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Youth
Club Saved |
As part of it's drive to cut costs the County
Council recently announced it was planning to close a number
of youth clubs in Staffordshire. One of those on the list was
Gnosall. For many years Barry Stamp has been involved with the
Youth Club in Gnosall and recognises the valuable service it
provides to all the villages in the area. When he heard the news
that it was under threat Barry immediately arranged a meeting
with Cllr Robert Simpson - the County Council's Cabinet Member
responsible for the Youth Service - to explain to him just why
the Gnosall Club should be spared. Barry is now pleased to report
that the club will not be shutting.
In a recent edition of the Express and Star, Cllr Simpson said
he had decided not to close the club because "....
one of the main reasons for that is because of the representations
made by Cllr Barry Stamp on behalf of his constituents."
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Bradley
Under Pressure From "Inappropriate" Development |
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Bradley certainly seems to have come under
some considerable pressure over the last few months from what
one village resident described as "inappropriate development".
Barry Stamp has been supporting both the Parish Council and local
residents in their fight to get these plans rejected. In every
case Barry has asked for the applications to be decided by the
Council's Planning Committee and not left just for the officers
to say "Yes" or "No". Barry is pleased to
say that up to now all the contentious applications have been
refused, but he is worried that sooner or later one will be approved.
"Neither the Parish Council, most local
residents, or myself are against development in the village.
However any proposed new building will have to reflect Bradley's
unique character and fit in with the other neighbouring buildings,"
said Barry.
What
do you think about new development in Bradley?
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Barry pictured here with some of the
children, staff, and PTA members at St Lawrence Primary School
Gnosall at the opening of
the schools newly refurbished library. |
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Barry Stamp is continuing
to campaign to get the Council Tax scrapped and replaced with
a local income tax |
Barry Stamp with other
demonstrators protesting against the proposed new
M6 Toll Motorway |
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Barry Stamp's
News Blog Is Now Online
Regular Updates - Irregular Comments
Click here |
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Barry
Questions Tories On Plan To Leave Town Parks Open At Night |
Finally the Tories
mishandling of the Council budget is coming home to roost. Barry
Stamp recently discovered in their panic to save money the Council
were working on a plan which might lead to members of the Borough's
Park Rangers staff to be made redundant.
While this is bad enough the knock on effect would mean there
would not be enough staff to carry out even the basic duties
such as locking the gates on the town park at dusk.
At a recent meeting of the Council Barry challenged the Conservative
Cabinet Member for Leisure with this fact and was shocked when
he admitted that such a scheme was being considered! This would
mean anyone could get access to the area of the park which contains
the bowling green and the aviary, which has already been the
scene of a vandal attack which resulted in the death of some
of the birds.
"The fact that the Tories are considering such a scheme
really shows how desperate they are to save money. Victoria Park
is a real showcase for the town and leaving the gates open at
night is just calling for trouble," said Barry. |
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Has
The County Council Abandoned The Roads In This Area? |
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Has the County Council abandoned
the roads in this area is a question Barry Stamp has been asked
a number of times over the past few weeks. It seems it doesn't
matter where you drive it's not long before you come across floods.
The situation is especially bad in Church Eaton Lane where a
few days ago the road was only passable if you had a 4x4!
Barry is getting sick and tired of contacting the Council about
the problems only to be told something will be done. It does
seem if there is no one willing to take the blame for this situation
and everyone involved with the County Council are prepared to
let local residents suffer!
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BT
Re-open Phone Box Consultation |
 Barry
Stamp recently expressed his concerns over the way BT were carrying
out consultation on their plan to close a number of telephone
boxes in Church Eaton Ward and the surrounding area (see Barry's
blog - 17th June). He is now pleased to report that they have
admitted their error and have restarted the process.
This time comments on the proposed closures must be received
by the Borough Council, who are co-ordinating the responses on
behalf of BT, by 26th September. Details should be posted in
each of the affected phone boxes, but a complete list is available
on this web-site by following this link.
Comments about the closures should be sent to Head of Planning
& Engineering Services (FAO Dawn Evans), Stafford Borough
Council, Civic Centre, Stafford. ST16 3AQ |
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4
out of 5 Local Post Offices Saved From Closure |
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Four out of the five post offices
in this area have been saved from closure. Those unaffected are
Gnosall, Haughton, Bradley, and Derrington. However the Post
Office have decided that the one at Great Bridgeford is to shut.
