Thursday, October 4th, 2012
Two local Conservative MPs have joined forces against a wind turbine proposal near the service station at junction 10 of the M42.
Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) and Dan Byles (North Warwickshire) have written to their respective councils to make clear they do not believe more wind farm applications our right for the local area. The application for development sits right on the border between Tamworth Borough Council and North Warwickshire Borough Council.
The first turbine application was lodged with North Warwickshire council but when this was opposed, an application for a ‘test mast’ was lodged on the Tamworth side of the border. It would appear that the developer may lodge another application for a full wind turbine in the future on the service station land.
It is not clear whether this will be in North Warwickshire or Tamworth. If it is built on the station, it is clear that both areas will be affected.
Christopher Pincher said, “Both Dan and I sit on the Energy Select Committee in Parliament and take a keen interest in renewable energy. However, we have real concerns about the economic viability of many on-shore wind proposals and the subsidy required to support them, which comes out of the pockets of hard-pressed households.
“So we want a considered view of green energy policy and we want local councils like Tamworth and North Warwickshire to reflect on local concerns about unsightly and expensive turbines.”
Dan Byles added, “I am concerned that our area, where different planning authorities covering North Warwickshire, Tamworth, Lichfield and North West Leicestershire meet, risks being overbuilt with wind turbines which are not economically sensible nor popular with local people who have to pay for them through their energy bills. We really need to call a halt to this sort of development.”
The pair say they have received many complaints from local residents opposed to wind turbine development. They were also among the 102 MPs that wrote to Prime Minister David Cameron earlier this year calling for a review of on-shore wind energy policy.
Thursday, October 4th, 2012
Tamworth’s MP, Christopher Pincher, has met with David Laws, Minister of State for Schools, to discuss school funding reforms.
Mr Pincher Joined Staffordshire County Councillors and five other local MPs on Tuesday to discuss the future of schools funding to ensure that Tamworth gets the best from the proposed funding allocation changes which are due to come into effect in 2013.
The proposed changes see alterations in how schools receive their funding, reducing the complex bureaucracy to allocate funds distribute money in a fair and logical way. This will see schools in similar circumstances and with similar intakes of pupils receiving similar levels of funding. The new system aims to be clear and easy for parents, schools and the public to understand and see where funds are being allocated, whilst supporting a range of school provisions including academies and free schools.
More than £35 billion of revenue is spent on schools each year and so it is crucial that the funding system provides good value for money across the whole country.
Mr Pincher commented, “School funding needs to be reformed but also needs to be fair. It is so important that we work closely with schools and work hard to ensure Tamworth pupils get the best out of vital funding reforms. For too long Staffordshire schools have languished at the bottom of the education funding league table.
“I am pleased the Government want to change this. The Minister was open to innovative ideas and said he would look at our suggestions to make funding more flexible. I hope this will ensure fair funding across the whole county including Tamworth.”
Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012
Traffic congestion at Tamworth’s Ventura Park should be eased as early as November when the new car park exit opens, thanks to the combined efforts of Tamworth and Staffordshire’s Conservative councillors.
Ventura Park is one of the county’s top shopping attractions and Staffordshire County Council’s highways team has been working closely with Tamworth Borough Council and Tamworth’s Sainsbury’s store to resolve congestion issues at the Jolly Sailor retail area and ensure people enjoy their shopping experience.
The County’s Highways team ensured detailed plans had been drawn up with the Sainsbury’s consultants so that any issues could be overcome in the design stages and Tamworth Borough Council’s planning committee approved the new car park exit onto the A453 Bonehill Road in the summer, meaning traffic leaving the store does not have to head back along Elmhurst Drive.
Now work is scheduled to begin week beginning Monday, October 8, with a scheduled completion date in early November, subject to weather conditions.
