August 28th, 2008 by ianradford
Comment?
Below are the contents of an open email to Forest Heath’s Director of Services. When will this debacle end?
Dear Nigel
I understand that the project manager of Newmarket Leisure Centre resigned some time ago.
I would be grateful if you can tell me:
1) When the resignation occurred?
2) What reasons were given for the resignation?
3) Were any health and safety concerns brought to officers’ attention by the project manager at any time and were these resolved to his satisfaction?
4) What measures are now in place to ‘manage’ the project?
5) What effect this has on any completion date?
6) What is the anticipated opening date of the pool facility?
7) When could council reasonably have been informed of this serious change in handling of the most major project which has been undertaken in previous years?
What is the latest final cost/budget estimate for the project?
Regards
Ian Radford
August 6th, 2008 by ianradford
Comment?
The fire at St Felix had just destroyed the school.
The Focus team are devastated that this much loved school has been destroyed and we extend our thoughts and sympathy to everybody associated with the school in the coming weeks and months.
July 20th, 2008 by ianradford
Comment?
Liberal Democrats have condemned the Tories on the District Council for closing the Leisure Centre over the summer. The failure to put on any indoor activities for teenagers over the summer, means that many youngsters are at a loose end.
Lib Dem focus Editor Neil Williams said ‘It is a shame that the Tory Controlled District and Tory controlled County Council could not reach an agreement over making sure that leisure activities weren’t available at the town’s middle school or college.’
Last year Forest Heath issued its ‘Play Strategy’ document which had grand statements like
Promote and facilitate the development of children and young people through … programmed activities.’
There were also statements like this
‘To enable the provision of an integrated range of high quality informal opportunities in play that is sufficient to meet the needs and aspirations of the District’s children and young people.
And this
‘To ensure that such provision is effectively planned and coordinated.’
This summer the Council has failed to provide the level and scope of activities that should be expected from such a wordy document.
Your local Lib Dem Councillors Andrew Appleby and Ian Radford will be pushing for the District Council to take its ‘Play Strategy’ seriously and make sure that never again are the Town’s youngsters left so short of organised activities.
July 14th, 2008 by admin
Comment?
Suffolk County Council has recently started spending £600,000 altering the traffic system around Newmarket Clock Tower yet again, ignoring local concerns and pleas that the changes could result in gridlock and road rage. It is quite ironic that the roads and streets of Newmarket are under the control of County Council staff in Ipswich.
Lib Dem Councillor Andrew Appleby, proposed a ‘dummy run’ using temporary barriers but seemingly “mistakes cannot be rectified till the concrete has set“. We wait in trepidation.
July 13th, 2008 by ianradford
Comment?
Days after last year’s local elections in Newmarket, local Conservatives in Mildenhall decided to scrap the Newmarket Parking Strategy Working Group saying that the problems of Newmarket’s car parking problems were solved.
This committee comprised Councillors from Newmarket only. Now Conservative controlled Forest Heath has put forward plans to introduce residents parking in Newmarket. The plans which would allow for only 1 space per household and no increase in parking spaces in the town and no plans for alternative means of transport to encourage other methods of commuting into town. This would penalise people who live, work and shop in town equally.
Liberal Democrat Councillors Andrew Appleby and Ian Radford have opposed the scheme and its costly PR campaign that would only tell the council what local people already know. That without a proper parking strategy that actively encourages alternative transport uses. Any residents parking scheme will only penalise local residents.
Cllrs Ian Radford and Andrew Appleby have launched a petition to scrap plans for a Residents parking scheme until a full multi modal transport and parking strategy is introduced for Newmarket.
July 12th, 2008 by ianradford
Comment?
Costs on the new Newmarket Leisure Centre have escalated once again to £14.65 million and the opening date has been put back to November, over 18 months behind schedule. The ability of the Tories to manage capital (spending) projects has once again been called into question.
