Heather Wheeler's Blog

OVERSEALS BOWLS CLUB OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE CHANGING ROOMS

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:18:00 +0000

I was invited along to the official opening of the changing rooms for the start of the new season at Overseals Bowls Club.

Absolutely delighted that local celebrity (former Chairman of the Parish Council) Gill Edwards MBE bowled the first bowl and gave a lovely speech.

The clubhouse and surrounds were all decked out with bunting I hope that the teams do well against local rival Coalville. A crunch/derby match to kick the season off.

Overseal is one of our villages where there is so much going on but still they have trouble with kids causing a nuisance, all such a shame when there are so many community minded people really working hard and making a difference locally.

If you are interested in trying out bowls and just want a taster session the club is open on Monday nights 6pm for ‘Chummy and Roll Up’ nights. Honestly this really does mean bowls!

I was accompanied by Cllr Charles Jones and here are a couple of action shots of play.

MY PLAN FOR CHANGE

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:03:00 +0000

I intend to keep you informed about my thoughts, ideas, visits and plans that affect us in South Derbyshire.

This magazine is a mixture of my Annual Report and my Plan for Recovery. We all know that the Recession is only beginning to bite and that it is important for political leaders to not just carp on about it but actually do something.

Having lived here, paid tax here and been involved in our local community here for over 20 years I care about what happens in South Derbyshire and am not prepared to sit back and take a risk on it sliding into a mess both economically and socially. Please read more about my plan for recovery, if in the next few weeks you do not get one delivered by one of my volunteers please email me if you wish to receive a paper copy.

I hope you like what your read and if you want to help be part of the Change please get in touch with me. Remember I do not receive any government/tax payer funding for my campaign or to produce this magazine or to deliver it. All this is achieved by volunteers who want to see change.

Heather

Woodville Boxing Training sessions

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:47:00 +0000

I visited a new idea just starting
out in Woodville on Wednesday
1st April.
Paid for out of our Crime &
Disorder funds and in
conjunction with our Leisure
Department there are now early
evening training sessions for
young people to come along to.

I watched the trained Mentors take
the young people through their paces and
was really impressed.

If the pilot project takes off it is hoped to replicate these clubs in other parts of South Derbyshire.

The young people were enjoying themselves, learning discipline and respect and of course getting fit in the process.

I will watch this with interest and hope it goes from strength to strength.

Derbyshire Conservative Conference at Ashover Village Hall 28th March 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:45:00 +0000

A team from South Derbyshire
travelled up to Ashover, near
Matlock, for a Conference on
Conservative policies on Tourism.

We were lucky enough to have
as guest speakers Shadow
Minister for Culture, Tourism
and Leisure Jeremy Hunt MP and
of course Chief Whip Patrick McCloughlin MP.

Jeremy gave an excellent speech, showing how well he understood and had a passion for Tourism. This could not have been more relevant following on from the Tourism seminar we have recently held in our area. When the local economy is so challenged and people are interested in diversifying this was an opportunity to discuss Conservative plans for the future.

Help and advice for tourism sector

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:40:00 +0000

Tourism businesses in South Derbyshire were invited to attend an event to make them more aware of support available to them, held at Sharpe’s Pottery Museum, Swadlincote, on 24 March 2009.
The event follows on from the successful ‘In the pipeline’ construction products tour, held in early March, which gave over thirty local businesses the chance to network.
The ‘Tourism Business Briefing’was provided for tourism businesses or those thinking of setting up in the sector. This could be anyone from hotel owners to camping parks or food and drink suppliers.
Guests heard several presentations, including one by William Smart of East Midlands Tourism detailing the support that is available to local businesses.
Other speakers at the event discussed effective use of the Internet, how to capture UK tourists and attract overseas visitors and current issues affecting the industry.
There was also displays to view and plenty of time to ask questions.
As Leader of South Derbyshire District Council I know we are doing everything it can to help local businesses in these difficult times. Assistance including grants and advice are available to businesses through a variety of agencies – the aim is to ensure that business people are aware of everything that they could benefit from.
The event run by South Derbyshire District Council and Business Link East Midlands, is held as part of a series of sector-specific events designed to raise awareness of support available to businesses.
It was a great success with companies and businesses attending from al over the District.

