POWER 2010

We need a healthy democracy that works for all of us and not just a powerful few.

POWER2010 aims to ask every candidate standing at the next election
to make a public commitment - a pledge - to clean up and reform our
politics.

Change can, and should, come from the grassroots.
That's where you come in.

To find out more:
http://www.power2010.org.uk/action

Our democracy is in crisis. MPs fiddle while the planet burns. Our rights and freedoms are under attack. Bankers blow billions and the taxpayer foots the bill. We can't go on like this.

We need a healthy democracy that works for all of us and not just a powerful few. POWER2010 exists to help create it. It gives you the chance to have your say on how our democracy works so that together we can change it for the better.

Do you want cleaner funding? Fairer voting? More accountability? You decide. Tell us your ideas for changing the way we run our country. Those with most support will become the POWER2010 Pledge and the focus for our national campaign at the next election

Save Ashford Campus

The protest outside the college yesterday was very well attended, with in excess of 500 signatures taken, (many more than our post office and pensions petitions) and many more residents of the area made aware of the sad situation of the threat of closure of the college. If it were to happen, 1000 students would have no college places in Spelthorne next year, and all the students currently in Spelthorne schools would have no local college places for the future. The facilities and opportunities offered to our young people at the Ashford campus cannot be duplicated by using sixth forms in the local schools. It would just not be feasible to have, for example, the excellent Hair Academy, with its rows of specialised basins and beauty treatment beds, the catering facilities, building course facilities and much more, in every Spelthorne school, or have the young people travelling all over the place to find the course that they want. These young people are the tax payers of the future, they therefore need to be employable, so that they can pay our pensions, and they don't want to be a burden on our benefits system. It was good to see that some prospective parliamentary candidates had taken the time to come along and speak to the people that they could, in future, be representing, and that others that were unable to attend, had pledged their support. Please support the students and staff at the college by signing the petitions.

Save Ashford Further Education

Please Join:
There is a new facebook site to save the college, with another petition to sign. Please sign this one as well as the Number 10 petition. The link is: http://saveashfordfe.org.uk/

Please Sign:
The Number 10 link is: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Save-Brooklands/

Please be there:
There is a PROTEST outside the Ashford Campus at 10am on Saturday 28th November.


There is also a PROTEST outside Spelthorne Borough Council offices on Monday 30th November at 4.30, as the borough council have a Special Cabinet Meeting at 5pm to consider that the council proceed IMMEDIATELY with a 6 week public consultation on a planning brief for Brooklands College (Ashford) and the Multi-Storey car park. It is vital that we save the college, so that we can provide our young people with further education in this area, there is no other provision in Spelthorne.
"I believe our children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way......"
"If you tolerate this, your children will be next".

Number 10 Petition - Ashford Campus

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%253A%252F%252Fpetitions.number10.gov.uk%252FSave-Brooklands%252F&h=6aee0aeda26557274b3f3bff32aebf40&ref=mf

Please sign the Number 10 petition to save the Ashford Campus of Brooklands College, using the link above.

Ashford Campus, Brooklands College

There is an online NO10 petition to save the College, please sign it now. There is a facebook page too, please join the group. I will be writing to Gordon Brown to ask him to save the college, as I am confident that the goverment will realise that it is the right thing to do. We should all be trying to save further and vocational education for our children in this area. Three of my four children attended this college, and my fourth child should have the opportunity too.

Message from David Cameron on the EU

Yesterday the Lisbon Treaty was signed by the President of the Czech Republic. It is now set to become EU law.
I know from the huge number of letters and emails that I have been receiving how much people will resent the fact we cannot now have the referendum we were promised by Labour.
But I have always been clear that, if this situation came about, I would immediately set out how a Conservative Government would respond.

First, if we win the next election, we will prohibit, by law, the transfer of further power to the EU without a referendum. Never again should it be possible for a British government to transfer power to the EU without the British people's consent.
Second, we will introduce a United Kingdom Sovereignty Bill to make it clear that ultimate authority stays in this country, in our Parliament.
And third, we want to negotiate three specific guarantees with our European partners over powers that we believe should reside with Britain, not the EU. We will negotiate the return of Britain's opt-out from social and employment legislation in those areas which have proved most damaging to our economy and public services. We also want a complete opt-out from the Charter of Fundamental Rights. And we would negotiate for a return of powers in criminal justice to prevent EU judges gaining steadily greater control over our criminal justice system.
If I am elected Prime Minister, the British Government I lead will be an active member of the European Union. Like every other Member State, we will fight our corner to advance our national interests. But our guiding principles will be that Britain's interests are best served by a European Union that is an association of its member states - and we must never allow Britain to slide into a federal Europe.

