CHESHIRE EAST TORIES ARE TURNING THEIR BACKS ON CREWE AND NANTWICH

David Williams, Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, points to further evidence that Tory-controlled Cheshire East Council is turning its’ back on Crewe and Nantwich.

A recent press release from Cheshire East Council lauds the fact that they have approved £3.5 million for the regeneration of Poynton village centre.

David Williams commented, “I do not want to set town again town and I have nothing against Poynton, but this is further proof that the Tories simply do not care about Crewe and Nantwich.. Yet again we see priority being given to a town in the old Macclesfield borough and no money or assistance for Crewe and Nantwich.”

David said, “Crewe is the key driver of the Cheshire East economy and yet we are suffering dither and delay on key projects such as the Crewe Gateway Project, the regeneration of Crewe town centre, the replacement of the bus station and interminable delays in the completion of Queens Park. Worse still, residents and visitors to Crewe and Nantwich are penalised with the highest parking charges in Cheshire East.”

David concluded, “It is time for the people of Crewe and Nantwich to take a stand. We are not asking for any preferential treatment, we just want fairness and equality from Cheshire East Council, something that we are clearly not getting at the moment.”

Questions to the candidates: David Williams on the economy

There is no doubt that we’ve been through tough times recently, but it could have been so much worse. Labour’s fiscal stimulus saved jobs. For those who suffered the personal tragedy of redundancy, we are helping them back to work quickly. We did not pass by on the other side.

Contrast that with the Tories, who would have let the recession run its course, leaving people to sink or swim in the deepest economic downturn since the 1930s.

The Tories fundamentally called it wrong three times. First, they would have let a bank go bust, thereby deepening the banking crisis. Second, to make deep and savage cuts now risks the fragile recovery. Third, having said they would back Labour’s action, they u-turned and bottled taking the tough decisions.

Gordon Brown led the world in tackling the global economic crisis. The Tories proved they cannot be trusted on the economy and we see that writ large with their leadership of Cheshire East Council. They should have been preparing the area for the recovery, but have dithered and delayed. They failed to rebuild Crewe station, they failed to regenerate Crewe town centre and they failed to open up land in Basford that could create thousands of job opportunities.

Unlike the Tory recessions of the 1980s and 1990s we will not leave young people with no hope and no opportunities. Unemployment is not a price worth paying.

Labour is the only party that promises to halve the deficit over four years, whilst continuing to invest in front line services and offering young people the guarantee of an apprenticeship, training, college place or work.

HOME OFFICE MINISTER DAVID HANSON LISTENs TO RESIDENTS’ VIEWS ON CRIME AND POLICING

David Williams, Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, and the Minister of State at the Home Office David Hanson MP visited the Marshfield Community Centre last Monday to listen to residents’ views on crime and policing.

David Williams and David Hanson, Home Office Minister with responsibility for Crime and Policing, attended a packed meeting at the Marshfield Community Centre in Crewe last Monday. David Williams arranged the meeting to enable the Minister to hear the views of residents on crime and policing.

David Williams said, “I think it is important that Minister should be able to hear directly from local residents about their hopes and fears, about their concerns and about the success stories. I was therefore very pleased to be able to bring the minister for State at the Home Office who has responsibility for crime and policing to the meeting.”

David Hanson said, “Crime in general has reduced steadily and this is the first time ever that the UK has gone through a recession without crime rising. During the recessions of the 1980s and 1990s crime rose considerably and everyone expect it to rise again during the current recession but crime actually fell this time around so we must be doing something right.”

The latest crime figures for Crewe and Nantwich show that crime fell by 7.9% in Crewe and by 2.9% in Nantwich when compared to the same three month period last year.

He continued, “I was pleased to hear of the work being done by the local Police Community Support Officers in Crewe. It is clear that they have formed very valuable partnerships with the local communities and fulfil a role that is valued by those communities. The Tories are proposing to cut the ring-fenced funding of PCSOs if they win the next election and I think this is a grave mistake on their part. It is obvious to me that PCSOs play a very important part in communities and will be sorely missed if the funding for them disappears.”

The Minister went on to announce the introduction of a 101 non-emergency telephone number to be introduced later this year. He said, “This telephone number will allow resident to contact the police in a non-emergency situation rather than by using the 999 number thus freeing up that 999 system for use by true emergencies.”

He also criticised the Tories attempt to politicise the police by their commitment to introduce directly-elected Police Commissioners to run our police forces.

David Williams commented, “The meeting with the Minister went really well and enabled local residents to put their points directly to him and to hear about some of the plans for the future.”

HOME OFFICE MINISTER DAVID HANSON VISIT ‘THE RAVINE’

David Williams, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, and Minister of State at the Home Office David Hanson visited ‘The Ravine’ last Saturday at the request of local residents.

David Williams and David Hanson, Home Office Minister with responsibility for Crime and Policing, accepted the invitation of local residents of The Rockwood Estate in Crewe, to visit what is locally known as ‘The Ravine’ – a long wide strip of open land running between the aluminium bungalows in Doddington Road and the houses in Capenhurst Avenue.

Local resident Kath Harvey said, “The residents in this area have banded together over the past few years to transform our estate from what was once a poor rated area into one where there is a great deal of local pride and community spirit. We have worked well with the two local PCSOs and the results have been fantastic. The one area that is still an eyesore and a source of petty crime is ‘The Ravine’. People from outside the area gather there to consume alcohol and use drugs. There is a litter problem and because it is so overgrown with bushes and trees it is a very difficult problem to tackle.”

Kath added, “We have worked closely with the local community police officers and they have been a great help, but, despite requests to Cheshire East Council to clear out the overgrown bushes and trees we do not seem to be getting anywhere. That is why I spoke to David Williams to see if he could help.”

David Williams said, “When Kath spoke to me I went down to see The Ravine for myself and it is very densely planted with trees and shrubs that have not received any maintenance since they were planted. I can well see how this is a problem area. The local PCSOs have been very helpful in doing all they can but more pressure is now need to be put on Cheshire East Council to clear out the dense bushes and make the area one that not only can be used as a play area by the children, but can be properly police by the PCSOs. I invited David Hanson to have a look at the area and speak with local residents, and to hear about the good partnership that has been built up between the residents and the Community Police Officers.”