Barry Stamp has been actively involved with the Liberal Democrats
campaign to save rural post offices. At the beginning of March
Liberal Democrats handed a 50,000 name petition into to Downing
Street calling on the Government to end the closure plans.
Don't
be fooled by the Conservatives
When the
Conservatives were in power they closed 3500 post offices! |
"What we need now is a concerted
effort by all political parties to work together to fight these
closure plans, instead of trying to score political points in
the hope of winning votes. Locally the County Council are seeking
ways of using their power and influence to either stop the closures
or if this is not possible ensuring replacement services are
available. I will be urging the Borough Council to work with
the County Council and other organisations to ensure this happens,"
said Barry Stamp.
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Good
News for Church Eaton & Bradley 482 Bus Service |
 Barry
Stamp is pleased to report that despite the many rumours the
County Council have agreed to keep the 482 bus service which
runs through Derrington, Bradley and Church Eaton. The service
is to remain almost the same with just some slight changes to
the times. Changes come into effect from 28th April. If you would
like a copy of the new timetable please click here. |
Disappointment
Over
Golf Course Plan |
The Borough Council's
decision to grant planning permission for the further development
of Stafford Castle Golf course has been condemned by Barry Stamp
as being a bitter blow for the Environment.
Barry, who was one of only three members of the Council's Planning
Committee to vote against the scheme said he was concerned that
thousands of tons of soil waste which would be dumped on the
ground as part of the development meant the operation was more
of a waste disposal scheme rather than a golf course development.
"While I am certainly not against the expansion of the present
nine hole course I am against the plan to import over 400,000
cubic metres of soil. This will have a major impact on the environment
as the ground level across the whole site will be raised by over
50cms. It will also mean people living along the Newport Road
will suffer as 70 loads of soil per day will be delivered to
the site. This is certainly a step too far and I was disappointed
the Committee did not join with me to reject this plan",
said Barry Stamp. |
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Details of Barry Stamps campaign
against M6 Toll Motorway can be found in the News Archive section of this web-site |
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YOUR VIEWS
ARE IMPORTANT
Barry is always keen
to hear what you think about both local and national issues.
Either
e-mail him at barry@barrystamp.org.uk
or visit his
online poll page
STOP
PRESS
Tell Barry
what you think about the plan to build new M6 Toll Motoway being
scrapped via his new online poll
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Barry Joins
Rural Link Board |
Rural Link provide an important and unique
bus service to many communities in an around Gnosall. However
over the past few months the future of this service has been
questioned a number of times as funding looks as if it could
dry up. Barry Stamp believes the Rural Link bus services must
be maintained as they do provide a lifeline for many local residents.
Barry is now pleased to say he has joined the volunteer board
of management of Rural link so he is in a excellent position
to fight to ensure the service in this area is maintained and
if at all possible increased.
If you have any comments , ideas, or complaints
about the Rural Link services in this area Barry would like to
hear from you. He will be only to pleased to pass on these comments
to the management board.
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Dumped
Rubbish
A Growing Problem in Rural Areas |
Illegally dumped rubbish
is becoming a problem in the Haughton, Bradley, and Church Eaton
areas. Changes of rules, and increased charges made by Stafford
Borough Council means that more and more people are dumping their
rubbish in quiet country lanes rather than taking it into Stafford
and the Council tip. Barry Stamp says something must be done
before the rural areas are turned into one large rubbish tip.
If you see anyone dumping rubbish or know of some that needs
removing give Barry a ring on 01785 822723.
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Barry
Calls For Restrictions On Heavy Vehicles Using Shredicote Lane |
Barry Stamp has asked the County
Council to find away of preventing heavy lorries using Shredicote
Lane in Bradley. He made this request after two lorries left
the road and ended up in the ditch. On one occasion the road
was blocked for two day!
The County Council have agreed something needs to be done. As
a first step they intend to install signs at both ends of the
road warning drivers it is unsuitable for heavy vehicles |
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Barry Stamp seen here
with Jamie Calder - Managing Director of Flairmet - during a
fact finding visit to the firms Seighford factory |
What The
Papers Say |
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This undermines
government claims that the NHS is back in the black."
Lib Dem Health
Spokesman Greg Mulholland MP, on figures obtained by the Lib
Dems that show that NHS trusts have incurred debts of almost
£800 million
The Times - 10
December
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