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 Schools in Pudsey
Pudsey is benefiting from massive Government investment in schools. I have been closely involved in assisting schools to secure new resources.
Record amounts of money are flowing into schools – but there is much more that needs to be done to reverse past underinvestment. The boost to local schools includes: 
- £8.2 million building programme at Crawshaw - rebuild of teaching accommodation and new sports and drama facilities (picture, right, shows me with former Crawshaw Head Nigel Turner at the new bulldings)
- Waterloo Infants and Juniors has been rebuilt in a single new school building.
- Bolton Royd Primary has been rebuilt, and the new school opened in September 2005.
 Priesthorpe has replaced huts with a new reception and classrooms at - as a specialist sports college, the school is also providing excellent support to 20 local primary and high schools to promote sport and PE, as part of the Government's £454 million PE School Sport and Club Links strategy.
(Picture, left, shows me at Priesthorpe with Headteacher Clive Pickles (now retired), outside the new Reception and classrooms).
- Major investment from the Government's Building Schools for the Future programme, which will fund the rebuilding of Grangefield and major upgrading of Crawshaw and Priesthorpe
- new classrooms and windows for Greenside Primary
- new extensions for Primrose Hill and Southroyd
- new classroom and community room at Tyersal
Crime For too long police numbers went down – but in West Yorkshire they are
now at record levels. Our local police are getting more resources and
crime rates are falling.
Over the last 2 years, our local Police Division has recruited 90 extra constables and 50 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).
But we should recognise some real success. In our local Division over the last six months (figures up to December 2004) burglary is down by almost 29%, robbery by 38% and theft of, and from, motor vehicles by over 20%. Violent crime had shown a welcome 6% fall.
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.
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 Pudsey, Swinnow , Woodhall and Tyersal.
(More on local Crime Fighting)
Roads and Road Safety I will continue working with Labour Councillors Richard Lewis, Josie Jarosz and Mick Coulson to press for road safety improvements and repairs in Pudsey. We have secured major safety improvements on the Stanningley Bypass, and crossings at locations such as Lowtown. • We supported residents and the school in pressing for crossing facilities on Swinnow Road. A new crossing is being installed outside Swinnow Primary.
• A crossing has now been installed Richardshaw Lane with traffic calming to come. • A crossing has been installed at Chapeltown/Carlisle Road • We have already obtained the resurfacing of a number of roads, including Kent Road, Marsh, Occupation Lane, Carlisle Road, New Street, the Westroyds and South Parade.
• Other roads are in the programme for renewal, including Bankhouse Lane, Radcliffe Lane, Mount Pleasant Road, Mount Pleasant Street, The Crescent , Clifton Road (complimenting the improvements to Mount Pleasant Road) and New Occupation Lane/Smalewell Road
• In addition there were new streetlights for Hough Tree Road and Swinnow Lane, traffic lights to be installed at Lowtown/Kent Road and all pelican crossings have been upgraded.
Planning Applications I have worked closely with local people to resist or reduce controversial developments. If there is a planning application in your area that concerns you, please contact me. (Contact Me)
Isobel' 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. Many Pudsey 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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