JULY SURGERY TIMES

The Brickhill Councillors hold a monthly surgery together with the Queensway Councillors on the 1st Saturday of every month from 11 am to Midday at St.Mark's Church Hall Brickhill Road/Queensway.

We will be joined alos by the Police in July - if you have any problems - please come along or just want to say 'hello' to us, that is fine too.

We look forward to seeing you at the surgery, if you cannot make that time please feel free to contact us directly.

Saturday, 27th of June 2009

My apologies for not updating my blog for such a long time.

I think everybody has been so very busy recently, with the various County Council Elections, the European Elections and the by-election at Brickhill due to Tony Sharp's resignation and everything else.

I would like to thank Tony for his valuable work since his election in 2007 and wish him and his wife well in the future.

In place we now have our new colleague, Cllr Geoff Simmons, who no doubt will be pleased to assist as much as possible with your problems - welcome to the fold Geoff.

The County Council Elections returned excellent candidates for our ward (and many other excellent candidates elsewhere), which during the County elections is divided into 2 separate ward areas: half is Swanspool Ward - County Councillor Paul Bell (Westfield Road area up to Lea Way) and the other half, from Lea Way and the remainder of the Ward, County Councillor David Dean.

My congratulations to you both and we look forward to working with you successfully for the benefit of our residents.

My own home returned also a new County Councillor - Councillor Graham Lawman – already a Borough Councillor in Hemmingwell - who fought his election campaign in Northampton extremely successfully, removing the Liberal Democrats from what they thought was a save seat. Congratulations therefore to Graham as well.

What has happened in the Borough? Good question!

The Wellingborough North/West planning enquiry took place earlier this month following the decision of the majority of my colleagues to refuse a premature planning application for 3,000 houses to the north/west of the Borough.

Our Core Spatial Strategy said clearly following the enquiry into the so-called CSS, by a previous Government Inspector, that the Wellingborough East Development must come forward first.

Having sat on the Joint Planning Unit working on this CSS, I hope the Government Inspector taking the decision now in this particular application for the North/West will also have due regard to the earlier findings of his colleague for the East and not permit the application for the reasons given at the planning meeting.

The live of so many people in our town would be adversely affected due to the lack of infrastructure, that in my and the view of my colleagues must be there first before any development.

I have as Chairman Development also Leadership Responsibility for High Quality Growth and that to me means:

High Quality Growth where necessary for the benefit of the residents of the Borough of Wellingborough!

We need better roads and better infrastructure and definitely another A&E facility in Wellingborough.

We don’t need Wellingborough to be turned into some building site for the sake of complying with an unrealistic housing figure that someone has dreamed up in an ivory tower with no local knowledge.

Many many people attended the planning meeting and many also took the time to speak at the enquiry, as I did, fighting our corner for the residents of Wellingborough.

If the government would take wiser decisions to invest say in an A&E facility for Wellingborough now, quite a number of nurses and staff could be employed locally, not to speak of the many doctors. We are waiting for more plans for Isebrook 'Super Surgery'.

The A&E facility at Kettering is not very efficient. Having taken my other half a few weeks ago to casualty following his 'meeting with a cricket ball ‘, it took something like 3 - 4 hours before he was treated and ready to go home.

We will watch this space (not Graham’s next accident during a cricket match) but what the inspector is actually going to decide for Wellingborough.

With all the bad reports about MP's who felt that they could use the allowance scheme and claim for mortgages that they had already paid back, the newspaper report relating to the Corby MP, who so generously decided to pay back £ 41,079 that should not have been claimed to start with, as though that makes it ok does it, I decided that it was time to write to Number 10 via the E-Petitions system and ask for a General Election to be held, to let the people of this country decide who they believed in the expenses saga.

I therefore submitted a petition to the Government to ask the Prime Minister to please ask Her Majesty the Queen to punish all those MP's who were dishonest and dissolve Parliament.

Unfortunately the answer I received from Number 10 was that it was classed as being in the following categories:

* Outside the remit or powers of the Prime Minister and Government*
That decision is still a very difficult one for me to understand!!!