David Hanson commented, “It is good to hear about how successful the partnership between the local residents and the PCSOs has been in this area. It is a message than I am hearing all over the country. ‘The Ravine’ would be an ideal spot for children to play, away from the roads, or for the residents to hold community events to build on the community spirit that has already been established, but in its present state it is a haven for petty crime and anti-social behaviour. The local council need to drastically clear out the overgrown bushes and trees and transform it from an eyesore to something that is useful in the community.”

David Williams concluded, “Together with the residents and the local community police, I will be asking Cheshire East Council to take action on clearing this area and make it an asset for the local community rather than a source of annoyance.”

Car Park Charges Protest Continues

JOIN THE DEBATE ON CREWE BLOG

David Williams, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, is leading a ‘Rainbow Alliance’ to protest over Cheshire East Councils’ car parking policy.

Following on from the Protest held on Saturday 27th February, David will lead a Protest March against Cheshire East Council’s policies on Saturday 13th March. The March will start at 11.00am from Chantry Court, near to the Hops Bar and Christ Church car park, and will proceed at a gentle pace along Forge Street, through the Town Centre and end outside the Crewe Municipal Buildings in Earle Street.

David said, “We plan what may more correctly be called a protest stroll rather than a march. The Tory-controlled Cheshire East Council has turned their backs on Crewe and Nantwich and we need to show them that will not tolerate that.”

David continued, “Following our protest on 27th February, the Leader of Cheshire East has conceded that there needs to be ‘fairness’ on the issue of Sunday parking and is proposing to scrap the charge in Crewe and Nantwich. This is a victory achieved by a small demonstration. What we want now is equality on parking charges. Crewe and Nantwich pay 70p per hour whilst Macclesfield pay 60p and in Congleton it is only 30p. A large turn-out on Saturday 13th March will show Cheshire East Council that we mean business. I would appeal to everyone to join us on Saturday 13th March to show the Council that we are not prepared to be ignored. Meet at Chantry Court at 11.00am and make your voice heard.”

DAVID KIDNEY VISITS SOUTH CHESHIRE COLLEGE TO LISTEN TO STUDENTS’ VIEWS ON THE ENVIRONMENT

David Williams, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, and David Kidney MP, Environment Minister at the Department for Energy and Climate Change, spoke with students at South Cheshire College last Friday.

The visit was arranged by the South Cheshire Young Labour and David Williams to enable David Kidney to meet with students at the college and to listen to their views on the environment and climate change.

Sam Colclough, Student Officer for Crewe and Nantwich Labour Party, and himself a student at South Cheshire College, said, “There is a lot of interest in environmental issues among the students, and I asked David Williams if he could arrange for a Minister to come along and listen to their views. We were delighted when David Kidney agreed to come along and he was very interested in what we had to say.”

David Williams said, “David Kidney was more that delighted to visit South Cheshire College. He was able to hear at first-hand the concerns and ideas of local students and to tell them about some of the things that the Labour Government has been doing to combat climate change. In addition we were able to look round the construction of the new college buildings.”

David Kidney commented, “I am always eager to hear the views of young people on the environment and the dangers threatened by Climate Change. We had a very good session in the ‘Cafe Chill’ area and I was impressed by their ideas. I was also very impressed by the work that is being done in building the new college and I am especially interested in the energy-saving measures that are being incorporated into the design.”

David Williams added, “I know that there has been some disruption to residents around the college site during the building work. I also know that college officials have been consulting with residents during the building programme. Most residents accept that there is bound to be some disruption but I am keen to see that every step is taken to keep that disruption to a minimum. The new college is due to open in September and the main building work will be finished some time before that, so the situation will ease quite considerably. The new building will be really impressive and will match the very high reputation that the college has for academic achievement.”

Sam Colclough concluded, “It’s not every day you have a chance to put your views directly to the Government Minister. The Students at Danebank certainly appreciated his visit and the fact that he was keen to listen to us.”

DAVID WILLIAMS SHOUTS OUT FOR A SURE START

David Williams, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, has this week given his backing to the campaign in support of Sure Start Children’s centres, which provide universal services for all families and children under five.

The ‘Shout out for a Sure Start’ campaign was launched by the charity 4Children and the popular children’s TV character Peppa Pig. The campaign has the support of children’s charities, Trades Unions and the Children’s Secretary Ed Balls.

David Williams said, “Parents across Crewe and Nantwich tell me all the time how much they value their local Sure Start Children’s Centres, the services on offer and the help and support they provide. Most parents I talk to cannot imagine what it would be like if their local Children’s Centre was no longer there. That’s why I’m backing this campaign to shout out for a Sure Start and to promote the universal services on offer for families in Crewe and Nantwich.”

Back in 1997 there were no Children’s Centre, but, thanks to investment from the Labour Government, there are now twelve Sure Start Centres across Cheshire East with five Centres in Crewe and Nantwich, delivering services to 12,280 children and their families across Cheshire East. By the end of the year another eight are expected to open meeting the Government’s target of 3,500 centres open by 2010.

The Labour Government has said it will keep investing in Sure Start because the early years of a child’s life are so important, but the Tories plans to cut £200million a year from Sure Start budgets. This is the equivalent of one in five Children’s Centres having to close its doors.

David said, “David Cameron has said that the Tories would take Sure Start away from families on modest and middle incomes and focus it on the poorest families instead, but I think that would be a big step backwards. Sure Start makes a difference to hundreds of families across Crewe and Nantwich. It should be open to all parents and children, not just a few. That’s why I am going to keep shouting out for Sure Start and I urge local parents to back the campaign as well.”

CREWE PENSIONER PUT VAT SAVINGS TO GOOD USE

David Williams, the Labour Party’s Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, congratulates local pensioner Nan Walton on making good use of the savings from the temporary reduction in VAT.

Local pensioner Nanette Walton of Brierley Street in Crewe is putting the savings she has made from last year’s VAT reduction to good use.

She told David Williams “During the time that VAT was reduced from 17.5% to 15%, every time I went to the shop I put the saving into a jar. Over the year it mounted up and I found that I have £55.56p.”

Nan continued, “I've been supporting Crewe Alex for 60 years and I’ve decided to put the money towards next year’s season ticket.”

David said, “When the Government brought in the temporary reduction in VAT they intended to put money into people’s pockets to help stimulate the economy during the global economic downturn. Although we were criticised by the Tories, Nan has demonstrated just how much this initiative was worth to people.”

