Putting the "fun" into "fundraising"!

Over the years I have found that Charity Car Washes are a great way to bring people together to raise money for good causes.

I recently organised a car wash with Chris Goninan at Penzance Fire Station to raise much needed funds for the Penwith Older People's Forum, which aims to be the voice for all older people living within Penwith District and improve their quality of life. Now boasting more than 500 members, the forum addresses issues affecting elders such as financial matters, loneliness and isolation, improving support services for carers, grants, and advocacy advice.

It was a genuinely community event with various youth groups taking part, including members of the Police Cadets, Army Cadets, the Scouts and members of the Youth Action Team and St Just Cricket Club as well as members of the Forum. Nearly 50 cars were washed, raising in excess of £270 for the Older People's Forum.

After the event Chris Goninan said ”This money will be used to help with the administrative costs of the Forum and to ensure we are represented at the meetings where important decisions are taken about our communities. It was a really enjoyable day with young and old working in partnership. My thanks to all concerned and this is the way to develop and enhance our communities."

Without the hard work of the young people we would have raised considerably less for the Older People's Forum. Our thanks go to everyone who helped and to the crew at Penzance Fire Station for being such excellent hosts."

Photo of Jack Yeates and myself

Parking victory in Penzance

New parking bays have now been created in Penzance car parks following my campaign to improve access to the Town Centre. I was able to secure the dedicated parking areas following a change in the way street parking is enforced.

Last year Cornwall County Council took over street parking enforcement and it soon became clear that motorcyclists had very limited provision in the Town Centre. I was made aware that some motorcyclists were no longer shopping in Penzance because of this problem, in my view the authority has a responsibility to improve access for shoppers, whatever their mode of transport.

Motorcyclist can now park free of charge in the car parks formally owned by Penwith District Council.

I am delighted by this victory for motorcyclists in West Cornwall, and my thanks go to Pete Verran, former Building and Engineering Manager of Penwith District Council and David Williams of Top Marks, for working hard to create these dedicated motorcycle Bays. Together we have achieved a small but significant tool in support of Penzance Retailers.

Photo pictured aboved: myself with David Williams and David Horwell of Top Marks and Mike Waters, Chairman of Penzance Chamber of Commerce.

Threemilestone Park and Ride: a model for the rest of Cornwall

My son Murray and I have made good use of the new Park and Ride at Threemilstone, Truro visiting my wife Tamsin and the early arrival of our second son.

I was half-way through a three-day visit to the Isles of Scilly when Tamsin was taken into Treliske in an ambulance with blue lights and a police escort to boot.

I think the Park and Ride Scheme is fantastic. With my wife and child likely to be in hospital for a few days, parking charges at Treliske could easily exceed £50. During the day I can make use of the Park and Ride Scheme for just £1 per day. For people in West Cornwall this is the only affordable method of hospital visiting.

Form filling and interference hitting the Isles' economy

Whilst visiting St Mary's I met with a number of community leaders. I held meetings with representatives of the Council, the Duchy and the Steamship Company to discuss proposals to improve the transport link by sea with the mainland.

As the Parliamentary Candidate for the Isles of Scilly, I am keen to understand how the current economic downturn may affect people’s jobs and I held lengthy talks with a number of people involved in tourism on the Islands. It is estimated that 85% of the islands economy relies on visitors.

As part of an on-going campaign to help small businesses by freeing up credit and stopping unnecessary form-filling, I spoke to a number of self-employed people. Nearly half of the Islands workforce is self employed.

When you visit a small, contained, community like this it is more evident how interference by the EU and Central Government leads to a lot of unnecessary form-filling and duplication. This interference means that half the work-force complete the same forms and self-assessments to establish facts that are already known. Businesses people are forced to attempt to meet criteria that shows a complete lack of understanding for Island life. Less Government interference could lead to people on the islands enjoying far greater control over their economy and identity. This could also be true for those of us on the mainland

Between meetings I was able to meet several members of the island community and discuss with them their concerns and challenges.People spoke well of the provision of education and healthcare on the islands. The need for accessible housing is high on the agenda and maintaining a transport link by sea and air fit for the 21st Century was of real concern

I was unable to complete my visit and have planned to return to the Isles of Scilly after the summer season.

A NEW DAWN FOR CORNWALL?

