulvern is also encouraging residents to get on-line by offering a free computer loan scheme, free repairs to IT equipment and software, free computer classes and a free digital helpline via telephone and email.
Beech Drive project manager John Bottomley said: "Of the 8.7m UK adults who have never used the internet, over 4m are among the most vulnerable in society.
"We are delighted to be able to offer this fantastic service.
"Our aim is to make the internet accessible to communities across in South Cheshire giving them opportunities and support to get connected."
MP Timpson welcomes rise in apprenticeships in Crewe and Nantwich
Nantwich News
Crewe & Nantwich MP Edward Timpson has welcomed the rise in apprenticeship positions across the borough.
Latest figures show half a million people started an apprenticeship last year in the UK, and 1,490 of those were in Crewe and Nantwich.
Mr Timpson says that's an increase of 810 apprentices compared to the year of the last General Election 2009/2010.
"It is fantastic that 1,490 people in Crewe & Nantwich started an apprenticeship last year," he added.
"We are getting behind people who work hard and want to get on in life. Apprenticeships are a great way to help people get the skills they need to make a better future for themselves.
"I want many more people in Crewe and Nantwich to have the chance to earn and learn at the same time.
"I would urge everyone to think about whether they can benefit from the many apprenticeship opportunities that are now available."
Street Pastors scheme is launched in Nantwich
Crewe Chronicle
A SCHEME to curb anti-social behaviour at night has been launched in Nantwich.
The ‘street pastors’ initiative was launched on Saturday in a joint project between Nantwich’s churches and the local police.
Twenty volunteers undertook the first of a dozen training sessions at Nantwich Methodist Church and enjoyed lunch with guests of honour, MP Edward Timpson and Nantwich deputy mayor John Lewis.
The mini army will be out on the streets during the busiest nights to assist visitors to pubs and clubs and help them get home safely.
Joint co-ordinator David Maidment explained: “The four-person teams will operate independently, but in close liaison with the police, and offer a friendly presence and help to those that need it.
“That might include the provision of advice to those with transport problems getting home, water or help for those feeling unwell, the clearing of dangerous litter and provision of flip-flops to those too unsteady in their high-heels, and the calming of situations where problems seem to be developing.
“Where the scheme has been running in other towns, a significant reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour due to drunkenness has been reported.
“Guests at the launch spoke of their support for the scheme and the value they believed it would bring to Nantwich’s nightlife.”
Nationally, 300 street pastor schemes are in operation – with successful local schemes in Middlewich, Chester and Wrexham.
The volunteers have embarked on a training course in street safety, listening skills and conflict management, as well as national street pastor procedures.
They will be fully trained and out in force by Christmas.
Sergeant Richard Tomlinson of the Nantwich Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “A lot of what they do will help take pressure off our officers and it’ll be good to see them out there.
“It’s had success in other towns so I’m sure it will be a success here too.
“We’re all working to the same ends to make sure people can come out to Nantwich and have a safe and enjoyable night.”
Sgt Tomlinson added he hoped Cheshire Constabulary’s ArcAngel scheme – the quality standards initiative for licensed premises – will be introduced soon.
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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