DAVID WILLIAMS WELCOMES FEWER REPOSSESSIONS BUT WANTS HELP TO CONTINUE

David Williams, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, has welcomed the news that the number of repossessions during 2009 was less than had been forecast, and is almost half of the number that took place in the early 1990s, but he insists that the Government must continue their help for homeowners.

David said, “Lower interest rates and Labour’s measures to help people have assisted more struggling families stay in their homes than previously predicted. Repossessions in Crewe and Nantwich have fallen by over 7% but I believe that this is still too high and that the Government must continue with its help for struggling homeowners.”

Compared to the early 1990s recession, fewer houses have been repossessed – 46,000 across the UK in 2009 against 75,500 across the UK in 1991. Arrears are also down whilst the number of mortgages has increased from 9.8m to 11.1m.

David commented, “The main difference this time is that Labour has taken action to support people. Instead of leaving people to sink or swim, we have invested to help keep people in their homes. This help must continue if we are to see the number of repossession fall further.”

Michael Coogan, Director General of the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said, “The fact that mortgage arrears and possessions did not rise as much as we feared in 2009 is testament to the effect of low interest rates, and a great deal of concerted efforts by lenders, Government and the advice sector to help borrowers to address financial difficulties when they occur.”

Howard Archer, Chief UK and European Economist at IHS Global Insight, said, “The CML and Ministry of Justice data indicate that Government initiatives to reduce repossessions by requiring lenders and borrowers to examine all alternatives is having a significant beneficial impact in helping people to keep their homes.”

David concluded, “The risk of repossessions is still too high and families are still feeling pressure on their finances. That is why the Government must continue and extend its support for those who need it most. The Government is working with local advice agencies to make sure people can access the help they need – from free legal advice to the backstop Mortgage Rescue Scheme for the most vulnerable households. More than 330,000 families have benefitted from help advice with their mortgage over the past year and Labour is committed to doing everything we can to prevent families from going through the trauma of repossession.”

Camera on health

Car Park Charges Protest

Tory councillors called on to resign in shame as anger grows over Crewe and Nantwich car parking charges

A rainbow alliance of local residents, Labour and Nantwich Independent councillors took to the streets on Saturday to protest over Cheshire East Council car parking charges policy.

The protesters gathered on a rainy day at Christ Church Car Park and were lead by would-be MP David Williams and Clr Dorothy Flude, Labour Group Leader in Cheshire East.

David Williams said, “It's time to take a stand because this Tory controlled council are not listening to reasoned argument. I congratulate the Labour, Liberal and Independent Councilors for their efforts to reach a fair settlement for Crewe and Nantwich.

“This week’s Cheshire East Budget Meeting proved that the Tories have turned their back on Crewe and Nantwich. The area is are being undermined with parking charges higher than other nearby towns. This disgracefully unfair policy is damaging to local businesses trying to survive in these difficult times.

Dorothy Flude said, “All we are asking for is fairness for Crewe and Nantwich. Yet local Tory councilors, who claim to represent the area, failed to stand up for us. None of them joined the Labour, Liberal and Independent opposition to these terrible parking charges aimed at fleecing local motorists.

“How can it be right that in the same authority we in Crewe and Nantwich pay 70p per hour; Macclesfield pays 60p, and it’s only 30p in Congleton. Yet again Crewe and Nantwich is the poor relation.

Nantwich Independent Councilor Arthur Moran said, “Parking in Crewe and Nantwich is really expensive and it will harm businesses in the two towns. We must remain a shopping destination and attract people from outside the area otherwise we will end up with two ghost towns. The situation is that serious.”

David Williams concluded, “Crewe and Nantwich Tories either abstained or voted against a proposal to reduce parking charges. They should hang their heads in shame, or better still resign and make way for people who will stand up for local motorists.

“Feelings are running high amongst local residents and we are not going to let this go. We are planning another protest in two weeks time and we will keep up the pressure until Cheshire East listens to reason.”

The next protest will take place on Saturday 13 March. Meet at 11am, at Chantry Court opposite Christ Church Car Park in central Crewe.

Questions to the candidates: David Williams on Law and Order

Labour has reduced overall crime by over one-third tackling years of Tory under-investment in community policing. Labour has delivered more uniformed officers patrolling our streets, ASBOs to tackle anti-social behaviour and local councils now work closely with the police.

Neighbourhood policing has been a big step forward. Every time I raise constituents’ concerns I receive an immediate and positive response from local PCSOs and police officers who are eager to help.

I know how effective these measures have been because I work with retail employers against crime and anti-social behaviour in shopping areas. I organise a high profile campaign to protect shopworkers from violence, threats and abuse for my trade union Usdaw and lobby Government and councils for action.

In this global economic downturn we feared crime would increase. It rocketed in the Tory recessions of the 1980s and 1990s. However, Cheshire’s overall recorded crime is down by 9% over the last year, unheard of in a recession. It shows that Labour’s action has made a lasting difference and I’d like to thank the police for their hard work in achieving that reduction.

The Tories offer nothing but fake statistics and an immediate 10% in the police budget, with further savage cuts to come. They make up stories suggesting Crewe and Nantwich is a dangerous and violent place to live, which I totally reject.

Despite the improving situation, too many people’s lives are blighted by crime and anti-social behaviour, so we have much more to do. If Labour wins the election we will tackle the most difficult families; providing help to overcome issues of truancy, criminal activity, vandalism and anti-social behaviour that so often brings down a neighbourhood.

Labour is the only party that offers tough action on crime and continued investment in a highly visible uniformed presence on our streets.

Camera on Ashcroft

Letter to the Chronicle

Dear Sir

It was bad enough that along with thousands of others I watched the Alex go down 0-1 to Chesterfield; but my Wednesday evening got even worse when I was left waiting for an hour for a bus to Sandbach.

Having left the match a minute before time to sprint down Gresty Road and catch the 2140 from Crewe Arms, I and others had to wait an hour, because our bus had been cancelled. Now I'm sure that Arriva have a genuine reason for this and to be fair to them the 38 route is generally very reliable, but where are the contingencies?

Our frustration was compounded by seeing an "out of service" Arriva bus pass us twice during the one hour wait. If it was being driven by a mechanic rather than a bus driver, and therefore unable to pick up passengers, he could at least have stopped to tell us our bus was cancelled. We'd have been grateful in the knowledge that we could have retired to one of Nantwich Road's excellent pubs and wait for the 2240 in the warm.