The original petition read:
..............................
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to: ' ask Her
Majesty the Queen to punish those
who became untenable due to their financial transactions and
remove every one of those Members of Her Majesty's Government
who have not upheld the true values of an elected Government
and thus caused the House of Commons long-lasting damage, both
to their personal reputation and the reputation of the
Institution they allegedly served.

We herewith beg and petition Her Majesty the Queen to please
urgently intervene as Head of State and use the Powers invested
in Her, in the interest of Democracy and her People, to restore
Democracy and allow her faithful Servants, the People of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland, to judge
those who caused lasting damage or damaged the reputation of
Her Majesty’s Government and for Her Majesty the Queen to
please use Her own power to restore credibility to the House of
Commons.""""""""""""""""""""

Needless to say I did not even receive a reply when I questioned who I could ask to assist.


One petition that I found bemusing is:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/please-go/

so far 68,294 people have signed the petition - a rather good sign I think.

Enough of politics, my blog was usually fairly free of politics!


Next weekend is the Carnival on Saturday and the Party in the Park at Croyland on Sunday and I hope that the weather will be nice for it, see if you can join - great fun for very little money!

With kind wishes - Lora

April News

The month started as busy as ever. Meetings, meetings and more meetings. Cutting through red tape whenever necessary, it seems that there is plenty of it.

I received a number of letters from residents regarding the proposed privatisation of the Royal Mail. This matter is being addressed with our MP and I am sure that Peter Bone will take the appropriate steps to make the residents' feelings known.

I am not sure how many have read the recent reports in the ET regarding apparent development in our area. Many sites were highlighted and to those who are not sufficiently aware, it may seem as though 'WE' are intending to build everywhere in the Borough and around the Borough. That is certainly not the case. It merely showed every possible area that could potentially be developed. I also noticed that the ET chose to state that the Councillors rejected one application from a Developer for a North West extension to the town and had apparently refused to determine a second application. Not quite what it seems I am afraid, we did not have all information to take an informed decision and the Developer decided that they would force the issue with the Government - i.e. Hazel Blears, who may be supportive of the plans. This is all very well, however, if one did not have all information to make an informed decision one can hardly be blamed for not taking such important decision as perhaps whether 3,000 houses are being built or not.

We want the necessary infrastructure for our town, prior to development taking place to ensure that Wellingborough would not turn into a building site! The funding for the Isham Bypass as well as the Isham Bypass Link Road commonly called IWIMP is not certain, we have no Accident & Emergency Hospital Facility in Wellingborough nor are we able to cope with increased numbers in our already overcrowded hospital in Kettering. Peter Bone our excellent MP, is pleading for an A&E facility in Wellingborough and ideally where potential development is also taking place! We also need more schools, better roads etc etc. Our list is long and we work closely with the County Council on this. regrettably the Government does not seem to give the necessary funding.

That appears to be also the case with the necessary funding from the Learning & Skills Council on behalf of the Government, to support Tresham Institute with their desire to move from Church Street site to the new development site, High Street. That of course would enable us to improve the Town Centre area. We ask you, Prime Minister, for your support to fund the necessary infrastructure and improvements for the benefit of the people in the Borough. However, I think as usual, it falls on deaf ears? Perhaps we shall all watch this space.

I am still waiting for an invitation to talk to Ms Hazel Blears over the potential housing growth figures for Wellingborough.

On that note, I will call it a day, as usual, I will update you soonest.

Kind wishes Lora Lawman

March 2009

Hello to the blog.

We have been very busy in the past month or so.

Our Development Committee meeting on 25.03.2009 proved a very interesting meeting again. We discussed whether or not to support with extra funding a so-called BID process (Business Improvement) to assist businesses in the town centre to go forward.

Our agreement is to support a ballot of businesses who would pay a small amount over and above the business rates, which Wellingborough Council collects on behalf of the Government. That 'extra' money would be collected simply into a fund, from which, upon agreement between the businesses, vital improvements for the town centre areas could be effected.

The Town Centre Partnership, which is also funded by the Council, bid recently for funding and is thought to have attracted some £40,000 grant funding from ATCM and EMDA to go forward with a ballot of businesses.