With the imminent hand-over of local government power to Cornwall Council, there is the potential for a new dawn, a brighter future.

Finally we get to say goodbye to David Whalley who, with the help of his Liberal Democrat colleagues on Cornwall County Council’s Executive (3 of whom are in the Penwith district) have done untold damage to our County and which has led to a failing (that’s right, it’s official) County Council. These Councillors have shunned the advice of local people, advice that could have built stronger foundations for the new council and reduced its spiralling costs.

Not every dawn brings good news, sadly with the loss of Penwith District Council we are to lose Jim McKenna, a Chief Executive who for 9 years has not sought to further his own career but rather champion Penwith across Cornwall and beyond.

Further to this and for the first time in 6 years, our council tax bill has exceeded the 2.5% increase to leap to 4.9%. This increase, pushed through by Cornwall County Council, is despite us all being in the grip of the worst recession for more than 30 years.

The people of Cornwall cannot afford to be treated as we have been in recent years and when choosing our representatives on June 4th we can not afford to repeat the mistakes of past elections. You will see from your Council Tax Bill that One Cornwall handles huge quantities of tax-payers money. Cornwall needs people who can deliver value for money – this requires clear leadership, good financial management and better public services.

Vote wisely on June 4th.

Campaign for the EU referendum

For over a year now, I have been campaigning for a referendum on ratification of the EU Constitution, or the Lisbon Treaty. I am grateful for the huge amount of local support I have received for this campaign from people who feel as I do, that the British people were cheated out of a say on our future within the EU.

On March 5th 2008 the majority of Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs voted against a Conservative proposal for a UK-wide referendum on ratification of the EU Treaty. The Conservatives are the only Party committed to a referendum.

The new EU Treaty is essentially the same as the EU Constitution. There will still be a new EU President, an EU Foreign Minister (renamed but with exactly the same powers) with his own diplomatic service, more than fifty vetoes given away, new powers for the EU over criminal justice and a ratchet clause that will allow surviving vetoes to be abolished without the need for a new Treaty.

In 2008 I thought our battle was lost when Gordon Brown signed the EU Treaty. Thankfully Ireland rejected it. They must not be bullied into having another vote.

David Cameron has promised that if we form the next Government and the Treaty is not ratified than the British people will get a referendum.

Please be assured that I will continue to campaign to ensure that the views of the people of the St Ives Constituency are heard.

(pictured above: European Parliamentary Candidates Julie Girling & Don Collier, Garfield Gilbert and myself in St. Buryan)

Small Business Rate Relief

I am visiting as many small businesses as I can during January and February. The purpose of my visit is to introduce myself and ensure that they are benefiting from the small business rate relief available to them. I am also making them aware of the Conservative Website that informs them of a host of Conservative policies that will help them to survive this current economic downturn.

I also took part in the launch of the Cornwall Manifesto for Small Businesses and the Penzance Shoppers Loyalty Scheme.

Labour Government threatens rural life

Every day I meet new people from across rural West Cornwall and I am finding that, from whatever walk of life, we all face similar challenges. Many of these challenges can be overcome but now, more than ever before, we need the help of a Parliament that understands rural life.

In West Cornwall regulation and red tape continually obstructs our farmers and small businesses. Our post offices, small schools and public services face ongoing threats and housing and employment opportunities are bleak for young people; you may be aware that South Kerrier has the highest level of young people out of education, employment or training in Cornwall.

The economic crisis is affecting all of us in different ways, but without the appropriate help rural Cornwall faces grave levels of isolation and unemployment. Without stronger representation the hidden poverty on the Lizard will be forgotten by those with power to affect change at Westminster.

I have decided to hold an event in each village on the Lizard; I want to hear your concerns and do what I can to help. The events will be free, there will be free tea and coffee and a stall selling cakes and pasties. So far we have the following planned and more will be coming as the year progresses:
Tuesday 24th February - Mawgan-in-Meneage Recreation Hall 6.30-8.30pm
Saturday 7th March – Manaccan Parish Hall 1 - 4pm
Monday 23rd March - St. Keverne Parish Hall 6.30-8.30pm

I recenty attended the Daffodil Festival in the Parish Church at Mawgan-in-Meneage (pictured above). It was a great example of a rural community celebrating one of the many traditions in Cornwall's history. Cornwall is a big player in the Daffoldil Market.

