Archived Items: 2009 Archive 2008 Archive 2007 Archive Poll Results Last updated: Wednesday 10 March, 2010 Wednesday 10 March 2010 Silverman Lecture - Brierfield Community Centre, 19 March 2010 at 7.15 p.m Jon Cruddas MP for Dagenham will deliver the Sydney Silverman Memorial Lecture - 'A new Labour Covenant' Pendle Labour Party is pleased to announce that Jon Cruddas MP will deliver the 2010 Sydney Silverman Memorial Lecture. Jon became MP for Dagenham in 2001 and prior to that he worked in Number 10 Downing Street, liaising between the Government and the trade unions, helping promote an agenda for working people. In 2007, Jon stood for election as Labour's deputy leader following the resignation of Tony Blair and John Prescott as Leader and Deputy Leader. After winning the most first round votes, Jon ended in third place. By standing for election, Jon opened the contest to new ideas - especially on housing, immigration and public services. He won the support of tens of thousands of members and trade unionists. Bob Allen President of Pendle Labour Party says “We
are delighted that Jon has agreed to give the Silverman lecture. Jon Cruddas says” 'The depth and danger of the recession has brought our country to a turning point in its history. The future of the Labour Party will be won or lost in England. We need to create a new covenant with the people”Tuesday 09 March 2010 New businesses power ahead in East Lancs Latest figures from Regenerate Pennine Lancashire (RPL) show a big increase in new business start ups. Help with setting up new businesses comes from "No Limits" which is funded by the Government's Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI). Speaking from Westminster, local MP Gordon Prentice, said: "I am hugely impressed by the scale of new business growth- and at the way in which everyone is pulling together. It is all about promoting enterprise and generating new jobs and prosperity." "In Pendle we have 182 new business thanks to this initiative. It is great news.Tuesday 09 March 2010 MP welcomes action on Dangerous Dogs Local MP, Gordon Prentice, has welcomed the Government’s decision to review the law on dangerous dogs. In a consultation document published today, the Government says it is seeking views on whether current legislation on dangerous dogs adequately protects the public and whether it encourages responsible dog ownership. Speaking from Westminster, the MP said: “I know from my constituency casework that dangerous dogs are a problem. Who feels comfortable walking past a slavering, bull necked dog with a spiked collar and fangs and which is off the leash?” “These “status dogs” seem to me to lie at the very frontier of the term “domestic pet”. They are, instead, instruments of intimidation.” The consultation paper looks at a series of options which include tightening up the legislation and introducing Dog Control Notices. Other options being canvassed would require all dogs to be covered by third party insurance and requiring all dogs to be microchipped. The MP added: “I am very much in favour of tougher controls.” The consultation period runs from today (9 March) to 1 June 2010. The document is available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/dangerous-dogs/Tuesday 09 March 2010 Cameron’s Euro MPs vote against plans to tackle tax dodgers and target tax havens - Arlene McCarthy MEP British Conservatives voted against proposals supporting the automatic exchange of information to crack down on those seeking to hide their money from the tax authorities. Arlene said: “Tory Euro MPs’ actions make a mockery of George Osborne’s pledge at Tory Party Conference “to target tax evasion and offshore tax havens”. We should judge the Tory Party by their actions not by their words. Weakening proposals which seek to crack down on tax dodgers using tax havens shows they are not serious about tackling tax cheats. “ The Tories cannot be trusted on tax, time and again they protect and prioritise the wealthy and privileged minority over law abiding taxpayers.” “ If we have learnt one lesson from the financial crisis, it is that reforms must be based on more transparency and increased access to information on all financial transactions. Labour Euro MPs support, alongside 25 out of 27 EU member states, the introduction of automatic data-sharing in the fight against tax evasion. With an estimated 18.5 Billion Pounds lost to the UK every year, tax evasion robs our schools and hospitals of vital resources. The wider public can judge for themselves whether the motivation for weakening global and EU efforts against tax evasion and tax havens is linked to the fact that major Tory party donors themselves have non-transparent tax status.” Euro Report March 2010 (PDF 478KB) Monday 01 March 2010 Ashcroft should resign Lord Ashcroft this morning disclosed that he is a non dom. He does not pay UK taxes on his worldwide income but only on that part which is generated in the UK. Speaking from Westminster, Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, commented: "Ashcroft has dissembled for a decade, concealing the fact that he is a non dom. "He promised to take up long term residence in the UK as a condition of his peerage - and that means paying UK taxes like the rest of us." "He has been bankrolling the Conservatives for years, buying the election with his huge wealth. Most of which is untaxed in the UK." "The man is a fruad and should resign from the House of Lords." 