David Cameron

Brooklands College, Ashford Campus

Brooklands College, Ashford Campus, formerly Spelthorne College. Recent news of closure of the college was a real shock to me. I had written to the right honourable Lord Peter Mandelson at the beginning of July this year, and received a reply in August saying that the LSC would ensure that no college is unable to meet its financial obligations as a result of decisions that have had to be made on capital. It also stated that the project could be prioritised in preparation for the next spending round, and that the LSC and AoC were exploring ways for colleges to access private finance. I took this as positive news, and so the news that the governors of Brooklands College have made the decision to close the college was a real blow. With three of my four children having attended the Ashford college, and the fourth hoping to when old enough, I am in the same position as many other local parents of having no sixth form college in the borough, or within a decent travelling distance. Along with cuts to public transport, how on earth are these young people to access further education in this part of the county, especially as it will soon be compulsory up to the age of 18. Parents, children, and staff at the college, rightly feel badly treated by the government, the LSC, and to some extend the governors of Brooklands College. Retailers in the town also fear for the sustainability of the town if the college was to close, as it brings much trade to, and encouraged many new retailers into the town. There is as much concern about what will happen to the building, as there is about the future education of the children, with residents fearing apartments blocks being built in place of the college. It has also been said that if the borough planning committee had not taken so long to determine the application, the college may not be in this position, 6 months may have made a difference. But what is done is done, and the most important thing now is for all parties to find a solution, and one that is best for the young people and their education, they are our future. Perhaps if the Surrey MP's were not too busy fretting about their expenses, they might get together to help. Maybe it's time education was taken out of the hands of politicians, and run by local areas themselves? To listen to the interview on BBC Radio Surrey at 08:10 this morning, check on the BBC iplayer, or listen again on the BBC website/Radio Surrey.

Rememberance Sunday

The annual service held at Ashford Memorial seems to attract more people every year. I had to miss it last year due to a trip to Stratford Upon Avon, but there was a church next to our hotel with a memorial, so we tagged onto the villagers service, which after the laying of wreaths, was taken into the church for the two minutes silence and following service. I much prefer our Ashford service which is shared by all in the open air, and is much more dignified now that the police have reinstated their traffic duty during the event. What would those poor souls, who gave their lives for us, think of the way this country is being run today, and would they think that it was all worth the fighting and dying, for our freedoms to be given away so readily.

Join Airplot

The Lisbon treaty is an undemocratic constitutional instrument that effectively renders every nation state in Europe into a province of the European UnionBy accepting the treaty of Lisbon we collectively surrender the sovereignty and independence, that European nations have fought so hard to achieve.When Ireland voted 'No' they were pressured to vote again, this time returning the 'Yes' result that the EU required. The only obstacle to the final ratification of the Lisbon treaty is one man; the Czech president, Vaclav Klaus.So far he has demonstrated admirable courage and conviction in refusing to sign this treaty - but, following the Irish 'Yes' vote, he will be under increasing pressure to ratify it on behalf of the Czech people.It is vital to lend Mr. Klaus our full support, and to make him aware that we are behind him and that we support his decision not to sign. If he holds out for a few months until the UK Conservative party gain power at the forthcoming general election there is every chance that the British people will insist upon their own referendum.If this happens, the Lisbon treaty will almost certainly fail, due to the overwhelming opposition of the British electorate.Therefore, we must encourage Vaclav Klaus in his steadfastness, make him aware that millions of Europeans do not want this treaty, - and that they have put their hope and trust into his ability to delay it until Britain is finally able to reject it.Call his office, send letters and emails! Do it TODAY! There is no time to lose!When he sees the amount of support that he has, it will be easier for him to resist the pressure put upon him to sign the treaty as soon as possible.Send your EMAILS of support and encouragement to this address:ladislav.jakl@hrad.cz (political department)OBS! I were informed that Jakl is the best person to contact since he is the presidents political advisor considering this topic. OBS!Contact Information for Vaclav Klaus:http://www.hrad.cz/en/contacts/office-of-the-president-of-the-republic.shtmlSo, in summary:1) Write to him via email or letter.2) Send it to Vaclav’s office3) Join the Facebook group and tell us about your letter of support.4) Sign the petition! http://www.petitiononline.com/sptklaus/petition.html5) Invite your friends and network!The plan is to spread this campaign all over Europe via blogs, newspapers and also through different political organisations in Europe, in an effort to create overwhelming support for Vaclav Klaus, and to encourage him not to sign the Lisbon treaty!

Judicial review for third runway

London councils and protest groups get go-ahead for third runway judicial review - More than 20 local authorities in London and around Heathrow have won the right to judicially review Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon's decision to approve a third runway at Heathrow. http://www.2mgroup.org.uk/_
A High Court judge agreed this week that their challenge would be heard in open court in the autumn. The councils are backed by the Mayor of London, Greenpeace, RSPB, WWF, CPRE, HACAN and residents who face losing their homes. Mr Hoon announced his support for a
third runway and sixth terminal on January 15. The decision was subject to a number of environmental conditions relating to noise, air quality, public transport and climate change, but the councils argue the decision was irrational and the Government failed to conduct a lawful
consultation process.

Volunteers needed to befriend children in care

We need men and women volunteers to befriend children in Care(in Surrey and Surrey borders)
Invitation to an Open Evening
Tuesday 15th September 2009 at Omnibus, Lesbourne Road, Reigate, RH2 7JP (Room C1)
7 pm to 8.30 pm
(Introductory Two-day Training Course Saturday 21st and 28th November 2009 in Leatherhead) come to find out more!
Please call Nicola Taylor, Elspeth Hannah
Independent Visitor Service
Surrey County Council
01372 833 359, 07815 951 168, 07815 560 230
nicola.taylor@surreycc.gov.uk, elspeth.hannah@surreycc.gov.uk
What is an Independent Visitor?
A volunteer who visits, befriends and advises children in care who are looked after by Surrey County Council and live in foster care or residential homes.
Who needs an Independent Visitor?
Children and young people usually aged between 10 and 17 who do not have regular contact with a family member. Children of all cultures and backgrounds.
What happens on a visit?
Anything that you both enjoy, from window-shopping, fast food to dog walking, museums or movies.
You Get:
A new friend
Immense personal satisfaction
Initial and on-going training
Support and back-up
Reimbursement of agreed expenses
Your Give
· 1 day per month, usually at weekends
· A commitment to visit for at least two years
· Your energy and time to a young person
· Participation in Independent Visitor support groups and training
· Your agreement to an enhanced criminal bureau check, reference and health checks.