We need change in West Cornwall, rural communities need a government that works with them, not against them.

Farmers need less regulation and supermarkets should be forced to label British produce so we can make informed choices as consumers.

The basic state pension should be raised in line with earnings and we must provide long-term care for those who need it.

We must break down the barriers between health and social care and provide personalised services in the community as well as in the home.

Young people need meaningful apprenticeships, local jobs and homes that they can afford.

Finally, a government that borrows with no regard for the future fills me with great concern.

As a member of an incoming Conservative Government at Westminster I will be able to effectively defend the interests of this Constituency and advocate achievable solutions to our problems.

Our communities deserve more than rhetoric and empty gestures; we need constructive and deliverable solutions to local, national and global challenges.

Sobering discoveries at Bosence Farm Community

I spent the afternoon last week with Cllr Doe Harry (Chairman of St Erth Parish Council) on a fact-finding visit to Bosence Farm Community near Leedstown.

For many years Bosence Farm Community Ltd has been the home of men and women recovering from drug and alcohol addictions. Residents of the community spend up to a year of their lives undergoing an intensive programme designed to give the life-skills and discipline needed to live life free from a dependency on drugs and alcohol.

Bosence Farm Community Ltd is soon to embark on their next ambitious venture – the development of Cornwall’s only Detoxification Centre. Funding and the necessary planning applications have been approved and the new centre will provide up to 15 spaces for people to volunteer for the four week detoxification programme. Patients will then return to where they came from or take part in rehabilitation programmes such as is provided at Bosence Farm Community.

Bosence Farm Community has a proven track record of providing vital support and help to people with very serious addiction problems. Cornwall needs a detoxification centre and Bosence Farm Community is ideally placed to deliver this project. Our visit showed us that residents are subject to a very strict and disciplined programme. This practice has clearly worked and by applying the same approach to this detox centre Bosence will be able to help many people rid themselves of substance abuse and enable them to rebuild their lives

Building work for the new Detoxification Centre is expected to start in April of this year and should be completed in the spring of 2010. The Government are placing greater emphasis on helping clients to access detoxification and rehabilitation services. Currently Cornish residents have very little opportunity to access such help.

We are only too aware of the worrying level of drug and alcohol addicts in West Cornwall. It is in everybody’s interest to see these people achieve and sustain a drug free lifestyle.

Cut the Costs - Claim Small Business Rate Relief

This week I launched the Conservative's on-line tool for small businesses. The national press this week appear to confirm our fears that 2009 could be retailers toughest year for 30 years.

Following a survey of councils in England and Wales the Conservative Party discovered that up to half of small businesses are not claiming the Small Business Rate Relief they are entitled to. As a direct result of this survey the Conservatives have created a simple, online tool to help. By visiting www.conservatives.com/smallshops business leaders can find out what they are entitled to and how to claim the rate relief.

"It' no secret that rising business rates are hurting small shops - and yet many shops don’t claim the rate relief they're entitled to because they don’t know about it or because it's too complicated. Rate relief could save shops up to £1,100 a year - so it's vital we help owners claim the full amount they're owed”.

"Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) came into effect on 1st April 2005. Properties with a rateable value of less than £5,000 will receive up to 50% rate relief on their liability. Above £5,000 relief is available, but by 1% for every £100, below a maximum rate of £10,000 rateable value. Almost 84% of employed people in Cornwall work in small businesses, which mean not only the survival of our local shops but also local jobs".

Penwith or Kerrier District council will calculate the exact reduction, but the relief is not automatic and must be applied for.

It's vital that our small businesses are aware of their entitlement so I am visiting and writing to small shops in West Cornwall urging local business people to take up this relief. Regulation, tax and competition from out of town shopping centres are crippling our local shops. 2,000 small shops close each year in the UK and I am determined to arrest this decline in West Cornwall. My Party has already come up with several positive proposals which include: reducing corporation tax from 22p to 20p, a Conservative Government will defer VAT for six months and we will cut payroll taxes for businesses paying less than five employees, which would save a business employing less than five, at least £100 a month. I also support the introduction of a simpler tax system.”


For information on the national Conservative Campaign to save small shops please see:
www.conservatives.com/smallshops