1st March 2010A Statement From Lord Ashcroft I am making this statement in advance of the release by the Cabinet Office of limited information about the award of my peerage and of the undertakings I gave at the time. While I value my privacy, I do not want my affairs to distract from the general election campaign. I have therefore decided to release a copy of the letter which I wrote to William Hague, and to expand on what actually happened. As the letter shows, the undertakings I gave were confirmed in a memorandum to William Hague dated 23rd March 2000. These were to "take up permanent residence in the UK again" by the end of that year. The other commitment in the memorandum was to resign as Belize's permanent representative to the UN, which I did a week later. In subsequent dialogue with the Government, it was officially confirmed that the interpretation in the first undertaking of the words "permanent residence" was to be that of "a long term resident" of the UK. I agreed to this and finally took up my seat in the House of Lords in October 2000. Throughout the last ten years, I have been declaring all my UK income to HM Revenue. My precise tax status therefore is that of a “non-dom". Two of Labour's biggest donors - Lord Paul (recently made a privy councillor by the Prime Minister) and Sir Ronald Cohen, both long-term residents of the UK, are also "non-doms". As for the future, while the non-dom status will continue for many people in business or public life, David Cameron has said that anyone sitting in the legislature - Lords or Commons - must be treated as resident and domiciled in the UK for tax purposes. I agree with this change and expect to be sitting in the House of Lords for many years to come.Monday 01 March 2010 Pendle CLP AGM At the AGM held on Friday 26 February 2010 Pendle CLP agreed to urge Lancashire County Council to buy up the section of the disused rail route between Colne and Kelbrook in order to enhance the campaign to see the line from Skipton to Colne re-opened. The AGM also expressed disquiet at the announcement by the Payments Council UK to phase out cheques by 2018 and called for suitable alternative provision for those who will be adversely affected by the withdrawal of payment by cheque. Thursday 25 February 2010 MP to force disclosure of Ashcroft's promise Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, is making a further attempt to force the Conservative Vice Chairman, Lord Ashcroft, to reveal the terms of the undertaking he gave 10 years ago as a condition of being elevated to the peerage on the recommendation of the then Conservative leader, William Hague. On Tuesday (2 March) the Commons will return to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill at Report Stage. The MP has tabled a new clause, backed by 77 MPs, which would lay a duty on the House of Lords Appointments Commission to satisfy itself that people who got a peerage after undertaking to do something – such as become a UK taxpayer – actually delivered on their promise. Lord Laidlaw, a former Conservative Vice Chairman, and Lord Ashcroft both gave undertakings relating to their peerages. The MP also wants the House of Lords Appointments Commission to scrutinise any conditions attached to the award of peerages to current members of the Lords by its predecessor body, the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee. Speaking from Westminster, the MP said: "Ashcroft has repeatedly refused to clarify his tax status. He has stonewalled for a decade while bankrolling the Conservatives, giving two fingers to the electorate. His millions are allowing the Conservatives to buy seats at the next election."Tuesday 23 February 2010 Water Charges Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, today welcomed news from United Utilities that village halls and community centres are to be included in the site area charging moratorium alongside places of worship, scout and guide associations and community amateur sports clubs. United Utilities Chief Executive, Philip Green, told the MP that the moratorium is to continue for a further year. The MP commented: "Water charges can be crippling for many small organisations. I welcome this move and hope that people get in touch with United Utilities to follow it through."According to Philip Green: " United Utilities is writing to all existing moratorium customers explaining what will happen to their charges from April 2010. We are also writing to eligible village halls and community centres to let them know how they can apply to benefit from the moratorium. We would encourage village halls and community centres in your constituency to visit www.unitedutilities.com/sitearea