Delivered FREE throughout Bristol North West at no expense to the taxpayer

AVONMOUTH, SHIREHAMPTON, LAWRENCE WESTON & COOMBE DINGLE

NEWS

Our MP, Charlotte Leslie, is leading the way on campaigning to preserve our NHS free at point of need – not only for the next decade, but for generations to come.

Charlotte, whose father worked for the NHS in the BRI and Southmead Hospitals warned that politicians can no longer shy away from difficult questions over the NHS.

She has called for a cross-party political amnesty to find a consensus on how to manage the tsunami of increasing demand that our NHS faces.

Charlotte said “Politicians

shouldn’t use the future of the NHS as a political tool to win elections.

“I do not want to have to explain to my grandchildren why I put my own election ahead of working with doctors, nurses, and those from other parties to ensure they had an NHS free at point of need.

“I would like to see future manifestos based on core agreements between the parties on how to tackle challenges that threaten us all, not on finding endless differences.

“Sometimes it feels like politicians are fiddling while Rome burns. We cannot afford to do that any longer – especially if we want our grandchildren to have an NHS, free, when they need it.

CHARLOTTE: PROTECTING A FREE NHS

Why I want ‘English votes for English laws’ By Charlotte Leslie MPThe Scottish Referendum debate has cast new light on old injustices in our system.

English MPs cannot vote on devolved matters which don’t effect England, but Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish MPs routinely vote on matters that do not affect their countries at all, but only affect England. We cannot perpetuate this unfair system any longer. Other union countries’ MPs should not have a vote on issues that only affect England.

Only English MPs should vote on those - ‘English Votes for English Laws’.

Now it is time for us to break our silence - not for selfish nationalism, but for fairness, equality, and consistency for our country.

InsideLet rugby fans use park and ride, PAGE 2Lamplighters community pub re-opens, PAGE 4

CHARLOTTE LESLIE MP, BACKBENCHER OF THE YEAR www.charlotteleslie.com

“Politicians shouldn’t use the future of the NHS as a political tool to win elections.”

- Charlotte Leslie MP, right

2 AVONMOUTH, SHIREHAMPTON, LAWRENCE WESTON & COOMBE DINGLE NEWS

Charlotte Leslie MP, Backbencher of the Year | www.charlotteleslie.com | @CLeslieMP | Facebook CharlotteLeslieMP

Up your street

Action is at hand for residents long calling for action on air quality and dust in Avonmouth.

Local MP Charlotte Leslie had raised concerns over pollution in Avonmouth in Parliamentary debates, but was concerned that

real action was not being taken. She brought local councillors,

the Environment Agency and the Council together, and has secured dust monitoring for the area.

Charlotte comments, “This is progress, but long overdue. None

of the many agencies have really taken responsibility for sorting the problem. We must fight to ensure that the dust monitors are made permanent and that residents’ concerns over pollution in Avonmouth are taken seriously.”

Councillor Wayne Harvey said: “One way of allaying lingering fears would be to designate the main industrial area at Avonmouth/Severnside as an Air Quality Management Area – and subject it to continuous assessment.”

We need constant dust monitoring for Avonmouth

LET RUGBY FANS USE PARK & RIDE

Conservative councillor and avid Bristol Rugby Club fan Wayne Harvey has suggested that the city council should allow supporters access to the Long Ashton Park & Ride site on home match days (Friday evenings and Sundays).

As part of plans to ground-share with Bristol City Football team – whose own stadium is currently undergoing substantial redevelopment, the rugby club

has moved from its traditional and historic setting of the Memorial Ground.

Now, Cllr Harvey has written to Mayor Ferguson about his idea to help alleviate the obvious parking problems that such large crowds represent for residential streets around the ground.

