Anyone concerned about the Governments proposed sell off our woodlands and open spaces should take the time to complete the public consultation which ends 31 July. In response to public outcry at the cuts planned earlier this year the Government reacted by setting up the consultation. It didnt allow the objections to stop it slashing the Forestry Commission budget though!
If you are interested in saving our precious woodland and want to express your views you can do so to The Independent Panel on Forestry on the Consultation Website. I have.
Friday 22 July 2011
School Crossings & HGV constraint - Harrowby Road & Sandon Road
Tonight was the get together of the Friends of Little Gonerby, who had a celebration at Ask restaurant in town.
They had good cause to celebrate. Led by Sarah and Michelle the Friends have managed to raise £4000 for the school this year. As a result an outdoor classroom can be built, among other things. The Friends raised the money through an innovative range of events throughout the year. Whilst there was a focus on fund-raising, there was also a focus on inclusion and ensuring everyone had a great time too. The Christmas Fayre was a stunning success.
Whilst talking to the friends the subject came up of the crossing outside the school on Sandon Road. I have been considering taking some action regarding St Anne's School road crossing too. Both schools are on a busy road with children and parents taking chances as they cross over.
Whilst St Anne's has a lollipop man, Little Gonerby does not. I have committed to fighting for safe crossings for the schools.
On Sandon Road parents for St Marys and Sandon School would also benefit from a crossing.
There are a number of issues with Harrowby Road and Sandon School. At the Dysart Road meeting I discussed the situation with HGVs now using the roads as a rat run to cut out Grantham Town centre when linking up with the A52 to Boston. This also needs investigating.
They had good cause to celebrate. Led by Sarah and Michelle the Friends have managed to raise £4000 for the school this year. As a result an outdoor classroom can be built, among other things. The Friends raised the money through an innovative range of events throughout the year. Whilst there was a focus on fund-raising, there was also a focus on inclusion and ensuring everyone had a great time too. The Christmas Fayre was a stunning success.
Whilst talking to the friends the subject came up of the crossing outside the school on Sandon Road. I have been considering taking some action regarding St Anne's School road crossing too. Both schools are on a busy road with children and parents taking chances as they cross over.
Whilst St Anne's has a lollipop man, Little Gonerby does not. I have committed to fighting for safe crossings for the schools.
On Sandon Road parents for St Marys and Sandon School would also benefit from a crossing.
There are a number of issues with Harrowby Road and Sandon School. At the Dysart Road meeting I discussed the situation with HGVs now using the roads as a rat run to cut out Grantham Town centre when linking up with the A52 to Boston. This also needs investigating.
St Anne's School Says Goodbye to Mr Shore
As a relatively new member of the staff team of St Anne's I had the pleasure of attending the Leavers Assembly today. It was an extremely moving event. Children from St Anne's are heading off in all directions, like many others across the country, to their new secondary schools. For parents it was a moment of reflection and it made me realise just how quickly my own daughter, now five, will be grown and off herself.
The moment was very poignant because it also marked the last assembly for Mr Shore St Anne's Headmaster for the last 14 years. Under the strong leadership of Miss Blissett, Deputy Head, the staff team, myself included (hiding in the back row), gave Mr Shore a send off to 'St Anne's! St Anne's!' to the tune of to a well known tune - white shirts and black sparkly bowlers included.
For me the event not only marked a special time for all parents, children and staff concerned but highlighted the important role that schools play in transforming the lives of children so they have the best start in life. Every child should have the opportunity to go to a good local school.
There was a photo of Mr Shore blown up for us all to see. In it his eyes are staring at something ahead that we could not see - there was real passion and love for what he did in those eyes. Good-bye Mr Shore and Good Luck!
The moment was very poignant because it also marked the last assembly for Mr Shore St Anne's Headmaster for the last 14 years. Under the strong leadership of Miss Blissett, Deputy Head, the staff team, myself included (hiding in the back row), gave Mr Shore a send off to 'St Anne's! St Anne's!' to the tune of to a well known tune - white shirts and black sparkly bowlers included.