where they can find out more information about the changes we are proposing and apply to benefit from the moratorium". Tuesday 23 February 2010 Pendle County Councillors slam “Rabbit out of a hat” budget Pendle County Councillors George Adam and Mohammed Iqbal are warning that last week’s announcement by the Conservative controlled Lancashire County Council of a council tax freeze is a conjuring trick that is hiding cuts to come. Cllr Adam commented: “ The much hyped zero increase is a sham, paid for by using up reserves built up by the Labour administration, by an increase in annual grant from central government – and by cuts.” “They are talking about savings of £24 million this year, rising to £36 million in twelve months’ time, but say that this will not result in front-line services being cut back. Who are they kidding? Already the Council has announced the loss of 200 jobs at County Hall as part of a job evaluation process.” “Adult and Community Services, which is responsible for care
homes and community work, will be forced to cut £7.6 million
in 2010/11 and £5.6 million the following year.” County Councillor Mohammed Iqbal said “George and I supported the 1.75% increase proposed by the County Labour Group, which would have amounted to only 24p per week. That would have restored some of the cuts and put an extra £3 million into Adult Social Care and £2.5 million into the Children and Young People’s budget. These departments look after the most vulnerable sections of our communities who need to be supported by the rest of us.” “The Conservative administration’s approach to this year’s budget shows them to be insensitive to the lives of ordinary people in these difficult economic times. I just hope the voters of Lancashire remember this when the General Election comes round.”Friday 19 February 2010 Islamic Help to meet MP The new owners of Brierfield Mills, the Birmingham based disaster relief charity, Islamic Help, are to meet local MP, Gordon Prentice. The MP said: "I have received an approach from the charity’s advisers telling me that the trustees are disappointed with some of the news stories going around and that they would welcome a face-to-face meeting to explain their work and to tell me of their plans for Brierfield Mills." "They believe such a meeting would, in their words, help clear away some of the confusion." "I have told them I am more than happy to meet the trustees but, before such a meeting, I would need to be assured that all the money donated to the Pendle Boarding School for Girls project had been returned to the donors." " I also feel a statement about the appeal for funds for the boarding school project should be posted on the charity's website. This appeal for money was for a purpose outside the charitable objects of Islamic Help."Friday 12 February 2010 Labour storms to victory in Walverden The Labour Party candidate, Abdul Aziz stormed to an impressive victory last night in the Nelson Town Council by-election held in Walverden ward. Cllr Aziz gained the seat for Labour from the Liberal Democrats who were pushed into last place; something which is another example of the voters rejecting the Lib. Dems. Cllr Aziz said “I am really honoured that the voters have put their trust in me to serve their interests on the Town Council. I shall try my best to help local residents”. Leader of the Labour Party in Pendle, Cllr Mohammed Iqbal added “Despite a huge operation of forces led by their Parliamentary candidate, the voters in Walverden have given the Lib Dems a kick in the teeth at this election. They are a party on their way down in Pendle. I want to congratulate Abdul Aziz and his campaign team led by Julie Henderson who fought hard and won very well”. Votes cast for each candidate: Labour 419, Conservatives 268, Lib Dem 252. Turnout 35%.Friday 12 February 2010 MP impressed with Colne engineering investment Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice visited Regal Precision Engineering in Colne today (Friday 12th), to understand how local businesses are coping with the economic downturn. Regal Precision Engineering has recently been awarded a £17,000 contribution towards a £42,000 software system upgrade from the Local Enterprise Grant Initiative (LEGI) funded by the department of Communities and Local Government. This is part of a major initiative to increase employment opportunities and help safeguard existing jobs. Pennine Lancashire has had £750,000 in funding during 2009/10, using the local authorities as the link to local employers. Gordon Prentice commented, “The LEGI grant will enable Regal Precision Engineering to upgrade their core software system that controls the operation of the machine tools. The upgrade will provide a better interface with the production data, supporting financial and production efficiency. This will enable the business to continue competing for orders well into the future.” “ It is vital to safeguard local jobs and provide essential capital for local companies during these difficult times. This initiative by the department of Communities