Party Chairman Eric Pickles MP visits us in Swadlincote Thursday 19th March 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:31:00 +0000

Burton Mail captured the event and their article is shown in full below
photo by Simon Deacon
Nissen hut is new base for political battle
by TIM FLETCHER
SOUTH DERBYSHIRE Tories have been boosted by a visit from Conservative Party chairman Eric Pickles MP.

Mr Pickles, who represents Brentwood and Ongar and who is Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, visited Swadlincote to officially launch the party’s new headquarters, at the Nissen hut, in Church Street.

He also discussed strategy for the party’s campaign for the Derbyshire County Council elections being held in June.

South Derbyshire District Council leader and prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate Heather Wheeler said the party was ’raring to go’ in its bid to evict the ruling Labour group from County Hall, in Matlock.

"The visit went very well and Eric had the opportunity to meet a lot of our candidates for the June elections," she said.

"He was very pleased with the progress the party are making locally and the fact that we are coming up with policies on efficiency and value for money.

"We want to build on the success of winning the district council in 2007, and we have a number of seats in our sights. We are settled into our new office now and we are all raring to go."

David Cameron email to Heather

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:56:00 +0000

Here is some information that David Cameron has sent to me that I want to share with you. I have attached the video to the bottom of this post.

Dear Heather,

Thank you once again for the incredible amount of support shown to Sam and I after the death of our son, Ivan - it really meant a lot to us.

I've been back to work this week, and on Friday night I gave an important speech in Birmingham about the economy. You can watch me talk about it in this video, and read the full text on our website.

I think people want to hear some straight-talking about the economy. They want to know how we all - especially politicians - got into this mess. And they are ready to hear about what we are going to have to do to get out of recession and into recovery. That's what this speech was all about.

Unfortunately, this Labour Government is keeping its head firmly and stubbornly in the sand. How can you take responsibility for bringing us out of this economic crisis, if you don't take responsibility for at least some of the decisions that got us into this crisis in the first place?

Sorry shouldn't be the hardest word - that's the easy bit. The difficult bit is actually learning the lessons from your mistakes, and taking action to make sure they don't happen again.

Britain is not somehow entitled to economic growth and prosperity. It has to be earned - by having the honesty to face up to our fundamental weaknesses, and having the courage to turn them around.

Flood defences checked out In Egginton

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:54:00 +0000

On this beautiful Spring morning
(13th March 2009) I visited the work
being undertaken on behalf of the
Environment Agency (EA) on flood
defences from Uttoxeter down to Burton.
The lady I met this morning was Teri-Anne Curtis and she is a Geotechnical Engineer working for Ian Farmer and Associates. With her were two skilled workmen who were drilling and depositing, carefully, core samples from the earth bund that acts as a flood defence for Egginton.

This is happening because a Flood Risk Management Strategy for the River Dove is currently being prepared by the Environment Agency. This will appraise options for the reduction of flood risk, paying particular attention to the communities of Hatton and Scropton. In order to undertake this exercise, supporting data is required. Whilst the EA have recently acquired survey and hydraulic modelling information through other studies, they do not have sufficient details regarding the structural integrity of the existing defences. Option appraisal will always consider the improvement of the existing defences and for this to be undertaken reliably they will need to establish accurately the existing condition of these defences, hence this survey work.
Our local EA Midlands Design Team Leader Mark Swain really knows his stuff and as a local is as determined as I am to make sure our villages have the appropriate flood defences. This preliminary work is essential to help build the picture of what is needed, where, why and how.
Flooding and the fear of flooding blights too many lives in South Derbyshire and I am sure that this excellent working relationship that we have with the EA will bring benefits and help protect us.