SURGERY

My next surgery in Ashford Library will be on Saturday 5th September at 11am to noon with Steven Rough, Spelthorne Borough Councillor for Ashford East.

Calling Cards

I am calling at all homes in the division that I represent, to introduce myself, and pass on my contact details.
I have called at homes in Clarendon Road, where there are concerns around parking and speeding, and in Kingston Road (A308), where there are concerns about the new cycle path, and speeding.
After the summer recess, I shall be calling on a street a week in the division, and so hope to be able to cover the whole division by the end of next year.
In the mean time, please do come and see me in Ashford library, where I run a surgery with a borough councillor on the first Saturday of every month, from 11 to noon, or write or email me.

August Surgery

My next surgery in Ashford Library will be at 11am to noon on Saturday 1st August. Please do come along to meet me and ask any questions about Surrey County Council Services. I look forward to seeing you there.

Don't let Gordon Brown take you for a fool.

They say if you repeat a lie enough, people will start to believe it. Gordon Brown is banking on you believing that he won't cut public spending. Don't let him take you for a fool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGB_3wByafA

Surrey County Council’s new leader commits to reduce speeding and anti-social driving, increase recycling and improve social care

The new Leader of Surrey County Council, Andrew Povey, has set a goal to reduce anti-social driving on Surrey's roads with the announcement of a £1 million programme with Surrey Police to cut speeding and anti-social driving.

Speaking after the County Council’s Annual General Meeting formally elected him as Leader this morning, Dr Povey said: “My leadership will bring a fresh approach to how the council is run. Everything we do will focus on what is important to residents. They told us that speeding and aggressive driving is their biggest concern across the county and we will take action."

He also pledged to increase recycling across the county, saying: "We will set ambitious targets for recycling and build on the successes we and borough and district councils have already achieved in increasing recycling rates. Thanks to these successes we now have the opportunity to look at reducing or removing our need for Energy from Waste in Surrey. I have asked officers to look at this as a top priority and hope to be able to announce any changes by the end of the year."

In addition, Dr Povey gave details of a Surrey solution to the national problem in recruiting social workers. The council will offer 50 annual bursaries for young people to train as social workers and 10 bursaries for existing social workers to extend their professional skills. A priority will be given to those living in Surrey.

Outlining his vision for the next four years, Dr Povey said: “Given the current financial climate it is vital the county council provides the people of Surrey with value for money. We will be reviewing every single service in a systematic way to ensure it offers the best service and is as efficient as possible. We will continue to listen to our residents and the funding of services will reflect their priorities.”

The Leader has replaced the controlling Executive with a Cabinet, which will meet monthly rather than fortnightly. Fewer decisions will come before this new ruling body and more decisions will be delegated to individual Cabinet members. This will mean more decisions will be delegated to individual Cabinet members allowing the full Cabinet to concentrate on more strategic issues.

Dr Povey has also decided to personally retain veto powers in three specific areas:
· Changes to the boundaries of the Green Belt, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Areas of Great Landscape Value in Surrey
· Decisions to open or close a county school
· Establishment of or recruitment of staff or consultants on a salary of more than £100,000.

The new administration also plans to work more closely with district and borough councils to protect the Green Belt and with businesses to help Surrey through the recession.

“Surrey is a fantastic place to live in and we need to make sure this remains the case. We will work to ensure we are acting on the things residents tell us are important and there will be more initiatives in the coming months to act on residents’ concerns,” said Dr Povey.

Ends

Media requiring more information should contact Paul Marinko, Media Manager for Surrey County Council, on 020 8541 9548 or at paul.marinko@surreycc.gov.uk.

Note to editors:
The full programme to cut anti-social driving will be launched in September.

The members of the new Surrey County Council Cabinet are:
Andrew Povey Leader
David Hodge Deputy Leader
Mary Angell Children and Families
Michael Gosling Adult Social Care
Lynne Hack Environment
Tim Hall Corporate Services
Kay Hammond Community Safety
Ian Lake Transport
Peter Martin Children and Learning
Denise Saliagopoulos Community Services

The chairmen and vice chairmen of committees will be:
(Chairman followed by Vice Chairman)
Planning and Regulatory Roy Taylor Ian Beardsmore
Audit and Governance Nick Harrison Bill Barker
Personnel and Appointments Andrew Povey David Hodge
Adults and Community Care Chris Pitt Margaret Hicks
Children and Families Yvonna Lay Marisa Heath
Corporate Management Helyn Clack Angela Fraser
Environment and Economy Carol Coleman Tony Rooth
Safer and Stronger Communities Lavinia Sealy David Goodwin
Schools and Learning Dorothy Ross-Tomlin Denise Turner-Stewart
Transportation David Ivison Mike Bennison
Health Scrutiny David Munro Peter Hickman

A308 Cycle Route - work starts tomorrow.

The long awaited work to provide a shared pedestrian/cycle path along the A308, Staines Road West, between the Fordbridge roundabout and School Road in Ashford is due to begin on 24th June 2009. When completed, it will be safer and easier for walkers and cyclists to travel along this section of the A308. The aspiration is for a seamless safe cycle path along the whole stretch of the A308 from the Crocked Billet in Staines, to Sunbury Cross, making it safer to all cyclists, but especially school children.