and Local Government is just part of the raft of measures to safeguard jobs and help businesses survive the world economic downturn, following the 2008 banking collapse.” The picture shows Gordon Prentice MP and Howard Nicholson, Managing Director of Regal Precision Engineering in the engineering plant. Wednesday 10 February 2010 Pendle is not For Sale says MP Local MP, Gordon Prentice, told the House of Commons this afternoon that "Pendle is not for sale". Prentice asked the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, if he had visited the MP's website today which showed how the forthcoming election in Pendle was "being bought by a tax exile". The MP went on to warn that "Pendle is not for sale". Brown condemned Conservatives for refusing to answer questions about Lord Ashcroft - who has been bankrolling the Conservative Party for years - and whether he is resident in the UK for tax purposes. In branding the Conservatives as "evasive and obfuscatory" Brown was quoting the words of the Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham, who has ordered the release of information to the Pendle MP about Ashcroft's peerage. Speaking afterwards, the Pendle MP said: "At some stage, the Conservatives will have to come clean about Ashcroft's tax status. He was turned down for a peerage in 1999 and then elevated the following year on the recommendation of the then Leader of the Conservative Party, William Hague. His peerage was granted on condition that he would take up UK residence and pay UK taxes." "It is an insult to the voters to imagine they can be bought in this way. They expect the Conservatives to tell the truth about Michael Ashcroft. After all, he is their Party vice chairman."Monday 08 February 2010 MP calls for new “Blue Light” ambulance protocol Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice has called for urgent action over ambulance performance figures released by the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS). In a recent meeting with the Chief Executive of NHS East Lancashire, Steve Spoerry, the MP raised serious concerns over the continued poor performance of NWAS, particularly in the Pendle area. Speaking from his Nelson office, the MP commented: “NHS guidelines set out that 75% of category A callouts – those for serious and life threatening should have a response time of 8 minutes. But in October last year the figure for Burnley, Hyndburn, Rossendale, Ribble Valley and Pendle was just 70%. NWAS also missed the performance target in East Lancs for less serious category B cases, which have a 19-minute response time.” Statistics from the NWAS showing the response times for the postcodes BB8, BB9, BB10 and BB18 show major variations. The MP went on: “The figures highlighted a significantly weak service in the Barnoldswick area, with only 60% of ambulances meeting the eight-minute target to reach their destination.” “In the period April 09 to November 09, the percentage of ambulances hitting the 8 minute target plunged to 53% in May, 51% in June and 39% in October.” “Figures for BB8 which covers Colne and an area stretching out to Trawden fared better but only one month exceeded the 8 minute target – June at 79%. The lowest was 62% in October.” The MP added: “I know the Medical Directors of the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and the North West Ambulance Service are looking at how best to improve things. This may mean ambulances going to Burnley which currently go to Blackburn.”Sunday 7 February 2010 MP blocks Islamic Help school plan The dreams of a Birmingham based disaster relief charity, Islamic Help, of establishing a 5,000 place boarding school for Muslim girls at Brierfield Mills in Pendle have been shattered by the Charity Commission. The charity watchdog has ruled that Islamic Help was operating outside its charitable objects in raising money for a school. In a hard hitting decision the Charity Commission has ordered donations to be returned to those who had responded to the appeal for funds. People thinking about donating were told £500 would go towards student accommodation; £5,000 towards a classroom and £20,000 towards a computer lab. Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, called in the Charity Commission, insisting Islamic Help was breaking charity law in asking for money for a purpose clearly outside its charitable objects. Islamic Help bought Brierfield Mills, the Grade II listed former medical fabrics factory, in December 2009 for £1,020,000 plus VAT. Sultan Niaz Ul Hassan, a trustee of Islamic Help and one of the new registered owners, told the Charity Commission than none of the money raised in the website appeal for funds for the Pendle Boarding School for Girls had been used for the purchase. Instead, the charity had secured a bank loan of £650,000 from Lloyds TSB and the balance apparently came from various pledges and backdated gift aid. The Charity Commission is insisting that the £10,000 which Islamic Help says was raised in the fundraising appeal, must be returned to those who gave the money. Where