I used to be a bus driver in Crewe when the situation would have been very different. First there used to be two buses to Sandbach every hour in the evening; the Macclesfield bus and the Winsford bus. Second, because Arriva's predecessors garaged at Crewe Bus Station they were able to mobilise alternative vehicles very quickly in the event of a breakdown.

When I look at the investment Labour has made in bus services and the fantastic improvements for passengers in other areas, I feel badly let down by Cheshire East Council. It's twenty years since I was on the buses, the local service has deteriorated in that time, whilst services improved elsewhere. Why does the Council expect people to use the bus when the services are so infrequent and the information is so poor?

These are my three top priorities for bus improvements and I hope Cheshire East Council is listening:

1. Live passenger information at bus stops. Commonplace in many areas, keeping passengers informed of delays and cancellations. It is a disgrace that some bus stops in Crewe and Nantwich that don't even have a timetable, just an expensive telephone number to call for information.

2. A new bus terminus in Crewe. We are all fed up with our existing bus station, it is an embarrasment to the Town. We need a new bus station, not in the town centre, but at the railway station. Let's have a proper integrated transport network that reflects the geography of the town and links to the Crewe Gateway Project, which could deliver an upgraded rail station on the existing site, a new link road and the opportunity to create 7-8,000 jobs on the Basford sites.

3. Crewe and Nantwich based bus companies. I believe that Cheshire East should only hand out contracts to companies who garage their buses in the Crewe and Nantwich area. We are a major bus and rail hub and it is unacceptible that existing local operators garage way outside the area.

If the Tory leadership of Cheshire East Council were as reliant on public transport as I and many others are, we would have a better bus service. The only way to tackle environmental concerns and the ever increasing problems of congestion is to have a bus network that is fast, frequent and friendly to passenger needs. The ball is in your court Cheshire East Tories.

Yours faithfully

David Williams
Labour's Parliamentary Candidate
for Crewe and Nantwich

DAVID WILLIAMS CONDEMNS COUNCIL DITHER AND DELAY OVER CREWE RAILWAY STATION

David Williams, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, condemned Cheshire East Council for delaying improvements to Crewe Railway Station in its so-called ‘Vision for Crewe’.

David said, “The presentation made recently to local Councillors is further evidence that Cheshire East is all words and precious little action. The plan, which now has a twenty-year time-span, put the much needed improvements to Crewe Railway Station in doubt once again.”

David Williams has consistently campaigned for a redeveloped Crewe station on its existing site and has work closely with CREAM to this end. He has twice brought the Secretary of State for Transport to Crewe. After the first visit the immediate threat of the station moving to Basford was removed and after the second visit he secured new funding for investment in the existing station.

David said, “I am increasingly frustrated by Cheshire East’s dither and delay. Instead of employing consultants to kick the project into the long grass, they should be building the link road to open up the Basford sites. Cheshire East Council is preventing Crewe and Nantwich taking full advantage of the recovery. These sites could provide 7,000 to 8,000 jobs and we should be bidding for investment and attracting new employers to the area rather than wasting money in an excuse to do nothing.”

David went on to say, “The local MP is failing to stand up for Crewe and Nantwich. He spends most of his time running down the area and making false claims on plans for a Basford super-prison. He does not want to stand up to his Tory mates in Macclesfield, who prioritised a by-pass around Alderley Edge over a job-creating link road for Crewe.”

Local Councillor and member of CREAM, Roy Cartlidge said, “I am appalled at this latest presentation. Cheshire East Council is now asking Crewe to wait another 20 years before we see any improvements. Can Crewe afford to sand by and wait another twenty years?. It seems that Cheshire East Council and the local MP do not care about Crewe at all and that only David Williams is prepared to stand up for Crewe and Nantwich as he is the only one that has made any progress on this.”

DAVID WILLIAMS SUPPORTS 'WORLD BOOK DAY'

David Williams, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, is supporting ‘World Book Day’ on 4th March by donating books and attending events at local community centres in Crewe and Nantwich.

‘World Book Day’ is being celebrated in Crewe and Nantwich with events at a number of local Community Centres. World Book Day is the biggest annual celebration of books and reading in the UK and Ireland and local Councillor Roy Cartlidge is helping to organise events at a number of centres in the West End of Crewe.

Roy Cartlidge said, “On Thursday 4th March from 8 o’clock in the morning until 8 o’clock in the evening, you can pop in at Beechmere Extra Care Village, Marshfield Community Centre, Webby’s Community Centre or St Barnabas Church Hall for a quick read or to listen to a story.”

David Williams said, “I am supporting ‘World Book Day’ locally by donating books that will be passed on to the Community Centres. I believe that books provide a gateway into the imagination, whether it is a story for youngsters, a biography of someone, an adventure novel of derring-do, or a factual reference book. Books are a source of wonderment and amazement and they inspire us to great things. Our own imagination can provide much better pictures than the television of movies.

He added, “If you have any books that you have read and no longer require, please bring them along to one of the centres on the day, or pass them on to either myself or Roy, so that they may be enjoyed by others. Do please try to pop in at one or more of the centres and see what’s going on.”

World Book Day

DAVID WILLIAMS SUPPORTS ‘FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT’

David Williams, the Labour Party’s Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, has welcomed and supports ‘Fairtrade Fortnight 2010’ and urges residents and organisations in Crewe and Nantwich to get involved.

‘Fairtrade Fortnight 2010’ runs from Monday 22nd February until Sunday 7th March, and aims to increase the awareness and purchasing of Fairtrade products. This year the theme is ‘The Big Swap’ which encourages people to swap more products to Fairtrade. The target is one million and one swaps by the end of the Fortnight.

David said, “I am encouraging shoppers in Crewe and Nantwich to buy Fairtrade products during this fortnight, but not to stop there. Over 4,500 products have been licensed to carry the Fairtrade Mark and there are over 460 producer organisations selling to the UK, representing more than 1.5 million farmers and workers in developing countries. Small changes in our shopping habits can make a big difference to the world’s poorest people. By buying food, gifts and other products from developing countries, we can make a real difference to the lives of some of the world’s poorest people.”

Douglas Alexander, Labour’s International Development Secretary, said, “David Williams has been a passionate campaigner on fair trade. I hope shoppers across Crewe and Nantwich will join David during Fairtrade Fortnight and take the chance to swap their usual shopping for Fairtrade products.”

