23/08/2009 by Steve Barclay.

Opened the Wimblington Village Fun Day on Sunday.  Darcy, a popular trainee guide dog for the blind was there with trainer and South Cambridgeshire County Councillor John Reynolds.  Chatting with John I discovered that each guide dog takes 13 months to train, with Darcy already 9 months into her training.  A pure bred golden retriever, Darcy is sponsored by BBC Radio Cambridgeshire with listeners having donated their old mobile phones to raise the £5,000 required for training.  To find out more about Darcy click HERE.

Whilst at the Wimblington Fun Day I catch up with a number of familiar faces including Sylvia Mansfield who is doing such great work with Breathe Easy Fenland, and meet up with event organiser Maureen Davis.  Community events like this take a great deal of work and it is thanks to Maureen and her helpers that the children are all enjoying the bouncy castle, face painting and other facilities they have arranged.   It is also surprising to see the fantastic new allotments in Wimblington - they have been in place less than a year and it is the first time I have seen them.  It is clear from the allotment holders that there is a wonderful community spirit, and the produce being grown looks very impressive.  The next step is to get a hut, and the fun day will have helped with raising funds.

The day before on Saturday involved my regular programme of coffee meetings, with a morning meeting in Gorefield and an afternoon meeting in March.  A wide range of issues raised and it is really helpful to get an update on what is impacting local businesses and families.  These range from economic issues - it is for clear for example that there are no signs of any green shoots in the building trade where bank finance remains a problem - to the specific such as the lack of a lottery machine in the local post office.  A lottery machine would help get people to go into the village store to buy other products.  Where rural post offices have recently closed their services have not been allocated to those remaining which is another missed opportunity.  A chance for me to flag the new policy the Conservative Party has set out which raises the bar with tougher criteria before a rural post office can be closed, recognising the wider community value they offer. Another issue raised was that only one student from Wisbech had enrolled on a brick laying course at King’s Lynn.  At some point the building trade will pick up and we should ensure planning is joined up so that students are training now to take advantage of these jobs when they emerge in the future.  This is an issue I know Cllr Alan Melton and Fenland District Council are keen to tackle with more support for vocational training, so a point to mention to him when we next catch up.

Throughout the week-end it is perfect sunshine - whether sitting in the gardens at the Gorefield and March coffee meetings on Saturday or at the Wimblington Fun Day on Sunday.  The Fens look stunning.

Sunday evening was an opportunity to catch Griff Rhys Jones on BBC1 completing his Rivers programme by canoeing on the Fens - including the Forty Foot.  It showcased the Fenland landscape, and hopefully this sort of coverage will encourage more tourists to pay us visit in the future.  I am not sure however how far he canoed for - Graham Chappell put in a superb marathon canoeing effort to raise funds for the Road Safety Campaign but Griff looked like he had not even worked up a sweat.  And rather like Darcy, I think most viewers thought Cadbury was the real star of his show.
  

Posted in Wimblington, Gorefield | No Comments »

21/08/2009 by Steve Barclay.

Should it really be so difficult to get a sign?  I have posted previously on the frustration of tourist attractions like Elgoods Brewery in Wisbech trying to obtain a sign to direct visitors.  Another example came to light today on a visit to Dogsthorpe Star Pit near Peterborough which is a site of special scientific interest in disused clay pits beside the A47.  I met up with Brian Eversham, the Conservation Director and Chief Executive Designative of the Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs and Northants, who took me on a tour of the site and provided a fascinating insight into the unique wildlife there.  It is a wonderful place, yet we saw just one family in the whole time we were at the site.  As you will see from the photos, a road sign is allowed outside this site but there is no sign to tell local families that this place is open to them to visit.  We need to address this sort of frustrating bureaucracy as it would be great if more people enjoyed it.

A visit also today to Young People Littleport which is a great centre catering for all ages, from youngsters playing on the trampoline dug into the garden to a 98 year old I chatted to who attends to play bingo.  A warm and welcoming place, Phil Malkin who runs the centre explained their exciting plans for the future, including showing me the building work upstairs where they aim to put a music studio.  This will be great in helping cater to the 13 to 17 year old age group as I am trying to promote better facilities for them.

Littleport was also hit by a significant fire today at the tyre recycling plant off the A10 Wisbech road.  It could be seen for miles, and was even more dramatic at close quarters.

A road sign is allowed but not a sign to tell
visitors that, on the right, is a site of special scientific
interest open to the public to enjoy free of charge.

Learning from wildlife expert Brian Eversham
of The Wildlife Trust.

A view of the special scientific site at Dogsthorpe
Star Pit (disused clay pits) beside the A47
- for those able to find it.

