I had  always hoped that there would be an outbreak of political unity on this issue  – that was certainly the impression I got when the Conservatives first raised  the matter way back in December.
Councillor Richard Jackson, Leader of the  Conservative Group on the Borough Council, called for the Council to fight off  any threats to the Boroughs Green Belt and an assurance was duly given.  Richard also called for the two Labour MP’s whose constituencies lie within  the Borough boundaries, to play their part.
 
I was at the Council  meeting on December 12th when Richard raised the issue of the Green Belt and  forgive me for repeating myself but I got the impression the LibDems and  Labour
(who control the Council in coalition) had been somewhat taken by  surprise. Now either they knew about the November report which identified  Green Belt sites in Broxtowe being considered for development and chose not to  tell anyone or they didn’t know about the report.
 
What I am  surprised at is the reaction from the Leader of the Borough Council, Lib Dem  Michael Rich.
Tuesdays Nottingham Evening Post ran the following  report:
 
“he (Cllr Rich)… believes the public does not fully  understand the process being undertaken by local authorities - and should not  be worried about the list of sites.”

He said his council had received  an ‘enormous response’ from residents, with one person even threatening to  leave the country after finding land near his home was earmarked for  development.”

‘All it has done is create a lot of work for people and  anguish,’ he said.”
 
Well having read the report at http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/cdplanningsuesbrief2.pdf,  I believe people should be worried about what is being proposed. This is a  genuine and real threat to Green Belt land in Broxtowe. If “people don’t  understand” then that is the fault of Councillors, who have a duty to explain  precisely this sort of issue to their constituents.
 
I have had a  long discussion about the Green Belt with Richard Jackson, who also took me to  the threatened Green Belt in his ward (Chilwell). We agree It would be quite  wrong to let the situation simmer away without any comment and protest from  residents and their elected representatives. It is very important for everyone  to make their feelings known now or there is a real fear that a definitive  list will be finalised by May and the then “public consultation” will be  little more than a PR exercise.
 
Certainly, the Lib Dem Borough  and County Councillor for Bramcote and Stapleford  (Stan Hepinstall)  takes the threat to the Green Belt seriously. In Stan’s County Council web  page he says, “we will not rest until these proposals are withdrawn.” I think  Stan should start with a chat with fellow Lib Dem Cllr Michael Rich.  
 
Richard Jackson and I walked a large part of the Chilwell Green  Belt. It clearly defines Chilwell as a community; it’s a lovely piece of land  and when I was there was being used by walkers and horse riders. Broxtowe is  the most densely populated of all the Borough’s in Nottinghamshire and we  simply haven’t the room nor the infrastructure for any more mass  developments.
 
 On Saturday I was out in Toton with  Councillor Tony Ford (more on him later…). A huge chunk of Green belt is under  threat in his area. I went up to Bardills and spoke to the owner (who I have  known for over twenty years) and then spoke to residents whose homes back onto  the Green Belt. We all agreed the area simply cannot sustain more  housing.
The improvements to Bardills roundabout have eased traffic  congestion but it remains a serious problem; the primary schools in Toton are  full to bursting. More homes will only make matters  worse.
 

The Government has laid down a target that 60,000 new homes  must be built in the Greater Nottingham Area in the next 20 years.  Implementing this target is a mix of Borough Councils, the County Council, a  Government quango and an unelected Regional Assembly.

In Broxtowe there  are no Brown Sites. The nearest is the old Stanton Steel works which is in  Erewash and as anyone who knows the area knows, it is all but impossible to  make it accessible (it has the somewhat impenetrable railway line and M1 on  its doorstep). So, if Broxtowe is to take any share of the 60,000 target then  new homes have to be built on our Green Belt. Forgive the repetition but  Broxtowe is the most densely populated of all the Borough’s in Nottinghamshire  and we simply haven’t the room nor the infrastructure for any more mass  developments.
 
As your MP I would not meddle with the Borough  Council. Frankly, I trust my Conservative Councillors to get on and fight the  plans to build on the Borough’s Green Belt. By any standards, led by Richard  Jackson, they are doing an excellent job.
 
What I would be doing  as your MP is taking the campaign to Westminster – being Broxtowe’s voice in  Parliament. I would be challenging the target and means of imposing it. I  would be meeting with the relevant Ministers and Government departments. It  would not make a jot of difference whether I had to go against my own  Government.
 
This is what an MP should be doing – standing up for  their constituents without fear of upsetting their political ambitions or  their Government.


If  you are opposed to the threat to Broxtowe’s Green Belt then please write to  the Planning Dept, Broxtowe Borough Council, Foster Avenue, Beeston,  Nottingham, NG9 1AB or email dpcd@broxtowe.gov.uk Also write to Strategic  Planning at Nottinghamshire County Council, County Hall, West Bridgford,  Nottingham, NG2 7QP.
 
If you live in Watnall, Nuthall or Greasley  then please come to a public Meeting  on Saturday Feb 2nd at 11pm at the  Watnall WI , Main Road, Watnall.
 
Please check the web site  (www.broxtoweconservatives.com) as I wlll post up dates on what is  happening.


Long before dawn on  Wednesday I was on my way to London as part of a convoy of coaches taking  police officers to a protest march and lobby of Parliament. I spent the entire  day with Mick Taylor who is the Chairman of Notts Police Federation and a  number of his members. Over 200 officers from Notts joined around 25,000  fellow policemen and women from all over Britain in the biggest march ever by  our police.  I then went with Mick and Notts. Federation Secretary Kev  Walker, to meet Patrick Mercer MP at the House of Commons. Patrick and I have  given our public support to the Police Federation who are rightly aggrieved  that the Government has, in effect broken an agreement to raise police pay by  2.5%. The deal has been implemented in full in Scotland but in England and  Wales it has not been backdated so the actual rise is 1.9%. It’s no way to  treat any workers especially those who do one of the most difficult, dangerous  and demanding of jobs. The Government won’t change its mind but it is to be  hoped the strength of feeling will persuade them that the next pay deal will  not only be fair but honoured.
 
 

Toton Councillor Tony  Ford has been delivering leaflets for over 33 years with out much trouble,  This week a silent but deadly danger lurked behind a letter box. Tony stuck a  leaflet through said letter box only to receive a sharp pain and determined  “nip” to his index finger. On inspecting his bloodied hand he concluded he had  been bitten by a dog. A nurse was seen, a tetanus boost administered and  enquiries made of the dog. We are pleased to report the dog has made a full  recovery.
Undeterred Tony was back delivering on Saturday – what a trooper.  


I would be very grateful to know if  there is any sensible explanation as to why teenagers are completely incapable  of turning off lights and shutting doors and in particular believe the only  place to deposit a wet towel is on the floor – preferably their mother’s  bedroom floor.
 
As ever
Anna