The Government has supported Fairtrade since 1997 with funding from the Department for International Development (DFID), but this year Labour is significantly boosting support for Fairtrade by quadrupling funding to £12m over the next four years (2010-2013) through the global body FLO. Farmers in developing countries will also see double the amount invested directly back through their local organisations for community projects such as irrigation and clinics through ‘Fairtrade Premiums’.

David commented, “When consumers and retailers act together to promote and buy goods from developing countries, we can make a real difference to peoples’ lives. I am supporting those people by buying Fairtrade products and I would urge residents of Crewe and Nantwich to join me in three simple steps. First, where possible swap your shopping for a Fairtrade labelled product. Second, if there is no Fairtrade labelled alternative, ask the retailer to offer Fairtrade products in future. Third, ask for clear labelling about where products have come from and about the working conditions of those who produced the goods. By ‘shopping for development’ we can held provide a vital route out of poverty for many, and by following these three simple steps we can have an immediate effect.”

Camera on Adoption

Questions to the candidates: David Williams on health

Labour created the National Health Service, which is our greatest achievement. The Tories bitterly opposed the NHS from the start and practically destroyed it in the 1980s and 1990s. We in Crewe and Nantwich know only too well because Leighton had the longest waiting list in the country under Mrs Thatcher.

Labour prioritised the health service, putting it back on its feet. Our investment breathed new life into the NHS after 18 years of neglect.

That investment has given us three new medical centres: Eagle Bridge, Rope Green and Church View. Leighton Hospital had a new ‘state of the art’ treatment centre (pictured), new eye clinic and a major refurbishment of the old hospital buildings.

Labour also looked after the staff, because they are the beating heart of the health service. I stood on a picket line at Leighton in the 1990s to end poverty pay for nurses. I also helped paramedics collect signatures in Crewe town centre for better pay. Labour significantly increased the pay of these important workers and the Tories heavily criticised us for that. Like other NHS users, I very much value the staff.

NHS Direct is a Labour innovation that we often take for granted. Operating out of the old Barony Hospital it is source of professional advice that’s just a phone call away.

Looking forward Labour will introduce a patient guarantee for everyone suspected of having Cancer. You will be seen in less than two weeks of your GP’s referral and receive the test results within one week. Everyone knows that the sooner you are diagnosed and treated for Cancer the better chance you have. I do not understand why the Tories won’t match Labour’s guarantee?

If you want it - you have to vote for it. Only Labour offers patient guarantees and continued NHS investment.

Letter to the Chronicle

Dear Sir

Instead of the Words from Westminster column continually knocking Crewe and Nantwich and talking down the area, wouldn't it be good to read something positive.

Perhaps I can give Chronicle readers a taste of my Words from Westminster should the voters of Crewe and Nantwich put their trust in me to be their MP.

The following written parliamentary question was answered recently: "How many pupils in Crewe and Nantwich constituency obtained five or more A* to C GCSE grades in each academic year since 1997?"

Responding, the Minister revealed that in every year of Labour in Government local school results have improved and overall a third more pupils now obtain five or more A* to C grades, rising from 45.7% in 1997 to 61.3% in 2008.

Congratulations to the young people of Crewe and Nantwich who have worked so hard to achieve this progress, a far cry from the Tories' "Broken Britain".

In light of this wonderful news will David Cameron still proclaim "We cannot go on like this"? Well I want to see the improvements in education carry on, that's why I support Labour's continued investment and oppose the Tories' promised "savage cuts".

I also wish to congratulate the hardworking staff in local schools who have made this improvement possible. All the teachers, classroom assistants and ancillary staff who do so much to give our children a great start in life. I speak to many parents in Crewe and Nantwich and I know they are very proud of their child's school and the progress that we've made together.

These achievements should be sung from the rooftops.

Yours faithfully

David Williams
Labour's Parliamentary Candidate
for Crewe and Nantwich

The change we choose...

DAVID WILLIAMS SUPPORTS THE CAMPAIGN BY ‘SCOPE’ TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO POLLING STATION ON ELECTION DAY

David Williams, Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, has backed the campaign being run by ‘Scope’ to ensure that there is Access for All to polling stations on Election Day.

In the 21st Century you would think that disabled people would be able to vote independently and in secret like everyone else. At the 2005 General Election however, 68% of the polling stations across the country had one or more serious access barriers that could have prevented a disabled person from casting the vote.

David Williams has backed the ‘Polls Apart’ campaign being run by ‘Scope’ to ensure that disabled people have the same access to Britain’s democracy as everyone else and to make sure that the local polling stations in Crewe and Nantwich are fully accessible to local people with disabilities.

David said, “There are 10.6 million disabled people in Britain, that’s an average of around 15,000 disabled voters in each parliamentary constituency. I am calling on Cheshire East Council in the run-up to the General Election to make sure that each and every polling station throughout the Crewe and Nantwich constituency has suitable facilities for use by anyone with a disability.”

David went on to say, “Where a polling station does present difficulties, then the first and best option is to look for an alternative polling station in the area, but if this proves impossible, then there is a provision for the presiding officer to bring a ballot paper and the ballot box out of the polling station for someone who cannot walk from a car to the polling station.”

David added, “There is also the provision for anyone, for whatever reason, to request a Postal Vote, which will be sent direct to your home and can be completed and returned in a pre-paid envelope. The right to vote by post is no longer restricted to someone with a disability, or someone who is away on holiday. Anyone can now request a postal vote if they would prefer to vote in that way.”

David concluded by saying, “I am calling on Cheshire East Council to ensure that all these arrangements are in place in good time for the General Election.”

Letter to the Chronicle

I think the column Words from Westminster should be renamed Spin from Tory Central Office. It is often nothing more than rehashed press releases passed down from Tory high command.

Last week (Chronicle, February 3) was no exception. Nothing more than dodgy claims on rises in violent crime that, if some commentators are right, will result in the Tory Shadow Home Secretary losing his job.

Well the current MP should know better and check his facts before he talks Crewe and Nantwich down, and paints a picture of the area being a violent and dangerous place to live. That simply is not true.

The facts are that that under Labour overall crime has fallen by 36% and violent crime has fallen by 41%. Far from the false Tory statistic of violent crime rising in Crewe and Nantwich by 148% in the last decade, as the MP stated (Chronicle, January 27). I can’t imagine what Cheshire’s Chief Constable or the council’s Safer and Stronger Communities Portfolio Holder thought when they saw that, perhaps they would care to comment?

