This week has been a real mix of work and politics, and as is often the case the two meshed into each other. I have also been out and about in Toton and Bramcote.

Killers On Bail

A number of people have asked me for my views on bail following the disturbing revelation that a former police officer (Gary Weddell), who was accused of murdering his wife, had been granted bail and gone on to murder his mother in law and then kill himself.

It then turned out that one of the youths who murdered Gary Newlove, (the man who was kicked to death by three thugs after he remonstrated with them for kicking his wife’s car), had also been on bail.

Incidentally there is a right to bail and someone who is accused of a criminal offence is only denied bail if a number of specified reasons are fulfilled; for example, that they will commit further offences, or will not attend court.

We are awaiting the reasons Weddell was granted bail. It is highly unusual for anyone accused of murder to be granted bail. All I can say is that based on my experience, Judges think long and hard and need some serious persuasion before granting bail in these types of cases.

As for the youth who murdered Mr Newlove, he was granted bail by the magistrates. I have long been concerned that magistrates are more easily persuaded to grant bail.

But you also have to appreciate that the Government is constantly sending out mixed messages to Judges and magistrates. On the one hand Government ministers blame Judges and magistrates for the crisis in our over-crowded prisons, urging them to send fewer people into custody. But on the other hand they urge the Judiciary to “get tough” and bang people up.

In my view we need less Government interference and more prisons. It isn’t an attractive truth, but I have no doubt that the reality is we send more people to prison in Britain than most other European countries because we have too many criminals who deserve to go to prison.

However, none of this is of any comfort to the two families. I thought Mrs Newlove spoke with great dignity and much sense following this week’s verdict and I am in total agreement with her sentiments.

Toton Sidings

I was out and about in Toton earlier this week, looking at a large part of the Sidings that is set for some much welcome improvement work.

A number of organisations have come together to improve the paths, bridges and wildlife habitat. In particular they are keen to involve local people and set up a “Friends” group. There’s a meeting on
Wednesday January 30th at 7.30 at Greenwood Community Centre. I have no doubt that getting residents involved in any community project, is not only a very good idea but will guarantee it’s a success. I think nowadays we suffer nowadays from a lack of control over our own lives and the future of our communities. I don’t believe we should just hand over responsibility to authorities such as Councils, but we should all play a part in our communities. Anyway, I hope there is a good turnout and I look forward to the end result.

Bramcote Hills Post Office Closure

I dropped by Bramcote Hills Post Office to chat to the soon-to-be-redundant postmaster and his wife. The counter closes on Tuesday, although the shop will continue to trade - despite the huge drop in Mr and Mrs Joshi’s income. We reckon over 2,000 people signed the various petitions, which opposed the closure of Bramcote Hills, and dozens of people took the trouble of writing to the Post Office; all to no avail. 

 

Mr and Mrs Joshi are as concerned about the effect the closure will have on their elderly and infirm customers, as the effect on their business - which says a great deal about them. I do hope everyone in the area will continue to support them; they are especially keen to hear customers’ views on how they can expand the shop side to make up for the closure of the Post Office counter.

Green Belt Confusion

I spent a large part of last weekend delivering leaflets in Nuthall and Watnall. We delivered over 5,000 leaflets in the area - including parts of Greasley and Strelley Village. What sparked the delivery is the very real threat to a huge chunk of Green Belt in the area.

In short, a report was published by Nottingham Regeneration Ltd on November 30th which identifies a 22 sites on which a large number of new homes can be built.

You can view the report on http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/cdplanningsuesbrief2.pdf.

You will see that the sites are almost all on the Green Belt around the City. My concern is obviously the sites in Broxtowe, and in particular a huge chunk of Green Belt to the north and east of Watnall (see the map on p.18 of the report).

I have no doubt we need to build new homes but the Government has laid down an unrealistic target. Broxtowe is the most densely populated Borough in Nottinghamshire; we don’t have the infrastructure to sustain any more mass developments, and in any event I believe it is vital we protect our Green Belt.

The report caused great concern amongst Conservative Councillors and myself. So, Broxtowe Councillor and Conservative Group Leader, Richard Jackson, raised it at the first opportunity - which was the Council Meeting on December 12th. I was at that meeting and certainly got the impression that the other political parties (who control the Borough Council) had been taken by surprise. On the positive side, an undertaking was given to protect the Borough’s Green Belt.

We have been campaigning against any proposed development on Broxtowe’s Green Belt since December (we are holding a public meeting in Watnall WI, Main Road, Watnall, NG16 1HS at 11am on Saturday February 2nd). We also alerted the Evening Post who carried a front page article in December. The Lib Dems have also taken up the issue, and last week the local Labour MP wrote to residents in Watnall, Greasley, Nuthall and Chilwell.

On Friday the Nottingham Evening Post rang me about another article they are writing on the threat to the Green Belt in Broxtowe – and I was left feeling somewhat confused. The Nottingham Regeneration Ltd report states it was written “on behalf of”  Broxtowe, Erewash, Gedling, Rushcliffe, Ashfield Nottingham City and Notts County Council, and I am told “they” are all now playing down the report. Effectively “they” are saying it’s all a storm in a tea cup.

So what is going on? The report clearly identifies the sites, it lays down the various criteria that will be used in assessing whether a site is suitable for development, and it lays down a timetable. Once I had got to grips with the technical terminology and jargon, I was left in no doubt that this is a genuine and serious threat to huge swathes of Green Belt in Broxtowe.

I will of course keep you informed and updated.
 
Police Pay

Some six bus loads of police officers, from throughout the county, are off to Parliament on Wednesday to protest about the Government cutting their pay rise. The Police Federation and the Government went to arbitration in the Autumn of last year and agreed to a settlement of 2.5%. The Government then went back on the deal by refusing to backdate the rise - meaning its true value is 1.9%. I should add that civilian workers who work alongside police officers and PCSOs have been awarded a 5% rise.

This is no way to treat any group of workers – particularly not men and women who do such difficult and dangerous jobs. I’ve spoken to the Chair of Notts Police Federation pledging his members my full support. I do hope Nottinghamshire’s Labour MPs will have the courage to do the same.

And finally…

Thank you to my friend, Doug Hart at the Stapleford Conservative Club, who tells me that so far a poster he has put up of Boris Johnson has not been used as target practise for the darts team. Notwithstanding he fact that he’s a Lib Dem, Broxtowe’s Mayor, Councillor Brian Wombwell is a great supporter of the Club, and I am very pleased he confines his sporting activity to snooker. On a serious note, Brian’s Mayoral Charity is the NSPCC which is an outstanding charity that is dear to many of us. On Saturday March 15th, Broxtowe Borough Council is holding a Charity Glitter Ball in aid of the NSPCC at the East Mids Conference centre. Tickets are £27.50 each (but it is for a great cause) and are available online at http://www.broxtowe.gov.uk/glitterballposter.pdf.


Keep in touch

As ever
Anna