Key Issues & Past Campaigns

In my work as a County Councillor for Garendon and Ashby Wards I have dealt a wide range of issues.

To keep up please subscribe to my e-news bulletin which I do every three or four months. But if you have an interest in the issues below, or would like to offer opinions or information, please write to me.

Garendon Park and the Persimmon development

 For further information see: Garendon development or email me directly.

Thorpe Acre Infants School

 We prevented County from closing Thorpe Acre Infants School and enabled Thorpe Acre Playgroup/Nurserty onto the site. Thank you to all who raised the matter with Governors and education bosses.

School Travel for SEND pupils

 I am particularly anxious about the lack of flexibility in allocating travel assistance for children with who are struggling with special needs or disability (SEND). I have made representations to the County Cabinet not to reduce support for travel to and from school with special educational needs. The number of children receiving such support has dramatically reduced.
More recently I met with parents and staff of Maplewell and Ashmount schools to oppose the charging of transport for under 5s and 16+ special young people.

Local Schools

 I support all the local schools in this part of the town, including Charnwood College and DeLisle RC College. Both are Academies and therefore not under the County umbrella. Most Primary Schools are county maintained schools. One of my ongoing concerns is that of road safety and parking around schools at both ends of the school day.

EfW Encyclis Waste Incinerator

 I led the campaign in this area to stop an Incinerator being built at M1 Junction 23. We defeated two applications, but Eric Pickles then gave his authority to approve it. I am supporting LAQPG who are now campaigning to stop the Biffa/Coventa plant.
See further details.

The Nursery Grant

I led a majot Nursery Campaign to ensure the County Council fairly and efficiently distributes the Government grant of over £3million across the County.

Climate Emergency

 At Charnwood we have developed the county's first Climate Change strategy and signed up to the Nottingham Declaration.
I later proposed a Climate Change Emergency in 2019 which received the support of all Parties at the County Council"

Local Transport Plan and sustainability

 I support transport and planning measures that don't consume resources we can't replace (eg green fields, fossil fuels and clean air).

At County Council I have submitted a detailed critique to the Local Transport Plan 2006-11. We are now expecting the next rewrite (LPT4) in 2021 which will include am Active Travel plan for cycling and walking.

Transport: Road Safety.

I have successfully campaigned for many traffic calming works including on Knightthorpe Road.
I am keen to see measures for improved road safety, especially for children and older people on foot and on cycles. Before responsibilities moved to the Colunty, I persuaded Charnwood BC to produce a study of road safety problems in Loughborough. This was completed in 2001.
I am keen to see safer journies to school for the large numbers of children attending schools on Thorpe Hill.
Buckingham Drive and Sandringham Drive remain a concern because of increased local traffic. Cyclists are also at risk. A HREF="trafficsafety.htm">fuller report can also be found on this site. See also: National Cycling Strategy, Roadpeace and Brake: Road Safety Campaign.

Heritage, wild and historical

 I worked with the Council to enable the Charnwood Protection of Wildlife group to convert a derelict area behind Stirling Ave (Thorpe Acre) into a wildlife sanctuary. Another has just been created on Windsor Road. The Thorpe Acre Trail and Village sign (See Thorpe Acre 2000) are completed and I have helped Robert Bakewell Community Centre to install a village sign in Dishley. After introducing the idea to them I assisted with funding applications and project planning. I value local history, generally.

Litter, abandoned cars & fly tipping

 If you have any information on abandoned cars or fly tipping, please inform the Borough Council on it's call centre number 01509 263151. The last Labour Government introduced a new law called the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act which enables our Street Wardens to give on the spot fines for so-called "Envirocrimes".

County and Community Libraries

 Loughborough Library is a 'Smart' library. This means shorter staff hours but longer opening hours.
Mobile Libraries operate monthly in NW Loughborough. Please see the County Libraries website for details.
In 2002 we saved Hathern Library from the threat of closure.
Thank you to all who raised the petition. It is now run successfuly as a Community Library with keen volunteers including Cllr Keith Harris.
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