Cllr Harvey (Con, Avonmouth), who is being supported by Cllr Matt Melias and MP Charlotte Leslie, said: “In order to avoid

overcrowding local roads and side-streets with cars on match days, I think one solution would be to open the gates of the nearby Park & Ride site, purely for parking. However, as the bus service does not run after 9.30 in the evenings – with the facility closed after this time, and shut entirely on Sundays, fans could be charged £2.50 for this privilege. This scheme would then be self-financing.”

Keep

ing

in to

uch If you want Charlotte as your MP, we need you on our Team!

Could you.. Display a poster Deliver leaflets Attend social events Join the local Party Vote by post Stand for Council

Please tell us about any issue which is concerning you:

PLEA

SE T

ICK

APPR

OPRI

ATE

BOX

How we use your information The data you provide will be retained by the Conservative Party and [add Name of Association/Name of MP] (“the data holders”) in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and related legislation. By providing your data to us, you are consenting to the data holders making contact with you in the future by telephone, text or other means, even though you may be registered with the Telephone Preference Service. Your data will not be sold or given to anyone not connected to the Conservative Party. If you do not want the information you give to us to be used in this way, or for us to contact you, please indicate by ticking the relevant boxes: Post □ Email □ SMS □ Phone □

Please return to: The Conservative PartyFREEPOST (SWB 176 )BRISTOL BS6 6BR

Name

Address

Email

Home/Mobile no

Promoted by Dolly Theis on behalf of BSG Conservatives both of 5 Westfield Park Bristol BS6 6LT printed by Mortons Media Group Ltd, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR

NEW SUPERMARKET UPDATE: Avonmouth / Shirehampton: Thanks to residents filling in supermarket surveys, big chain-names are expressing interest. Warning: We cannot promise anything – these are private companies making their own decisions – but it’s progress!Lawrence Weston: Two big supermarket names have shown interest in a large hub supermarket on the old college site. Local campaigner Letitia McCabe said: “It is great that everyone across the community has been working together so hard to try to bring a much needed big supermarket into the area.” Get involved: www.ambition.lw.orgTRAVELLERS: Local councillors Wayne Harvey and Matt Melias worked with council officers to install a gate and assemble five large boulders at the former Robin Cousins sports centre entrance to deter any more travellers and fly-tippers from dumping rubbish under the M5 motorway bridge. FOOT BRIDGE: Councillors Wayne Harvey and Matt Melias are working to have the pedestrian foot bridge on the A4 Portway cleared of vegetation. We now are working to establishing ownership of the remaining part to be trimmed and strimmed.

3AVONMOUTH, SHIREHAMPTON, LAWRENCE WESTON & COOMBE DINGLE NEWS

Charlotte Leslie MP, Backbencher of the Year | www.charlotteleslie.com | @CLeslieMP | Facebook CharlotteLeslieMP

Jobs fair successA second jobs fair in Southmead organised by local MP Charlotte Leslie saw around 50 employers and jobseekers brought together.

The event offered opportunities for people of all ages, including students and graduates, and those who have been out of work for longer periods of time.

Among the employers were: Virgin Media, Morrisons, UK Mail, McDonald’s, the armed forces, and the police.

Charlotte said: “Unemployment may be going down but that may not be much comfort for anyone who has been seeking a job for a long time, as well as younger people and graduates.”

Charlotte also organised CV writing and interview technique sessions to help give people the best chance of securing a new job.

Let’s call a halt to this 20mph rollout Your local Conservative councillors are calling for the phased extension of 20 mph speed limits across the city to be stopped and a scientific assessment undertaken of their effect and impact on road safety.

In July 2012, the Cabinet approved the Citywide rollout of these zones at a cost of £2.3 million; a decision which Mayor Ferguson has enthusiastically endorsed.

Now, the local councillors say would like to see a more targeted approach taken – with speed limits only in places of obvious sensitivity, such as outside schools. They say the Mayor’s decision must be based solely on safety and not an emotive appeal to the alleged ‘civilising’ effects on motorists being compelled to drive unnecessarily slowly.

