Support for culture from the Conservatives

SIAN FLYNN,  the Conservative prospective Parliamentary Candidate for North Cornwall quizzed Shadow Minister Ed Vaizey about the Tories’ approach to arts funding when she met him at the Party Conference in Blackpool.

Sian’s been a fundraiser in the arts for many years, working with organisations both large and small, and she’s passionate about the impact the arts can have not just on the well being of society as a whole – have you left a great performance with a spring in your step? – but also about the impact that watching or taking part in arts activity can have.

She said: “‘I’ve seen young people blossom and grow through taking part in performing arts, and many from the most disadvantaged backgrounds have their self-esteem boosted, and their aspirations raised through arts activity.’

“As an arts fundraiser, though, some of the processes that we have to take part in to get hold of funding from Government organisations leave you sapped of energy, and also have major costs to the organisations bidding, which can be very damaging, particularly if the companies are small.

“Funding through Government agencies often demands detailed data collection based on Government inspired targets.  Whilst the aims might be laudable, frankly the cost to an organization of collecting and monitoring data in this kind of detail can be huge.  Too often now the arts feel as if they are being used for social engineering, rather than cultural and personal enrichment’.

‘I was very pleased to hear Ed Vaizey, who is the son of art critic Marina Vaizey, talk about the Tories’ approach to the arts and cultural and creative industries. Ed said ‘We absolutely understand the value of the arts to our country, and when we’re elected, will be committed to sweeping away the tick box culture that has emerged in the last ten years, which has been so dispiriting.  It’s time to trust the professionals, and that way we’ll also significantly reduce the cost of administering the bidding process – so more money for the front line’.

Lib Dems attack investment in Smith Aerospace

AT A recent Council Meeting at Shire Hall, Liberal Democrat and Labour Councillors called for Gloucestershire County Council to scrap investments in companies like Cheltenham based Smiths Aerospace. 

Opposition councillors specifically called for the council’s almost £1b pension fund to avoid investing money in defence companies – highlighting specifically BAE Systems.  Defence and Aerospace companies play a key role in the Gloucestershire economy, employing hundreds of people.

Councillor Barry Dare, Leader of Gloucestershire County Council, commented: “It’s just not right to try to play politics with the pensions of Gloucestershire County Council staff and pensioners in this way. 

“I would be quite happy to discuss how we regulate the arms industry in this country – which is one of the most tightly regulated in the world.  But this sort of blanket attack on companies who employ thousands of people in this country is badly thought out.  Gloucestershire people who work for companies like Smiths and others in the defence and aerospace sectors should be very worried about the way in which the Liberal Democrats and Labour see them.”

Emergency Resilience for Taunton Deane - Formosa calls for flood protection for local electricity and water works

SUGGESTIONS put forward by Mark Formosa, the Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Taunton Deane, could help reduce the impact of any future natural emergency such as the floods which recently devastated parts of Gloucestershire.

 Mark put forward a number of action points during a briefing he received on Somerset’s emerging plans for coping with any such flooding or other disaster which might befall the Deane.

 He said: “Utility companies should be forced to protect vital services to avoid the Gloucestershire debacle happening here. Electricity installations and water works should be located on high ground, or robust flood prevention works should take place as a top priority for areas under threat like Taunton Deane.

 “We should not forget that protection is needed for our sewage works as flooding causes the discharge of dangerous effluent which causes the spread of disease.”

The briefing was given by the Somerset local authorities’ civil contingencies manager, and Mark was also accompanied by Lydeard ward Somerset county Councillor Christopher Wolverson.

Afterwards, they visited Norton Fitzwarren Village Hall, where earlier this year Mark Formosa attended the annual parish meeting while proposals were aired for using the hall as an emergency centre for any casualties in the event of a natural disaster.

 Councillor Christopher Wolverson said: “This briefing needed to take place so that Taunton can have an MP who is fully connected to what will be happening on the ground should the worst come to the worst. Mark Formosa told the emergency planning department of the importance of protecting local electricity networks and water works from flooding, and these ideas will now be followed up by the county council as the local resilience framework is drawn up.”

ITV plans to slash regional TV will “damage democracy”

Gloucestershire Conservatives have hit out at plans by ITV to slash regional television services – which in this county could mean that Gloucestershire’s local TV is broadcast from Plymouth. 

The plans, announced today by Michael Grade, see a halving of the ITV regional television budget – and would see ITV West, which broadcasts from Bristol and currently serves Gloucestershire and ITV West Country, which serves Cornwall, Devon and Dorset, merged into one “local” TV station. 

ITV West Country currently broadcasts from Plymouth – 30 miles further away from Gloucester than London.

 Cllr Barry Dare, Leader of Gloucestershire County Council, commented:“These proposals are extremely worrying.  Local television broadcasting is crucial to local democracy and a vital part of our local media. 