Circus Fun Day - 4th July

Have Your Say on Ashford

Have Your Say public meetings
Town centre improvements are among the main topics of Spelthorne Council’s Have Your Say public meetings this summer – to which all residents are invited.The next events are in Ashford on 22 June. The new-style meetings replace the twice-yearly Area Forums. The first half of the meeting gives residents the opportunity to individually meet, ask questions and raise issues with local councillors, council staff and several of the Council’s partners – including Surrey Police, Surrey Primary Care Trust, Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Hospitals Trust, Spelthorne Community Safety Team, Neighbourhood Watch and Surrey County Council.The second half features presentations on topics of interest to the area and an audience question and answer session. As well as updates on improvements in town centres and high streets across the borough, there will be a presentation by Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Hospitals Trust on its bid for foundation status and the public consultation involved.The upcoming Have Your Say event for Ashford is: Monday 22 June, 5-7pm, at the Salvation Army Hall, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford. For Have Your Say enquiries contact Partnership Liaison Officer Joanne Jones on 01784 446421 or e-mail haveyoursay@spelthorne.gov.uk. Further information is available at www.spelthorne.gov.uk/haveyoursay

Socialism

Aldershot Army show 4th & 5th July 2009

http://www.armyshow.co.uk/

Residents Group Meeting

I attended the AGM of the Neighbourhood Society, the residents group for the Parkland Grove area of Ashford last night.
Some of the concerns discussed there, that I may be able to help with as the County Councillor for Ashford are:
Pavements in Church Road, where the blocks are replaced by tarmac: I will contact Surrey County Council highways officers to ask if this practice can be stopped, and the blocks reinstated.
Potholes: I will be walking a street a week, and will report any potholes that I see to Surrey County Council highways. If residents would like to report any to me, they can do so, or they can report them direct to Surrey County Council through their website, or by calling 0300 200 1003.
Speeding in Parkland Grove: I am awaiting training to use the Community Speedwatch guns, and will then be checking the speeding issue in roads that residents have concerns about. If any residents would like training to use the speedwatch system, please do contact me, or the local neighbourhood officers who are PC Dave Lambert, PCSO Debbie Cook and PCSO Phillip Denne on 0845 125 2222.
Replacement trees for the ones that have died: I will be noting the locations of these on my street a week walks, but, again, if residents want to report any to me, or to Surrey County Council direct, then please do so using the above 0300 number. Please do be aware though, that there is a limited budget for tree works, and that they are usually only done if they pose a danger. You may also contact the Spelthorne Borough Council tree wardens.
Flooding, if it is caused by blocked gulleys, then please do report to me or direct to SCC. If it is caused by drains, then you will need to contact Thames Water.
Parking in Village Way by visitors to Clarendon Primary School, in Brownrigg Road, on yellow lines and across driveways, and in Parkland Grove on yellow lines. I will speak to the Spelthorne Parking group regarding this issue to see what can be done. If vehicles are parked on yellow lines, or verges, then the parking wardens can ticket them.
Clockhouse Lane, the need for a two way lorry ban, and a footbridge. I updated residents as to the position with the lorry ban, that the Spelthorne Local Committee have agreed to it, but are waiting for London Borough of Hounslow West Area Committee to agree to advance signing. Surrey County Council have agreed to funding 50% of the cost of a footbridge, but are awaiting commitment from LBH through transport for London funding to proceed.
Other issues discussed that I will forward on to the borough council were:
Litter from College, more benches & bins needed, flower beds & blossom trees needed, recycling bins in the town, need a town clock, charges on invalid badges in car parks, graffiti removal from Collisons, councillors vote against zero tolerance, free parking in multi storey car park.
Residents completed a feedback form for Improving Church Road, Ashford, and were encouraged to attend the Have Your Say event on 22nd June at the Salvation Army Hall at 5pm

Surrey Community Information Website

Visit this local website for community information, and where I have a page that contains a survey for you to complete to Have Your Say on Ashford Town Investments. Please do complete the survey by the 22nd June. Or you can attend the Have Your Say public meeting on 22nd June at 5pm to 7pm at the Salvation Army Hall in Woodthorpe Road, Ashford.
http://surreycommunity.info/carolcoleman-countycouncillor/
http://surreycommunity.info/carolcoleman-countycouncillor/survey/

A Message from David Cameron

The expenses scandal is still the number one topic of conversation across the country. In offices, on buses, at home, the strength of anger being voiced is like nothing we've heard for a long time. But I don't think that anger begins and ends with expenses. I believe it stems from a long, deep dissatisfaction with the way that politics and power work in our country.
The fact is that people feel they have very little control over the world around them - and they're right. While some areas of our lives offer us choice and control as never before - in media, travel, shopping, entertainment - when it comes to the things we ask from politics and the state, there's a sense that someone else is always pulling the strings, always pulling power away from people.
Today, in a speech to the Open University, I set out our plans for a radical redistribution of power back to the people: from the state to citizens; from Whitehall to communities; from bureaucracy to democracy. This is a massive, radical change. But I believe that through decentralisation, accountability and transparency we can take power away from the political elite and hand it to the man and woman in the street. You can watch the speech - and look at the live Q&A blog I did afterwards - by clicking here. David Cameron

Post Office to Re-Open

The Post Office have written to confirm that a new main post office for Ashford Town will be opening on 4th June at 72 Church Road, Ashford. Local Conservatives have campaigned hard for a main post office in Ashford after the closure a year ago of the main post office in Church Road. This is a good example of how the community can work together for a successful result.