STATION DISREPAIR: Avonmouth Station is falling into disrepair and Network Rail needs to return it to an acceptable standard, MP Charlotte Leslie has said.

She has invited representatives to visit the station with her and councillors Wayne Harvey and Matt Melias to see the problems.

Politicians know all about eggs or flour bombs being thrown at them – but Charlotte actually invited constituents to pour a bucket of water over her.

She took part in the ice bucket challenge in aid of MND at the Bear and Rugged Staff in Southmead.

And she offered onlookers the chance to pour a full bucket of ice water over her – as long as they donated to the charity.

She said: “It was very cold but I’m grateful to Richard Porch and his team at the fantastic Bear and Rugged Staff.”

To donate text ICED55 £5 (or other amount) to 70070.

‘Become a dementia friend’ The Alzehimers society organised the biggest ‘Memory Walk’ yet on the Blaise Castle estate.

Our MP, Charlotte Leslie, walked alongside dementia sufferers, friends and family, to raise money and awareness of dementia.

She said “As so many people know, this is a very cruel disease, and sufferers and their families can feel very alone. I would urge everyone to go online and become a ‘dementia friend’. www.dementiafriends.org.uk

BRISTOL NORTH WEST NEWS4

EDITORIAL VIEW

f

GET IN TOUCHCouncillors Wayne Harvey and Matt Melias5 Westfield Park Bristol BS6 6LT0117 973 6811wayne.harvey@bristol.gov.ukmatt.melias@bristol.gov.uk

Charlotte Leslie MP184 Henleaze Road Bristol BS9 4NE0117 962 9427charlotte.leslie.mp@parliament.ukwww.charlotteleslie.com@CleslieMPwww.facebook.com/CharlotteLeslieMP

t

CHARLOTTE LESLIE MP, BACKBENCHER OF THE YEAR @CLESLIEMP

Paying less tax Did you know that if Conservatives win the next election, you will not start paying tax until you earn £12,500? Across Bristol North West, 40,000 local residents would have their taxes cut, in addition to the 5,000 people locally who have already been taken out of paying tax

altogether. A future Conservative Government will also raise the threshold at which you pay 40% tax to £50,000. This means more people keeping more of the money that they have earned. Local business and the national economy are hoping for a boost as we can save and spend more of what we earn. After tough times, we’re

beginning to get the economy back on track. This newspaper says the Government is doing the right thing. Now it is time for people to feel more of that benefit in their pockets.

£The Lamplighters has reopened after a mammoth community effort to restore it to its former glory!

The historic pub in Shirehampton, which has been closed for five years, was a favourite of the Shirehampton and Avonmouth communities before Enterprise Inns closed it down and sold it off in 2009.

Our MP Charlotte Leslie spearheaded a lengthy campaign to find new buyers and return the pub for the community.

Now Dominic Gundry-White, his wife Kathie and Norman Routledge, who bought the landmark pub from Churchill Properties – along with a team of hardworking community volunteers – have fully restored the landmark pub and have opened their doors again.

Dominic said: “We want the Lamplighters to be a pub for local people and also for people from across the city as well as visitors.

“Our location near the river is perfect and we are sure it will become a real favourite again for local people.”

Charlotte said she was thrilled that the pub was ready to serve the local community again.

She said: “It has been so heartening to see such a fantastic effort from the community and at last, we are ready for the Lamplighters to open again.

“It was so clear during our campaign that local people were

really attached to the old pub and just wanted to see it opened and thriving again. Dominic and his team have done an unbelievable job.”

Earlier this year local people turned up with spades, tools and paintbrushes in a week of community action to help the progress of renovation work. But this was only the tip of the iceberg – volunteers

have been working on the project for nearly a year.

Local councillors Wayne Harvey and Matt Melias also supported the renovation.

Councillor Harvey said: “There were always doubters with our campaign to re-open the pub, but now it seems our persistence has paid off.”

Victory! Lamplighters pub re-opens

All the community rallied round to re-open Bristol’s beacon pub