“Axing our local television, and replacing it with programming from Plymouth would totally undermine the crucial role it has to play – as well as costing hundreds of jobs.  ITV’s broadcast license is dependent on their being a “public service broadcaster”.  These cuts would seriously undermine any claim they have to that title.  I shall be writing to OFCOM to strongly oppose this.”

 

MP cries foul as rail company tries to spin its way out of trouble

Mark Harper, MP for the Forest of Dean, has criticised First Great Western for issuing misleading statements in response to his complaints about poor service performance.  Yesterday he highlighted the 10 cancellations/revised services of which 7 were due to ‘resourcing difficulties’ according to the company’s own website.  In response the company tried to leave the impression that these problems were due to vandalism to a signal relay station, a cut signal cable, trespassers on the line and an unwell member of staff – mainly things outside of its control.  In fact, at least 7 out of 10 problems were due to poor management and planning by the company itself.Commenting, Mark Harper said: “If it wasn’t bad enough that First Great Western has to cancel a large number of services at short notice because it runs out of trains or staff, it is clearly in denial about the real problems.

At least 7 out of 10 problems were due to the company’s own poor management and planning.  Trying to leave a different impression with the public really does them no credit.  They can’t spin their way out of trouble.”

Sarah Newton express “relief” volunteer groups diminishes.

 
SARAH NEWTON, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Truro and Falmouth, has expressed her relief at the news that County Hall had re-instated vital funding for volunteer groups working with young people across the county up until April 2008.

Sarah has been campaigning for the re-instatement of this money through talking to local councillors and the media to ensure the local people affected were heard.

Sarah said: “I am relieved that local volunteer groups, which play such an important role in local community are getting this vital funding back and can continue.

“What concerns me is that this funding has only been continued up until April when the situation is due for review again. It is simply not acceptable for local groups to be in fear of losing their funding every few months as they need a certain amount of security to allow them to plan for the future. This is particularly important due to the uncertainty that local government reorganisation is bringing with it.”

In total, 13 pivotal groups had lost this crucial funding, totalling £83,595.50 from September 1st. Among the worst affected were Young People Cornwall (£19,258.75); Cornwall Scouts (£11,182.50); Girl Guides in Cornwall (£9,641.92) and Cornwall Young Farmers (£10,924.08). The groups were contacted, by letter, by the county council last month notifying its intentions.

A number of people connected with the groups have already contacted and thanked Sarah.

Freeing Our Firms to Compete - Anne Marie Morris.

ANNE MARIE MORRIS has added her voice to growing support for the recent publication of the Conservatives’ report into economic competitiveness.

The report, entitled Freeing Britain to Compete, suggested that excessive levels of tax and red tape in Britain had led to businesses being less able to compete, and, in turn, to a lack of diverse employment opportunities for individuals across the country.

In welcoming the report’s publication Anne Marie, the Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Newton Abbot, said she hoped it would provoke “an honest and detailed debate” about tax and regulation among both politicians and the public alike.

She said: “One of the biggest problems we face in the constituency is the lack of decent jobs for people, which is why so many of our young folk leave here every year.

“It certainly will not be easy to turn a situation like that around, but one of the best ways to start would be to ease the burdens on small businesses in the area, which would allow them to expand and create new jobs.

“At the moment they are finding it extremely difficult, which is not surprising given recent figures from the British Chambers of Commerce show the Government has so far lumbered them with an extra £56 billion of regulatory cost.

“I think we should be making it easier, not harder, for people who are struggling to make a living, so I very much welcome the report’s proposals to reduce regulations on business by £14 billion over five years.”

Aside from outlining plans to decrease unnecessary regulation, the report also submitted proposals to reduce taxes on business, which Anne Marie also voiced her support for.

She said: “Though it is important to stress that tax reductions should only be instituted if they will not jeapordise the stability of the overall economy, there is a definite case for saying that, if they can be afforded, they ought perhaps to be targeted on small businesses, since helping them helps all of us.
“I particularly like the proposal to lift the threshold of VAT, since the complexity of that tax often discourages people from starting a business in the first place.’

The report was also welcomed by the Federation of Small Businesses, with Teignbridge branch chairman Malcolm Colegate insisting it represented a definite step in the right direction.

He said: “There is no doubt that the well-being of small businesses locally has a tangible effect on the growth of the region as a whole, and that higher growth means a better quality of life for everyone who lives here.

“We have been saying for a long time that too much tax and regulation is hindering our ability to expand and create jobs, and so anything that seeks to address those concerns has to be a good thing.”

Closure Of Weavers Croft For Inpatients a “Tragedy” - Neil Carmichael

NEIL CARMICHAEL, Parliamentary Spokesman for the Stroud Constituency, condemned the decision to close Weavers Croft’s Inpatient Beds.