For me the event not only marked a special time for all parents, children and staff concerned but highlighted the important role that schools play in transforming the lives of children so they have the best start in life. Every child should have the opportunity to go to a good local school.
There was a photo of Mr Shore blown up for us all to see. In it his eyes are staring at something ahead that we could not see - there was real passion and love for what he did in those eyes. Good-bye Mr Shore and Good Luck!
Dysart Park Action Group Meeting 21 July 2011
I had the pleasure of attending my first Dysart Park Action Group Meeting - chaired by Libby Simpson. Cllr Mike Cook also attended. It is an important time for the Group who are planning next years main event.
They are on the look out for stall holders so if you have a stall that you would like to have at the Fair please contact me and I will pass your details on to Libby Simpson.
They are on the look out for stall holders so if you have a stall that you would like to have at the Fair please contact me and I will pass your details on to Libby Simpson.
Woodland Trust HQ Visit
I recently had the pleasure of visiting the new Woodland Trust HQ located in Grantham off Dysart Road.
It is a stunning building with an emphasis on the use of wood and natural materials. It has a unique air circulation system as well. I thought the most innovative idea was how the building's IT is set up. Rather than have a computer at every desk the building has an IT room housing a central computer to which every keyboard and screen in the building is linked. As a result the energy costs to support the Woodland Trust computers has plummeted. The reason I like this idea so much, is that I could see this idea being applied across all businesses. It does not require a special building to achieve significant cuts in energy costs - just clever design.
The main reason for showing councillors around their lovely site, however, is that the Woodland Trust is after something for us. A Diamond Wood in Grantham to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee. What a great idea, somewhere for local people to roam and discover nature for themselves. The only problem is that in order to create a wood the Trust need land, in or very near town.
Are there any landowners out there willing to share their land with us? According to the Woodland Trust the amount of new trees being planted is well below targets required. We are one of the least wooded countries in Europe, and Lincolnshire has among the lowest number of trees. Whilst to be fair we have an agricultural base there is still plenty of opportunity to plant trees if we chose to. We also need to conserve the trees we have.
I have some ideas for Diamond Wood sites but if you have any ideas please contact me.
For those with children the Woodland Trust has some great activities lined up for this summer.
It was exciting to hear that the Dysart Park Action Group will be the first local group to receive trees for planting. Local schools will be offered them as well.
It is a stunning building with an emphasis on the use of wood and natural materials. It has a unique air circulation system as well. I thought the most innovative idea was how the building's IT is set up. Rather than have a computer at every desk the building has an IT room housing a central computer to which every keyboard and screen in the building is linked. As a result the energy costs to support the Woodland Trust computers has plummeted. The reason I like this idea so much, is that I could see this idea being applied across all businesses. It does not require a special building to achieve significant cuts in energy costs - just clever design.
The main reason for showing councillors around their lovely site, however, is that the Woodland Trust is after something for us. A Diamond Wood in Grantham to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee. What a great idea, somewhere for local people to roam and discover nature for themselves. The only problem is that in order to create a wood the Trust need land, in or very near town.
Are there any landowners out there willing to share their land with us? According to the Woodland Trust the amount of new trees being planted is well below targets required. We are one of the least wooded countries in Europe, and Lincolnshire has among the lowest number of trees. Whilst to be fair we have an agricultural base there is still plenty of opportunity to plant trees if we chose to. We also need to conserve the trees we have.
I have some ideas for Diamond Wood sites but if you have any ideas please contact me.
For those with children the Woodland Trust has some great activities lined up for this summer.
It was exciting to hear that the Dysart Park Action Group will be the first local group to receive trees for planting. Local schools will be offered them as well.
Wednesday 13 July 2011
Woodlands Drive residents affected by flood alleviation work at Grantham Cemetery
I met some residents from Woodlands Drive on Friday 8th July to discuss work being carried out to prevent/reduce flooding of Grantham Cemetery.
As a result a number of concerns have been raised with South Kestevens Team responsible for Property and Facilities.