10 fire crews were called to the blaze which
involved 200 tonnes of tyres.

Posted in Littleport, Wisbech | No Comments »

18/08/2009 by Steve Barclay.

A visit to the science laboratory of Cancer Research UK to see their cutting edge research in the fight against cancer.   My host Dr Clive da Costa is the Principal Scientific Officer for Cancer Research UK and provides an expert insight into the research being conducted.  It is hugely impressive.

Around 289,000 people each year in the UK face the shock of being diagnosed with cancer, and with over 200 different types of cancer the complexity of the challenge ahead for scientists like Dr da Costa is daunting.  It is a chance to learn more about the research being conducted, the challenges ahead, and what they would like MPs to do to support them.  This includes discussing the three stages of research, involving firstly research done here around the breakdown in particular cells, the second phase on the molecular pathway to help develop drugs from their research into something patients can use, and the third phase which is the clinical work done to test the cutting edge treatments developed.

Running a typical lab at the Research Institute costs £900,000 a year. It takes a great deal of fundraising.  We discuss not just funding, but also a number of other policy issues such as how cutting edge science can play a role in providing jobs and economic benefits, the fact that half of all cancers ca be prevented by changes to lifestyle (70% of lung cancer cases relate to smoking), and specific issues like the need to streamline and improve the gift aid process.

The slide below gives an example of the tumour cells viewed by scientists.  The photos are taken in the Mammalian Genetics Lab which focuses on molecular mechanisms of neurodengeration and cancer.

Neuronal tumour cell line:

A - cells under normal growth conditions

B - Activation of the MAP kinase pathway kills tumour cells

Posted in Cancer Research | No Comments »

18/08/2009 by Steve Barclay.

An insight last night into the life of the remarkable Octavia Hill who was born in Wisbech and is of national importance.  Joined a group from March Rotary at her birthplace house on the South Brink for a short talk on her life, ahead of joining the Wisbech Tourism Group for a meeting.  Co-founder of the National Trust, pioneer of social housing and happy homes, advocate of small parks and space to play, , her contribution to society was immense.  It is a remarkable life story told in a beautifully restored building - if you have not yet been I would strongly recommend a visit.

A good debate then followed with the Tourism Group discussion a range of suggestions for Wisbech Castle.  I put forward the ideas received by email from residents following the Cambs Times / Wisbech Standard article, and the committee also set out a number of ideas.  The favourite ideas with the committee were firstly to explore putting a gate in at the rear of the Castle Garden behind the war memorial, to open up the gardens more.  People often feel the house and gardens are private and are reluctant to enter at the front, and this does not have disabled access which a new gate at the back of the garden would offer.  The second idea the committee want to explore is whether day courses could be held in the house, for example RHS flower arranging courses.  With a high number of older people living in Fenland, it was thought this might open the house up more and offer scope to combine with other events, such as visits to the Peckover Gardens, Rose Fair, and Anglia in Bloom.  The committee also discussed opening up the potential of the dungeons under the Castle (and for them to be called dungeons not vaults), and whether there could be use of the facilities to help prepare plants for Anglia in Bloom Plenty for me to discuss with Cllr Jill Tuck and Nick Dawe at Cambs County Council.

Another topic of discussion was the future of Wisbech Institute, which is a building that has national significance.  The Working Men‘s Institutes were the open university of their day, and we need to look at how we breathe new life into this historic building which is not in great shape.  It is easy to forget when a building is on our doorstep that it has such national significance.  At the moment tourist buses from Cambridge often go straight to Stamford for their first stop.  Yet Wisbech could make an ideal first stop as we are nearer to Cambridge.  I toured the Wisbech Institute a few months ago with Cllr David Oliver and it is a gem in the town centre that too many people seem to know little about.  The next step is to get ownership of the Institute changed so it is a charity, and work is on-going on this.  I hope there will be more to report in due course as a renovated and re-vitalised Wisbech Institute would provide a fantastic addition to the town.

Posted in March, Cambs Times, Wisbech | No Comments »

16/08/2009 by Steve Barclay.

Just an £80 fine for smashing shop windows- what happened to Labour’s promise to be tough on crime?

Saturday morning starts with a site visit to Delph ward in Whittlesey with Cllr Kay Mayor, Dee Laws, and Richard Gale regarding the recent flooding to local homes. 