Petition - Against Capping of Surrey Police

Please support our campaign against capping of Surrey Police
A petition has now been opened on the Surrey Police Authority website for local people to sign in support of the case.
This can be accessed at www.surreypa.gov.uk<http://www.surreypa.gov.uk> In two days, the petition has received more than 2,100 signatures, and they continue to come in at a rapid rate. Please do add your name now.

Ashford Town Investment

Spelthorne Borough Council will be investing £100,000 over the next three years into improving Ashford Town. As the County Councillor for Ashford, I have asked to be involved in this, and would like to use some of the funds allocated to me through the Spelthorne Local Committee to add value to the scheme. I will be at a stall on Sunday 7th June, at the Ashford on The Map day at the Brooklands College, Ashford Campas, asking Ashford residents and shoppers what improvements they would like to see. Please do come along on the day, or if you can't make it on the Sunday, come along to my surgery on Saturday 6th June in Ashford library from 11am to noon. If you can't make that either, please do give me a call to discuss what you would like to see.

David Cameron to reopen the Conservative Parliamentary Candidates List.

David Cameron has announced that he will reopen the Conservative parliamentary candidates list.
In an interview on the Andrew Marr show, David said he wanted to “open up the talent that is available in Parliament".
And he urged people to apply for our candidates list even if they have never been involved in politics before:
“If you believe in public service, if you want to help us clean up politics, if you share our values come and be a Conservative candidate.”
David said he wanted to see more "open primaries" where everyone in a constituency can vote for the next Conservative candidate:
"We have had open primaries for many of our candidates for the forthcoming elections and they have been really successful. Opening up the hall and saying to anyone in the constituency – whichever party they belong to – come along and vote for the next Conservative candidate has worked fantastically well.”
If you are interested in becoming a Conservative candidate and believe you would make a good Member of Parliament, please write to Gareth Fox at Conservative Campaign Headquarters (30 Millbank, London, SW1P 4DP) setting out why you would like to be a candidate, and enclose a copy of your CV. Please set out any work you have done in your local community, and achievements in your work or your personal life which you think would make you an effective MP.

Make Labour's next U-turn an EU-turn

Richard Briers digs in to stop the third runway

"This new runway is just such a daft idea. It's obvious to everyone who digs a garden that the climate is already changing, and things are set to get even worse, so why make Heathrow the biggest single emitter of CO2 in the country?" - Richard Briers
When the time came to dig an allotment on the Airplot, we knew that we needed some expert advice. And who better to turn to than the man who brought allotments to the attention of millions in 70s TV sensation The Good Life, and organic gardening supremos Garden Organic?
Yes, the latest guest to the Airplot is Richard Briers, who has dusted off his spade and started digging up the land earmarked by Gordon Brown for the construction of a new runway at Heathrow airport.
Richard is joining Gardener's World presenter Alys Fowler to plant organic carrots on the plot - they want to send vegetables to every member of the cabinet, in the hope that they'll enjoy them so much they'll ditch their plans for a third runway.
The allotment will be cared for using organic practices for the benefit of the local community. Unless of course, BAA and the government get their way and a new runway tarmacs over the allotment and the local community with it. But with businesses, environmentalists, gardeners and celebrities joining the tens of thousands of people who've signed up to the Airplot, that's never going to happen, because we own their runway and they're not getting it back!
As Richard says: "If thousands more people sign up to become beneficial owners of the allotment land we'll be able to stand together against Gordon's Brown's silly idea, armed with root vegetables and the knowledge that we're right and he's wrong."
To find out more and join Richard Briers as a beneficial owner of the plot, visit the Airplot site.

The Plan, Twelve Months to Renew Britain

Are you sick of the news about MP's expenses? Are you disillusioned with our government?
Britain is heading in the wrong direction. The Plan shows how to put our country on the right track. Daniel Hannan and Douglas Carswell show how a future government could actually shift powers back, from Brussels to Westminster, from Whitehall to town halls, from the state to the citizens. Their plan aims to restore honour and meaning to the ballot box. It would disperse power among communities, through localism and through referendums. Things do not have to be as they are. The Plan shows how we can change our country for the better.
“In the USA, people want to go down a different road. The British people also want change. This is the road we should go down” - Frederick Forsyth
"The Plan offers an analysis of why people are sick and tired of politicians, and what can be done about it." - Boris Johnson's blog
"Gripping material .... I recommend it to anyone who wants to see democracy restored and people empowered in these islands." - John Redwood MP

Conservative Top Ten Schools Policies

1. We will change the law to make it easier for teachers to deal with violent incidents, remove disruptive pupils, and physically restrain disruptive children without fear of legal action.
2. We will change the law to give teachers a general legal power to ban any items they think may cause violence or disruption - a power the Government refuses to give because of human rights laws.
3. We will end the right to appeal against exclusion to an independent panel, which has sent children expelled for knife crime back to the school they were excluded from.
4. We will scrap the Standard Assessment Test at the end of the second year of primary school and replace it with a simple reading test so that every parent will know whether their child has been taught to read.
5. Heads need more control over staff pay and conditions. We will give all headteachers the power to pay bonuses to teachers based on teaching and dealing with violence, disruption, and bullying. Schools must be able to attract specialists - especially in reading, maths and science.
6. We will create 'Teach Now' to expand the number of highly qualified people in teaching. These graduates could learn on the job, like with the successful Teach First programme, instead of having to spend a year in a college as now.
7. We will create an independent body to ensure exams are tied to world class standards. We will give state schools the same freedom as independent schools - the freedom to offer their pupils the best international exams, which the Government does not allow now.
8. We will create a new generation of independent, free, and non-selective primary and secondary Academies, so that different communities, form deprived inner cities to rural villages, can create and nurture good local schools. We will change the rules to make it much easier for groups of parents and other organisations, such as educational charities, to start new Academies. We will give all parents the power to take their child out of a state school, apply to a new Academy, and automatically transfer the per pupil funding from the old school to the new Academy.
9. We will allow successful schools to opt out of political control and become independent Academies.
10. We will make sure that badly run schools, such as those with major behavior problems, are taken over by new leadership with a record of success. There must be greater freedom for teachers from political interference and more responsibility of schools to parents.

