30/12/2009 by Steve Barclay.

How can we have legislation that deters shopkeepers and residents from being responsible and clearing their local pavements of ice?  I raised this last February after being told by a shop keeper in Chatteris that they used to clear the pavement in front of their shop, but could no longer risk doing so.  Now the national newspapers are up in arms about it, but it is old news. 

Health and safety legilislation currently means responsible shopkeepers clearing the pavement in front of their shop risk being sued if someone falls.  The sheer folly of this is starkly clear with the current harsh weather.  Pavements are particularly dangerous.  We should have agreements with our local farmers who are well placed with tractors to get out and help on our roads and pavements, and earn some money for doing so at a time when working on the farm tends to be quieter.

Bizarrely, the Health and Safety press spokesman has just said that the legislation is necessary because if someone used water to clear a pavement and it froze, then they would need to be liable and open to being sued.  What planet are they on.  Do they really think shop keepers will go out and put water on the pavement in the middle of winter?

Often people raise issues with me which are not strictly for Parliament, but more for the district or county councils to tackle.  This time an issue people often think is for the county council, clearing roads and pavements, actually needs Parliamentary action.  Whilst county council highways departments are responsible for local roads, Parliament needs to act to set them, local residents and businesses free from health and safety legislation preventing them clearing ice.  They should not have to fight the weather constrained by laws which are counter productive.

On a related note, a thank you to all the staff of the Cambridgeshire Highways Department who have been working extra hours recently.  The gritters are out in very difficult circumstances and with so many Fen roads next to waterways and at high risk of accidents, the extra hours the gritters are putting in is saving lives.

Posted in Health & Safety, Chatteris | No Comments »

27/12/2009 by Steve Barclay.

I could think of few things worse than a trip to the shops on the first Saturday after Christmas.  So it was an unexpected surprise to discover a great shop in Ely this Saturday, not least as I have walked past it countless times.

Rather than shopping, we headed over to Ely and completed the Cawdle Fen Walk.  Not the best weather but bracing can have its moments, or so I am told.  Afterwards we popped in to Topping & Company booksellers in Ely and what a delight.  A well stocked shop with lots of signed first editions, knowledgable staff, and they had the book I wanted. But those who know of my love of coffee will not be surprised that what particularly impressed was when, without asking, I was offered a coffee free of charge to drink whilst browing the shop.  Service like that is not available from the supermarkets or internet book sellers. 

Toppings have a regular programme of author events throughout the year, and a really good childrens book section too.  If you are not already a regular there, it is well worth a visit when next in Ely.  Let me know what you think if you go.

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18/12/2009 by Steve Barclay.

Spent the morning at King’s School in Ely where I judged the final of the junior and senior school debates.  Struck by the very high standard - well researched content, all the speakers kept good eye content, and some quite wonderful touches of humour and quick wit. 

To speak in front of a full hall is a big challenge, and even more so when it is before all your school friends who will no doubt have fun if you make a mistake.  So it was really uplifting to see the students speak so well.  The debates were fiercely contested with the teams having come through two earlier rounds.  The first debate was on whether to decriminalise drugs, with Wilkinson House winning.  The senior debate focussed on whether cultural and religious tolerance was a threat to Britain, and Torfrida House took the honours.

Pictured are the winning teams from the junior and senior debates.
In the afternoon I headed over to Wisbech, where I visited Ladbrokes for a briefing about the current state of the gaming industry which employs a number of people locally.  Whilst there I was also invited to place a charity bet - a £50 stake which I place on behalf of the East of England Air Ambulance. 

Am struck at the meeting, not for the first time, by what a small world it is.  At Labrokes the meeting was with Ric Royal who is a friend from my days living in Lancaster.  Rick now works for Ladbrokes nationally and has a detailed knowledge of the gaming industry.  It made for a good discussion about onshore and offshore tax issues, creating more jobs in the gaming industry, and he even helped out with tip for what horse I should back (not something I have a clue about).  We finished off with a sneak preview of the latest political betting for a few parliamentary seats and likely parliamentary majorities. 