Contractors have been starting work well before an acceptable 8am and vibrations from the work have made life miserable for some local residents.
As a result a number of concerns have been raised with South Kestevens Team responsible for Property and Facilities.
Contractors have been starting work well before an acceptable 8am and vibrations from the work have made life miserable for some local residents.
Letter to the Grantham Journal re. Nick Boles MPs article about Food Bank
Dear Sir/Madam
The launch of Food Bank was a moving and great success and a tribute to all of those involved. It comes as no surprise that Nick Boles MP (Grantham Journal Friday July 8) is keen to use the Foodbank as an example of Big Society working. With great compassion many dedicated people are working their socks off as volunteers to set up the scheme and to help collect and manage the food donations.
But the launch is just the start. Food Bank needs help. In order to ensure food goes to the right families it is reliant on a food voucher scheme. So far the DWP and Job Centres have yet to commit to offering the vouchers to those in need at the Job Centre. Food Bank estimate as many as a third of families eligible for their help are likely to be identified here. I have asked Rt.Hon Harriet Harman MP to approach the relevent ministers regarding this.
Secondly, whilst South Kesteven District Council has provided critical support with a start up fund to get the project off the ground, funds are needed to maintain the project on an ongoing basis. Without the additional funds it could fail. Food Bank are asking local residents and businesses to sponsor them.
Until the Government tackle the inequality which is really driving the need for Foodbank, the least it can do is support those making up for the increasing number of holes in the "safety net" that our own benefits system is meant to provide.
Councillor Charmaine Morgan (St Anne's Ward)
45 Harrowby Road
Grantham
Lincolnshire
NG31 9ED
Tel: 01476 574748
South Kesteven District spend £1.6m on Grantham Regeneration
It should be good news that Grantham Market Place has received £1.6m for regeneration, but a number of aspects of this project are concerning.
Firstly, there seems to be a lack of appreciation that the impact of the loss of free local parking will have on local businesses in the area longer term.
In the short term, the Market Place, and Westgate have made Grantham a ghost town in parts as shoppers go elsewhere.
I spent several years living in South London. I shopped and worked through the entire redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre Croydon. At no time was any business left cut off from the rest of the shopping centre. The work was carefully phased for minimum impact. In sharp contrast the work on the Market Square has been donein one phase with significant impact on pedestrians and businesses. Pedestrians are forced to walk around the perimeter of the market square and parts of this are semi blocked with street furniture including lamp posts.
When the work first started there were significant traffic jams throughout the town.
It was the thoughful intervention by PC Wright who came up with a scheme preventing people parking on Guildhall St and providing Disabled Parking in Westgate which saved the day.
It was also concerning to hear that contractors working on the site have been finding some historic treasures. Not surprising given they are digging down to original cobblestones in a medieval square.
What has happened to these artefacts?
A discussion with Cllr Bruce Wells (Lab) Harrowby Ward, raised the need for assurance that the new surface will still be able to take the weight of the traditional Fayre vehicles and rides.
My last point is probably the most important. The Council were given £5m under Labour to deliver improvements to Grantham town centre. They still have not spent all the money on the town despite the obvious need for investment. In the meanwhile, whilst the Council newsletter SK Today's front page (Summer 2011) lauded the expenditure of £1.6m on the Market Place, the Council seemed to almost be trying to hide the Bourne Core Area Project which is to have £2.35m spent on it starting this autum.
Details of the Bourne project are listed in the SK Today - Business Pull Out Special. With the Special carrying the headline Good for Business at least they had the grace, under the circumstances, not to include the Grantham Market development in the pullout.
Firstly, there seems to be a lack of appreciation that the impact of the loss of free local parking will have on local businesses in the area longer term.
In the short term, the Market Place, and Westgate have made Grantham a ghost town in parts as shoppers go elsewhere.
I spent several years living in South London. I shopped and worked through the entire redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre Croydon. At no time was any business left cut off from the rest of the shopping centre. The work was carefully phased for minimum impact. In sharp contrast the work on the Market Square has been donein one phase with significant impact on pedestrians and businesses. Pedestrians are forced to walk around the perimeter of the market square and parts of this are semi blocked with street furniture including lamp posts.