this is not possible – because money was donated anonymously – it must go into a special pot and the approval of the Charity Commission must be given before it can be used for any another purpose. The Charity Commission has also ordered Islamic Help to remove the appeal for funds for the Pendle School for Girls from its website. Speaking from Barnoldswick earlier today, the MP said: “There was never any doubt in my mind that Islamic Help was operating on the wrong side of charity law. Fundraising for a huge school was way outside their charitable objects.” “ Ghausia Girls’ School will not now be moving to Brierfield Mills and expanding to take 200 students “in the early stages” as some people were predicting.” “ I am told Brierfield Mills will now be used as a warehouse for clothing collections and some parts could be leased at a commercial rent. There may be community facilities as well but, as always, I put aside the hype and I wait for the detailed plans.” “ We have already had too much smoke and mirrors.” The MP added: “I shall be raising this issue in Parliament. I want to see a full audit of the finances of Islamic Help. And I want the Charity Commission to maintain an oversight and supervisory role.” “ I am also left wondering what kind of assurances were given by the charity to Lloyds TSB (57% privately owned) to secure the £650,000 loan.” Saturday 6 February 2010 Gordon Prentice toasts the organisers of the 6th Pendle Beer Festival The MP said, “It is a superb festival showcasing real ales from all around the country – and 9 from East Lancashire. Martyn Pashley, the festival organiser, and all the CAMRA (campaign for real ale) volunteers deserve a huge round of applause for all the work they’ve done. Cheers! This year's "Down on the Farm" theme should appeal to all country folk, with beers from Black Sheep, Roosters and Goose Eye to name but a few of the amazing variety of brewers. Beers with names like Riggwelter, Pig's Ear, Flat Cap and Cheeky Pheasant will mingle with local greats Pendle Witch, Wainwright's and Golden Pippin. In total over 65 real ales and ciders will be available to sample, and judging by last years record crowd of over 2,300 visitors, people appreciate the care and attention CAMRA volunteers give to serving beer in tip top form. Locals and visitors alike will be pleased to know Pendle Leisure Trust have made the Colne Muni Theatre available once again and they intend to ensure everyone who comes enjoys the event and supports the Pendleside Hospice fund Pendleside Hospice fund raising events we have planned. Last year saw Pendle Festival raise £3,880. If you'd like more information, Martyn Pashley, Festival Organiser, on info@pendlebeerfestival.co.uk. Download the Festival Poster (JPEG 1MB) Friday 05 February 2010 Pendle household waste recycling centre - temporary works Development work is to be carried out at Pendle Waste Transfer Station on Regent Street, Colne. The improvements include slightly extending the facility, roofing an external bay area and resurfacing work. To ensure the safety of all site users, both the waste transfer station and the household waste recycling centre (HWRC) will be temporarily closed from Monday, 15th February 2010, for approximately three weeks. The nearest alternative sites during the period of temporary closure are the Burnley HWRC at Grosvenor Street in Burnley and the Barnoldswick HWRC at West Close Road in Barnoldswick. Both sites are open seven days a week between the hours of 8am to 7pm. To find out more about any of Lancashire County Council’s HWRCs, ring the Lancashire County Council Waste Helpline on 0845 0500 957 or find out more on-line at lancashire.gov.uk/waste.Tuesday 02 February 2010 MP turns heat up on Ashcroft Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, last night told the House of Commons that Lord Ashcroft should “speak out and tell the truth” on whether he has been a UK resident for tax purposes since his elevation to the peerage in 2000 on the recommendation of the then leader of the Conservative Party, William Hague. The MP told the Commons that the Information Commissioner had ruled that the Cabinet Office must give details of the undertaking Michael Ashcroft gave when he was being considered for a peerage and to whom it was given. He ordered that this information must be given to the Pendle MP within 35 days of his decision notice (issued on 28 January 2010). Speaking afterwards, the MP said: “Lord Ashcroft has bankrolled the Conservative Party for years. He is also financing the money-no-object campaign in my Pendle constituency where we have seen a tsunami of newspapers, glossies and surveys for the past three years. All paid for by a tax exile.” “I also want William Hague and David Cameron to ask Ashcroft directly whether he is and has been since 2000 a UK resident for tax purposes. After the Information Commissioner’s ruling it is no good saying these matters are for Ashcroft and the Revenue and Customs.”Monday 25 January 2010 Car Scrappage Scheme Success North West Regional Minister Phil Woolas has told