June 25th, 2008 by ianradford
Comment?
Cllr Ian Radford was contacted by local people who were concerned over the number of empty houses vacated by American military personnel at Studlands Park.
It became apparent that the US military were no longer housing their personnel on Studlands Park when they ended their tour of duty.
Cllr Radford has called on Forest Heath to intervene and try to get the houses freed up for much needed affordable housing. Forest Heath has now intervened and has promised action. We will report back on what happens on Studlands Park.
June 6th, 2008 by ianradford
Comment?
Congratulations to Pat McCloud, our excellent candidate and to Tim Huggan, campaign organiser. I am confident that Pat will prove to be the dedicated Councillor Red Lodge deserves. With nearly 56% of the votes for Pat it was a clear message to the Tory controlled majority on Forest Heath District Council.
May 31st, 2008 by ianradford
Comment?
Local Lib Dem Cllrs Ian Radford and Andrew Appleby were contacted by angry local Studlands Park residents who had been told that if they reported illegally dumped rubbish they would be the ones handed a a ?20 charge for reporting the problem.
Previously the bin men would clear up the rubbish when reported or if they spotted it, now they have been told to wait until it is reported.
Cllr Andrew Appleby said’ This is a ludicrous situation and I hope that the Council will see sense and revert to its old policy of clearing the rubbish as and when is necessary without charging those that spot it.’
May 19th, 2008 by ianradford
Comment?
Lib Dems claim a victory for Common sense on Council Office Refurbishment Project
Lib Dem group leader Ian Radford responding to the Conservative group’s decision to accept the Liberal Democrat’s campaign to put the Council Office project on hold said:
Last July we opposed this project without costing that the Council should have an expensive office refurbishment. As recently as February we put a motion to full council calling on the project to be put on hold until the outcome of Local Government review became known. This motion was rejected by the Conservatives on the council.
Liberal Democrat Group Leader Ian Radford continued ‘It is interesting that Councillor Jaggard now wants to do what Cameron accuses Brown of and that is to steal our policies. It is also interesting that he wants to rewrite history.
The Conservatives are now claiming that this project was supported by the whole council, it is not the case and has never been the case. The Liberal Democrats had rather that hard pressed local council taxpayers money was spent on local services not plush new council offices.
Ends
Notes
1. Council minutes from the July 2007
The minutes from the council meeting last July state ‘This item prompted considerable discussion by Members and Councillor I P Radford spoke at length and expressed the view that further detailed information needed to be provided before a decision could be reached. Vote for 23 vote against 1
2. The council minutes of 5th March 2008 clearly show
Councillor I P Radford spoke at length on this matter and voiced concern on the following matters:
. The lack of Liberal Democrat representation on the Office Refurbishment Board;
. The termination of contract with AW Business Solutions Ltd as projectmanagement lead, following appointment by Council on 31 July 2007;
. The need to establish clear detailed costings of works;
. The outcome surrounding the pending recommendations of the Boundary Committee.
Councillor Radford proposed an amendment that the project be suspended until full clear costings of necessary repairs were made available pending the publication of the Boundary Committee results. Councillor T J Huggan spoke in support of the amendment and seconded the motion.
On being put to the vote and with 2 Councillors voting for the motion, 19 against.
3. A press release from the Conservative Group on Forest Heath District Council
Monday, 19 May 2008
EMBARGO For immediate release
BEGINS
The Conservative Group will argue at the Council meeting on June 4th that plans to refurbish the Forest Heath District Council office should be suspended until the Local Government Review has delivered its recommendations to the Secretary of State in early 2009.
Leader, Cllr Geoffrey Jaggard said: “The refurbishment was supported by the whole Council last July. We are now in a very different situation and it is unclear how the buildings will be used in future. I therefore believe the right thing to do is put the office refurbishment project on hold.”
“We hope that, whatever the decision about local government in Suffolk, a local presence will be preserved in Forest Heath.”