Hopefully potential income from a BID can be used to improve town centre areas and what is also very important, attract perhaps more businesses into the town. I am afraid it is at present very much, so watch this space. What we are consious of is that we want to support also the small businesses in the town to weather the storm that we all experience with the economic downturn.

We also agreed to go forward in the process of our town centre regeneration. The consultation for the public realm strategy, extended conservation area and shop front design guide have just gone out for consultation and we hope to receive them back in our committee in June/July time. Very exciting projects, if we want to change the town we really need to go forward and aim as high as we can to create a vibrant, modern, forward thinking and looking Wellingborough for the next generation.

But then again I hear you say - do we want to change the town? People have been very quick to criticise us with litter and graffiti etc. So please work with us and together we can change the look of our town, we now want to do something really positive - please work with us.

It does not mean that we would necessarily demolish everything !!!!!

Our High Street Development is also in full flow, we very much depend on Tresham Institute to receive funding from the Learning Skills Council who unfortunately recently delayed the decision whether to fund or not to June 2009, however, to enable Tresham to move from their current location to a new academy at High Street this grant funding is vitally important. Although a long time off yet, this is all in our plans and would, if the Learning Skills Council agrees to fund, free the town centre location for development. If you want to write to our MP, Mr Peter Bone -please do so and ask for his support to lobby Government.

One of the best news I have had today is that County Council has finally agreed to listen to my pleading to resurface Edwards Drive and Steele Road !!!!! It has only taken a long time to lobby for the resurfacing! It is now in the budget for the forthcoming year, again, watch this space and a big THANK YOU to County Council.

We talked about the important facts relating to Climate Change and the role Wellingborough Council can take to promote methods to save energy etc.

Although still some time away, from the 8th to the 10th of May 2009 is our annual Waendel Walk again. This year we will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Waendel Walk - why not join in?

Finally, on the 4th of April 2009 from 11 am to Midday is again our monthly surgery at St Mark's Church Cafe (corner Brickhill Road) together with the 3 Queensway Councillors. Hope to see you then.

Kind wishes

Lora Lawman

Very sad News - Mr Derek Hooton

It is with deepest regret to advise everybody that our Freeman, Mr Derek Hooton, has sadly passed away this evening.

You will no doubt recall the years when Derek was one of the Brickhill Councillors and looking after everybody.

Derek was my mentor in the 1990's when he gradually brought me into the Brickhill Ward and the Conservatives. I will always be grateful for the opportunity that Derek has given me with that.

During the years following Derek's retirement, he kept a watchful eye over the Brickhill Ward and came out to canvass, leaflet and knock on peoples' doors on many many occasions, even in the last year. My most grateful thanks to Derek - one of the nicest gentleman I have ever known. You will be remembered always for the enormous amount of political and voluntary work that you managed to fill your diary with. And you were never too busy to give advice when needed. Thank you for being you Derek. We will always remember you.

Our deepest sympathy goes to Peggy and the family at this tragic time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

From the Brickhill Councillors and everybody who knew you.

Welcome to the Brickhill Ward Blog

Hi - and welcome and well done for finding the blog of the Brickhill Ward Councillors.

We hold a surgery on the first Saturday of each month at St Marks Church, Brickhill Road, Wellingborough from 11 am to Midday. Everybody is welcome. If you cannot make that time, don't worry, you can always call us at other times.

So much is going on in Wellingborough at present. At the end of this month we will see some much needed improvements to road surfaces in the Avenues area of our ward - and not before time!!! I truly hope that the County Council will find some funding from the ever shrinking public purse to also resurface the areas around Steele Road, Edwards Drive etc. Apparently they have not been resurfaced for about 20 years or so.

This last week was again very busy, meetings to discuss possible parking permit schemes being introduced into some areas of Wellingborough, much needed Planning Guidance for Urban Extensions to the town etc.

Wellingborough is increasing in size in the foreseeable future, whether one is positive or negative over such expansion, our families are increasing, new people move to Wellingborough and with some luck one can persuade Employers to open businesses rather than making people redundant in the town. I am very concerned about the redundancies in our areas, where is it all going to end? Money was tight before for a lot of people but now it is getting worse I feel.