local MP Gordon Prentice the that the Chancellor’s car scrappage scheme has been a success in the North West. The region has had one of the highest take-up rates in the country, with nearly 30,000 North West orders for new vehicles under the scheme by the start of January - over five and a half thousand of them in Lancashire. The MP said "I'm pleased to see that the scheme has been taken up by so many people, and I would urge people who are still keen on taking part to get their orders in as soon as possible, as time is running out. "The scrappage scheme, which discounts the price of a new car by £2,000 if you trade-in a qualifying old one, has received an additional £100 million funding, but the current estimate is that it will end by 20th February 2010." "Speaking to local car dealers I am told that up to 50% of all new car sales are cashing in on the scheme. This is good news for manufacturers, dealers and customers."Monday 18 January 2010 MP calls on Islamic Help to spell out its plans Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, today repeated his demand that the Birmingham based charity, Islamic Help, spell out its plans for Brierfield Mills. He is also calling on the Charity Commission to report on their
investigation into whether Islamic Help has been operating outside
its charitable objects. Pendle Boarding School for Girls This House notes the reported purchase of Brierfield Mills by the Birmingham based charity, Islamic Help, whose website invites donations to convert the seven acre former medical fabrics factory into the UK’s largest boarding school for Muslim girls; observes that £500 would go towards student accommodation; £5,000 towards a classroom and £20,000 towards a computer lab; notes that Islamic Help’s primary charitable object is the relief of financial hardship including hardship caused by famine, war or other disaster in any part of the world as the Trustees see fit; further notes that Afzal Anwar, a local lawyer whose firm was responsible for the conveyance, has sought to clarify the charity’s intentions saying there would be revisions to the original proposals and that the charity would look to create a sports centre alongside a commercial village housing start-up businesses; calls on the charity to spell out its precise intentions forthwith; believes that Islamic Help is operating outside its charitable objectives and urges the Charity Commission to take immediate action to return donations to those who contributed to the appeal expecting their money would help pay for a 5,000 place boarding school for Muslim girls. Gordon Prentice MP, Ann Cryer MP.Monday 18 January 2009 Tory candidate listens to Labour - but still doesn’t get it. Cloverhill Councillor and local trader Eileen Ansar has welcomed the news that Tory parliamentary candidate Andrew Stephenson is trying to make up for having his leaflets printed in Guildford while urging Pendle people to “shop local”. Cllr Ansar said: “The blatant hypocrisy of his pre-Christmas leaflet shocked all of us who trade for a living in Pendle. It was reported on TV and in the national press and made many people ask if he is serious as a candidate.” “Now Stephenson has had his latest leaflet printed in Dunnockshaw, near Burnley. It’s a lot closer than Guildford, but he still doesn’t get it. What is so wrong with the printing companies in Pendle? Or is he unclear about the constituency boundaries?” Cllr Ansar continued: “To cap it all, the leaflet turns out to be just a re-hash of old photos, some from as far back as 2008, only fit for the recycling bin at a time when our waste collectors are struggling to cover their rounds.” “And for him to talk about his hopes that Conservative changes to Pendle’s winter gritting will improve things, when our streets were in chaos for weeks, makes me wonder if he has lost his marbles.”Saturday 16 January 2010 Shock for local residents Shocked and bewildered residents living on Manchester Road awoke this morning to find Parking Wardens employed by Lancashire County Council issuing tickets to local residents who for the last 3 weeks have been forced to park on the main road due to treacherous conditions on steep side streets. Local County Councillor Mohammed Iqbal was outside speaking to the wardens to apply common sense as despite some rain this morning; cars are still struggling to get up/down Burlington St, Summer St in particular. Cllr Iqbal said “I am disgusted at this insensitive decision taken by Lancashire County Council when it is blatantly clear that car owners parked on the main road before the rain started overnight and have been parking sensibly for the last 3 weeks whilst the Tory run County Council refused to fill the grit bins despite my repeated requests. I have collected the tickets and will be handing them in to County Hall for the matter to be resolved on behalf of extremely angry residents”.Wednesday 13 January 2010 Call to remove proposed school site from conservation area. Whitefield Labour Councillor Asjad Mahmood has secured a debate by Councillors to remove the Former Water