I would like to thank Cheshire’s police officers and PCSOs for their hard work and dedication to reducing crime in these difficult economic times, unlike the Tories who seem to be suggesting that the police have lost control.

Conventional wisdom tells us that in recessions crime goes up. It rocketed in the Tory recessions of the 1980s and 1990s. However in the recent global economic downturn crime has actually gone down. In the Cheshire Constabulary area overall recorded crime is down by 9% over the last twelve months, with violence against the person down by 6%.

Labour has invested in the police by funding over 10,000 additional uniformed officers and introducing additional measures like ASBOs to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. Contrast that with the Tories who would have cut this year’s police budget by 10%, with further savage cuts to come.

Tackling crime needs an open and honest discussion, the current MP has fallen far short of that. Surely he owes the police and the readers of the Chronicle a humble apology for his gross misrepresentation of the truth?

David Williams
Labour's Parliamentary Candidate
for Crewe and Nantwich

DAVID WILLIAMS WELCOMES THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

David Williams, Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, has welcomed the announcement by HM Treasury that £700m will be made available to nearly 3,000 small businesses across the UK.

HM Treasury have announced that £700m of funding from the European Investment Bank will be made available to nearly 3,000 small businesses across the UK, through participating banks.

David Williams said, “Together with a range of other measures being implemented by the Government, this scheme will help to ensure that well managed small businesses in the UK will continue to have access to the best support available.”

Ian Pearson MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury commented, “Support for SMEs is key to driving growth in the UK, so I am delighted that small businesses are benefiting from this finance. This scheme forms part of the Government’s continued commitment to help SMEs access the finance they need to take their businesses forward, which is vital to our long-term growth strategy.”

The Government’s aim of securing £1bn of finance from the European Investment Bank for SMEs has been more than achieved with banks having now secured a total of £1.39bn to help small businesses in the UK.

David Williams said, “There are a large number of small and medium sized enterprises in Crewe and Nantwich and I want to encourage all of them to get in touch with their local banks to find out if they can get access to this funding. It is an easy process and it is certainly worth pursuing.”

John Wright, National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said, “The FSB welcomes the news that nearly 3,000 SMEs will benefit from low cost loans. We continue to urge non-participating banks to enter the scheme to make loans available.”

David Williams added, “UK Banks that have been involved in this scheme include the Bank of Scotland (HBOS), Barclays Bank, Close Brothers, Lloyds-TSB, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS including NatWest), Santander UK and Ulster Bank (for Northern Ireland – also part of the RBS Group). I would echo John Wright’s comments and urge other banks to join this scheme. These cheaper simpler and more flexible loans will enable increased investment to expand and I again urge small businesses in Crewe and Nantwich to contact their banks to see if they could benefit from this extra investment.”

DAVID WILLIAMS CALLS ON CHESHIRE EAST TO RETHINK IT’S MARRIAGE FEES

David Williams, Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, has called on Cheshire East Council to think again on it outrageous increase in marriage fees.

Cheshire East Council are proposing to make massive increases in their charges for marriage taking place in anywhere other than a church or registry office as from 1st April 2010.

David Williams said, “I find these proposed increase to be absolutely ludicrous. The Tories nationally are banging on about how they propose to support marriage and yet here we have the local Tories in Cheshire East imposing increases in marriage fees way about the rate of inflation. These proposals will deter many from getting married as they will just not be able to afford the extortionate fees and there will be a knock-on effect on the local economy as these proposals will also hit the hotels and other places where weddings take place.”

Councillor Dorothy Flude, Leader of the Labour Group on Cheshire East Council added, “Marriage is a very important ceremony for many people. Many struggle to put together enough money to have a marriage ceremony. Cheshire East is not encouraging people to get married at these prices.”

As from 1st April 2010, Cheshire East Council is proposing to increase the fee for ‘Marriage at Approved Premises’. The fees will vary depending on the day chosen for the wedding.

- On Monday to Friday the fee will increase from £250 to £385
- On Saturday before 2.00pm the fee will increase from £320 to £460
- On Saturday after 2.00pm the fee will increase from £330 to £600
- On Sunday the fee will increase from £320 to £500
- On Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Good Friday and Easter Monday the fee will increase from £320 to £800
- On all other Public Holidays the fee will increase from £320 to £500.

These fees do not include the hire of the room or any other wedding services and must be paid four weeks in advance of the wedding.

David Williams commented, “Cheshire East proudly say on their web site ‘Welcome to Cheshire East, a county of beauty and contrasts. From idyllic rural locations to splendid historic towns, Cheshire East has the perfect setting for your Wedding’ Day’ and that there are over sixty licensed venues in Cheshire East to choose from, what they do not say is that, if you do choose to get married in any of these, then they will sting you for as much money as possible.”

DAVID WILLIAMS CALLS ON CHESHIRE EAST TO PLAY FAIR WITH SCHOOL CARETAKERS ON ELECTION DAY

David Williams, Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, calls on Cheshire East Council to play fair with schools and school caretakers on Election Day

Cheshire East Council stand accused of ‘penny-pinching’ in their treatment of schools and school caretakers where the school is used as a Polling Station on Election Day. Typically a school caretaker will work from 7.30am until 6.00pm. If the school is being used as a Polling Station, the caretaker will be required work as normal and to be on-call for the full opening hours of the election. Polling Stations will be open from 7.00am until 10.00pm, but Cheshire East Council is only proposing to pay an extra half-hour at the start and an extra hour at the end of the day. This means that caretakers will be required to be on call for an extra four hours without any form of ‘on-call allowance’.

David Williams said, “I deplore this exploitation of school staff by Cheshire East Council. I understand that some School Governors are so concerned at the failure of the Council to play fair with their caretakers that they are proposing to pay the difference from their own budgets. Whilst I commend the actions of the Governors, I am concerned that the payments will be taken from their school funds. It is entirely wrong to force schools to use funds that should be used for educational purposes. The council should be making these payments direct.”

It's the fighters and believers who changed our world..

PCSOs COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE BEAT UNDER THE TORIES

David Williams, Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, has deplored the announcement by the Tories that they plan to scrap Police Community Support Officers.

The Tory Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling recently announced that they plan to remove PCSOs from the beat if they win the next general Election.

David Williams said, “In Crewe and Nantwich the PCSOs play an important role in our community. They provide a visible link between the public and the police and carry out much of the neighbourhood liaison work that has a real effect in preventing crime and releasing Police Officers to concentrate on crime detection. PCSOs are an important element in Cheshire’s Neighbourhood Policing Policy and to scrap them would destroy the good work done by them over the last few years.”

