Word from Westminster - September 2009

Word from Westminster September 09

August has been a  busy month for me, contrary to the view that MPs have long holidays! I have had a full diary,  meeting constituents, local business representatives and parliamentary colleagues. First it was a pleasure to show Health Minister Ann Keen MP, some of the excellent facilities in the Borough and meet with many of the key workers who provide us with excellent service. Ann was impressed with everything she saw at the Breast Unit in the James Paget Hospital and enjoyed talking to the nurses and doctors who are leading the way with the first fully digital breast screening unit in the East of England. From there we went to the construction site at the Lichfield and Cobholm Resource Centre where a new medical centre is currently underway, it was then onto the new walk in medical centre at Greyfriars Way which Ann was honoured to officially open. My memory of the Greyfriars site was of the school dentist who used to be based there ! Finally we met the various health workers at Northgate Hospital who provide excellent support and health service throughout the community.

As a member of the Lobby for Cyprus, I was recently invited to attend and talk at a conference in Nicosia on the issues that have divided the island of Cyprus. The 4 day event was extremely powerful with contributions from Cypriots and Parliamentarians from all across the world. Having the island divided for 35 years is in itself a tragedy but the fact that some 2000 individuals went missing during the invasion is a greater tragedy but there have been some concessions, such as the ability for a committee for missing persons to excavate ‘graves’ and find the remains of some who were clearly murdered, and allow the families to give their loved ones a burial.

Should anyone want further information regarding the conference and my meetings with Cypriot Ministers and the committee for missing persons, I would be only too pleased to meet and discuss any issue you may have please contact me via my office at 20 Church Plain Great Yarmouth.

Our heritage is a vital part of our community which has been recognised by having Heritage and Lottery Funding investments as well as grants by the Labour Government. The recent announcement by the Government to provide £3 million for our St George’s Theatre and King Street regeneration follows on from the £2.3 million grant for the refurbishment of St Georges Park.   During this month,  from 10^th – 13^th September  there will be ‘Heritage Open Days‘ when you can visit interesting properties that are either not usually open or would normally charge an entrance fee.  The full list of these places in and around Great Yarmouth  can be found on the website,  http://www.visiteastofengland.com/ Of course the other benefits of all the investments we have seen in the Borough regarding Heritage Projects, has created or protected jobs and in these difficult times this is to be welcomed.

The regeneration that has taken place over the last few years has transformed Great Yarmouth, but there is and will be much more to do. Recently it is clear that there are concerns around some of the ways the regeneration projects have been administered locally and value for money springs to mind. No one can dispute the transformation of the sea front yet our local Conservative controlled Borough Council, who were charged with administering the regeneration money, bought changing coloured lights that were clearly unsuitable for our seafront.  Questions are also being asked regarding the giant TV screens that were purchased and used very infrequently  before problems arose and apparently are still ongoing, not to mention the obvious disappearance of the one in the Market Place – when will this be replaced ? Why is the ceiling of lights down Regent Road in such a bad state of disrepair?  How much will it cost the council tax payers of Yarmouth who will have to fund these repairs ? Why can’t the car park in Gorleston sea front be extended to go beyond the barrier adjacent to the small padding pool? I shall be asking our local Conservative controlled Borough Council responsible for these issues to address my concerns and will await the replies ! I would also urge you to ask questions too.

Once again last month  saw the eagerly awaited examination results and these proved that the hard work of our youngsters, with the help of our teaching professionals paid dividends but yet again we have to listen to the doubters saying the exams are ‘too easy’.  For once give credit to all students for fantastic results and celebrate as such. The start of the new school term in September can be likened to the New Year. Pupils can feel a year older and wiser than they did just 7 weeks previously. Books, stationery and clothes are often new and it is the chance to start afresh with a clean sheet. For those about to return or start school or college soon, may I wish you every success in all you do, and for all the parents left behind I am sure you are proud of your child about to embark on a new learning curve and of yourself for surviving the school holidays!