News from Westminster
Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 13:36, Fri 18 April 2008:
POST OFFICE - LATEST NEWS
As some of you will know, Post Office Ltd is proposing to close their branches at Bedminster Road and The Chessels. During the six week consultation period, which ended last Wednesday, I encouraged local residents to write to me with their views about the proposals and I received over 350 responses. The comments showed how highly the two post offices are valued by the local communities which they serve. I have forwarded all comments to Post Office Limited in order that they are taken into account as part of their consultation, and I also wrote my own letter of objection as I do not believe the branches meet the criteria for closure. I understand that Post Office Limited will consider all submissions before announcing its final decision in a few weeks’ time.
SPECIALIST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURTS
I was pleased to hear that a new Specialist Domestic Violence Court System (SDVC) has been set up in Bristol. SDVCs are a fundamental part of the Government’s efforts to improve the support and care we provide for victims of domestic violence. Magistrates sitting in this court receive specialised training to deal with domestic violence cases. Victims receive tailored support and advice from independent advisers, and defendants and complainants have separate entrances, exits and waiting areas. SDVCs work well – with one court achieving an eighty per cent conviction rate.
BOOK LAUNCH
This morning I was delighted to be involved in the launch of an important new book, The Converging World by John Pontin. The book offers a very important commentary on current climate change challenges as well as constructive and positive ideas about how we can make a difference. The author, John Pontin, lives near Bristol and through his professional work has been involved in many sustainable building projects in our city including some in my constituency such as the Hartcliffe Community Campus and Knowle West Media Centre where the launch event took place. John’s book describes how he twinned south-west England with a region of rural India through a scheme whereby carbon credits generated by new wind turbines in India are sold in the UK. The Converging World project not only helps to introduce sustainable energy production to India, but also to support carbon reduction schemes back in Britain, and the book is a fascinating read for anyone with an interest in the climate change debate.
COMMUNITY SPACES
I was very pleased to learn about the £50 million Community Spaces funding programme launched this month by Groundwork UK. The programme, which is funded through the Big Lottery Fund, will provide grants and support to community groups that want to make their neighbourhoods cleaner and greener. The scheme will help local people to improve and create play areas, community gardens, parks, wildlife areas and ponds by making grants of between £10,000 and £49,999 to community groups and some limited grants of up to £450,000.
I think this is an excellent opportunity for local people to make a real difference to their community spaces. I hope groups in my constituency will be making applications and would be happy to support them in this. Further information is available at: www.community-spaces.org.uk.
RECESS ROUND-UP
Parliament was in recess this week, so I have had a busy week in Bristol catching up with correspondence and casework. I have also held two surgeries, giving me the opportunity to discuss a range of concerns with residents. In between, I met with Paul Kehoe, Managing Director of Bristol International Airport. Paul has promised to keep me up to date with any plans for the future of the airport. On Monday, I visited Bristol Drugs Project, meeting with staff and volunteers, and observing a drop-in session for users. And at lunchtime today I had an informal chat with Jess Wright, who runs Saturday Night Sunday Morning on North Street, and organises the South Bristol Business Awards.
ANY QUESTIONS?
If you have any queries about these issues, or have a question you would like to ask about anything else, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Just respond to this email, phone 0117 909 0063 or write to me at PO Box 1002, Bristol, BS99 1WH. Alternatively, for more information on what’s happening in and around Bristol South, you can visit www.bristolsouthlabourparty.org.uk.
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