Tom Brake MP Visits Chesterfield
On Thursday 28 March the Chesterfield local party welcomed Tom Brake MP for Carshalton and Wallington and Deputy Leader of the House of Commons.
Tom's day began with visits to some of the key areas where we are working hard for the local 2nd May elections. Councillor Tony Rogers explained his passion for providing more housing for local needs, and for adapting and improving old housing stock. Cllr Rogers showed Tom a particular estate where he had helped residents move into a set of adapted bungalows.
The next stop was Queens Park, where Tom met a local campaigner who is leading the effort to save the existing centre from demolition, and to prevent a smaller centre from being built on the nearby Annexe. Tom was shown the open stretch of land and running track that would be lost if a smaller centre was built there to replace the existing Queens Park facility.
Parliamentary Spokesperson Julia Cambridge was there to explain why she was giving the Save our Leisure Centre group her support was happy to appear on their leaflets. Julia is promoting the group's website, where concerned residents can voice their concerns and sign an online petition against these proposals. It can be found at http://saveourleisurecentre.com/petition.aspx.
The group was also joined by Keith Falconer, who is busy campaigning as one of our Liberal Democrat Candidates for the county elections. Keith lives near Queens Park and he knows firsthand about the issues concerning the Council's plans for the Queen Park Leisure Centre.
Other local issues, like the damaging council tax hike of 3.6% inflicted by the Council on Chesterfield's most vulnerable residents, were explained to the Minister during his next stop: a visit to the Town Hall with Julia Cambridge.
Julia described how the Liberal Democrat councillors had vigorously opposed the increase but had been brushed aside by the Labour-run Council. She explained how we represented the people of Chesterfield with our petition against any increase, but the Council ignored any opposition to make political capital at the expense of the people they are there to serve.
Our online petition against this unnecessary tax hike is still open and can be signed by clicking here.
After the visit to the Town Hall, Councillor Barry Bingham and Julia Cambridge travelled with Tom to Old Whittington. Barry brought the Minister to the gates of the sewerage works which he has been long battling, on behalf of exasperated and disgusted residents, to pressure the operating company into curing the stench from the works that is blighting that area. Meetings with the operating company are going ahead in May, and Barry will be there to head the call for meaningful action.
Another concern for local residents is the likely siting of infrastructure for the HS2 in Staveley. Residents at Riverdale Park, a park home site, contacted Cllr Bingham when they became worried at the impact HS2 could have on their homes. Riverdale Park may be subject to compulsory purchase if the project goes ahead, and residents are concerned about the lack of information they've been receiving. Tom was shown the land that might be used by HS2, and the homes that would be impacted if the proposal to build in Staveley is carried out.
After lunch many members and activists turned out, along with our Councillors, to canvass several areas of Chesterfield. Councillor Keith Morgan took a large group up Ashgate Road, and another large group went in the other direction. Tom played a big part in the afternoon as he met many local people and listened to their concerns.
In the evening our members met at Brampton Manor to meet Tom and enjoy a sit-down meal. After a delicious roast dinner Tom gave a rousing speech which catalogued Liberal Democrat successes in Government. A few of the examples he gave included the pupil premium, the new tax threshold taking millions out of tax altogether (a policy which was actually being implemented ahead of schedule), and the proposed new flat rate for pensions.
We were very pleased to have Tom in Chesterfield. At the end of the event Local Party Chairman Keith Falconer thanked Tom for coming, and also thanked all the many members who had participated in making the day a great success.
If you would like to learn more about Tom and the work he does locally and nationally you can visit his website at http://tombrake.co.uk/.