Merry Christmas

Warren Hills Labour Party wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year

SNIBSTON DISCOVERY PARK - Under Threat????

Conservative controlled Leics County Council have recently announced that they will not be proceeding with a £4.2 millon pound bid for Lottery fund money to improve Snibston Discovery Museum. If this bid had been successful it would have improved and secured the future of the Discovery Park.
The reason given for this U-turn according to the Conservative Deputy Leader is

"We may have to pay this money back at some time in the future".

Voters sould ask the question in what circumstances would the money have to be paid back to the lottery fund some time in the future?.

The fact that the Tories have pulled out of this bid for lottery money does not bode well for the long term future of the Park. The Tories say they have "no plans to close it" but they are conducting a review of all County museums which will be completed early next year and are looking to make substantial savings.
The Tories before the last general election said they had "no plans" to increase VAT and quickly reversed this position after the election. Given the Tories record on not keeping pre-election commitments (NHS, Child benefit, etc), this statement offers no reassurance for the future of Snibston Discovery Park.

Labour Councillors force Tory Car Parking U -Turn

Warren Hills Councillor Nick Clarke has today expressed his delight after leading a successful campaign against proposed increases in parking charges.

At a Cabinet meeting of North West Leicestershire District Council on 13th December Conservative Councillors announced they would be dropping proposals to increase parking charges in Coalville and Ashby De La Zouch and not going ahead with considering extending them into Ibstock, Measham and Castle Donington.

Councillor Nick Clarke, Labour spokesman for Business and Economic Regneration has been leading a dynamic community based campaign against the proposals.

Councillor Clarke said "From the moment the Tory proposals were announced we knew they were wrong for businesses and wrong for families in North West Leicestershire."

"The Conservative administration didn’t seem to realise that our community is struggling right now and the last thing that was needed was increased parking charges."

Councillor Clarke continued. "The Labour group on North West Leics District Council had mobilised businesses, community groups and residents throughout the district in compiling a petition, which currently has over 1000 signatures, against the proposals."

 Councillor Clarke added "Having seen the widespread anger throughout the district against increased charges we were confident that it was not a matter of if but when the Tories would have to backtrack on this ill thought out policy."

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those businesses who agreed to circulate and promote our petition and the many people who signed it. This is a great victory for community activism."

Notes to editors:

Councillor Nick Clarke can be contacted on 01530 452057 or 07891 073391.

Car Parking - the campaign continues

Members of Warren Hills Branch Labour Party were out in force on Saturday 10^th December. They were campaigning against the introduction of parking charges in Ibstock, Measham and Castle Donington. Councillor Janet Ruff was in Ibstock talking to local traders and collecting signatures for the Labour Party petition. The vast majority of shops and businesses are outraged at the recent proposals, and fully support our campaign. Frank Straw (Chair of Warren Hills Branch) said - "I collected over 60 signatures in Ibstock on Saturday morning, there is some extremely strong opposition to introducing parking charges in the Village.”

Councillor Nick Clarke was in Measham campaigning he stated - “After recent press coverage most people were aware of the proposals, and were pleased that they had the opportunity to sign our petition. The Tories with the support of their Lib-Dem allies attempted to introduce parking charges in Ibstock, Measham and Castle Donington back in 2004, but Labour Councillors defeated them. Let’s hope we can defeat them again.

UPDATE ON CAR PARKING CHARGES

Parking charges proposed for Ibstock, Measham & Castle Donington.

Conservative controlled North West Leics District Council are set to introduce Car Parking charges in Ibstock, Measham and Castle Donington. There are seven Council owned Car Parks located in the three villages, which enjoy free parking at present. The Labour group at NWLDC have been campaigning against the proposals, which also include increases in charges and widening of the chargeable period at the existing sites. 

Councillor Nick Clarke said

“It is obvious that the proposed parking charge increases will have a detrimental effect on shops and businesses. This is at a time when they need all the help they can get to survive in the present financial climate. Introducing charges in outlying Villages is ludicrous; the cost of installing, maintaining and money collection of ticket machines would substantially reduce any income received.”

Janet Ruff (Labour Councillor for Ibstock and Heather) stated;

“This is bad news for Ibstock, and I would encourage everybody to sign our petition. We will be in Ibstock, Measham and Castle Donington collecting signatures this Saturday. You can also sign the petition on NWLDC website"

The proposals will be discussed at the Cabinet meeting at the Council Offices on Tuesday 13^th December. A final decision will be made in February 2012.

CAR PARKING CHARGES

At a Cabinet meeting of North West Leicestershire District Council on 18th October Conservative Councillors approved proposals for consultation to increase long stay parking charges (3 hours and above), extend chargeable hours, introduce an overnight charge and to instigate a feasibility study to introduce charging to other currently free car parks throughout the district.               

Councillor Nick Clarke said

"Huge numbers of local people and business owners have expressed to me their deep concern about the effect that increasing parking charges will have. Irreparable damage could well be caused to retailers, our night time economy and the service sector throughout the district as a result of these changes."

 Councillor Ron Adams said 

 "Labour oppose these increases and party members will be collecting signatures to a petition throughout the district over the coming weeks." 

An e-petition is also available through the NWLDC website.

WARREN HILLS COUNCILLORS

Warren Hills Branch is represented by two elected councillors on North West Leics District Council. They are Ron Adams, and Nick Clarke who represent Greenhill Ward.

Ron Adams

Nick Clarke

Contact details                                                              Contact details
Tel - 01530459235                                                          Tel - 01530452057
Mob - 07557038432                                                        Mob - 07891073391
email - ronnieadams87@yahoo.co.uk                               email - nickclarke795@gmail.com

Ron is Chairman of the Labour Group on North West Leics District Council and Nick is the Labour Spokesman for Business and Economic Regeneration.

Janet Ruff

Janet Ruff who represents Ibstock and Heather on North West District Council is also a member of Warren Hills Labour Party Branch

Contact details
Tel - 01530452346
Mob - 07901586450
email - janet376@msn.com

NEW WARREN HILLS LABOUR BLOG

This blog is produced by the Warren Hills Branch of the Labour Party.
Warren Hills is the electoral area that contains the Greenhill and Bardon Wards in Coalville, Leics.

The branch holds regular meetings and any resident who is interested in joining the Labour Party please contact us.

Next branch meeting is at 7.0pm on Thursday 12th January 2012 at Agar Nook Community Centre