Tories are going soft on crime

“Tories are going soft on crime” says Jon Tandy as crime in West Mercia falls by 6% “These figures show that Labour’s tough action is working in YOUR area.”

Figures released today (Thursday Jan 21st) show that crime across the West Mercia Police area, covering Shrewsbury, has fallen by 6%. Across the country, crime has fallen by 8%, with burglary, robbery and violence all down this quarter.

This welcome drop, which will be welcomed by people across West Mercia, is the latest indication that Labour’s tough line and investment in frontline services is making our communities safer.

Labour’s Jon Tandy PPC said: “Today’s crime figures chime with the unemployment figures earlier this week. Just
as Labour’s investment has helped keep people in work through the recession, investment in policing and communities is helping make people safer in their homes and on the streets of Shrewsbury.

“Though every crime committed is terrible for the victim, and every job lost a personal tragedy, the evidence clearly shows that Labour investment is working, both on crime and the economy.

“It’s also clearer than ever that the Tories would be a disaster for both, choking off recovery with their irresponsible economic plans and opposing tough action on crime and anti-social behaviour.”
I know from recent debates in Shropshire Council that local Tories are fixated on future cuts in services no matter what the consequences for local residents in terms of our local quality of life.

“Today’s figures show that the crimes the public care most about are falling across the county with burglary, robbery and violence all down this quarter and overall police recorded crime reduced by six per cent.
“I’m very pleased to see that confidence in the police is increasing and the number of people worried about high levels of antisocial behaviour has fallen to 15 per cent – the lowest on record. The British Crime Survey also shows and the risk of being a victim is at its lowest point ever.

“The fall in crime across the West Midlands region shows the difference that can be made when we work together to tackle crime and is a testament to the effort and commitment shown by police and crime reduction partners around the region.”

Instead of the local Tories regularly knocking the Police, they should thank them for their part in these real concrete improvements, and support them as we seek to drive local crime down still further.

Flood Road Closures 18 January

Flood information update – 18 January 2010

Shropshire Council would like to advise that Frankwell Main Car Park in Shrewsbury has now reopened.

Frankwell Riverside Car Park has been partially reopened, however the Environment Agency is still occupying the area

All other surface car parks in Shrewsbury remain open (including Abbey Foregate and St Julian’s Friars car parks) and the Park and Ride sites will also continue to operate. A return ticket on Park and Ride costs £1.20.

Roads closed due to flooding

Sydney Avenue, Castlefields, Shrewsbury

The road between Cross Houses and Atcham

Chilton Farm Lane, Atcham

Gravel Hill Lane, Nr West Mid Showground, Shrewsbury

Salt Briefing 18 Jan

The recent improved weather conditions has meant the council’s hard working gritting teams have been out less often, resulting in less salt being used.

The council would like to reassure people that the highway teams still have supplies of salt despite the national shortage. The council has approximately 1,300 tonnes of salt remaining, which dependent on weather is enough to continue to grit all of Shropshire’s A and B roads and agreed priority routes for around three days. The council is also sourcing salt from other suppliers.

The council has so far kept ahead of the national shortage, due to the good preparation made by the council during 2009. Shropshire Council stored nearly double the Government’s recommendations of salt stocks. Following last winter, central Government recommended that every council should have six days resilience during the core winter period, however in December 2009 the council had at least 12 days. The council had kept large salt stockpiles in preparation for the winter, 15,000 tonnes was acquired during summer 2009.

Shropshire Council maintains a network of 5100 km/3169 miles of road and approximately 1200 km/745 miles of footways and cycleways. Last year the council spent £2.5 million on treating the network during the winter.

Shropshire Council is still able to fulfil its commitment to keep all A and B roads and agreed high risk routes open, as agreed in the council’s Winter Maintenance policy statement. This policy aims to keep Shropshire moving and ensure that major routes are kept open.

Central Government has instructed Shropshire Council to reduce its gritting by a further 25% as part of a national effort to conserve salt. In order to meet this instruction the council is reducing the spread rate and is introducing 25% grit into their salt mix. This grit will help improve grip on the roads during the expected icy conditions as well as conserving salt stocks.

On 6 January 2010 central Government set up Salt Cell. It is now advising on national priorities for salt deliveries to help ensure stocks of salt are prioritised where most needed. We are unable to confirm when further supplies are to be delivered, as this is a central Government decision. However, in the meantime the council is looking at other suppliers to replenish stocks.

Shropshire Council is continuing to replenish the 800 grit bins across the county and local people are encouraged to make use of these bins and salt piles to keep their local roads open. Shropshire Council would like to remind people that this grit should only be used on public roads and footpaths, and not on private driveways or properties. The council is endeavouring to refill the bins as quickly as possible, however with current demands the council’s teams ask people to bear with them as they work their way around all of the bins.

Shropshire Council is postponing the salt briefings until further serious winter weather.

Open letter to the people of Shrewsbury & Atcham

Dear Resident

I am writing to you personally to introduce myself as your Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Shrewsbury & Atcham.

I am proud to have been born in Shrewsbury, I was educated in the town and I have been lucky enough to have always worked in Shrewsbury. However each day hundreds of residents have to travel out of Shrewsbury to find work at an acceptable salary, because of the lack of jobs in our area.

Hundreds more of our young people have to travel to access higher education services because of the lack of university provision in Shrewsbury.

In my opinion it is the duty of an MP to vigorously promote their constituent’s interests in these areas. Only by fighting for a high skill, high wage economy can we produce the local employment and education opportunities that local residents deserve.

Voters of Shrewsbury at the next General Election have a very difficult decision to make. National issues hog the news but a local MP has very little real power to influence them.

Local issues however, are where the right choice of MP can make a difference to your family’s prosperity. If you want a person to fight for you and who will put Shrewsbury first by trying to get better paid jobs in Shrewsbury, it is vital to elect the right MP.

You cannot afford an MP who is not 100% committed to these aims.

You do not have a choice if you do not vote. To help make sure that your voice is heard;  I enclose a postal vote application form for your convenience.

Yours sincerely

Jon Tandy

Printed promoted and published by Liz Parsons, on behalf of Jon Tandy, both of The Morris Hall, Bellstone, Shrewsbury SY1 1JB

Shrewsbury Lib Dems-Parliamentary History

Local residents with an interest in the political history of Shrewsbury may be interested to know the last Liberal MP to be elected here was called Joseph Sunlight. His term of office only lasted around 10 months, from December 1923 until October 1924. He is best remembered for introducing a Private Member’s Bill on the standardisation of bricks.

Of far more relevance to us in Shrewsbury & Atcham, is to analyse the Lib Dem’s performance in recent local General Elections, and see what trends are revealed. Since 1979 the highest vote the Lib Dems have managed was in 1987 when they polled a total of 16,963 votes. It is worth noting during the same period that the lowest vote recorded by the Tories was 18,674, in 2001. Thus the Lib Dems in Shrewsbury & Atcham have since 1979 been unable to acheive a vote even remotely close to the Tories lowest total vote!

By contrast in 2001 the Labour vote totalled 22,253 as they beat the Tories for the second time and won the seat.

The next time a Lib Dem tells you they are the only party who can beat the Tories in Shrewsbury, ask them to explain exactly how that claim stacks up against the actual votes cast in actual elections here.

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