Cheshire Constabulary says on their web site, “Police Community Support Officers are a valuable addition to the police family and Cheshire Police are keen to build on the success of existing PCSOs who are already making a real difference to local communities. Cheshire Police currently has over 200 PCSOs in Force who work as an integral part of the 18 Neighbourhood Policing Units. Their role is non-confrontational and they provide a reassuring uniform presence in local communities.”

David Williams commented, “Crime in Cheshire has fallen by 7% and in Crewe and Nantwich the PCSOs have played a very important role in working with local residents to prevent crime and to improve the neighbourhoods themselves. They are seen as a valuable link between the residents and the Police Force, working in partnership with residents, Neighbourhood Forums and other agencies. Locally there are PCSOs who have won awards for the work that they have done and I fully support them in their efforts to improve our local neighbourhoods.”

David Williams presents cheque to ‘Bonus Ball’ winner

David Williams, Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, presented a cheque for £100 to Aldin Francis at a local Labour Party meeting tonight.

At a meeting of the Crewe and Nantwich Labour Party, held at The Crewe Arms hotel last Thursday, David Williams presented a cheque to Aldin Francis who is the latest winner of the Labour Party ‘Bonus Ball’ scheme.

David said, “I am very often called on to speak at meetings and every so often I have the pleasure of being able to present a cheque. Tonight is one of those nights and I am very pleased to be able to present this cheque for £100 to Aldin Francis on behalf of the Crewe and Nantwich Labour Party.

Peter Kent, the local Labour Party Treasurer commented, “The ‘Bonus Ball’ scheme raises funds for the local party on a regular basis and provides a nice cheque for someone each month. Members of the scheme pay £5 a month and I am always pleased to enrol new members into the scheme.”

David Williams deplores Tory chief’s abuse of railway workers

David Williams, Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, has deplored the news that David Cameron’s Directory of Strategy abused railway workers.

Channel 4 News reported recently that Steve Hilton, one of David Cameron’s top advisers, was arrested over a train ticket dispute. Conservative Central Office confirmed that the Tory Leader’s Director of Strategy was fined £80 for disorder in October 2008. It is understood that Hilton was dashing to get the train back to London at the end of the party’s conference in Birmingham. He was asked to show his ticket, failed to produce it quickly and then got into a dispute with train staff. The police were called and he started to swear at the railway staff, He was promptly arrested and taken to a police station at Birmingham New Street. Once he had calmed down, he was issued with a penalty notice for disorder under Section 5 of the Public Disorder Act.

David Williams said, “I have a long history of campaigning for action to tackle violence, threats and abuse against workers. I am currently working with the Rail Unions for an additional penalty against those who assault workers in the course of their duties. Whilst on this occasion there was no physical violence, verbal abuse is extremely hurtful and distressing.”

David added, “I have spoken to workers who tell me that insults and swearing are all too common and that they dread the next customer who is going to give them a mouthful. I firmly believe that no worker should regard abuse as being part of the job. I call on all passengers to remember that rail workers are real people, doing the job they are paid to do and that they deserve our respect.”

David Williams welcomes new protection for agency workers

David Williams, Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, has welcomed the new regulations with give protection to Agency Workers from exploitation.

The Government has this week laid regulations in the House of Commons that, for the first time, will entitle agency workers to equal treatment on basic working an employment conditions, including pay and holidays, as if they had been recruited directly by the employer.

David Williams said, “This is a big step forward in ensuring fairness in the workplace, and it is something that I have campaigned for over many years. This is not just about protecting agency workers, as important as that it, The new regulations also protect permanently employed staff from being undercut by rogue employers.”

The new rules will come into force in October of next year.

David added, “In Crewe and Nantwich we have seen at first hand where local permanently employed staff have seen jobs disappear to agency working, often migrant labour on worse terms and conditions of employment. That exploitation is as wrong for migrant workers as it is for local workers and I am pleased that the Government is acting to make the situation fairer to all.”

Equal treatment means things such as pay, holidays, overtime, rest breaks and access to vacancies and facilities such as workplace crèches etc. The Government is introducing the new regulations with the agreement of Trades Unions and employers, but the Tory Party remains opposed to them.

David Williams commented, “I am by no means opposed to the employment of agency workers, indeed my wife is an Agency Supply Teacher,. I fully support the flexibility that offers to employers and employees alike. There is nothing wrong with companies and organisations using agency labour to meet peaks in demand, but when they do, they must act fairly with the workers and not exploit them.”

David concluded by saying, “Should the Tories win power at the next election, they are committed to scrapping this and other important employment rights. I was shocked to hear that the current MP for Crewe and Nantwich is opposed to these important new workplace rights. I can only assume that he either does not understand that there are workers in Crewe and Nantwich, and indeed across the country, that are being exploited by rogue traders, or that he is happy to see local workers undercut and local jobs disappear."

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Veterans Minister visits Nantwich

David Williams, Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, hosted a meeting today with Veterans Minister, Kevan Jones MP, and local representatives of Veterans and the Services organisations.

Early in December last year, David Williams was invited by the Nantwich branch of the Royal British Legion to address their meeting at the Conservative Club on Churchyardside in Nantwich, when he signed up to their ‘Do Your Bit’ campaign.

David said, “The Nantwich branch of the Royal British Legion made me very welcome and we had a very useful and fruitful discussion. The branch raised a few issues that I promised to take back and discuss with the appropriate Government Minister. As a result of that I thought it would be more helpful if I invited Kevan Jones MP, who is the Minister for Veterans, to come to Crewe and Nantwich and meet with representatives of The Royal British Legion and other organisations representing Veterans and members of the Armed Services so that he could hear their views at first hand.”

Kevan Jones MP said, “I was delighted to accept the invitation from David Williams to visit Crewe and Nantwich and listen directly to the concerns and views of local veterans. I have listened and will take those view back. Local veterans and serving soldiers and their families can be confident that they have a strong voice in David Williams and he will represent their views and concerns directly to me.”

The Minister added, “Labour regards the health and welfare of veterans and serving personnel very seriously. We are the first Government to have a Veterans Minister. People who have served our country deserve special recognition and, for me, that means special treatment. My job in Government is to make sure that our veterans are well looked after and I work closely with first rate organisations such as the Royal British Legion, SSAFA and Help for Heroes.”