The immediate issue is a defective drainage pipe (Anglia Water’s responsibility) and clearing the ditch this pipe connects to - as the photos show it is barely 2 ft deep and overgrown (suspect the land owner will have to pay for this work). Will liaise with Fenland DC engineers on who will get the ditch cleared and what the timescales will be.  There is also a longer term issue about house building on flood plains with another 500 new homes planned for North Whittlesey.  Chatting with Kay and Dee, it is clear there are a lot of different bodies involved and a lack of clarity over where the responsibility of each one starts and ends.  As wells as Anglia Water and FDC, other bodies involved include the RSPB, Environment Agency, North Level Drainage Board, Washland Commissioners, Whittlesey Town Council and Whittlesey Charities.  Agree to set up a meeting at Whittlesey Town Hall with all the stakeholders to try and bring more clarity to ownership of issues before any future flooding occurs.

Then visit Doddington Scouts who are doing a big clear out, before following up again at March boutique Star Dust with owner Lisa over a planning issue concerning her front door and the vandalism/ police response to her smashed windows.  Despite catching the offenders on CCTV and the police being nearby to make an arrest, the offender has received just an £80 fine.  This is far less than the cost of repairing the window -calling a firm out to board up the window alone costs £300 never mind repairing the glass.  New Labour’s promise to be ‘tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime’ does not apply in North Cambridgeshire.  We need to support small independent shop keepers who bring variety and character to our High Streets.  A welcome first step would be making it clear than any vandalism of their premises will be taken seriously and punished.  An £80 fine is just not good enough. Don’t however let the vandals put you off what is a fantastic boutique shop.  Star Dust is very much open for business and has a new Autumn range.  Pay it a visit when you are in March - it is a great place to shop. 

Posted in Doddington, Whittlesey | No Comments »

14/08/2009 by Steve Barclay.

Flooding, artificial limbs, feet and smashed windows - all in the casework this week

Helping residents with a varied range of issues this week.  A key point we need to address are the recent problems of flooding in Whittlesey. 

Delph Ward in Whittlesey has seen problems with flooding, and I am working with Cllr Kay Mayor and County Cllr Martin Curtis to ensure this is looked at as a matter of urgency.  Guidenburg Crescent has had problems, and there have been problems also in Coates  - Richardson Way has suffered in past downpours.  The issue came up at one of my regular coffee morning sessions, and I have a site meeting arranged to see first hand on Saturday morning.  Flooding is hugely distressing in causing damage to someone’s home, and when it occurs we need to ensure government agencies respond.  Also liaising with MP Malcolm Moss so we can arrange a meeting with Anglian Water, the Environment Agency, RSPB (some work to provide the ideal environment for wading birds is thought to be one of the factors), and Council engineers as soon as possible this month - more on this in later blogs.  Proposals for another 500 homes in Whittlesey must not be rushed through before we understand better the problems around flooding and the impact these homes will have.

Another issue causing concern locally is the treatment for those needing artificial limbs at Addenbrookes.  It is a world class hospital, but the service offered in this department raises a number of questions.  Issues include ill fitting prosthetic limbs (if an X ray is not taken when fitting an artificial leg then back pain can result), lack of regular skin covers for the artificial leg and a failure to match the cover to the patients skin colour, money wasted on limbs that do not fit (at £8,000 to £12,000 a time, and they apparently are not sent to be used in developing countries as happens in other UK hospitals but just thrown away), a lack of physio when fitting limbs - it is not sensible to expect those in North Cambs to travel for a 30 minute session separately when it could be done at the time of one of the 5 fittings, and a failure to provide artificial sports legs to enable activities like cycling - the rules appear to be that this is provided if the accident is recent but not if the requirement was caused at birth.  Draft a letter to the hospital setting out the concerns raised and seeking clarification.  What is alarming is that a quick internet search reveals another patient flagging many of these same points back in March 2000!  Surely if the problems were known then, 9 years is adequate time to address them?

Catch up again this week with podiatrist Karen Coppin who kindly lets me join her to watch treatments for some of her older patients.  It is helpful to see and chat first hand to those using this service to understand what is needed and the benefits offered.  With over 26 years experience, Karen has a first class understanding which she combines with a great caring touch.  One of the clearest points I take away is the benefit of prevention.  With the cost of a silver dressing at approx £50 a time not to mention the cost and time involved in providing anti-biotics in drips when infections occur, it makes more sense to treat things quickly and nip them in the bud.  The NHS used to offer a one stop shop but this has been stopped.  Training used to be hands on after 6 weeks whereas now some degree courses have no practical training at all in the first year.  Diabetics are involved in 100 amputations a week and are more likely to lose feeling in their nerve endings and so not know if they have hurt their feet.  However diabetics do not automatically have access to NHS podiatrists.  Some operations e.g. for bunions carried out in hospital could be done in Boston quicker and at less cost with a podiatrist surgeon.   Plenty of points emerge which I will pick up as part of my campaign for better podiatry services.