When the work first started there were significant traffic jams throughout the town.
It was the thoughful intervention by PC Wright who came up with a scheme preventing people parking on Guildhall St and providing Disabled Parking in Westgate which saved the day.
It was also concerning to hear that contractors working on the site have been finding some historic treasures. Not surprising given they are digging down to original cobblestones in a medieval square.
What has happened to these artefacts?
A discussion with Cllr Bruce Wells (Lab) Harrowby Ward, raised the need for assurance that the new surface will still be able to take the weight of the traditional Fayre vehicles and rides.
My last point is probably the most important. The Council were given £5m under Labour to deliver improvements to Grantham town centre. They still have not spent all the money on the town despite the obvious need for investment. In the meanwhile, whilst the Council newsletter SK Today's front page (Summer 2011) lauded the expenditure of £1.6m on the Market Place, the Council seemed to almost be trying to hide the Bourne Core Area Project which is to have £2.35m spent on it starting this autum.
Details of the Bourne project are listed in the SK Today - Business Pull Out Special. With the Special carrying the headline Good for Business at least they had the grace, under the circumstances, not to include the Grantham Market development in the pullout.
Labour Party East Midlands Regional Conference - Leicester 9th July
I had the pleasure of attending Labour Party East Midlands Regional Conference this weekend. It is an important opportunity to find out what is happening in other councils across the region. It is also an opportunity to meet Shadow Cabinet members. Rt.Hon Margaret Beckett and Rt.Hon Harriet Harman attended this years conference.
I was able to speak briefly to Harriet Harman about the work of Food Bank in Grantham, and flagged the need for action to get the Government to ensure the Department for Work and Pensions DWP engaged the Job Centres in the process. Food Bank have been struggling to get Job Centres to give food vouchers to those identified as in need. This is quite appalling when you consider that rather than get involved in the scheme the Job Centres are seeing families go hungry. Harriet has agreed to take the matter away and raise it with the appropriate Government minister.
It was interesting to listen to the concerns of Labour Councillors who have taken control of a number of City councils including Nottingham and Leicester. There are serious concerns that the areas with the most need have received the most draconian budget cuts from the Tory Government. As a result local people are likely to lose key services. Yet, in the meanwhile Richmond on Thames (one of the most affluent areas of the country) has received no significant cuts.
I raised a concern about people's lack of awareness of how hard they will be affected as the benefit cuts, combined with changes to housing rules and the Localism Bill. Margaret Beckett advised one of the biggest stumbling blocks is the media. Rather than provide a useful service alerting people so they have advanced warning, the media would rather pick up a story after the event and run with it.
In Grantham the local Labour Party is planning to be proactively engaged with the community and those likely to be affected, as soon as we have more details. Others took this idea away for their area.
I was able to speak briefly to Harriet Harman about the work of Food Bank in Grantham, and flagged the need for action to get the Government to ensure the Department for Work and Pensions DWP engaged the Job Centres in the process. Food Bank have been struggling to get Job Centres to give food vouchers to those identified as in need. This is quite appalling when you consider that rather than get involved in the scheme the Job Centres are seeing families go hungry. Harriet has agreed to take the matter away and raise it with the appropriate Government minister.
It was interesting to listen to the concerns of Labour Councillors who have taken control of a number of City councils including Nottingham and Leicester. There are serious concerns that the areas with the most need have received the most draconian budget cuts from the Tory Government. As a result local people are likely to lose key services. Yet, in the meanwhile Richmond on Thames (one of the most affluent areas of the country) has received no significant cuts.
I raised a concern about people's lack of awareness of how hard they will be affected as the benefit cuts, combined with changes to housing rules and the Localism Bill. Margaret Beckett advised one of the biggest stumbling blocks is the media. Rather than provide a useful service alerting people so they have advanced warning, the media would rather pick up a story after the event and run with it.