We all must do our little bit to save, whether it is energy resources, recycle as much as we possibly can to stop waste, even just slowing down whilst driving and thus saving fuel. A couple of notches lower on the thermostat of the heating will do wonders for our purse strings. Switching the lights off when not needed and yes, even switching the computer off totally at night rather than leaving all on standby will help to reduce electricity bills.

Welingborough's conservation area in the town centre has just been put out to consultation, if you have a moment, please add your comments at the www.wellingborough.gov.uk website.

The socaleld 'Public Realm Strategy' has also gone out for consultation. It is a first stab at what one thinks our town may look like in years to come. Quite exciting I thought!

Wellingborough has such a lot to offer.

The three councillors are intending to spend their ward support allowance (the grand total of some £ 2,500 between us on introducing even more Smartwater into the ward areas. We will upadte you all when we are ready in conjunction with our colleagues from teh Police to roll this out.

Smartwater is the best thing that has been invented, reducing crime from burglaries even further.

The 14th of February is not only Valentines Day but our Mayor is holding the annual Civic Ball on that evening too. Why not contact the Mayors' Secretary, Mrs Marshall on 01933 229777 to book a ticket? Proceeds are for the Mayor's Charity Fund. It is always a good event and a lot of fun. Why not give it a go instead of the 'standard' meal somewhere?

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year

May I take this opportunity to wish everybody a Peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Thank you to those who attended the Councillors surgery on a regular basis - we will be back in the New Year but may look at other methods to reach out to those who never came to talk to us.

Perhaps there were such few problems in our ward?

The New Year will have its challenges for all of us, whether work, health or finances are on our minds and have to be tackled, rest assured you are not alone in that situation.

Planning will also be on the minds of many of the councillors, how to get it right for all concerned or affected, and never losing the will to listen to everybody.

Sometimes our decisions are straight forward, sometimes it takes us a few attempts because we may not have all the information we need to make our decisions, but most of all, we want to create a better environment for all.

To make Wellingborough a place to be proud of. That we can only achieve together with you. Please help us to make it happen in 2009?

My best wishes to you all,

Yours,

Cllr Lora Lawamn

My own comments regarding the matter below

Lora Lawman said...
Well what can one say?

As Chairman Development, with Leadership Responsibility for High Quality Growth, I would have welcomed a meeting with the Rt Hon Hazel Blears. Perhaps the Rt Hon MP can explain her decision and I would welcome such explanation wholeheartedly.

I am extremely disappointed for our residents that the Secretary of State decided that talking to 4+ Labour supporters was sufficient consultation for Wellingborough.

Why does the Secretary of State not see the need or desire to discuss matters relating to housing growth in the Borough of Wellingborough, we would welcome a meeting to discuss the need for 16,400 houses by 2026 and so would be those residents affected! Perhaps the Rt Hon wouldn't mind contacting the Member of Parliment of Wellingborough, Rushden and villages - as I understand he has already invited her!

Some things just never cease to amaze me (and others).

I truly believe in Democracy for all, irrespective of which way they vote. Would the Rt Hon MP spoken to us if we voted for Labour?

Surely it is discrimination, which a Member of HM Government must also be careful of to avoid?

I believe in equal opportunities for all and absolutely no discrimination for whatever reasons.

The Freedom of Speech comes also with the right to question Decisions of the Government, who are happy to collect our taxes.

It is an insult to the people in Wellingborough that they would not be heard by a Government Representative.

It is with great sadness that the Rt Hon MP does not agree to talk to EVERBODY in Wellingborough about the Growth in our area.

If I would apply the same 'tactic' in local politics, under the Council's Constitution I believe one would be using ones position and confer on or secure an advantage?

At least us 'Conservatives' can pride ourselves that WE LISTEN before we act!

06 December 2008 17:41

Rt Hon Hazel Blears, MP visits Wellingborough

I refer you to the blog of Cllr Tony Sharp in Wellingborough
http://tonysharp.blogspot.com

DECEMBER SURGERY 6TH DECEMBER 2008 11 AM TO MIDDAY

Please note that our last surgery for 2008 will be held on Saturday 6th of December 2008 at St Mark's Church Hall - St Marco Cafe - corner Brickhill Road/Queensway from 11 am to Midday.