Also pop in to the clothes shop Start Dust in March which once again has suffered from vandalism with a smashed window. As the owner is out, have a brief chat and will go back on Saturday. In the meantime speak with the March Police Sgt who is dealing with the crime.  He confirms that an arrest was made, but that guilty party got just an £80 fine which is far less than the damage caused.  Will go in again on Saturday to see the boutique owner.

Finally this week, a more random discovery.  Was told I am not the first Stephen Barclay in North East Cambs.  Apparently the first Governor of Whitemore Prison had the same name, as did one of the previous local GPs.  From the prison, to the hospital, to potentially Parliament - not sure what to make of this.

Posted in March, Malcolm Moss MP, Whittlesey | No Comments »

08/08/2009 by Steve Barclay.

Unemployement in Fenland is the highest of any district in the county and a real concern.  A chance today to find out more about the practical steps being taken to help people back to work.  Meet up at Volunteer Centre Fenland with manager Annette, chairwomen Janet and future chairman Alan who are based in the new Rosmini Centre next to the Catholic Church.

Whilst the Volunteer Centre is located in WIsbech, their remit covers the whole of Fenland.  Those out of work, and also those in work, can access a vast array of voluntary opportunities through the centre.  Volunteer work can be a great way of staying up to date with work place skills, and demonstrating competencies which future employers will find attractive.  It is also a good way to boost confidence which can take a knock when struggling to find work.  Some do not take up the option thinking that it requires a full time commitment when you volunteer, but there are lots of options for flexible  working.  It is also a way of accessing the training offered to staff by some employers, who include volunteers for free in their staff training scheme.

With the on-going pressures locally from the recession, the Centre has a crucial role to play, and it is useful to find out more about the funding arrangements and the workload of the two part time staff.  The dedication is highly impressive and I hope we can ensure they are able to meet the increasing demands.  Also take away some forms so I can volunteer too, so will update on that in a future blog.

The Volunteer Centre has a drop in on Mondays from 11 to 12, so why not pop in and see if there is an organisation in Fenland you can help as a volunteer. There is a wonderful cafe downstairs with reasonable prices, and a warm and supportive environment to welcome you.

Then head over to Little Downham for an issue which I am trying to champion - better youth facilities for the 13 to 17 age group.  Often when I hear criticism from older people of teenagers, it raises the question of where there is for the 13 to 17 year old age group to go.  Some towns are much better served than others, but rural villages tend to be particularly affected.  The Cambs Times campaign ’our kids are alright’ has been great in highlighting the many positive contributions made by teenagers locally and thoroughly deservers the plaudits it is getting.   Fenland District Council and Cllr Steve Garrett in particular has also been actively engaged in improving facilities, and I know from chatting with East Cambs 
Council Leader Fred Brown that he is equally keen to see improvements.  Part of the problem is the fact that these two 
district councils receive significantly less per head in funding than Scottish councils and metropolitan councils in the north of England (which just happen to be where most of the Labour MPs are). Why should kids in North East Cambridgeshire get less facilities when their parents are paying tax which is heading to Scotland?

Notwithstanding the lack of funding from the Government, I still think we can do more.  One area where there is a need for better youth facilities is Little Downham.  There is plenty of space around the playing fields to improve facilities, and head off there to find out what people in the village want to see done.  More on this in due course.

Steve Barclay visiting Volunteer Centre Fenland
with manager Annette Houghton

The excellent cafe in the Rosmini Centre which
is open to the public to drop in.

Little Downham sports ground.

Little Downham sports ground.

Little Downham sports pavilion.

Posted in Rosmini Centre, Little Downham, Fenland District Council | No Comments »

07/08/2009 by Steve Barclay.

Chatting with local building David Humphreys in Wisbech high street, he tells me that 22 years ago he put in the wooden frame to keep the walls up either side of Cooks after the building fell down. This building was then left empty so long that the wood rotted, and a steel frame had to be put in (as shown in the photo below).  Over 22 years on - it is not a typo it really is 22 years not 22 months! - and this building is still an empty shell.  Opposite, scaffolding has been up for 6 years on No 11 without the landlord taking any action to sort it out.  This is in the heart of the town next to the market square.  Residents and tourists to Wisbech, and traders in the shops next door, have had to put up with the state of these buildings for far too long. 

So well done to Fenland District Council for taking action to sort out the building at No 11 & 12 in the high street, which is now at risk of collapse. This episode though shines a damning light on the issue of absentee landlords leaving properties in a derelict state.  The Labour Government wants to give some of these dodgy landlords a reward in the form of a cash handout (see my blog on the £400K being offered to them in Littleport).
 