Save Our NHS - Conservative Plan for Change

Sustain NHS values: Free at the point of use. Based on need not ability to pay.
Access for all: Defend local Services.
Value for money: Dismantle Labour's bureaucracy. Make competition work.
Excellence for everyone: Some of the best health outcomes in Europe.

Over to the professionals: Trusting clinical judgement. Better workforce training.
Unleash patient powers: Information revolution. Decisions closer to patients.
Respect for patients: Build more single rooms. Dignity and privacy for patients.

National plans for prevention: New focus on healthy living.
Have your say: Healthwatch - a national consumer voice for patients.
Spending secured. Real terms increases in spending.

Latest News on Heathrow Expansion

http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/

David Cameron Blog

Last week we had the Budget - when Gordon Brown ran out of money.
This week we've had the votes on the Gurkhas and MPs' expenses - and now the Prime Minister has run out of moral and political authority too.
Take the Gurkhas. They are the bravest of they brave. In WWI, in WWII, in the Falklands and today in the dust and heat of Afghanistan, they have fought and died for this country in some of its toughest battles.
We owe them a huge debt. We need to treat them properly in return. That's why I believe there should be a presumption that Gurkha veterans who want to live in this country should be able to do so.
This week the House of Commons stood up for the Gurkhas, by defeating the Government, and voting decisively in favour of allowing them to come to Britain. It was a tremendous victory for Joanna Lumley, who had campaigned so hard on their behalf. And Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg deserved great credit for calling the debate.
And yet only hours earlier at Prime Minister's Questions, Gordon Brown had insisted to me that it was impossible for Britain to show more generosity to the Gurkhas. It showed how out of touch he has become.
On Thursday it was the issue of MPs' expenses, which the House of Commons debated and voted on. And again, another master-class from the Prime Minister in how to make a complete mess of an important issue.
Several weeks ago I demanded a meeting with Gordon Brown, together with Nick Clegg, to sit down, get a grip and clean things up.
Instead, Gordon Brown popped up on YouTube last week to announce his own brilliant idea: pay MPs to turn up and do their job - they would get a daily allowance for doing so, no receipts required. Within minutes the phone rang in my office - it was a message from the PM saying he would like a meeting to discuss his idea.
Unsurprisingly his scheme got panned, and by the time of the vote yesterday he had to abandon it. Another humiliating defeat for a Prime Minister who just won't listen.
It's been an important fortnight in British politics. Everywhere I go, people tell me they want change - change to a Government that focuses not on tomorrow's headlines, but on the long-term good of the country. They want a Government that treats them like adults.
Over the next few weeks, I will be out on the road campaigning in the local and European elections, which take place on 4th June. That's your chance to send Gordon Brown a message, and Vote for Change.
That's a month away. In the meantime, I hope you have a great Bank Holiday weekend.
David Cameron

Community Grants

As an elected member of Surrey County Council, I am privileged to be able to allocate £11,000 per year of Council Tax Money towards schemes and good causes in the division that I represent, Ashford. In the past four years I have been able to allocate funding towards groups such as the Scouts and Cubs, Age Concern, and Older peoples leisure schemes, environmental schemes, and highways safety schemes, to name but a few. Sometimes I have part funded schemes with other members in Spelthorne, where a scheme covers the whole of the borough. If you would like further details of how this money has been allocated, or if you know of a scheme or group that would benefit from a grant, please do contact me.

Job Clubs

Get Britain Working Job Clubs
Conservative candidates and MPs are setting up Job Clubs to help people back into work.
Job Clubs act as support groups for those looking for work, and provide practical assistance in the form of interview practice, CV workshops, career talks and advice on job-hunting.
We know that finding a job can be difficult, especially in these tough economic times – and our Job Clubs give people the motivation and support they need to get back to work.
Read about the Job Clubs set up by Tony Baldry in Banbury, Maggie Throup in Solihull and Chris Skidmore in Kingswood.
Look out for more details soon about a job club in this area.

Additional funding for Rights of Way maintenance

Due to an error by the Department of Communities and Local Government in failing to pay the full amount of the planning delivery grant in 2008/9, £78k will now be paid in 2009/10. This will support the development control function within planning, but it is considered that as a result, up to £30k could be spent on Rights of Way. This is in response to concerns from the Environment and Economy Committee members that the level of funding was inadequate to maintain the network, and also to concerns of Surrey residents. One only wonders what other errors government departments have made with our funding grants. A question that I will be putting to the council.

May Surgery

My next surgery will be on Saturday 2nd May in Ashford Library, from 11am to 12 noon. Over the past four years, I have seen, and been able to help, many Ashford residents through their visits to me at my surgery in the Library. However, I am always looking for ways to make it easier for residents to contact me, and would welcome your suggestions for additional times or venues that would make it easier for you to see me, for example, evenings or midweek. Please do contact me with your suggestions, and I will look into setting up extra surgeries if there is the demand for it.