Chatting with those in the store, one of the issues which will influence the election was clear - immigration.  There is a strong sense in Wisbech that the Labour Government has let local people down on immigration and not played fair.  Those who stick to the rules and work hard are being hit by higher bills, whilst others are seen to get special treatment with extra benefits.  If I am elected as MP, this is an issue I want to tackle.  We need to stop the current abuse of our benefits system and control immigration much better.  It is not a race issue to talk about immigration - it is an issue of fairness that people locally feel passionately about.   

Photo with Mr Rick Royal of Ladbrokes

Posted in Ely, Wisbech | No Comments »

12/12/2009 by Steve Barclay.

A hectic time of the year for us all and today is typical of the festive season with Christmas events in Whittlesey, Witcham and Wisbech. 

The day kicked off this morning with a very well supported coffee fundraiser organised by Cllr Kay Mayor in the Whittlesey Conservative Club.  Fantastic mince pies.  My comment to a few retired ladies present that I had not started Christmas shopping yet (it is only mid December after all so did not think this was too out of the ordinary) got shocked and disapproving looks!  Clearly it is time for me to make a start next week after the polite telling off.

Then it was a quick dash to one of my regular Saturday neighbourhood coffee meetings (this afternoon being held in Witcham). A chance to find out about what is happening in the village, what is causing concern, and what we can do to help. Just one of the many stories raised says so much about why Labour’s bossy, centralised approach turns people off.  A teacher said that in the local primary school the kids have been told they cannot take the emply loo roll holder in for art and craft lessons (the things we grew up watching Blue Peter using to build everything with from pretend binoculars to castles).  New health and safety rules deems the empty loo holder a health risk - on the grounds that it has been placed in the loo.  It is just one of so many silly yet depressing tales that sum up Labour’s daft regulations.

In the evening head up to Wisbech for a further Christmas fundraiser, this time a fun quiz, organised by Wisbech County Councillor Steve Tierney.  As I was driving back to March afterwards the diet of coffee continued all day.  Our quiz team managed a respectable second place, although in truth I contributed very few answers (not least being particularly poor on the history section which was the one I thought would not be too bad).  Lots of banter, a festive atmosphere, good food and a first class quiz master made for a really good night and one hopefully to be repeated soon.

Posted in Witcham, Whittlesey, Wisbech | No Comments »

10/12/2009 by Steve Barclay.

Was at the Sutton parish council meeting last night which was a chance to hear about the problems of heavy lorries going through the village.  There are real concerns that numbers will increase significantly in future years with various major building works using quarry from the Mepal pits. 

Sutton parish council also told me about various road safety measures they would like to put in place, one of which is a zebra crossing.  Apparently the county council are quoting £35K to build a crossing in the village (you might think painting a few white lines and putting a light at each end would cost a bit less).  It seems the work requires various consultants, all of which come at a price.   

Given that zebra crossings are being built up and down the country and are not a new design process, surely a smarter and cheaper approach could be developed?  With the country in massive debt, the days of throwing money around are over and we need to be innovative in looking for cheaper, more efficient ways of doing things.  Hopefully some fresh thinking can be applied.

Good to see County Cllr Phil Read at the meeting, but sadly no county council official turned up.  That was a shame as without any written explanation either from officials, the meeting lacked factual information about the legal scope for action by the county council.  Not surprisingly, the absence of clear legal and factual information creates confusion and rumour. Residents quite rightly want to know e.g. what powers the county council has to put restrictions on future planning permissions, and what proportion of journeys relate to existing planning permissions where they may be no legal scope to act.

Sent a detailed note on the meeting to Cambs County Council Leader Jill Tuck and our MP Malcolm Moss, who I also chatted to on the phone afterwards.  Malcolm is already working on this issue and was aware of the points raised and has written to the county council.  Lets hope by the time of the next public meeting in February next year residents will have a detailed update from county council officers, so that we can start to put in measures to control the flow of lorries through the village.  I will update on this in the new year.
   

Posted in Cambs County Council, Sutton | No Comments »