In Grantham the local Labour Party is planning to be proactively engaged with the community and those likely to be affected, as soon as we have more details. Others took this idea away for their area.
Monday 4 July 2011
WYNDHAM PARK UPPER PLAYGROUND & SKATE PARK MAINTENANCE
Today I had a reply back from Cllr John Smith to advise that there is no funding left in the Playbuilder scheme for Wyndham Park to have new equipment. The good news is that the council will be repairing the existing roundabout. No funding has been allocated to maintain the popular Skate Park which is totally reliant on donations.
The whole upper playground could do with a revamp. I have asked Cllr Smith to identify some funds for the playground, and I will keep an eye out in the meanwhile. I have also asked to be kept informed of progress of repairs to the equipment which has been removed because there is no guarantee the funds will be made available. It all depends on the cost of repairs and funds. I stated in my email to Cllr Smith that despite the need for an upgrade the Upper Playground "...is still a popular haunt of local young people, and adventurous toddlers who prefer the larger slide."
The whole upper playground could do with a revamp. I have asked Cllr Smith to identify some funds for the playground, and I will keep an eye out in the meanwhile. I have also asked to be kept informed of progress of repairs to the equipment which has been removed because there is no guarantee the funds will be made available. It all depends on the cost of repairs and funds. I stated in my email to Cllr Smith that despite the need for an upgrade the Upper Playground "...is still a popular haunt of local young people, and adventurous toddlers who prefer the larger slide."
150 Years of Lincolnshire Co-operative Party - Funds Applied for
It was a busy period last week as news came that fellow Co-op Party members in Lincolnshire have kindly agreed to support nominations from Grantham for funding available from the Lincolnshire Co-operative Party. The deadline for applications was 1 July 2011.
As a result of this news I supported applications from St Anne's School, Little Gonerby School, G-Zone Skate Park in Wyndham Park and South Lincolnshire MIND. The Dysart Park Action Group were not able to take advantage of the scheme this year but we will keep an eye on as future funds become available. Good luck to everyone.
I have been in contact with SLCVS who act as a signpost to organisations seeking funding.
If you have an organisation in need of funding I would recommend approaching South Lincolnshire Community & Volunteering Service for help.
As a result of this news I supported applications from St Anne's School, Little Gonerby School, G-Zone Skate Park in Wyndham Park and South Lincolnshire MIND. The Dysart Park Action Group were not able to take advantage of the scheme this year but we will keep an eye on as future funds become available. Good luck to everyone.
I have been in contact with SLCVS who act as a signpost to organisations seeking funding.
If you have an organisation in need of funding I would recommend approaching South Lincolnshire Community & Volunteering Service for help.
Sunday 3 July 2011
FOOD BANK GRANTHAM - LAUNCH Friday 1st July 2011 - Good Food - What Society?
Friday evening I had the pleasure of attending the launch of Food Bank - Grantham. It was an amazing and moving event. I think that apart from some special moments of unity at Labour Party Conference, I have never before felt such a strong sense of unity and shared purpose. Everyone (or nearly everyone) there wants to help fellow human being in need. I will be writing more about the work of Food Bank shortly. It is to be located adjacent to the old China 88 restaurant which has been taken over by Jubilee Church and is being transformed into another place where people who have slipped through the net can find help.
I plan to be engaged with both organisations. To me, helping our most vulnerable is what the Labour Party should be about. I have mixed emotions that we have the need for either venue in Grantham. To me, their presence is a wonderful sign of how people can come together in a community if the need is there. It is also, however, a sign of failure of our Government, that at a time when some people are walking away with incomes now in excess of £1bn a year, we state we cannot afford to help those most in need.
I plan to be engaged with both organisations. To me, helping our most vulnerable is what the Labour Party should be about. I have mixed emotions that we have the need for either venue in Grantham. To me, their presence is a wonderful sign of how people can come together in a community if the need is there. It is also, however, a sign of failure of our Government, that at a time when some people are walking away with incomes now in excess of £1bn a year, we state we cannot afford to help those most in need.
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