swng focus 67
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The FOCUS Newsletter is produced and delivered by volunteers in and around the SOUTH WERRINGTON and NORTH GUNTHORPE local area. For more details or to HAVE your say - go to - http://www.facebook.com/SWNG.FOCUS.TeamTRANSCRIPT
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 [email protected] 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.