FOCUS www.PeterboroughLibDems.org.uk

SOUTH WERRINGTON and NORTH GUNTHORPE RESIDENTS’ NEWSLETTER

“Working All Year Round”

Edition: 67

TEAM CONTACT DETAILS:

Councillor: Darren Fower Text or call Darren’s mobile: 07581 711 434 Email: SWNG_FOCUS @peterboroughlibdems.org.uk

Ward website: www.campaigns. libdems.org.uk/SWNG Darren’s website: www.darrenfower. mycouncillor.org.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/SWNG. FOCUS.Team Post: Cllr Darren Fower, Town Hall, Bridge Street, Peterborough PE1 1HG

TREES FACE THE CHOP Peterborough City Council has warned local Liberal Democrat ward

councillor for this area, Darren Fower, that the willow trees in Werrington

Meadow are soon to be cut back. The work will result in the trees looking

“awful” according to an officer at the Town Hall. However, things will not be as bad as they

look! Darren said: “The willow trees will be

severely chopped back but we are advised by

specialists that this needs to be done otherwise

they will split or crack.

“This dramatic cutting will reduce the risk of

falling branches or longer term problems that

could mean the trees have to be cut down

completely.

“According to the specialists the good thing with treating them this way is that

within two years we will not notice they have been cut and we will have healthy

trees to last the next 10-15 years!”

If you have any questions please email richard.pearn@peterborough.gov.uk at

the Town Hall or call him on Peterborough 747474.

DARREN PLEASED WITH £700 Cllr Darren Fower has said he is more than satisfied with the well over £700

he has raised for a locally based charity that supports families, individuals

and children affected by spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus. Darren undertook his first ever 4km fun run, as part of the Great Eastern Run

2011 and nominated city-based charity SHINE (Spina Bifida * Hydrocephalus *

Information * Networking * Equality) formerly known as the Association for

Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus to receive all the money he raised in sponsorship.

Darren said: “I’d like to thank all the residents in South

Werrington and North Gunthorpe who donated and of course

all the other people who kindly contributed.

“SHINE is a registered charity, which was formed in 1966,

initially to help families and individuals affected by spina

bifida and hydrocephalus.

“Today, SHINE is a community of 75,000 individuals, families, friends and

professionals, sharing achievements, challenges and information on living with

hydrocephalus, or spina bifida, and related issues.

“It was a pleasure putting myself through the pain barrier!”

CYCLE BARRIERS REMOVED – NOW THEY NEED REPLACING Local Liberal Democrat councillor Darren Fower says he is pleased that after a long campaign by local residents

the cycle barriers on the path in Grassmere Gardens leading through to Bala Court have been removed. The barriers did not meet modern legal standards and some residents who use mobility scooters and wheelchairs had

contacted the FOCUS team to complain that the barriers prevented them getting onto the path.

Darren said: “I'm glad that people who previously were unable to use the path can now do so. But I am also keen to see a

fresh set of barriers introduced that are legal and prevent the possibility of cyclists speeding through this tight pass."

CARAVANS PLAN TURNED DOWN The planning application for a

traveller caravan site in Hurn Road

that we reported on in the previous

edition of FOCUS has been refused

by the city council. It is the second time that the council

has rejected plans for caravans here.

Local Liberal Democrat councillor

Darren Fower said: "I welcome this

decision by the city council’s planning

committee but I cannot help feeling that

there is still more to come from this

situation.

“I recently paid a visit to Hurn Road

and spoke with residents who are still

unsure of the future and feel that money

is playing a bigger role in the process

than it should!"

Printed by P’boro Lib Dem Printing Soc c/o 37 Swift Close, Deeping St James PE6 8QQ. Published and promoted for and on behalf of the Liberal Democrats by Peter Chivall, 88 Elmfield Rd, P’boro PE1 4HB

SELL THE TOWN HALL There has been a great deal of coverage

in the local press about possible city

council plans to sell the Town Hall and

move staff to less expensive office

accommodation. Local councillor Darren Fower, who is

secretary of the Lib Dem group on the city

council, said: “It is encouraging to see the

Tory council taking up Liberal Democrat

ideas – even if they pretend they through of it

themselves.

“We proposed the sale of the Town Hall

years ago and it is in our plans for the city in

the document Our Vision on the

Peterborough Liberal Democrat website at

www.PeterboroughLibDems.org.uk.

“Still, better late than never, we are glad

that the Tories are now taking this seriously –

even through some of their own members

seem less than convinced and have forced the

council cabinet to take the plans back and

look at them again.”

DARREN ON YOUTUBE As another way of keeping in touch with

local residents, Werrington and

Gunthorpe Liberal Democrat councillor

Darren Fower has started posting videos

on YouTube. Take a look – just search for „Darren

Fower‟ at www.youtube.com.

BAD BEHAVIOUR IN BEAUVALE GARDENS Local Liberal Democrat councillor

Darren Fower has recently been contacted

by residents in Beauvale Gardens about

consecutive nights of anti-social

behaviour late at night on local grass

areas, ranging from kicking footballs

against fences to burning yellow pages. Darren said: “I‟ve spoken to the residents,

and a number of them are pensioners who

understandably nervous about the situation.

“This sort of behavior must be tackled

before it becomes more serious.” Darren has now contacted the local policing

team, asking officers to step up patrols in the

area and to visit affected properties to help

reduce residents‟ concerns.

SCHOOLS TO BE INVITED TO JOIN COMMITTEE? Local Liberal Democrat councillor Darren Fower has called for

local head teachers to be invited to attend future meetings of the

city council‟s Neighbourhood Committee for the North of

Peterborough which covers this area. The suggestion, described by one independent councillor as

“excellent”, was made by Darren to officers at a meeting at the Town

Hall.

Darren explained: “The most recent meeting of the neighbourhood

committee was amalgamated with a meeting of the police panel. The

idea is to include everyone who is involved in providing services to the

local community such as the fire service, police and council. They are

then all available to discuss issues of concern with councillors and local

residents at the meetings.

“As many issues touch upon or are directly related to schools, surely

it makes sense to include local head teachers?”

SPORTS PAVILION SIGN STILL MISSING The street sign showing the location of the sports pavilion in

Campbell Drive, located at the entrance on Coniston Road, has

still not been replaced – weeks after it was reported missing. Now local Lib Dem councillor Darren Fower has reminded council

officials of the situation and called for a speedy response.

Darren said: “It took long enough for the council to erect the sign in

the first place, several years ago, and we are now keen to get a

replacement up as soon as possible.

“As to why it has taken so long, I really do not have an answer. I can

only imagine that the changes and reductions in staffing at the Town

Hall in recent months are having an effect on the standard of service

that the council provides to the community.”

LIB DEMS SAVING TAXPAYERS’ MONEY Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats are trying to reverse the Tory-controlled county council’s decision to give councillors a 25% increase in allowances. Kilian Bourke, leader of Cambs Lib Dems, said: “A 25% pay rise for councillors when the council is laying off staff and freezing council tax is not acceptable.”

Meanwhile, here in Peterborough, local Lib Dem councilor Darren Fower has turned down the Tory-controlled city council’s offer to buy him an iPhone. Many Tory councillors have accepted the offer.