The View by Gavin Chambers

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T19:12:00.002Z

Wishing all my readers a happy and prosperous 2012

Capitalism

2011-11-04T18:36:00.002Z

Many of you know I currently work near St Paul's Cathedral. Its one of London's best landmarks ( and my favourite) in my opinion and I was disgusted to see what was happening around the area. I thought I had stumbled onto a camp site and the smell of cannabis was over whelming . These people are protesting against capitalism while they drink Starbucks coffee and use their blackberry's. However the St Paul's protesters were handed a two-month reprieve yesterday after the authorities offered to allow them to stay until the New Year.

In a climbdown, the City of London Corporation said it would abandon legal action against the campers if they leave peacefully in early 2012.

But the protesters are already aiming to stay through the Olympic Games next summer – which would guarantee international attention for their cause and embarrassment for the Government who got enough on there hands trying to sort out the mess that Labour left us in. It's people like these who try and tarnish our free speech and they should try a dose of the real world for awhile.

Update On The Controversial Gate

2011-10-19T19:09:00.001+01:00

I and many of my fellow dog walkers have gained some encouragement from a recent decision from Epping Forest District Council that the club should have sought permission from planning officers before building the fence/ gates on Roding Lane in Buckhurst Hill. The football club will have to apply for retrospective permission to keep these gates. This will now give all residents the opportunity to express their concerns during the public consultation. I hope now that these gates will be removed. They make the east side of Buckhurst Hill look like an early episode of Tenko.

I have also emailed Planning at the district council about the second gate which also blocks the path for walkers and am awaiting a decision if this gate will need permission . I will keep you posted whatever the result.

Parish Paths

2011-09-03T15:36:00.000+01:00

A foothpath through fields that have been used by generations of ramblers has been blocked off by steel fences.

The path runs off Roding Lane in Buckhurst Hill, through fields to Lower Queen's Road.

But Buckhurst Hill Football Club have built a steel gate at the entrance to the path, rendering it inaccessible to walkers.

The path, which runs through wilderness round the edge of the club’s pitches, has been used by generations of walkers and even forms part of the Parish Council’s boundary walk, a tour through some of the area’s most attractive area.

I hope that Buckhurst Hill Residents Society can find a compromise when they meet with them later this month. I often used this route to walk my dog and found that the majority of dog walkers were responsible for picking up the dog faeces after use. Normally the more careless dog walker tend not to take the longer walking routes such as this. However I do agree with some of the conversations I have had recently that the Liberal Dem run Parish Council does need to be doing more to discourage dog fouling in the Parish. Rest assured myself and my Conservative colleagues are working hard in Buckhurst Hill. I am afraid our Liberal Dem Parish Councillors see every suggestion we make as a political concern and block most of our sensible decisions. Parish Councils should not be a political arena but a forum where residents needs come first. Hopefully next May we take this Council over and change the ethos considerably and I look forward to updating you.

Update

2011-08-03T22:19:00.000+01:00

Apologies for the delay in not updating you with a blog story. I have been very busy working alongside the local conservatives and also trying to get out on the door step during the summer months . With work, and other commitments I have not had much time to get on line. However will do my best to try and keep this more up to date in the next few weeks so watch this space.

The Right Result

2011-05-10T19:25:00.000+01:00

So we have had the Referendum Result on AV and what a great result for the Country.

I was delighted to see area by area (with the exception of literally a handful) that a resounding NO was being given. It would have been such a waste of money if this had gone the wrong way. Now its time to move onto more urgent matters that are facing our country.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank anyone who had read my blog and Voted No on May 5th.

Finally I would like to congratulate all my Conservative colleagues that got re-elected and the seat gained in Waltham Abbey North East.

Final Election Drive

2011-05-02T17:35:00.000+01:00

I write this as the Local Elections and AV Referendum Campaigns draw to a close.

I urge all my readers to Vote NO on May 5th my reasons for this have been well laid out over these last months.

On a more Local level I wish Hal Ulkan all the best for next week.

Community Spirit

2011-05-01T13:31:00.004+01:00

It was fantastic to see that Albert Terrace in Buckhurst Hill had pulled together to have their very own street party to celebrate the Royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

This is very much a great example of the Conservative Party's Big Society working in our community. The photo shows the flags prior to the party starting and I am pleased to report that the street was brimming with adults and children having fun to celebrate this momentous occasion. Lets hope the Jubilee in two years time will have even more fun and games.

No to the Alternative Vote

2011-04-16T12:25:00.003+01:00

In Just a few weeks time on May the 5th we will all be asked to vote on electoral reform in the UK. Many of you know I resigned from the Lib Dems over what Nick Clegg called a 'miserable little compromise'. In doing so this allowed me to look much closer at the Conservative policies and where I find myself much more in alignment with this party.

However my main reason for this blog is to outline the reason why we must vote no to AV on May the 5th.

