Lib Dem Kendal Councillor Paul Little has failed to speak up for the needs of the area and people who elected him. As reported in the Westmorland Gazette, Cllr Little’s failure to even turn up to meetings has gone on so long he has now been thrown off KendalTown Council. The Lib Dems claim to work all year round. The reality is they can't even be bothered to turn up for meetings. Yet again the Lib Dems are a let down.
Labour’s Andrew Billson-Page says: "Your councillor should be speaking up on behalf of the area they represent. In Highgate, Councillor Little should have been speaking out against the bad idea put forward by another Lib Dem councillor to increase traffic on Gillinggate and Greenside. I think it is a disgrace that the person the electors of Highgate (Kendal) put their trust in has let them and Kendal down so badly.
Andrew Billson-Page is an active and experienced local campaigner. He was instrumental in the setting up of the Local NHS SOS group to oppose unacceptable ward closures at Westmorland General Hospital. Andrew believes that local action can get things done. As and ordinary Kendal resident Andrerw is prepared to work with the local community. Andrew adds: “Just because the Lib Dem councillor has abused the privilege of being elected to represent Kendal residents we should not just sit back and let things happen. That is why I am working with residents to oppose moves to increase traffic on Gillinggate.”
Thursday, 24 January 2008
Thursday, 4 October 2007
Another ward closes at Westmorland Hospital
Local councillors and PPC John Wiseman are concerned about this closure
Kendal's local hospital has fallen victim to yet another ward closure. This time, ward 11, an acute medical admissions ward has been closed to admissions as of today. While it had been known for some time that the Trust had planned to axe the ward, the suddenness of the announcement has shocked campaigners.
Trust bosses say the closure of acute medical beds is necessary to ensure clinical sustainability. They have also confirmed that ward 11 staff, who appear to have only been aware of the decision at very short notifce, will "move onto neighbouring wards" but at this stage no more detailed information was available. The Trust have made reassurances however that the Coronary Care Unit will remain at WGH - at least until the North West Ambulance Trust can implement the required clinical improvements.
Andrew Billson-Page, a local campaigner, party member and a former patient on Ward 11 said: "It is no understatement to say that Ward 11 saved my life. I was critically ill three years ago with pneumonia, septicaemia and liver failure, but due to the care and dedication of the nursing and medical staff I survived. My concern is that closing our local hospital to medical admissions will mean seriously ill people will not present at A&E and will result in unnecessary suffering. Our community deserves a hospital that has as full a range of services as possible."
A member of hospital staff, who preferred to remain anonymous said that the closure of ward 11 was "a complete disgrace" and suggested that such an "ill-considered move" would hit the local elderly population particularly hard. "It makes no sense at all", she added.
Kendal's local hospital has fallen victim to yet another ward closure. This time, ward 11, an acute medical admissions ward has been closed to admissions as of today. While it had been known for some time that the Trust had planned to axe the ward, the suddenness of the announcement has shocked campaigners.
Trust bosses say the closure of acute medical beds is necessary to ensure clinical sustainability. They have also confirmed that ward 11 staff, who appear to have only been aware of the decision at very short notifce, will "move onto neighbouring wards" but at this stage no more detailed information was available. The Trust have made reassurances however that the Coronary Care Unit will remain at WGH - at least until the North West Ambulance Trust can implement the required clinical improvements.
Andrew Billson-Page, a local campaigner, party member and a former patient on Ward 11 said: "It is no understatement to say that Ward 11 saved my life. I was critically ill three years ago with pneumonia, septicaemia and liver failure, but due to the care and dedication of the nursing and medical staff I survived. My concern is that closing our local hospital to medical admissions will mean seriously ill people will not present at A&E and will result in unnecessary suffering. Our community deserves a hospital that has as full a range of services as possible."
A member of hospital staff, who preferred to remain anonymous said that the closure of ward 11 was "a complete disgrace" and suggested that such an "ill-considered move" would hit the local elderly population particularly hard. "It makes no sense at all", she added.
Wednesday, 3 October 2007
Concerns on care homes
Local Labour councillors are concrened about the recent decisions on care homes in the area.
We have released the following statement:-
The Labour Group on Cumbria County Council today reacted with concern over the modernisation proposals for Cumbria Care’s Residential Homes which will be considered by the County Council’s Cabinet on 9th October 2007. They are demanding a guarantee that the programme will not lead to wholesale council care home closures.
Barbara Cannon, the Labour Group Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care says:
“Where do these proposals leave the rest of the Council’s care homes? We are concerned about their future viability as options to upgrade them have been rejected. Under Labour control, the council delivered a £15m rolling programme of home improvements. Since then, Conservative and Liberal Democrat administration has starved Cumbria Care of capital investment. No refurbishment plans are proposed within the next ten years for those care homes not earmarked for improvement. This can only lead to homes closing in the future.
The Labour group is also concerned about the move to make care homes larger. We should not be moving towards care warehouses. This is not progress.
“However, the Labour Group does support closer working with health and other partners to improve care services for the elderly. We will support changes that lead to better services where this is supported by service users and the local community. We will oppose changes that will lead to mass home closures and less intimate care. New services should be developed along side, and in conjunction with, refurbished council care homes.