GORDON LE ROTTER

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:03:00 +0000

On Friday 6th March 2009
I visited Dame Catherine
Harpur’s school in Ticknall.

This excellent school was
host to a touring drama
called Gordon le Rotter which had appeared at many other schools in South Derbyshire in the week.

I was intrigued by the title of the play and I felt a little visit was called for!

In fact our Council was sponsoring the touring company to help, in an innovative way, to get the message across about waste re-cycling. It was a magical way to spend some time. The children,
aged from 4 to 11, were spellbound as the very talented actress put over the message about (not) wasting food.
The point being reduce, re-use, re-cycle.

So rest assured your Council Tax is not being spent on party political propaganda telling you how awful Gordon Brown is but is being used to tell an important message to children in a fun way about cutting waste and the importance of re-cycling any waste left over.

I was truly impressed with the way headteacher Margaret Whyte and her team run the school. Have
a look at their website for more details www.damecatherines.co.uk

Dynamic Arts Celebration

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:33:00 +0000

I thoroughly enjoyed my Friday
morning (27th February) at the Foyer
in Chrysanthemum Court, Newhall.
I was there to join in with the
Dynamic Arts Celebration.

The young people, who live in the
flats, have for the last twelve months
been involved with an Arts scheme run in the evenings and this was the celebration to show off the pieces they had made.

They proudly displayed their paintings, decorated glassware and an excellent DVD. It was great to hear them talk about how much they had learnt, enjoyed and grown as people over the 12 months of the scheme.

We funded the project through the Crime and Disorder partnership. There had been many incidents of anti social behaviour reported in the area and this idea came from the young people as a diversionary session that might help.

Not only did the young people get something tangible out of this but in the last 12 months there has not been a single complaint about anti social behaviour made to Trident Housing at Chrysanthemum Court.

I call that a result.

Lowest ever level of council tax increase

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:07:00 +0000

For the second year running, South Derbyshire District Council has set the lowest ever level of council tax increase.

Proposals for a 2.5% increase in council tax were approved at a full council meeting on Thursday 26 February 2009.

As Leader of South Derbyshire District Council this issue really matters to me.

Our Conservative Administration remain committed to keeping council tax as low as possible. We sincerely wish that it could be lower, but given the external pressures impacting on the Council’s finances, the majority group feels that a 2.5% increase is modest, prudent and balanced. This is a budget which protects the best interests of the people of South Derbyshire.

An increase of 2.5% means a council tax for South Derbyshire of £148.03 for a Band D property, an increase of £3.61 per year on the current rate.

For the second year running, this is an increase of less than one penny a day.

The District council's share of the total council tax bill in South Derbyshire is about 11%. South Derbyshire has kept the increase at 2.5%. The increase for Derbyshire County Council is 2.9%, for the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service is 4% and the Derbyshire Police Authority has opted for an increase of 8.6%

We have approached this budget with a tight financial mindset, underpinned with finding enough money to maintain and make modest improvements in services for our community.

There will be no cuts to services. This is a value for money budget formulated within the severe constraints brought about by the acute economic downturn.

SHADOW MINISTER PRAISES SOUTH DERBYSHIRE’S APPROACH

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:42:00 +0000

On Wednesday (25th February 09) I had the
pleasure of welcoming Rt Hon Theresa May MP
to the first Conference about Domestic Abuse
to be held in South Derbyshire.

Our Shadow Minister for Women praised the
approach that we have taken in delivering
Domestic Abuse services in South Derbyshire.

Speaking at the Conference, Theresa said: “The multi-agency approach adopted in South Derbyshire is exactly the approach needed
elsewhere.” She also praised the district’s Sanctuary scheme which helps victims of domestic abuse to remain in their own homes.

Representatives from organisations including Action for Children, Adult Social Services, Next Steps, Trident Housing and Lemongrove, Good News Family Care and primary and secondary schools in South Derbyshire were among the scores of delegates who attended the South Derbyshire Domestic Abuse Conference at Bretby Conference Centre.