Neil Carmichael commented, “For the Labour Government to close this excellent and popular facility shows that it has no interest in local opinion and, instead, seems to be quite determined to impose a centralised approach to every aspect of healthcare.

“This consequence of this closure for patients, carers and families will be dramatic and difficult. At this time, we must think of them.

“Weavers Croft was opened under a Conservative Government in the 1980s and now it is to be closed by Labour. Standish Hospital was the last one to be closed by Labour. Closures must be stopped.”

Major Crediton employer seeks help

PLANS to close a vital junction on one of Devon’s main arterial routes could pose a serious financial threat to a number of key local businesses, a campaigner has warned.
Mel Stride has added his voice to growing local concern over possible proposals to close the Fingle Glen junction on the A30 between Exeter and Okehampton.
The controversial proposal to close the access across the central reservation has been put forward by the Highways Agency.
It originally spent more than £500,000 on a road scheme near the village of Tedburn St Mary, but was forced to scrap the project because, it claimed, strong local opposition had forced an inquiry.
In its place, the agency put forward plans to close the Fingle Glen junction - which allows westbound traffic to cross the eastbound  carriageway - citing safety concerns.
However, incensed residents secured a High Court injunction preventing the central reservation being closed, and have since urged the Government to adhere to its original, £2.8million scheme.
Having formed the Fingle Glen Action Group, residents are currently pursuing a judicial review on the decision to scrap the road scheme.
However, fears remain that the Highways Agency’s plans to close the junction could come to fruition, despite local opposition.
In response to the growing concern Mel Stride, the Conservative candidate for the new parliamentary seat of Central Devon, and MP for Tiverton and Honiton Angela Browning have visited the area to meet with many of those effected by the threatened closure.
Mrs Browning’s concerns specifically relate to a number of her Crediton constituents, including businesses which have contacted her about the impact the junction closure will have on journey times in and out of the area.
Among those businessmen visited by Mr Stride and Mrs Browning is Dennis Brinicombe, who as head of one of the UK’s leading suppliers of health and feed products to the farming community, is among Crediton’s largest employers.
After the meeting Mr Brinicombe said, “I am grateful for the support that Mel Stride and Angela Browning are providing. My business sees around 20 lorry movements a week using the junction at Fingle Glen.”
“If the junction is closed the resulting detours will cost my business thousands of pounds a year and lead to increased distances travelled by our lorries with a resultant increase in pollution and carbon emissions. We need to preserve this important junction in some form.”
Commenting after the meeting Mel Stride said, “I will now be requesting an early meeting with the Highways Agency to look into the options for Fingle Glen. I will be campaigning for a solution which sees this junction continuing to provide appropriate access to the  A30 for traffic leaving and entering the Tedburn St Mary area.”
Endorsing Mr Stride’s campaign, Angela Browning MP added, “some years ago I fought successfully for a new junction arrangement on the A30 at Cheriton Bishop. It was a hard battle and it took time to secure but it has been a huge success. We must now fight for a similarly positive outcome at Fingle Glen.”

Peter Ainsworth visits flood-affected businesses in Gloucester

‘Astonishing’ was Shadow Environment Secretary Peter Ainsworth’s verdict, after hearing the story of how Gloucester based Poeton Industries carried on seven days a week despite being flooded-out.

‘I’m amazed and impressed by the commitment and ingenuity of your company’, Peter Ainsworth told Poeton’s Chairman Anthony Poeton, after touring the factory on the weekend at the invitation of Gloucester’s Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman Richard Graham.

The Gloucester based surface engineering specialist maintained production every day during the floods crisis - despite having a building flooded above knee level, evacuating employees and having to find alternative water supplies for water intensive processes as well as maintaining washing and toilet facilities (as a result of Severn Trent supply issues).

Chairman Anthony Poeton paid tribute to his staff: ‘they have risen to the challenge superbly, production has continued without break and most customers have been assured it has been “business as usual”‘.

Production Controller  Simon Allen explained in detail how with the help and support of various key suppliers extra water had been delivered from their Cardiff factory and other sources, surgical gels used for hand washing, and brook water used for operation support.  ‘It wasn’t easy but we just got on with it, working out what we needed and how we could get it. Bottom line was our reputation would have suffered if we’d told customers sorry we’re flooded out - and we didn’t want to risk losing business’.

Anthony Poeton commented that a key part of business continuity was MD Adrian Ryder’s personal commitment to staff welfare during a fortnight of ‘the most testing operational conditions we’ve faced for many years’.

Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Gloucester Richard Graham said he wanted to bring Peter Ainsworth to Poeton’s to highlight the ability of Gloucester industry to overcome extraordinary challenges:

“I saw the factory here during the flooding, and this story - along with those of other companies - shows Gloucester at her finest. Poeton’s manufactures for some of the world’s most demanding clients in the public and private sectors of aerospace and defence technology - and they kept going. What an inspiring message from business in the city - we can keep going in the worst conditions”.