We are calling on the Conservative/Liberal Democrat Cabinet to give assurances that a refurbishment programme for all Cumbria Care homes will be a fundamental part of their modernisation plans”.
We have released the following statement:-
The Labour Group on Cumbria County Council today reacted with concern over the modernisation proposals for Cumbria Care’s Residential Homes which will be considered by the County Council’s Cabinet on 9th October 2007. They are demanding a guarantee that the programme will not lead to wholesale council care home closures.
Barbara Cannon, the Labour Group Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care says:
“Where do these proposals leave the rest of the Council’s care homes? We are concerned about their future viability as options to upgrade them have been rejected. Under Labour control, the council delivered a £15m rolling programme of home improvements. Since then, Conservative and Liberal Democrat administration has starved Cumbria Care of capital investment. No refurbishment plans are proposed within the next ten years for those care homes not earmarked for improvement. This can only lead to homes closing in the future.
The Labour group is also concerned about the move to make care homes larger. We should not be moving towards care warehouses. This is not progress.
“However, the Labour Group does support closer working with health and other partners to improve care services for the elderly. We will support changes that lead to better services where this is supported by service users and the local community. We will oppose changes that will lead to mass home closures and less intimate care. New services should be developed along side, and in conjunction with, refurbished council care homes.
We are calling on the Conservative/Liberal Democrat Cabinet to give assurances that a refurbishment programme for all Cumbria Care homes will be a fundamental part of their modernisation plans”.
Tuesday, 2 October 2007
Can Grange ever recover from Lib Dem incompetence??
Grange Over Sands is a beautiful area, and so it breaks the heart of many activists when the area is not looked after, first we had the closure of the open air pool, many years ago and now we have had the closure of the second pool (what a waste of public money). We don't get any consultation on the need for a new health centre. We feel it is time that the Lib Dems and their partners in grime the Tories move on!!!
Grange Activists
Grange Activists
Wednesday, 19 September 2007
Dave Clarke reports on energy issues from county meeting
At Cumbria County Council’s last Full Council meeting on 13 September a number of energy related papers were considered. The reports can be found on Cumbria County Council’s website. The Labour group on the council did not apply a whip to these issues.
One proposed a set of policies and guidance to be adopted by the six districts in Cumbria when considering applications for wind farms. The aim of the proposals is to provide more objective and consistent consideration of issues, such as impact on the landscape. I supported the proposals.
Another Proposal was to adopt a ‘West Cumbria Master Plan’. This contained a proposal to aim to make the West Coast of Cumbria ‘The Energy Coast’TM. I voted against this as I believe it focuses too heavily on nuclear power and that this will hinder economic diversification in West Cumbria. Generating large amounts of power away from where it will be used will make the proposals difficult to achieve in any case. The Plan was adopted by the council. The majority of Labour councillors voted for it and the Lib Dem and Tory groups where whipped to support it.
It is interesting that a number councillors, previously nuclear sceptic, are changing their view in light of climate change and nuclear power having a low carbon impact. Personally, I remain a sceptic. Addressing climate change is an immanent threat. Nuclear power has long development times and difficulties with dealing with waste.
A third paper was responding to a consultation from government on nuclear issues. As the paper did not commit the Council on fundamental issues, such as waste storage, and it made some very useful points, I supported it. Given that most existing waste is currently stored above ground at Sellafield, this is undoubtedly an issue that Councillors will return to.
This one meeting shows that decisions on energy are being taken regularly. We would welcome you views and comments.
One proposed a set of policies and guidance to be adopted by the six districts in Cumbria when considering applications for wind farms. The aim of the proposals is to provide more objective and consistent consideration of issues, such as impact on the landscape. I supported the proposals.
Another Proposal was to adopt a ‘West Cumbria Master Plan’. This contained a proposal to aim to make the West Coast of Cumbria ‘The Energy Coast’TM. I voted against this as I believe it focuses too heavily on nuclear power and that this will hinder economic diversification in West Cumbria. Generating large amounts of power away from where it will be used will make the proposals difficult to achieve in any case. The Plan was adopted by the council. The majority of Labour councillors voted for it and the Lib Dem and Tory groups where whipped to support it.
It is interesting that a number councillors, previously nuclear sceptic, are changing their view in light of climate change and nuclear power having a low carbon impact. Personally, I remain a sceptic. Addressing climate change is an immanent threat. Nuclear power has long development times and difficulties with dealing with waste.
A third paper was responding to a consultation from government on nuclear issues. As the paper did not commit the Council on fundamental issues, such as waste storage, and it made some very useful points, I supported it. Given that most existing waste is currently stored above ground at Sellafield, this is undoubtedly an issue that Councillors will return to.
This one meeting shows that decisions on energy are being taken regularly. We would welcome you views and comments.
We want your opinions about the community you live in
County Councillor Dave Clarke and Prospective Parliamentary Candidate John Wiseman ask what you want to see in our community. As local actvists we care about you, the residents of Westmorland. We will work on your behalf and unlike the Liberals and Tories locally we can influence Government.
Contact Dave or John
Contact Dave or John
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