BARRY STAMP would like to say a big thank you to everyone who braved the bad weather to vote in the recent Gnosall County Council By-election. As you are no doubt, aware Barry was elected to serve as your County Councillor. The final votes were as follows:-

"It is a great honour that so many local people have put their trust in me at these elections. The late Cyril Jones worked tirelessly for this area for many years - I now hope I can continue this work in the same vein. Since being elected I have already had a number of meetings with senior County Council officers to discuss matters of concern to local residents. I will, of course, be reporting back to you on the outcome of these meetings through regular editions of Focus on Gnosall Division," said Barry Stamp.

Gnosall's Audmore Road to be resurfaced
During the election campaign a number of residents highlighted the poor state of Audmore Road, Gnosall - between the Post Office and Knightley Road. Barry Stamp is pleased to report that the County Council is planning to resurface this road some time this year. Unlike many other roads in Gnosall that were given a "top dressing" last year, Audmore Road will be resurfaced "properly". In other words, the old surface will be planed off and a new complete top surface relaid. If the road outside your home needs repairing, please let Barry Stamp know - call him on 822723.

Local Members' Initiative Scheme
As a County Councillor Barry Stamp has £8000 which he can ask the Council to allocate to community projects in Gnosall Division. He has already recommended that some money be given to Ranton Village Hall to help with their major refurbishment programme, and that some is given to Stafford Churches Audio Magazine to help purchase a tape copying machine to support the group's community work in and around Gnosall. If you would like more information about this "local Members' Initiative Scheme" or would like an application form, please give Barry a ring.

Who pays for local services?
Staffordshire County Council has recently agreed its budget for the next year. In total it will spend nearly £600Million on providing day to day services and just over £54Million on new one off projects. A large proportion of this money comes from Central Government sources, which means the Council has to raise £192million from local people through the Council Tax to make up the difference. Over the past few years this amount has steadily crept up, not because the Council is wasting more money or is providing better services, but because the amount of money that comes from Central Government is falling. What is clear, however, is that residents of Gnosall Division pay their fair proportion of this money, but don't appear to get their fair share of the services! Barry Stamp is determined to fight for more of this money to come to this area. If you want to know more about next year's County Council budget, give Barry a ring on 822723

County Council agrees to close homes for the elderly
Just how secure is the future of County Council care for the elderly? Recently the Labour run Council decided to close four of its homes for the elderly, including two in Stafford - Westhorpe and the Laurels. The closures are to come into effect by 2007. This will leave the County Council running just 19 homes. The reason given for these closures was that the homes do not meet the standards laid down by the National Care Standards Commission and the need to reduce unit costs. In other words closing these homes will save the Council money, but will it give a better service to the elderly?

Street Light Problems
Just how long should a broken street light in Newport Road, Gnosall be allowed to remain unrepaired? That is a question Barry Stamp will be asking the County Council. It appears that, due to a traffic accident, the top of the lamp post was dislodged. Although it was reported to the Council some weeks ago, nothing happened. When Barry took up the case, he was told that an MEB worker had been injured repairing a similar light and that the company was carrying out a review of its safety procedures before allowing any more work to go ahead. The good news is that this review has now been completed and repairs to street lighting columns are back to normal. If you have a street light that does not work outside your house, give Barry Stamp a ring on 822723.

News in brief
Barry Stamp has asked the County Council to:-

Carry out road and drainage repairs at the end of Stocking Lane, Ranton near to Ranton Hall Farm.

Repair a very large pot-hole in Norbury Road at Plardiwick

Repair the road under the canal tunnel near to Shelmore Valley Farm

Barry Stamp attending his first meeting of the County Council as the new Councillor for Gnosall Division

Barry Stamp inspecting the poor state of Audmore Road