New Opening hours for Community Recycling Centres

At its meeting last Thursday, the Environment and Economy Committee of Surrey County Council, of which I have been the Vice Chairman for the last year, agreed to recommend that the Executive of Surrey County Council consider extending the opening hours of all of the county's community recycling centres. The proposed new summer opening hours would be from 8am to 7.30pm, and is in response to complaints about queuing and congestion, and fly tipping. An executive decision would be expected in July-September 2009, and then it would have to go to the County Planning committee. The new hours, if agreed, would then be implemented in April 2010. If you have any comments on this proposal, I would be happy to hear them.

Petition - Help for Savers and Pensioners

I will be in Ashford this Saturday, 18th April, to collect signatures for a petition asking for the following proposals to be included in the Budget:

• abolishing income tax and savings for basic rate taxpayers: and
• raising the pensioner's personal allowance by £2,000 to £11,490

Please do come and sign the petition, I will be by the Abbey National from 10.30 Saturday morning.

Post Office Consultation

The Post Office are proposing to re-open the Ashford Branch in new premises at 72 Church Road, Ashford, TW15 2TW, a distance of 350 yards from the previous location.
Customer would benefit from the following facilities at the new service:

• A brand new, modern, purpose built serving counter.
• Flat level entry to the branch for ease of access, beneficial to customers with mobility constraints

The post office would like to invite you to contact them, in writing, at the address detailed below. They welcome all comments and feedback, however, they would particularly like your views on the following questions:

• Do you have any comments about access and facilities at the new location?
• Are there any local issues specific to the Ashford area you would like us to consider?

Alternatively, you can contact me with your comments, and I will forward them to the Post Office.

Please contact the Post Office by 21 May, the closing date for all enquires.

At the end of the consultation period, if the decision is taken to proceed with the proposal, the new service is expected to open during June 2009.

Post Office Limited, c/o National Consultation Team, PO Box 2060, WATFORD, WD18 8ZW

Consultation - Community Payback

Surrey Probation Service are keen to support Spelthorne with suitable initiatives around the Borough. The ethos behind Community Payback is that the community themselves have an opportunity to influence what work is carried out. Councillors who regularly consult with and listen to the concerns of our constituents are ideally placed to propose appropriate tasks for offenders on community payback schemes.
Main activities covered by Community Payback include litter-picks, graffiti removal, gardening, repairing items in charity shops,and painting & decorating. This is an excellent opportunity for residents to influence the decision making process and the benefits of which can be seen in a highly visible and productive way. Further, the community will also be able to see that through use of Community Payback, Spelthorne is active and serious in the fight against crime and disorder and thus give greater confidence to the community about that commitment.
Please do contact me if you have any suggestions for schemes for Ashford.

Next Surgery

My next surgery will be at Ashford Library on Saturday 4th April at 11 until noon. Please come and see me there.

Look After Our Elderly Properly

It is very worrying to be contacted by an elderly constituent, in her late nineties, in a very distressed state, because of the way that she has been treated by the very people that are supposed to be caring for her. St. Peter's hospital, carers, and GP's. What is wrong with people today that all they can think about is money, and not about how they talk to and treat our most vulnerable people. Someday they will be in the same boat, and I am sure that they would want to be treated better than they are treating our elderly now. This is another horrific symptom of what this country is turning into under this awful Labour government.

Contacting me

To contact me:
Telephone: 01784 255706
e-mail: carol.coleman@surreycc.gov.uk
in person: at Ashford Library, my surgery is on the first Saturday of the month from 11am-12noon.
Write to me at: 3A Nelson Road, Ashford, Middlesex TW15 3QT

Arras, France trip to the Battlefields of WW1

A very moving trip to Arras in France to see the battlefields and war grave and memorials of WW1. Many graves of young men of all nationalities who gave their lives so that we could live in Freedom and liberty. What on earth would they think if they were able to see what our government are doing to just give these freedoms and liberties away. ID cards! Please read 1984 again if you have not read it for some time, or read it at all. It is very scary and eerie how it seems to be coming true. If you want to buy alcohol or even party poppers, you could be asked for ID, even if you are in your 60's. This is just another way to get ID cards in by the back door.

No Third Runway

Demonstration against the governments plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport at Downing Street at 5.30 pm on Thursday 19th February 2009. This demonstration was very well attended, with hundreds of anti expansion demonstrators taking the message to Gordon Brown that we don't want his new runway. A handful of pro expansion demonstrators turned out too, showing the true reflection of people's views on this issue. Gordon Brown should listen to the people who pay him and his government to run this country for us. The destruction of a community, while advocating sustainable communities, compliance in BA/BAA's plans for a third runway which will see CO2 emissions soar, while setting targets for reductions in them are just two examples of how two faced he and his government are. We will not let him get his way, we will see the back of him and his government before he can see this wicked plan come to fruition.

Number 10 Petition

Low levels of government funding during a recession will damage the local economy.

Surrey Conservatives have today urged the Prime Minister to review the inadequate funding for local government in Surrey. Surrey’s services and infrastructure have long been under-funded by central government, with Surrey people having only £205 p/a allocated to local services whilst those in Manchester get £856 p/a, but County Leader Nick Skellett believes that during the current recession this will become an even greater problem.

“Surrey’s infrastructure is crucial to the economy of not just Surrey, but the UK as a whole, and if the government are as serious as they claim about getting the country out of a recession they could start by ensuring that public services are properly funded. It is no good talking about helping the country through a recession whilst leaving local authorities consistently short of money and forcing us to borrow money that will eventually have to be paid back, leaving hard-pressed taxpayers with a large bill further down the line.