Speakers included Cathy Coe, herself a former victim of domestic abuse and founder of the Pathways project, Safeguarding Children Manager Ian Tucker and Derbyshire Domestic Abuse Development Officer Lorraine Langley.

The event was organised by the South Derbyshire Domestic Abuse Group (DAAG) with funding from Derbyshire County Council and the Safer South Derbyshire Partnership and provided delegates with a chance to consider how they personally would deal with information about cases of domestic abuse.

Presentations by those working in domestic abuse services in the area provided those attending with details of how the Police investigate domestic abuse cases and about the latest domestic abuse developments in the district including Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs).

Workshop sessions discussed case studies and everyone took part in a quiz using individual buzzer units to respond to the on-screen questions.

My role as Chair of the Safer South Derbyshire Partnership gives me an opportunity to really get involved with practical ways of making our society safer. This Conference was a first and everyone involved was absolutely delighted with the way it had gone.

It is gratifying to see so many people from across the county here. In South Derbyshire we take our responsibilities very seriously and this event was an opportunity to learn from others how they cope with this extremely worrying issue.

I believe everyone has left with a better understanding of how to help the very many people who find themselves affected by this dreadful crime.

Sign up to our Honest Food Campaign

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 13:36:00 +0000

Call to change law to end misleading labelling in shops and supermarket our shoppers deserve better

I am urging residents across South Derbyshire to sign up to a new petition calling for clearer labelling on food packaging.

The “Honest Food” campaign launched by Conservatives seeks to end misleading claims and ensure compulsory ‘country of origin’ labelling. This will mean that meat products, such as bacon, sausages and ready meals, which carry a British label can only use meat that comes from animals born and bred in Britain. Conservatives are proposing a change in the law to make this compulsory.

Research into everyday products on supermarket shelves has indentified Tesco chicken dinners “produced in the UK” use chicken from Thailand; Marks and Spencer’s corned beef sandwiches emblazoned with the Union flag use meat from Brazil; and goods from the Birdseye “Great British Menu” range are made with imported meat.

The petition can be signed online at: www.honestfoodcampaign.com. The campaign has been backed by famous chefs, Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall, Clarissa Dickson Wright, Prue Leith and Anthony Worrall Thompson.

People have a right to know where their food comes from, but there is nothing in food labelling regulation to stop food from abroad that is only processed here from being labelled as British.

Conservatives would change the law to prevent unclear and misleading labelling so only meat from animals reared in Britain could carry a British label. Shoppers in South Derbyshire would see clearly where their food comes from so they can choose British food with confidence.

CALLS FOR HONEST LABELLING
The Honest Food campaign aims to:
• Empower consumers to make informed choices about the food they buy.
• End misleading packaging of non-British meat or meat products being labelled as British.
• Support British producers by allowing consumers to identify genuine British meat.
• Promote superior British produce by highlighting the advantages of British produce – especially the superior welfare standards of UK food.
• Bring honesty and integrity to meat sales to restore trust and confidence in British food and labelling in general.

Campaign website: www.honestfoodcampaign.com

There is a petition at: http://www.conservatives.com/Campaigns/Honest_Food/Petition_Item.aspx

Call for mandatory country of origin labelling. Conservatives are campaigning for an overhaul of food labelling procedures to end the unclear and misleading labelling of meat. The recent food scare over contaminated Irish pork has refocused attention on inadequate food labelling in British shops. The framework legislation from the European Commission governing general food labelling is currently being revised in Brussels but EU regulations provide for compulsory origin labelling where its absence might mislead the consumer.

Proposed new law: Conservatives are to present a Food Labelling Regulations (Amendment) Bill which will make it mandatory for retailers to display the country of origin of their meat and meat products, in line with other countries, including the United States and Australia, and will also require meat and meat products labelled as British or carrying the Union flag to be born and bred in Britain.

