In My View
Posted by Robert Walter, MP for North Dorset, at 09:39, Wed 23 January 2008:
IN MY VIEW
This week the Government has confirmed to me that they will continue with plans to close the Jobcentre Plus offices in Shaftesbury and Wimborne which means those in need of assistance and advice will have travel considerably further to reach these important services either to Blandford, Yeovil or Poole. I and several other colleagues were absolutely outraged that yet again the Government had bypassed Parliament with this announcement. Journalists were informed before Parliament or the members of Parliament affected by these closures. The Speaker constantly has to rebuke Ministers for these errors but it seems to no avail.
In her letter to me, the minister Caroline Flint said she was satisfied that Jobcentre Plus will be able to provide services to my constituents from the Blandford and Poole offices. I believe Jobcentre Plus should provide help and advice on jobs and training for people who can work and financial help for those who cannot. This announcement of course follows my own party’s proposal to reform the welfare system with a Work for Welfare programme supporting the work of Jobcentre Plus. This would allow private or third sector organisations to operate back to work programmes with a payment by results contract. But what is more worrying is that the announcement comes at a time when the government are planning to close 2,500 post offices leaving many rural areas in Dorset without a vital post office. Using public transport to get around the towns and villages is not easy, particularly for those with health and mobility problems. I am not surprised by the government’s announcement. They have shown time and again they are not willing to listen to the concerns of people in rural and semi-rural areas such as Dorset. They have little appreciation for the importance of services being available close to where people live. I am very disappointed the government have ignored representations by me and many others about the importance of the Shaftesbury and Wimborne Jobcentres Plus.
*
We had another go this week at persuading the Government to free up the spare platforms at Waterloo station for South West Train services from Dorset. Sadly the minister Tom Harris could only tell us that one platform will be available at the end of next year. That is small comfort for those travelling on overcrowded trains. It is still not clear what might eventually happen to the other four former Eurostar platforms. It does seem to me preposterous that when we have so much overcrowding on our trains, this capacity cannot be made available to the rail companies.
*
Wind turbines seem to be back on the agenda, not least because we may be committed to an overall EU target 40 per cent renewable energy target by 2020. I am not against cutting carbon emissions; in fact I am an enthusiast for saving the planet. What I am not in favour of however is littering our beautiful countryside with inefficient turbines heavily subsidised by government, when there are other solutions available. Plans to build turbines on the Dorset-Somerset border will do little to meet our energy needs but will permanently scar the Blackmore Vale.
Comments
Commenting on this message is now disabled.
Posted by Brian Rayner, 11:16, Wed 23 January 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
Hello Robert Walter,Many thanks for keeping in touch. Relating to the question of wind turbines,you mentioned, and I quote,..."when there are other solutions available...". Perhaps you would like to expand on your statement and explain in detail what solutions you are referring to? Yours sincerely, Brian Rayner.
Posted by Tony Eslick, 16:30, Wed 23 January 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
Golden Brown and his cronies do not care a jot for the countryside, only for areas that have a stong Labour vote. So, I am afraid that this does not surprise me at all. What did anyone expect? Charles Dowden
Posted by J Richardson, 16:35, Wed 23 January 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
Thank you for the Newsletter. Your references to the disregard of Parliament and the apparent disregard of public opinion by our current government point up the reason for the public's disaffection with politicians of all colours. I feel that all this could and should be capitalized on by David Cameron in a much more agressive manner. The country has suffered over 10 years of New Labour (with all its old Labour spite and dogma), there is so much ammunition available, we really MUST use it. Do we (the Conservatives) want power or not? Please get the gloves off!