Councillor from Brickhill as well as Queensway will be able to assist you on that day.

If you cannot make thos times, please contact the individual Councillor(s) responsible for your area on their normal telephone number.

November Issue

My summary for November.

we have successfully launched the smartwater campaign in the town which is making Wellingborough less likely to be subject to burglaries, car thefts etc. If you are interested in setting up your own community smartwater campaign, please let me know and I will try to assist you if I can.

You may have heard that the Wellingborough North application for 3000 houses has been postponed due to outstanding information and a negative condition from County Council. This application should have been heard on 25.11.2008. I will post more details when the application is to be heard in the future.

Please note that the Wellingborough Christmas Lights are being switched on by our Mayor on Saturday, 29.11.2008. The press will advise the time and place to be on Saturday to watch it.


Christmas Lights Switch On 29.11.08

29 Nov 2008

Parade of Lanterns, Christmas Light Switch On, Arts & Crafts Market, Street Entertainers Juggling Workshops, Father Christmas Meet Faye Tozer ex-steps star and actor Brian Capron ex Coronation St star

Wellingborough's Christmas Light Switch on and Parade of Lanterns takes place on Saturday 29th November 2008

Programme for the day Arts and Crafts Market in the Tithe Barn - free admission - from 10.30am to 3.30pm

Town Centre
from 10.30am to 4pm Street Entertainers, Jugglers and Juggling Skills Workshops.

10.30am to 1.30pm have a go buskers can take the stage. To pre-book to avoid disappointment please contact Sue Bull - 01933 231986

1.30pm to 2pm - ScreenIdolz - Sunny & Shyam Savani

2pm to 4pm - Wellingborough Music and Arts Centre Concert Band

5pm arrival of Connect FM's Radio Presenters - Music and Banter

5.30pm - ScreenIdolz - Sunny & Shyam

5.45pm - Taylor Marcs live on stage

6pm - Parade of Lanterns arrive

6.05pm - Flame Oz - spectacular choreographed Fire Show with sensational 6.20pm - Ashleigh Askew Connect's Kinda People winner sings live

6.35pm - Taylor Marcs

6.50pm - Presentation to the winners of the Lantern Parade by Father Christmas

Christmas wishes from the Worshipful Mayor of Wellingborough, Cllr Eileen Higgins and Chanelle Sadie Paul, Wellingborough's Carnival Queen

Christmas Lights switch on by Faye Tozer ex-steps star and actor Brian Capron former Coronation Street star and badman Richard Hillman7.05pm - another chance to see Flame OzBroad GreenParade of Lanterns

And what is really good is: it is FREE

Hello,

And another busy week for all of us. Please remember that our next surgery is on on Saturday 04. October 2008 from 11 am to Midday. The Councillors from Brickhill and Queensway will be at hand at St. Mark's Church Hall to talk to you about matters of concern.

Our Council was awarded the 'Keep Trade Local Award 2008' by the Federation of Small Businesses a week ago for our work on Economic Development and as part of that, Partners in Business visits. Local Councillors visit businesses in the town to further relations.

We also attended the Veterans Presentation Evening at the Council when the Mayor honoured 142 Veterans. A very touching event for all whilst honouring those who served in the wars.

The Development Committee discussed recently the interim planning guidance for the so called 'Upper Redhill' Urban Extension. It appeared from the comments that residents who were affected in that particular area, not necessarily shared the description of the Urban Extension.There were a number of speakers at the committee who expressed their views to the Councillors present.

Residents spoke of their concern that whilst they were 'isolated' from the town of Wellingborough, that they were quite happy about that, as they had local facilities at the Ock 'n Dough area.It appeared that a lot of concerns were relating to wildlife, bats, badgers, rare birds and other species, which of course must be protected.It was interesting to hear about the archeological site south of the Harrowdens, hope to hear more about it. We do not only have the ancient site of Chester Farm, but South Harrowden also.