Endorsements: The call for country of origin food labelling is supported by animal welfare and farming organisations including Compassion in World Farming, RSPCA, National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Family Farmers’ Association, British Pig Executive (BPEX), National Sheep Association, British Poultry Council, Country Land and Business Association, Agricultural Industries Confederation, National Pig Association and the Women’s Food and Farming Union (the full text of responses are contained in the Honest Food policy brief). The Honest Food campaign has been endorsed by Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall, Clarissa Dickson Wright, Prue Leith and Anthony Worrall Thompson.

New survey shows public support clearer food labelling: A new poll commissioned by the Conservatives shows strong public support for clearer country of origin food labelling. The ICM survey found that 51 per cent believe food labelled as British indicates the meat is from an animal born and bred in Britain, when in fact this is frequently not the case. A huge majority (89 per cent) support a “born and bred” qualification for British labelling.

Current examples of poor labelling: Conservative researchers visited major supermarkets last week and found examples of unclear and misleading packaging on a range of meat products. The top five unclear or misleading products on sale were:

Tesco
Chicken dinner
'Produced in UK' but chicken is from Thailand

Marks & Spencer
Corned Beef Sandwich
Emblazoned with Union flag – labelled “Nation’s Favourites” –
but meat is from Brazil

Birdseye
Great British Menu range
Made from 'Imported Meat'

Sainsbury’s
Wafer thin roast chicken
Meat ‘From the UK or Brazil’

Ash Valley
Dinosaur Turkey Roll
Meat from either the UK, the EU or South America

Power to the people

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:21:00 +0000

On Tuesday 17th February I was pleased to be able to attend the launch at the Motor Museum in Coventry of a set of new important policies, which will have a major effect on us in South Derbyshire, today. We will be freed from the threat of thousands of new houses imposed from Westminster. It gives local people new powers to hold their councils to account over spending, and should lead to better value for money and lower council tax.

David Cameron outlined how a new Conservative government would return power to the people. Powers will be taken from the unelected quangos, regional assemblies and Westminster, and given to local councils. It will free local authorities from top down targets put in place by Whitehall, including the imposed housing targets in the Regional Spatial Strategies.

Caroline Spelman MP introduces the policies with David Cameron MP on the video here

Further details of the policies here

Strong local economies
• Abolishing all regional planning and housing powers exercised by regional government, returning powers and discretion back to local councils.
• Creating bottom-up incentives for house building, by allowing you to keep the increase in council tax revenues from new homes, rather than it being equalised away by Whitehall.
• Allowing councils to establish their own local enterprise partnerships to take over the economic development functions and funding of the Regional Development Agencies.
• Giving a real incentive for councils to promote local economic growth, by allowing you to keep the uplift in business rate revenues.
• Giving local authorities a new discretionary power to levy business rate discounts, allowing you to help local shops and services (for example, rural pubs, or post offices).
• Increase the freedom of your council to act in the best interests of residents, by giving councils a general power of competence.
Vibrant local democracy
• Letting councils choose their own organisational structure, such as returning to the Committee system if you wish.
• Abolishing Comprehensive Area Assessment – which looks to be just as burdensome as its predecessor, and further curtailing the number of central targets imposed on councils.
• Empowering citizens, not Whitehall, to ensure value for money by requiring more detailed information on local (and central) government expenditure to be published online.
• Continuing the work of the Lifting the Burdens Task Force to identify unnecessary burdens, and putting its recommendations into practice.
• Abolishing Labour’s new Infrastructure Planning Commission quango.
• Scrapping the Standards Board and repealing the flawed ‘pre-determination’ rules that prevent councillors from standing up for constituents’ views on local issues.
• Abandoning plans to regionalise local fire services, while providing new measures to enhance resilience in the case of a national emergency.

