Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield Paul Holmes has today written to both Gordon Brown and Transport Minister Paul Clark MP to demand urgent talks to prevent the catastrophic effects of the massive shortfall of funding for the Government's Concessionary Bus Fares Scheme.
This week (1st Dec) marks the start of the 8th month since we were able to save the Communities that Work project from closure on 31st March 2008. It is wonderful news that in its first six months alone the project exceeded its whole year targets for getting people back into work in areas of high unemployment like the Rother area.
Recently a debate was held in Parliament on the threat to Britain's inland waterways posed by Government funding cutbacks. I took part in the debate so that I could highlight the fantastic job that has been achieved by local volunteers in Chesterfield. They have turned Chesterfield Canal from a stagnant ditch in 1979 (when I first lived at Tapton), into the thriving canal of today with working narrow boat and well used by walkers, cyclists, fishermen and birdwatchers. A linear green lung as I described it in Parliament.
Addressing a Defend Council Housing conference at the University of London today, Paul said:
The Caravan Club's stunning new £1.9m site acquisition and development at Poolsbrook Country Park, Derbyshire, recently received a visit from MP for Chesterfield, Paul Holmes together with the Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, Councillor Ray Russell, and Councillors Paul Mann and David Stone.
A recent story in some national newspapers has been one of outrage at the news that Parliament is to take a 24 day break over the Christmas/New Year period. Now I should start by pointing out that this decision was taken entirely by the Labour Government and imposed without the rest of us having any say at all - and yes the break from London/Parliament is too long. However it is always astounds me that the press (who know better), spread the myth that MP's do nothing at all except on the days when they are actually in London. In reality as much work is done at home in the constituency and elsewhere around the country as actually takes place in the House of Commons.