Councillor Steve Claymore, Tamworth Borough Council’s Cabinet member for economic development in Tamworth, said, “It is great news that work is about to get underway on the second exit. We know that traffic at Ventura is a cause of frustration for residents and visitors, and this should help reduce the impact on roads around Ventura, and the work will be completed ahead of Christmas.
“Ventura Park is incredibly important to Tamworth as it provides jobs and has continued to attract major retailers to our town; this new exit should hopefully help reduce congestion at busy times. I would like to thank Sainsbury’s for their hard work on this project and making it happen.”
Local county councillor Mick Oates said, “This is a big project by our highways team which will make a real difference to traffic around Ventura Park and help to ease congestion. We’re all looking forward to seeing the scheme start so the new exit will be open as soon as possible and certainly in time for the Christmas shopping period.”
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport Mike Maryon said, “The county and borough councils have worked closely together with Sainsbury’s on this project as we realise how important it is for the people of Tamworth and the continued success of Ventura Park as a leading leisure destination and centre for job creation.
“This demonstrates how improving our infrastructure benefits business, our economy and life for people who live, work and visit Staffordshire.
“We would ask people to bear with us during the month the work is carried out but we are sure the long-term benefits will be considerable.”
This would never have happened without the combined support of local and County Council Conservative Party councillors.
Friday, September 28th, 2012
Wednesday, September 19th, 2012
The Conservative candidate who hopes to become Staffordshire’s first ever Police & Crime Commissioner has today announced plans, if he is elected, to establish a new Police Cadet Force to engage with young people and help set them up to meet life’s future challenges.
Matthew Ellis believes the new voluntary service, which would be uniformed, could develop better links between the main Police Service and young people as well as local communities.
He said, “We need to do more to forge links between younger members of society and the Police Service. Developing police cadets would create new interest in policing amongst the younger community as well as improving life skills in order to be good, well-engaged citizens.
“A new young uniformed service could instil confidence, a sense of purpose as well as discipline and added self worth. All this while getting a real insight into what the police do and why they do it.”
It is envisaged that the new service would cover ages of 10 years old through to 18 and would be closely linked to improving career opportunities through accreditations and NVQs to help employment prospects as well as possible future entry into Special Constabulary and policing roles. The new service could also be used by public sector and criminal justice bodies to help divert individuals away from anti social activities and potential criminality in some cases.
Mr Ellis says the proposals would be funded mainly through a corporate responsibility fund with businesses in Staffordshire contributing.
“There is significant interest from corporate business in this proposal. Big companies are more conscious than ever before that they need to do more in supporting ideas that are socially responsible and beneficial to Staffordshire communities. And the fact that policing is an integral part of our everyday lives has really caught their imagination.
Thursday, September 13th, 2012
Thursday, September 13th, 2012
A new national website aimed at shining a light on the backgrounds and policies of candidates standing for November’s Police & Crime Commissioner election has been welcomed by Staffordshire’s Conservative hopeful.
Matthew Ellis says the new website, launched by national think-tank Policy Exchange, will help to raise awareness of the new position and inform electors about the candidates standing. He said, “The new PCC is a major change to the way policing in Staffordshire will be governed meaning the majority of people are unclear how it will affect them or even that it’s happening.”
The election for the new post, which will cover the whole of Staffordshire, including Stoke, will be on November 15th and is the largest election ever held in the county with over a million people eligible to vote. As a Crown Servant’s position, the successful candidate will swear an Oath of Office to be impartial and fair and will have power over strategic policing policy, the budget, and setting the amount people pay towards Staffordshire’s police service through council tax.
The PCC will also be responsible for improving the way victims are supported and making the whole system around policing and the prevention of crime work more effectively. The Commissioner will set the priorities for policing across Staffordshire and have the power to replace the Chief Constable if needed. They will be accountable to a statutory committee, which will include local, City and County Councillors as well as lay members of the public.