Gordon Brown’s target-driven, top-down government has hindered strong local economies and discouraged civic pride. We will bring councillors and their constituents closer to the levers of power. This will start to restore the trust that has been lost in our political system under Labour.
The full paper will be available on conservatives.com or can be downloaded direct:

Localism Green Paper

Five Conservative measures to help victims of the recession

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 09:34:00 +0000

We will:

Abolish income tax on savings for basic rate taxpayers and raise the pensioners' personal allowance by £2,000 to £11,490.

Get credit flowing and save jobs with a £50 billion National Loan Guarantee Scheme.

Help small businesses with cashflow by delaying VAT bills for six months.

Freeze council tax for two years by cutting wasteful Government spending.

Get companies hiring again through reducing employment costs for small businesses by cutting National Insurance, and through a tax break for new jobs.

And over the long term we will get the public finances back under control with an Office for Budget Responsibility so no Labour Government can ever bankrupt this country again.
Gordon Brown has been in charge of the Economy for 12 years. This is his recession and we are all depressed!

A NEW YEAR MESSSAGE FOR 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 19:44:00 +0000

As the old year closes and we welcome in the New Year
I want to wish you all a healthy, safe and prosperous one.

No one knows what the next 12 months will bring. I am
waiting to see if Gordon Brown calls the election and like
everyone else watching what will happen with the economy.
I guess the two might be connected.

I have enjoyed posting a few snippets about my political
life, sharing with you some of the highlights, giving you an
insight into the life and day to day events that a Candidate
gets involved with.

If you would like to contact me please do by emailing me
at heather@heatherwheeler.org.uk and if you would like to help, donate or join the Conservative Party I would love to hear from you. Please remember this campaign does not receive any public funding, it is all run with the benefit of donations by kind people who want a change of Government and who support me.

Good luck in 2009 and thank you for your continued interest

Coton-in-the-Elms CofE Primary School

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 19:34:00 +0000

On Friday 24th November 2008 I had the pleasure of visiting Coton-in-the-Elms Primary School.

The Chairman of Governors Mr Bird kindly introduced me to Head Mrs Anne Clayton who spent over an hour taking me round her school.
We are rightly proud to have such a good school in our area. The Chef and kitchen have won awards for their meals and the caring staff that look after some very challenging children are a credit to all.
There is a debate in the country about how Special Needs Children should be educated. I think that choice for parents is important but the professional and caring way that staff here teach the children is an inspiration and I am sure will be used as a model for inclusive education.

There is a possibility that the strengths of the school may lead to an expansion of services for children in the area. This is something that I am sure Mrs Clayton will cope with extremely well.

Mercy Ships UK

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:40:00 +0000

I had the pleasure of meeting Terry Harrison of Melbourne just before Christmas and he told me all about his involvement in an amazing Charity called Mercy Ships.
I have copied their website front page for you to read a taster about their work. I hope you want to find out more so please look them up at www. Mercyships.org.uk and maybe you will be moved to donate.
Terry talks passionately about the work done onboard the ships with lifesaving and enhancing surgery and healthcare.
It is great to meet such committed people. We are so lucky to have people who care so much about other’s lives living here in South Derbyshire.
Mercy Ships UK
Mercy Ships UK is a charity registered in the United Kingdom and governed by a Board of Trustees. The UK Office, based in Stevenage, is part of a global network of offices whose mission is to raise awareness and support for the work of Mercy Ships through fundraising, volunteer recruitment and the procurement of materials and services.
UK Board of Trustees
Lord McColl CBE (Chairman)
Lord Anderson
Suzanne Avery
Henry Clarke
Ruth Guy
Terry Harrison
Jim Paterson
Don Stephens
Dr Keith Thomson (Vice Chairman)
UK Patrons
The Rt Hon John Major CH
Dame Norma Major DBE

Give Blood

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:36:00 +0000

Today, 4th December, I joined over 160 other local people in giving blood at Swadlincote Church Hall.

The National Blood Transfusion service regularly use this venue and have a great turnout.

The Nurses will take you through the registration process calmly and thoroughly, at any time that you want to back out even when you are hooked up they reassure you and make you feel you are in charge.

