News From Westminster
Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 13:52, Fri 6 November 2009:
A NEW STADIUM FOR BRISTOL CITY
I was delighted that Bristol City Football Club won the approval of councillors for their new stadium on Wednesday evening. Along with Bedminster councillor Mark Bradshaw, I submitted a statement to the committee, urging councillors to back the plans. You can view the statement at www.dawnprimarolo.co.uk. The application has, understandably, provoked strong opinions on both sides. I called on councillors to take the views of concerned residents in Ashton Vale seriously. At the same time, they have a duty to the whole city, which will benefit from this new stadium. As well as being a top class football venue, the stadium will bring jobs and investment to Bristol South. The stadium alone will not in itself propel Bristol City to the Premier League, but is absolutely vital if the club is continue to progress. Attention will now turn to the redevelopment of Ashton Gate, and I will continue to do everything I can to ensure that local residents have every opportunity to express their view.
ON-SITE AT M SHED
Last week, I was pleased to join Labour Group leader Cllr Helen Holland and other MPs at the Museum of Bristol site. The new museum, to be called M Shed, is due to open in Spring 2011. Building work is well underway on what should be a truly iconic museum to recognise our city’s past and look to the future.
NEW PLAY EQUIPMENT AT GORE'S MARSH
I went along to the opening of new play equipment at Gore’s Marsh Park with Bedminster Councillors Mark Bradshaw and Colin Smith last Sunday. A team of dedicated local people have done an enormous amount of work to secure funding for the new facilities, which were officially opened by Bristol City captain Louis Carey. Funding for the site has come from a variety of sources, including the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
CONGRATULATIONS TO WINDMILL HILL CITY FARM
Many congratulations to Windmill Hill City Farm, who have smashed through their target of 500 people pledging to donate £25 each to secure the Farm’s future. I was very pleased to pledge my support, and it’s still not too late to do so if you are able to. Just visit http://www.pledgebank.com/SaveWHCF to sign up.
RAISING ASPIRATIONS AT BRISTOL SOUTH SCHOOLS
Three local schools are set to benefit from funding from the Government to help raise the aspirations of children and young people. Cheddar Grove Primary, Parson Street Primary and Compass Point will all receive a proportion of £60,000 for the Explore My Future scheme. The scheme encourages year six pupils to recognise that top jobs and a university education are within their reach. The number of young people from Bristol South attending university has increased significantly in the past decade, but is still low compared to the national average. Programmes like these should help to change that, and encourage all local children to be ambitious for their futures.
BACKING THE CYCLE TO WORK GUARANTEE
A number of Bristol based companies and organisations have signed up to the Government’s Cycle to Work guarantee. The guarantee, a voluntary scheme from the Department of Transport, encourages employers to provide better facilities for their staff who cycle to and from work and offers a tax break scheme for employees buying new bikes and cycling equipment. Small measures like secure bike storage, and changing facilities can make a difference, while some work-places are going further and introducing bike training or repair facilities on site. One of the Council’s primary aims of the Cycle City project is to get rookie cyclists onto their bikes. Employers who have adopted schemes like this previously have shown that the number of staff getting to work on two wheels increases markedly. I hope other bosses in Bristol will consider signing up.
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE HARTCLIFFE COMMUNITY CENTRE
On Saturday, I joined local residents to help celebrate fifty years of the Hartcliffe Community Centre. The centre, on Hareclive Road, runs a wide range of activities throughout the week, and is still going strong, half a century after its opening. Centres like these rely heavily on the hard work and dedication of volunteers, so many congratulations to club president Ron Barry and his team of volunteers.
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 me at primarolod@parliament.uk, 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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