Mr Ellis believes that the new democratic accountability will result in the public having a louder voice in how the police operate in their area,
“During the last three weeks I’ve talked to hundreds of people about the November election across all parts of Staffordshire and it’s been encouraging that once clear about what it means they are broadly supportive of the new role. It’s not about the PCC running the police, that’s the Chief Constable’s job, but it is about ensuring local policy set by the PCC better reflects the public’s view in local areas. It means for the first time ever that local people will have the power to support or vote out of office the person elected every 4 years depending on how the police service is performing.”
The new website www.PoliceElections.com 30,000 people visit it during its first day and provides information on the elections and those standing in every area across the UK. You can also make your views known on policing in Staffordshire at www.tellmatthew.org.
Thursday, September 13th, 2012
Matthew Ellis with local Conservative politicians and party members
The Conservative Party candidate for Staffordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Ellis, launched his campaign in Tamworth on Saturday in the shadow of former Conservative Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel.
Matthew visited every borough and district across the Staffordshire force area as part of his campaign action day and met with local people to talk about policing.
Matthew was joined by Tamworth’s MP Christopher Pincher and local councillors in the town centre and talked to local people about his priorities for policing in Staffordshire.
Matthew commented, “It was only fitting to start the day in Tamworth. Sir Robert Peel, former Prime Minister, was Member of Parliament for Tamworth and founder of the modern police force in Britain.
“It’s clear from speaking to local people that they want the best front-line policing for Staffordshire. This new role means for the first time ever, people in Staffordshire will be able to hold an individual to account for policing in their area.
“The one issue that keeps coming up is getting police back on the beat. My priorities for Staffordshire enable police officers to be police officers, out on the beat, preventing crime and cracking down on anti-social behaviour.”
For more information on Matthew’s campaign, visit his website at www.tellmatthew.org.
Thursday, September 6th, 2012
Christopher Pincher, Member of Parliament for Tamworth, has written to the Chief Executive of FirstGroup, Tim O’Toole, seeking assurances about the level of service the company will provide its customers when it takes responsibility from Virgin for the West Coast Main Line franchise.
FirstGroup won the competitive tender offered by the Department for Transport in August. That decision means commuters travelling from Tamworth’s train station to London Euston will no longer use Virgin services. Midland Mainline services are unaffected.
Mr. Pincher wrote to Mr O’Toole on behalf of constituents seeking more information on service levels and pricing plans. He has written separately seeking clarification on their expectations for future capacity on the West Coast Main Line.
Mr Pincher commented, “As somebody who uses the West Coast Main Line I am very much aware of its importance to many commuters from Tamworth and the surrounding areas. I want to know more about FirstGroup’s plans for train punctuality, cleanliness, level of service and price. I have raised this with the Chief Executive. I know people have raised concerns about the same mistakes on the First Capital Connect Line and I want to be sure they company is confident they will not be repeated.”
Monday, August 27th, 2012
The Range is set to open on October 12 in the old B&Q store on the Tame Valley Industrial Estate
The opening of new home, garden and leisure superstore The Range in Tamworth is set to create 70 new jobs and Conservative controlled Tamworth Borough Council is playing a leading role in helping to fill the vacancies.
Tamworth Borough Council has agreed to allow The Range and Jobcentre Plus to hold the interviews and inductions at its Marmion House offices.
Interviews for a mix of full and part-time positions will be held on September 4 and 5, with inductions being held on October 4, 5 and 8.
The Range is set to open on October 12 in the old B&Q store on the Tame Valley Industrial Estate.
Cllr Steve Claymore, Cabinet member for Economic Development and Enterprise, said, “The opening of The Range is another boost to Tamworth’s economy, providing a valuable addition to what the borough has to offer, as well as creating 70 new jobs for local people.
“We are delighted to be able to actively support The Range, in conjunction with Jobcentre Plus, by allowing the company to hold its interviews and induction days at Marmion House.”
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Two local Conservative MPs have joined forces against a wind turbine proposal near the service station at junction 10 of the M42.