It was an uplifting experience to be part of something that makes our society so special. Individuals, teams from local businesses, all ages and sexes were there.

Look at The National Blood Service - do something amazing give Blood
The National Blood Service web site, do something amazing today - give blood and save a life.

In the run up to the Festive season please see if you can do something, to give a little back, to help keep operations on the NHS running smoothly by giving blood.

It was the most rewarding hour of my day today.

Charles Edward Stuart Society

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:32:00 +0000

RE-ENACTMENT AT SWARKESTONE BRIDGE

For a number of years now the Charles Edward Stuart Society have re-enacted a battle that local history says took place at Swarkestone Bridge around the 6th of December 1743. Bonnie Prince Charlie and his forces got as far as the Bridge just south of Derby and lost a skirmish against Government troops. The Duke of Devonshire raised a battalion called the Derby Blues and after the skirmish a meeting was held at Essex House in Derby and the Prince decided to return up north.

The re-enactment was great fun, a good crowd came to watch and I am grateful to Peter Herbert (in the photo) for kindly inviting me along.

I’ll remember the day for a long time and should anyone else come and try and take over our land I think we in South Derbyshire will be ready and able to fight them off successfully again.

EU finally sees sense Misshapen vegetables no longer banned

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:56:00 +0000

Hooray finally the EU sees sense and has re-written its rules and will allow misshapen vegetables to be sold and not kept from the market. Below are press releases on behalf of the EU and East Midlands regional Assembly.
I remember reading from our Euro enthusiasts that these rules were figments of us Euro-sceptics imaginations. Well we had to wait a long while but we have been vindicated. Interestingly there are still rules that apply to fruits and of course we have to wait and see what the Labour Government do – will they accept this new ruling as is or ‘gold plate’ it as usual?
Press releases:-
BRUSSELS -- Misshapen fruit and vegetables may be sold across the European Union from next year after member states voted on Wednesday to scrap the bloc's much-maligned standards for size and shape.
Bent cucumbers, nobbly carrots and undersized melons can be sold by retailers from next July following the approval of proposals by the EU's farm chief to ditch EU marketing standards which set permitted sizes, lengths and "bendiness'' for produce.
"This marks a new dawn for the curvy cucumber and the nobbly carrot,'' EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel said in a statement.
She hopes the move will help end years of jibes about EU over-regulation in which European Commission bureaucrats are portrayed as over-zealous, and at the same time provide more affordable fruit and vegetables amid high food prices.
"We simply don't need to regulate this sort of thing at EU level. It is far better to leave it to market operators,'' the commissioner said.
"In these days of high food prices and general economic difficulties, consumers should be able to choose from the widest range of products possible. It makes no sense to throw perfectly good products away, just because they are the 'wrong' shape.''
Wednesday's vote means an end to minimum shapes and sizes for 26 fruits and vegetables, such as aubergines and apricots, cherries, garlic, leeks, peas, spinach and watermelons.
But 10 standards will remain, including those for apples, citrus fruit, peaches, pears and tomatoes. The 10 categories account for three-quarters of EU cross-border fruit and vegetable trade.
However, governments could let shops sell these 10 products as long as they are labelled properly. For example, an apple not meeting the standard may still be sold as long as it is labelled "product intended for processing'' or equivalent wording.

“The Regional Assembly has welcomed the abolition of European size standards for fruit and vegetables, claiming it could boost local farmers and producers.

At the moment, stores reject around 20 per cent of produce, because it does not meet EU marketing standards, which specify shapes and sizes for 27 types of fruit and vegetables.

Today, a European Union committee was due to back European Commission plans to relax the standards, which would enable stores to sell misshapen fruit and vegetables at cheaper prices from June next year.

EMRA’s chairman, Councillor David Parsons, said: “I welcome this very sensible step forward.

“In the current economic downturn, it makes sense, for both producers and shoppers, if perfectly edible but oddly shaped food can be sold at a discount price.”