Board site on Every Street, Nelson which is the proposed site for a new primary school from the Conservation Area status. Cllr Mahmood said “It is of vital importance to residents living in Whitefield that the new primary school is built on this site. It is currently an empty unused piece of land at the heart of the area. My proposal to the Chief Executive of Pendle Council to remove this land from Conservation area status will once again kick-start the multi million pound Primary School proposal. I call upon the Liberal administration to support my proposal for the better interest of local people”. Wednesday 13 January 2010 Workplace Pensions for All Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, has welcomed details of the latest stage in the Government’s programme of pensions reform which will affect millions of people in work. This week, regulations were laid before Parliament which will give many employees a workplace pension for the very first time. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Yvette Cooper, yesterday described this as the most radical change to workplace entitlements since the introduction of the National Minimum Wage. All employers, regardless of size, will be joining employees in paying into a pension scheme, for the first time. It will happen through automatic enrolment, in stages from 2012 to 2016, with the largest businesses of over 120,000 employees paying into a pension scheme from October 2012. Small business will be given extra time to comply. The Pendle MP commented: "The Government tells us that 14 million people get no contribution from their employer towards a pension and around 7 million people are not saving enough for their retirement. These reforms will allow people on low and moderate incomes to save for their retirement with a guaranteed contribution from their employer."Wednesday 13 January 2010 Tory County Council to blame for Pendle residents broken limbs Labour County Councillors Mohammed Iqbal and George Adam have seen at first hand the injuries being sustained by local residents due to the poor action on gritting by Tory County Councillor Keith Young. Cllr Adam said “ The sheets of ice on pavements and roads across Nelson are extremely treacherous and I know of dozens of people who have fallen and broken limbs. It is deplorable that Cllr Young is refusing to acknowledge he has made a serious mistake over the gritting. He and his Tory colleagues in Pendle should be held to account over this fiasco”. Cllr Iqbal added “ There is a meeting of Lancashire Local at Brierfield Community Centre next Wednesday at 6.30pm. I would urge as many residents to attend and tell the Tory Councillors how they have let the people down. I believe that the only way to solve this problem is for gritting to be controlled by Pendle Council , at least we can all work together to stop the broken limbs. I was at a funeral at Nelson cemetery earlier this week and there wasn’t a sign of the road being gritted. The staff are doing a sterling job but can only do so much with the resources given to them by the Tory leadership.Tuesday 12 January 2010 MP's No to Barnoldswick Recycling Centre closure Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, is saying no to the possible closure of the household waste recycling centre in Barnoldswick. The proposal to close the centre is being considered by a Task Group of the County Council’s Sustainable Development Overview & Scrutiny Committee. The Committee decided last month to set up the Group “in the context of current and budgetary pressures”. Speaking from Westminster the MP said “”Living in Barnoldswick I use the centre regularly and it is always busy. I deplore this proposal.” “The whole point of recycling centres is that they should be local. Quite apart from the inconvenience for Barlick people having to traipse over to Colne to recycle their household items, there would be an environmental cost in all the journeys made which would defeat the object.” “Looking at this particular option I fear that the main reason it has been put forward is the amount of one-off savings that would be made by the County Council by selling off sites. I am writing to the Committee to urge them to reject it.”Hoon and Hewitt "deluded" Two former cabinet Ministers who are calling for a leadership election to clear the air are deluding themselves that a contest would help the Government’s fortunes says Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice. Geoff Hoon and Patricia Hewitt say they want a ballot of MPs to settle, in their own words "once and for all", questions about Gordon Brown’s leadership. Speaking from Westminster, the MP said: "The reasons advanced by Geoff Hoon and Particia Hewitt seem to me to be complete baloney. This is more about sour grapes and thwarted ambition." "There will be a lot of flapping of wings but this bird won’t fly." "Brown, for all his reported faults, has a grasp of economics and a world view that Cameron cannot begin to match." The Pendle MP was one of the few Labour MPs not to nominate Brown for the