Our current electoral system has given us decisive Governments on both sides of the political spectrum. Who could imagine or want a system that in the last election would have likely given us a Labour -Liberal Government headed by a discredited and out of steam Gordon Brown. In 1997 it would not have given Tony Blair a decisive win when the Country was crying out for it. These 2 examples are when this AV System proposed would not have put politicians closer to the people but in fact even further out of touch.

The argument that it would get rid of 'safe-seats' is also something which I would like to address. I have faith in the British Electorate that if they wish to get rid of an unpopular politician in a certain area we can all take it in our hands and do it without any more interference by an ever increasing 'nanny - state' Neil Hamilton loosing his seat comes to mind.

Im not even going to explore the cost implications any more or the complications of the voting process proposed which will find bewildering.

I strongly hope there will be a resounding NO on May 5th

Isle of Wight

2011-03-27T16:39:00.005+01:00

While I am sat here and writing this I am currently on the Isle of Wight in the District of Freshwater. I have been staying here for the last three days and I have been very impressed with the Conservative run council. The buses are frequent and very new, the towns and beaches are litter free.

Dog bins are placed in vast amounts around the island and opens spaces are indeed protected. Much of the land is National Trust and the crime in the area is low. I think the Isle of Wight council is clearly doing something very right and we could learn a lot from this council. I don't know what the weekly refuse collections are like but I have feeling they got that right too. It was a shame I did not get to see a red squirrel at Bothwood however there's always a next time. The sun setting on Totland Bay was a sheer delight for the dog and I.

Independent

2011-03-19T15:18:00.003Z

Well it almost a month since I have been independent on the council. A month is a long time in politics!

I am working hard to be a strong voice for the people of Buckhurst Hill and have found the letters and emails from residents and other political parties well wishes quite over whelming.

This is very much a period of stepping back and looking at local issues form a different angle and making sure I represent the people on a parish level the best I can as a single identity.

2011-03-13T13:13:00.000Z

With Regret

2011-02-24T18:39:00.003Z

Dear Reader,

It is with great regret that I have decided to leave the Liberal Dem party. The reasons are numerous and I am very concerned about the way the party is going forward nationally. However I have decided to remain as an independent on the parish council for the time being.

I will continue to represent my local community and be a strong voice for the community of Buckhurst Hill.

Kind Regards

Gavin

Thank you

2011-02-20T21:11:00.003Z

Just a brief note to thank everyone for there cards and Birthday wishes. I have had a great day with so many messages so a big thank you. Hope to see many of you soon.

Village Green

2010-11-21T18:33:00.004Z

It was very pleasing to see the new bench on the Village Green earlier this week.

Im sure that it will be well used by local residents and is a welcome addition to the landscape.

Open Spaces in Buckhurst Hil

2010-10-09T17:52:00.006+01:00

I am currently involved in an open spaces working group on Buckhurst Hill Parish Council which will report back to the formal Planning and Environment Committee.

I feel very passionate that our green open areas must be protected. This is one of the main reasons why I got involved in local politics. The next open spaces meeting is on October the 22nd please contact me if any one would like to contribute to this group.

We aim to register the Donkey Field (by Roebuck Lane/Russell road) as a Village Green as its a huge area of land in need of protection . If you or anyone else use that land for recreation purposes I would be keen to have a conversation with you.

Buckhurst Hill is now fully developed and does not need any more houses or flats after the Brook Road development . We now need to concentrate on protecting our green open spaces in our parish.

Village Green two steps closer.

2010-09-11T13:16:00.006+01:00

Many of you know for some time I have been a local Cllr on BHPC and the restoration of the Village Green has been one of my main causes. I am pleased to report that on Sept 9th a motion was passed to purchase a new bench for the Green.

The next step is for us to get a scheme of regulation to maintain the land. However its not just the Council's responsibility. We will need to approach the current owner of the Village Green just off Hornbeam Road as he could potentially veto our scheme of regulation. Do not fear I will not rest until we have achieved the result we so badly need. I would also like to say a big thank you to all the residents who have spent their own time cutting back weeds and taking rubble from the land. The Kubiak family deserves a big thank you too.

Thank you. We are certainly two steps closer to the final result.

Health Care

2009-11-05T17:49:00.001Z

We’ve all experienced moments in hospitals that change the course of our lives.

A lot of money has been invested in health in recent years(No one really knows where the money has gone thanks to Labour) but too much of that has been wasted on bureaucracy rather than investing in front line services. Doctors and nurses are forced to spend too much time trying to meet government targets rather than caring for our patients. And government ministers make decisions about closing local services from the comfort of their offices rather than facing the people it affects. The people of Buckhurst Hill have no easy access to sexual health clinics which in my opinion is a local gap and I urge the local authority to consider a better service than a pharmacist with health promotion to young and old.

I have worked for the NHS for the majority of my working life and have recently been a patient within the Health Service at the local hospital Whips Cross. One of the things that 'bugs' me most is the fact that we now charge people to park at Whips Cross and also the amount of paper work that has to be completed which can in turn affect direct patient care. The way forward is a centralised inspection system so people can get on with the job in hand and cutting the targets.