Remembrance Sunday 9th November 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:10:00 +0000

Along with many South Derbyshire Folk and visitors
I attended our remembrance ceremony at the Memorial gates to Eureka Park in Swadlincote this Sunday.
I have been going to this ceremony for years. It is always very moving and is a way of honouring our dead. In South Derbyshire we have such a vivid history of lost service personnel. In recent years we have lost three good men: Moult, Aston and Hylton.

This Sunday the Cadets and band were impeccable. It was a proud moment sharing our thoughts and prayers with families who have lost loved ones and with those who are serving in our Armed forces today.
After the Swadlincote ceremony I went up to Church Gresley and paid my respects there too.

Although it is a sad day I find it both incredibly moving and also uplifting.
Nobody likes war but how proud we are of our people out there putting their lives on the line for us.

HAVE A HEART APPEAL

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:01:00 +0000

Helping the homeless

Derbyshire Housing Aid, based in Phoenix Street Derby, launched their ‘Have a Heart’ Appeal today, Tuesday 28th October 2008.

The Patron High Sherriff Lord Ralph Kerr, assorted Mayors, celebrities, Councillors and my fellow Parliamentary Candidates Pauline Latham and Stephen Mold all attended this launch for this excellent cause.

The appeal is to combat homelessness across the county. To help local people in desperate circumstances to change their lives positively.

The appeal funds go directly to extending services for local people in need of food, provisions, shelter, accommodation, and support towards independent living, education and employment, as well as provide essential support ensuring that no one is left in the cold this winter.

Here in South Derbyshire we team up with Derbyshire Housing Aid with their attendance at the CVS offices in Swadlincote one day a week, offering help, advice and signposting to services.

This is an excellent cause and I wish them well.
You can contact them at DHA
Phoenix Street
Derby, DE1 2ER or by phone on 01332 287850 to make a contribution

Photo Heather outside DHA offices in Derby 28th October 2008

Council of Governors for Queen's Hospital Burton Trust

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:09:00 +0000

This Thursday (24th October 2008) I attended my first meeting as a Governor of the Council of Governors Queen's Burton Hospital Trust.
There are people representing all the feeder areas that send patients to Burton: Tamworth, Lichfield, Leics and of course Staffordshire. From South Derbyshire we have three other representatives Sheila Jackson (Castle Gresley Parish Council Chairman); Gill Farrington (Swadlincote 50+ Forum Chairman) and Peter Bailey-Bligh from Netherseal. I sit on the Board as the Local Authority representative for SD, NW Leics, Derbyshire and Leics County Councils and will report back to them as the meetings unfold.
I was hugely impressed with the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and our Trust (Company) Secretary who took us through our initial 'need to know' induction process.
We had a chance to meet a number of the Directors and have a taster of their responsibilities and finally the Chief Executive Paula Clark.
The whole process and what the future holds is still awaiting a final announcement about the Hospital receiving Foundation Trust Status. When this hopefully arrives, in the next few days, then the real work begins.
What do we want our Hospital to provide for us? What specialities? What are the priorities for the future?
I am looking forward to being a Governor enormously and will keep you posted on progress.

Meeting with the local National Farmers Union

noreply@blogger.com (Heather Wheeler) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:06:00 +0000

Following my recent ‘farm walk’ with Angela and Barry Sargent the local NFU kindly invited me to speak to their monthly meeting in the Hawk & Buckle, Etwall.

The Chairman Ian Crabtree and Group Secretary Jim Watt opened the meeting and gave me the opportunity to speak and answer questions for an hour and a half. A really interesting evening.

As I have mentioned before the red tape and regulation that farmers have to follow is horrendous. Comments ranging from caring for wildlife (particularly hedgehogs) to the price of wheat to importing of milk from Europe led to lively discussions.

I was extremely grateful to be able to meet a real cross-section of our local farmers. Without a doubt they love what they do and are stewards of our countryside but my goodness they do not have an easy life.

We left on good terms and hope to continue the dialogue in the coming months.