It was extremely interesting to hear about the ancient hedgerose (my first project when I became a councillor in 2003 was on the so-called hedge pledge this Council has signed up to) and species of trees that may have been in the areas for substantial time. No doubt they could enhance arboretum trails that are being considered in various areas. But as always, one is confident that our experts will be able to assess from the relevant background information.

A matter in the Resources Committee was to assess whether Councillors wanted to agree to weekend voting. The Ministry of Justice was consulting on moving the voting day from the traditional Thursday to the weekend. It was felt by most that it would be much more expensive with weekend staff and therefore it was resolved that the Ministry be advised that in this Council's opinion there should be no change to the traditional voting day.

Have you noticed how many old buildings there are in our town? I have not always lived in Wellingborough - being still fairly new after 21 years! So perhaps I notice them more than those who lived here all their lives. There is a lot of worthy heritage that naturally must be protected. I love the old buildings on Sheep Street for instance, the House that Jack built and so on.The entrance to the Zoo next to the Chinese Restaurant, the Tithe Barn, the Croyland Abbey, there is so much. It is always interesting find postcards and see what Wellingborough looked like years ago. What would those who designed 'improvements' to the town say now?

We are doing just the same at the moment with the Town Centre Regeneration project.
It is important that if we wish to encourage people to live in our town, that we have the neccessary facilities also. Shops, medical facilities and one of major concerns is of course the lack of an A&E facility in Wellingborough. If we have many more people in the town we need more doctors, dentists and an A&E facility. Our MP , Peter Bone, has been working on this matter tirelessly.

With the economic downturn going on, I wonder how many businesses and of course residents are being affected by this? Mortgages becoming more difficult to 'get', redundancies in many companies 'streamlining' their workforce, where is this all going to end?

I truly hope that we have a General Election very soon. I hope that a new Government will have fresh Conservative ideas (I thought I sneak that in quickly :).It is impossible to keep up with who is 'in' who is 'out'.

How does the Prime Minister himself keep tabs on it? It was such a laugh to watch Nick Clegg the other day on TV. Have they all gone to the same school learning public speaking? The guestures are just the same - the head is different. David must be doing such fantastic job, that everybody is copying!

The Market

You will no doubt have read the articles in the local press regarding the declining market:

Market Values

It is a sign of modern times I guess that values change as some of us start shopping using the internet going 'online'. Whereas I can buy about anything I desire on line (with the kind agreement of my husband), it does still deprive one of the personal contact with the shopkeeper, the market trader, the human being. A friendly word with the trader, a chat here, a nod there. The opportunity to haggle - don't you remember when you go abroad, the fun one can have just haggling? All that is missing when we 'hide' behind a computer purchasing our goods.

The effects of supermarkets going 'online' delivering to our homes may be convenient for some, but they effectively destroyed vital business opportunities and the 'human touch' that all of us need.

Of course I hear you say there are declining markets up and down the country suffering the effects of our changed purchasing habits, it may be more convenient to some, vital to have something delivered to the home for others.

With all this are we not forgetting why our town is actually holding a market at all?

Wellingborough received its market charter on the 3rd April 1201, when King John gave the right to hold markets to the 'Abbot of Croiland'and the monks. At this time, the right to hold a market was a highly valued privilege granted by the monarch to nobles who enjoyed his favour. Where such markets were held, people travelled from miles around to buy and sell the essentials of everyday life. Of course they didn't have access to the internet or cars and I wonder how much different life would have been for all of them and for us, if they had?

Towns grew up around the site of regular markets, and so did Wellingborough, and many of today's thriving communities owe their existence to the market it is said.

Let us remember the market when we stroll into town, have a look at the choices available and once again, let us have PRIDE to be living in our Borough of Wellingborough.

Please support your local market!

Smartwater Launch

I am really pleased to report that Smartwater was launched successfully in our area last week. No doubt it will make our area safer and less vulnerable. Thank you to all those volunteers !

If you are being plagued by motorbike nuisance or any anti-social behaviour, than please contact the SCT Team West on 08453 700700 and let them know where the problem area is. All contributions from the public complete a larger picture!

You can always email them too:

SCTWellingboroughWest@northants.police.uk


We are part of the Queensway Partnership and your Councillors represent on that Partnership. If you have any issues that you want us to bring forward please contact us.