News from Westminster
Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 16:24, Fri 27 June 2008:
BRISTOL - UK's FIRST CYCLING CITY!
Last Thursday I helped to announce that Bristol is to become the country’s first Cycling Demonstration City following its successful bid. The Government is investing £11.4 million to transform the cycling infrastructure in our city and to help pioneer innovative ways of making cycling a real alternative to cars for adults and children across Bristol. This money will be matched by local funding, bringing the total amount to £22.8 million over the next two and a half years. Bristol’s bold proposals, which won the city the bid, include improvements to off-road and on-road cycling routes, new facilities for cyclists, an on-street bike rental network and help with cycle training and route planning. As Public Health Minister I know how important it is for people to lead active lifestyles, and the proposals for cycling in Bristol will give people the opportunity to build activity in to their everyday lives. More details about the proposals are available on the Council’s website: www.bristol.gov.uk
ENGAGING COMMUNITIES IN FIGHTING CRIME
A major review looking at how to better engage communities and build public confidence in the fight against crime was published last week. The Government endorsed the proposals of the ‘Casey Review’ (an in-depth, eight-month study headed by Louise Casey, formerly of the Government's Respect Task Force) which examined how to reduce crime, create safer communities and build public confidence. Some of the recommendations include: providing local crime data and online maps, increasing the visibility of community sentences so residents can see community justice at work and investing in new teams of ‘Community Crime Fighters’. The government has a fantastic record in reducing crime – down by 32% since 1997 – but people rightly still feel concerned about the effect of crime on themselves and their local communities. I for one welcome the proposals set out by the Casey Review and I’m sure that, if enacted, they will have a visible impact both on reducing crime, and in increasing public support in the idea that its possible to prevent crime and to bring offenders to justice. More information about the Review and its recommendations can be found on the Cabinet Office website: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
MINISTERIAL VISIT TO REGENERATION AREAS
Last Friday I joined Junior Housing Minister Iain Wright during his tour around Bristol to see the effects of recent regeneration schemes in the city. We met, together with Leader of the Council, Helen Holland, at the new Media Centre in Knowle West where we were shown around the state-of-the-art building. The Minister was extremely impressed with the services on offer at the Centre, and it was clear he shared my excitement about the impact this new facility is having on the local community. South Bristol has been extremely fortunate to receive millions of pounds of regeneration money over the last decade, helping to deliver sustainable growth and tackle persistent deprivation. Iain Wright also saw Hengrove Park, where the new hospital, skills academy and leisure centre are due to be built soon. The government is dedicated to helping people improve their neighbourhoods and strengthen their communities, and visits from Ministers like Iain Wright demonstrate this commitment.
PLANNING REFORM BILL
This week I voted in support of the Planning Reform Bill which will modernise and speed up the planning system in our country. Britain’s current planning system for major infrastructure is over-complicated, bureaucratic and cumbersome. With the current regimes, we risk unnecessary delay to major decisions, for example on renewable energy, and the proposals within the Bill will streamline the planning system to meet Britain’s’ strategic needs. This week, in response to public concerns, I’m pleased to be able to say that the Bill was strengthened to ensure democratic accountability in the new system.
EXTENDED SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN CARE
A new government pilot project, Staying Put, will mean that, for the first time, young people in foster care in Bristol will only move on to independent living when they feel ready to do so. Bristol has been chosen as one of ten local authorities that will be testing the new scheme, which will inform the Government of whether to roll this project out nationally. So far, care has been extended for 37 young people in Bristol, and a new Government grant of £175,000 will ensure that care can be extended for more of the 666 young people currently in the care system in Bristol. Over my twenty-one years as MP for Bristol South, I have met many young people in care and I know the importance to them of stability that is afforded to other children. I am thrilled that Bristol has been chosen as a pilot city for the Staying Put project and that many young people will reap the benefits of the opportunities that this will provide.
NATIONAL SCHOOLS' CHALLENGE
Education Secretary, Ed Balls, recently announced a new National Challenge strategy for schools. The aim is to ensure that by 2011 every secondary school in England has at least 30% of its pupils achieving 5 A*-C at GCSE. Currently, in Bristol South there are four schools who are not yet achieving these results and they will be eligible for a share of £400 million being made available to help achieve the target. I’m naturally delighted about any new money being made available for education in Bristol South, and this new strategy will really help our local schools by providing them with the resources they need to succeed.
When the government came to power in 1997, there were 1,610 schools below this minimum standard. That figure now stands at 638, but the government is committed to making this zero within three years. Through the investment and resources being made available by the National Challenge strategy, we can hopefully ensure that all schools in Bristol South meet this minimum standard soon.
ACTA AWARDS
Along with Doug Naysmith, MP for Bristol North-West, I visited ACTA this morning, to present young people with Arts Awards. ACTA is a fantastic organisation based in Bedminster who have, for many years, run brilliant projects to increase access to the arts. For some of the people I met this morning, this is their first qualification and has, I am sure, given them the confidence to progress even further.
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 email primarolod@parliament.uk, phone 0117 909 0063 or write to me at PO Box 1002, Bristol, BS99 1WH.
Comments
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Posted by Matt Kane, 17:03, Fri 27 June 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
It's great to hear about the Cycling City news. The timing is a little unfortunate though, coming as the Malago Greenway is threatened by another BRT scheme. After the debacle of the BRT proposal for the Bristol-Bath cycle path, it's disappointing to hear that a similarly misguided scheme is proposed in Bristol South. What are your thoughts on this? I understand that this issue is not strictly in your remit, but I urge you to talk to the appropriate members of the local authority to convince them to reconsider. While improvements to public transport are certainly welcome, the idea of them being at the expense of cycle paths and valuable green spaces is inexplicable. Surely cycling is preferable to public transport!
Posted by Pete Ferguson, 20:42, Thu 3 July 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
BRISTOL - UK's FIRST CYCLING CITY!
I'm naturally delighted to say that over the next two and a half years almost £23 million will be flushed down the pan.
ENGAGING COMMUNITIES IN FIGHTING CRIME
Would you walk through the St Pauls area or even the outer estates alone during the hours of darkness Dawn?, no I thought not. There goes this fantastic governments (trying not to laugh) record.
MINISTERIAL VISIT TO REGENERATION AREAS
Iain who?
NATIONAL SCHOOLS' CHALLENGE
A great pity Ed (So what) Balls will not be around in three years to take any credit (sic) for the committed zero.
Posted by Dawn Primarolo, 15:43, Mon 14 July 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
With regard to the BRT, my understanding is that plans are at a very early stage for the Hengrove – North Fringe link and various route options are being considered. Any proposals would be subject to extensive public consultation. I am currently making enquiries about this matter and will, of course, be keeping a close eye on the proposals.