leadership of the Labour Party when Tony Blair stood down in 2007 saying he wanted a contest. Brown was elected leader unopposed. At the time the MP said the Party’s rules were far too restrictive, requiring nominations from over 40 MPs just to get a candidate’s name on the ballot paper.Wednesday 06 January 2010 Gritting Shortages Local MP Gordon Prentice is calling on the Conservative controlled Lancashire County Council to explain what has gone wrong with the gritting operation in Pendle. The MP said “Before Christmas Councillor Keith Young, LCC Cabinet member responsible for Highways, was saying how well prepared the County was for the winter. Yet scarcely two weeks later we are told salt supplies are scarce and only main roads can be kept open. As a result my office has had an increasing number of emails and calls about secondary roads.” “I understand 40 more grit bins were installed in the Borough following a review last year, but they aren’t much use if they can’t be filled. And a promise to spread salt at a minimum of 40 grams per square metre has had to be scaled back.” “Councillors all across the borough from Barnoldswick to Brierfield.have been crying out for action on the side streets in their wards, in particular near doctors’surgeries and old people’s homes. But I note a deafening silence from Conservative County Councillors and parliamentary candidate Andrew Stephenson on the issue. It would be helpful to know what representations they have made to Cllr Young, whose pronouncements have bordered on the complacent.” "Why on earth can't responsibility for gritting local roads be returned to Pendle Council? A lot of people would welcome such a move."Tuesday 05 January 2010 Burnley Urgent Care review begins The review of Burnley General Hospital’s Urgent Care Centre gets under way this month and will be completed by 30 March when the report will be published. It will be led by Professor Matthew Cooke, the National Director for Emergency and Urgent Care and Dr Irving Cobden, Medical Director at Cumbria Primary Care Trust. The review was promised by the Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, after meeting Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice on 9 November. It will be undertaken by the NHS North West Strategic Health Authority (SHA). The MP has consistently pressed for an independent clinical review of the decision to downgrade Burnley’s A&E Department and centralise emergency care in Blackburn. But this is not on offer. In his letter to the Pendle MP setting out the review’s terms of reference Burnham says the SHA will look at the functioning of the urgent care centre at Burnley to see whether it is delivering what was expected of it when the big hospital changes were implemented in November 2007. The SHA has told Burnham: “The transfer of emergency services to Blackburn is unpopular in Burnley and Pendle, and similarly with regard to the maternity services transfer to Burnley, where concerns have been raised by women from Blackburn who find their care move. Local councils and MPs have also voiced concern about the proposals and local MPs remain concerned about the ability of (the) local A&E department to cope with the demand caused by the closure of Burnley A&E.” Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, commented: “Some people will say this review is a complete whitewash and will have nothing to do with it. Others, and I include myself here, recognise it is a second best but will nevertheless take the opportunity to highlight the failings of the current set-up and push for reinstatement of A&E at Burnley.” “I have made it clear all along that blue light Accident and Emergency could return to Burnley if accompanied by a publicly available protocol stating which conditions could be treated there and which would have to go elsewhere. This is a straightforward and workable solution which is crying out to be considered properly. It should not be dismissed as eccentric.” The MP continued: “On the positive side, I welcome the fact the report of the review panel will be published. We are told that “relevant” staff and patient groups will have the opportunity to contribute as well as local and national politicians. I have concerns about the meaning of the word “relevant” in this context and also whether any information will be withheld.” The MP added: “The Conservative Shadow Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, has said on the record that he believes there is no reason why Burnley should not have its A&E back. In the light of this, I hope he will give evidence.” “I am writing to Andrew Lansley urging him to meet the review panel to explain his thinking.” “I also hope the Liberal Democrats will participate. I know that my own colleagues in the Labour Party, such as my friend Peter Pike who has battled for years against the over centralisation at Blackburn, will make their voices heard.” “Now is the time for people to speak out."Archived Items: 2009 Archive 2008 Archive 2007 Archive Poll Results
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