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Schools
Record amounts of money are flowing into our local schools – but there is much more that needs to be done to reverse past underinvestment. The boost to local schools includes:  - a new computer room planned for completion in 2007 at Calverley Parkside
I have supported Rodley Village Primary School and the local community against closure proposals released by the ruling Conservative/Lib Dem/Green Coalition on Leeds City Council.
Crime
For too long police numbers went down – but the levels in West Yorkshire have now reached record heights. Our local police are getting more resources and crime rates are falling. But all too often local people have to complain that their reports of crimes in progress are not acted on, or of delays in dealing with chronic pockets of anti social behaviour. I will continue to pursue the police on behalf of constituents and communities in Calverley, Farsley and Rodley. But we should recognise some real success. In our local Division over the last six months burglary is down by 29%, robbery by 38% and theft of, and from, motor vehicles by over 20%. But any crime is one too many. And if the police response to your own experience is unsatisfactory, then all the figures in the world are meaningless.
(More on local Crime Fighting)
Community Local residents seek my help with many personal and community issues. These have included: - the conversion of Richmond House in Farsley to an older people's community unit with an £800,000 Government grant - its short-stay facilities allow people to leave hospital when they are able, and also provides respite care
- supporting local concerns about the new site for the amalgamation of the Farsley and Stanningley surgeries because of access problems for Farsley patients
- securing planned improvements at Calverley Institute - including disabled access
- CCTV at Brookfield Sheltered Housing, Calverley
- a new community room at Brookleigh - to replace the one no longer accessible because of the lack of disabled access
- New playground equipment for Calverley , Rodley and Farsley parks.
- Opening Alice's Steps at the Ring Road Bridge, Rodley
Road Safety Road safety is an important issue for local people, and I have campaigned on a number of issues with local people:
- Speed cameras at schools and hazardous locations such as Carr Lane, Calverley, Waterloo Road, Pudsey, and Town Street, Rodley
- Safety measures on Woodhall Lane/Woodhall Road
- Traffic calming planned for Farsley Town Street/Calverley Lane
- crossings and traffic calming at Richardshaw Lane
- safety measures on Stanningley Bypass
- new pedestrian crossing to be installed by early 2007 at Calverley Towngate and Galloway Lane
Environment
I have supported local people in their campaigns against a number of planning applications.
If there are any that concern you in your area, please contact me.(Contact Me)
Other environmental activities include:
- Supporting Rodley Nature Reserve in pressing Yorkshire water to deal with sewage pollution
- Campaigning to get Kirklees Knowl and Beech Lees, Farsley, back into the Green Belt. They were taken out of the green belt in 1995 by Planning Inspectors appointed by the then Government. They earmarked the sites for future possible housing development. Present Government planning guidance has provided the Council with grounds to challenge this. The owners have objected and we await the outcome of a public inquiry.
Isobel's Law
Ministers have consulted on Isobel's Law – the ban on doorstep cold calling offering property services. The campaign - which I am leading in Parliament - is named after 82-year-old Isobel Gray, who was brutally murdered by intruders believed to be linked to the bogus builders who had targeted her several times. Retired Chief Inspector Mick Grubb QPM, Chair of Horsforth Town Council, has also given his support. Almost 4,500 local residents signed the petition calling for the ban that I recently presented to the Commons.
(More on Isobel's Law)
Fireworks I have campaigned with local people against the nuisance from fireworks. I presented a petition to Parliament signed by thousands of constituents, including many from Horsforth. I also worked closely with Bill Tynan MP on his Fireworks Bill. It was extremely disappointing that senior Conservative MPs thwarted attempts to reduce noise levels by threatening to talk the Bill out. We have already seen curfews on use, extension of bans on air bombs, and age restrictions on possessing fireworks. There were fewer problems in some areas as a result - but I support continued calls for tighter restrictions on use and noise levels.
Pharmacies The campaign to protect our local pharmacies from Office of Fair Trading proposals for a free for all has succeeded. Many local people signed the petition I presented to Parliament calling for the
Government to throw out the proposal. It could have led to pharmacies closing as a result of competition from supermarkets. The pharmacists' national negotiating body has confirmed to me that the Government's response has provided a good basis for the future of our local pharmacies.
Mobile Phone Masts In recent years, Pudsey has seen a number of controversial mobile phone mast applications. Besides supporting constituents in objecting to inappropriate mast sites, I have also pursued these concerns at parliamentary level. As secretary of the All-Party Group on Mobile Telecommunications, I
helped produce a 19-point report to the Government calling for improvements to the planning process. I also secured an Adjournment Debate to pursue the report with Ministers.
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