My colleagues and I have long argued that the £5,000 p/a NET that each man, woman and child in Surrey contributes to the national economy would be under threat if the government continued to furnish us with inadequate levels of support, but now the economy has started to contract this is a far more immediate problem. Local taxpayers already contribute 80% of Surrey’s funding and we have always done our best to try to keep the Council Tax down as low as we can, but this isn’t easy when we are hit with an annual shortfall in our funding settlement. For 2008/09 for instance the government only provided us with £4m for our Highways maintenance, forcing us to borrow £25m just to ensure we spent up to the level that the government thought we should be spending. This sort of shortfall is a problem at the best of times, but it is an even greater problem now.

The Conservative Group on Surrey County Council will continue to work hard to deliver budgets that fund our services as well as we can and we will make savings wherever we can, but it would be a lot easier if we didn’t constantly have to work with our hands tied.

I have written to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State to ask them to urgently review funding for Surrey’s local authorities and we have started a petition on the Number 10 website where residents can register their views: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Surrey-Funding/

I sincerely hope that the government will listen”.

Contact Surrey County Council

New contact number for Surrey County Council:-
Libraries 0300 200 1001
Registration 0300 200 1002
Roads & Transport 0300 200 1003
Schools 0300 200 1004
Adults social care 0300 200 1005
Children's social care 0300 200 1006
Jobs 0300 200 1007

Potholes

I am aware from my postbag, telephone calls, and from being out and about in Ashford, that there has been a huge increase in the number of potholes. This is as a result of the winter weather. The roads are in a state that demands urgent attention to prevent further deterioration, and provide satisfactory travel for the public. As of Monday 16th February, there will be an additional four community gangs, working on potholes for the next two weeks. Please report any that you have seen to me, or directly to Surrey County Council on their website (link on the left of this page) or to the contact centre on 0300 200 1003. Drive Safely.

SURGERY

My next surgery will be in Ashford Library on Saturday 7th March at 11am to 12 noon. I will have free benefits checks for the over 60's, and free advice on flooding in Spelthorne. Do you know if you are in an area that is liable to flood? Do you know how to protect your family and property? Come and see me to find out.

Reverse Graffiti

http://www.graffitihotline.co.uk/news.htm#reverse
Check out this website to find out about reverse graffiti. This is where the artist cleans away dirt to form artwork, in it's basest form, wash me, written on the back of a dirty van.

Supporting Surrey through the economic downturn

Supporting Surrey through the economic downturn. Surrey County Council has launched a new online resource, Supporting Surrey, to help the county through the economic downturn.Aimed at residents and local businesses this new feature of the council’s website has been designed to help families, individuals and businesses and can be found at www.surreycc.gov.uk/supportingsurrey.The new web pages include information on housing issues, budgeting, accessing benefits, redundancy, how you can help support your local community and much more. This information will be updated frequently over the coming weeks and the council will also be asking local people what information they would like to see on the site.Nick Skellett, Leader of the Council, said, “The impact of the credit crunch is being felt throughout our community and we are taking action to help support those affected. “This online one-stop-shop provides an important resource for individuals and businesses and will be further developed in response to feedback from our residents. “In these difficult times we can all support Surrey’s businesses by using local companies and tradesmen where possible. There is information on the site about our Buy With Confidence scheme which supports the local economy and lists companies that have been vetted and approved by Surrey Trading Standards.”

Heathrow Airport Expansion

Up at 6.30 am to catch the 7.11 to Waterloo, in the pouring rain. Should I walk the 15 mins to College Green (opposite the Houses of Parliament) or catch the Jubilee Line to Westminster, and then just a short walk. No brainer really. Get on the tube for the 2 min ride to Westminster, but, alas, the train won't start. The announcement promises it will be fixed, but then another announcement says, sorry, but the train will have to be taken out of service. So, a dash to College Green, in the rain, to arrive over 15 mins late for the 8am demonstration against Heathrow Airport Expansion. 57 red balloons to represent the 57 Labour MP's who may vote against Gordon Browns plans to destroy a community in Sipson, to the north of Heathrow. The Conservative and Lib Dem parties along with the Greens and others are against the expansion. I join in the protest song, vote NO to airport expansion, then the small crowd breaks up at 8.30am to go back to where we came, which is all over London and the suburbs, as Airport Expansion will not only affect the residents of the village that would be destroyed, but a large area of London and its suburbs, where the quality of life will be destroyed by the constant noise and pollution created by air travel. Was it worth it, YES, we have to stand up for what we believe to be right, even if those around us say, what's the point, the Government will do whatever it is that they want anyway. We pay the government, so it’s about time they listened to us, and did what we want.

Flooding

Most of Spelthorne is at risk of Flooding. To find out if your property is at risk, and to find out how to protect your family and property, come and see me at my monthly surgery in Ashford Library, where I can give you free information and advice. Help can also be found on the Spelthorne Borough Council website "spelthorne.go.uk" or from the environment agency website, or by ringing them on 0845 988 1188.

SURGERY

My next surgery is on Saturday 7th February at 11am to 12 noon, in Ashford Library, Church Road, Ashford.

Benefit Checks for the over 60's

Surrey County Council and The Pension Service have joined up to offer older people and their carers a free and confidential benefits check.
The Pension Service will undertake a full benefit check and offer support in filling in claims forms.
Whatever your income or circumstances there may be extra cash benefits that you can claim.
Come and see me at my surgery in Ashford Library on the first Saturday of every month for an application form.