Any high street has to be atrractive to compete and bring people in to shop in town. Small shops face enough challenges as it is, and the Conservative Party will bring forward positive proposals to support them - in particular making the small business rate relief automatic.  It is often the third most significant overhead for small shops yet many don’t claim it because of the bureaucracy involved, and this paperwork will be scrapped.  Yet good though this scheme will be alongside our proposed cut in small company corporation tax, we also need to help local groups like WisARD (Wisbech Area Regeneration & DevelopmentTrust) who want the town to look its best. 

Locally a great deal of excellent work has been done on schemes like Anglia in Bloom which make a real difference.  But this work should not be hampered by landlords - often living miles away - who care little for the state in which buildings are left.  Wisbech has wonderful architecture, and we need to treasure and protect it.  If existing legislation makes acting against these landlords expensive and difficult, we should streamline it.  We must be able to track the landlords down via the Land Registry as owners of the land.  They have an asset in terms of the value of that land which action can be taken against.  Alternatively we should look to assist those entrepreneurs who want to bring these buildings back to life.  Without a change, we risk Cooks or a similar building still being a shell in another 22 years time and shops with scaffold outside for 6 years at a time.  Surely residents should be able to expect a clear timescale for such issues to be resolved?

Pictured below are the Cooksons building which remains a shell, and work being undertaken after Fenland District Council stepped in to act on Nos 11 & 12.

Posted in Fenland District Council, Wisbech | No Comments »

02/08/2009 by Steve Barclay.

Two meetings Saturday morning over coffee with residents in Coates and then Whittlesey, before heading over to Wisbech for lunch followed by a meeting in Littleport on the cuts to paramedic cover.  A few themes came out strongly at the coffee meetings.

Firstly, a sober realisation from most of those attending that the economy is in a real mess and that cuts will happen after the election whichever party wins.  The challenge put forward which is a fair one is for political parties to be more honest before the election about the true scale of the debt we face and what that means. Concern was expressed that the same middle income earners keep being punished with more tax whilst money is being wasted through lax spending.

Secondly, there was a strong desire for more local decision making.  This was reflected at the first meeting in the request to keep our current approach to internal drainage boards (a pledge I am happy to give) and at the second meeting from the desire to ensure local planning decisions are not overruled by an inspector who does not know this area - as has recently happened in Whittlesey.  There was a strong desire to keep the character of Whittlesey and not to see it become an overspill of Peterborough.  Useful to have an opportunity to set out Conservative policy proposals to address this by strengthening local decision making, in contrast to the top down central planning approach of Labour.

Thirdly, concern that money was being spent on translation, housing benefits and NHS care for new migrants who have not paid into the system, when some residents are struggling to get by and keep afloat.  Frustration that fairness is not being observed and that their voice is not being heard.  We need to strengthen our border controls and ensure the benefits system is not abused.  Both are overdue changes.

Overall there was a clear disillusion with politics and politicians.  A number of those attending questioned whether they will vote.  As a Parliamentary Candidate who has never received any expenses from the taxpayer, it is frustrating but understandable to hear how let down people feel, not least as I feel the same way. The current Parliament is clearly discredited and is limping to a slow exit.  But more work still needs to be done to clean up politics if the public are to have faith in the new Parliament after the next General Election. At the moment, it looks like turnout at the election will be significantly down.

Posted in Coates, Whittlesey | No Comments »

01/08/2009 by Steve Barclay.

I call in with MP Malcolm Moss to see Principal David Pomfret for the latest news on the College of West Anglia.  It is clear that the Labour Government’s cuts are having a savage impact on courses and staff numbers.  It comes against the worrying news that unemployment in Fenland is now worse than anywhere else in Cambridgeshire. We are the only district in the County with unemployment above the regional average, and there are 840 youngsters locally not in education, employment or training.  The collapse of firms like March based MBMG which has lost 100 jobs makes the work of the College in offering training even more important.

What is disgraceful is that all of the 13 Colleges which received Government funding are in Labour constituencies.  Labour has turned their back on students in Fenland in what has been a blatantly biased set of funding decisions.  The case for funding in Fenland is strong - 18 out of 25 of the most deprived wards in Cambridgeshire are in Fenland, and less than half of pupils here achieve five or more GCSE grades A to C here compared with 70% in South Cambridgeshire.  The College of West Anglia is crucial to the future prosperity of the area if we are to attract new businesses as they expand from Cambridge and allow the next generation to fulfil their true potential.  Fenland is being short changed.  It is cynical politics of the worst kind by Gordon Brown.

Posted in Labour Failure, March, Malcolm Moss MP, Wisbech | No Comments »