Present at the meeting were representatives from the Royal British Legion, SSAFA, The Mercian Regiment, The Air Training Corp, The TA and various individual veterans.

David Williams said, “The Royal British Legion do great work for our Armed Services Family – our serving personnel, veterans and their families. I fully support the Legion’s ‘Do Your Bit’ campaign and I signed up to support that campaign last year. I was therefore delighted to welcome the Minister to Crewe and Nantwich in order to give local Veteran and Armed Services organisations the chance to have their say and hear about the Governments plans for the future.”

He added, “I share the concern expressed at the meeting about extremist protests in Wootton Bassett. We should have nothing but admiration for what that town does to recognise those brave people who have lost their lives and it is wrong for anyone to try to hijack their efforts for their own political gain. I was delighted that the Minister confirmed that the Government had stopped the planned protest. These extremist groups do not represent the vast majority of British Muslims who contribute a great deal to the armed forces and have done so for many decades.”

David concluded by saying, “I felt that we had a very productive and interesting discussion and I look forward to working closely with the Legion and others in future.”

Pictured: Kevan Jones MP, Minister for Veterans, with David Williams and the veterans who attended today's meeting.

David Williams welcomes the plans for a party leader debate and calls for a local debate

David Williams, Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, today welcomed the agreement for a debate between the Party Leaders and called for a local debate between candidates.

David said, “I think it is absolutely right that politicians put themselves up for public scrutiny. The Prime Minister is quizzed on a weekly basis, but the Opposition Leaders never have to answer questions about their policies. The televised debates will rightly put the spotlight on all three major party leaders, and will give voters a real choice.”

David added, “It is time however for greater local accountability, and the Tories are falling a long way short of the mark. On Cheshire East Council they’ve banned supplementary questions from Councillors, and the current MP persistently refuses my calls for a public debate. Apparently he does not think it is in his interest to debate with me. Well I’m sorry he feels that way, but it is the interest of democracy that should be paramount, not the interest of personal gain. He continues to take pot-shots at the Government, run the country down, and tell blatant lies about Labour policy, but he will not subject himself to scrutiny or cross-examination.”

David concluded by saying, “The next election is about real choices and whilst some politicians play cynical games to suppress debate, the electorate will not engage. We have a duty to collectively rebuild people’s trust in politics, and that can only be achieved through open and honest debate.”

DAVID WILLIAMS CONDEMNS TORY POLICE PROPOSALS

David Williams, Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, has today called the Tory proposals to introduce elected Police Chiefs ‘a dangerous politicisation’ that could lead to extremism in our Police Forces.

David Cameron has pledged that a Tory Government would introduce locally elected ‘Commissioners’ to run Police Forces. The Tory proposals follow controversial comments made by Boris Johnson’s Deputy, Kit Malthouse, who claimed that the Tories now “have our hands on the tiller” of the Metropolitan Police.

David Williams said, “In London the Tories are already claiming that they have operational control of the police. Their proposals nationally are even more ominous. This politicisation of the police is extremely dangerous and only broad-based Police Authorities with Councillors and Independent Members can avoid the potential dangers of politicisation and extremism that a single elected person could create.”

David added, “The operational independence of Chief Officers is a crucial constitutional principle that no government should interfere with.”

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said, “We have never considered introducing elected Commissioners because we are clear that Chief Officers, and Chief Officers alone, are responsible for running their force – there can only be confusion and dysfunction under the Tories’ plans to introduce a second quasi-operational Commissioners. David Cameron’s proposals represent a dangerous politicisation of the police force and I have yet to meet a senior officer who supports it.”

The Tory plans have been described by Sir Hugh Orde, President of the Association of Chief Police Officers as “undemocratic” and Scotland Yard have expressed anger at the claims that the Tories are ‘running The Met’ and said that policing was “far too important to be used as a political football”.

David Williams commented, “Do we really want the police in Crewe and Nantwich to be run by one of the Tories on Cheshire East Council? This is a most dangerous right-wing proposal that could seriously undermine our local Police Force and must be opposed at all costs.”

Sleeping Beauty

The family and I had a great evening out at the panto tonight.

"Oh no you didn't"

Oh yes we did.

Another superb production by the team at the Lyceum Theatre in Crewe.

We've been going every year since my eldest was a nipper and we've always had a great night out.

Being the last night the cast were having a party on stage, playing jokes on each other and generally having a great time with the audience loving it. The whole thing overran by 30 minutes, I'll certainly be doing the last night again.

It's a smashing theatre and should be cherished by all in Crewe and neighbouring areas.

I just hope the Council don't see it as an easy target for budget cuts. They were certainly looking at it last year.

Politicians from all sides, who support the Lyceum, must stand together and fight any attack on the theatre.

I hope many more choose to have a great night out at the Lyceum Theatre - an Edwardian delight.

Happy New Year

David Williams, Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich said, “I would like to give my best wishes to you for the new year.”

“2009 was challenging for many people, but evidence suggests that the Government's positive action to help people through these difficult times has made a real difference. That is why I backed the exceptional measures taken by Gordon Brown. With unemployment and home repossessions fewer than in previous recessions, it appears that the mistakes of the 1980s and early 1990s have not be repeated. That does not mean we should be complacent. The recovery is very fragile and we must continue throughout 2010 to help people back to work and invest in jobs. Now is not the time to abandon people, putting jobs and homes at risk.

"There is a real challenge for local politicians to work together for the future prosperity of Crewe and Nantwich. We need to get the Crewe Gateway Scheme up and running, with a station developed on it's existing site and a link road to the Basford development sites that could bring more than 7,000 jobs to the area. We need a town centre redevelopment and a new bus station to enable us to compete with neighbouring shopping destinations. And we need investment in training opportunities for young people so that they can have a good start to their working lives.

"Of course this year there will be a general election and people will have their say on a range of issues. Confidence in MPs is low and voters will be looking for an open and honest debate, which is the only way we can rebuild confidence in Parliamentary democracy.

"All the best for 2010."

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Happy Christmas

David Williams, Labour's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, said:

"Today is a very special day and I hope everyone enjoys themselves. It is particularly special for children and a chance for families to take a well earned breather from the daily grind.

"My thoughts are with those who have to work on Christmas Day and, particularly our emergency service workers and our armed forces, my thanks go out to them.

"There are of course people across the world who are living in much poorer circumstances than us. It is important that we remember them and direct some of our seasonal generosity towards tackling worldwide poverty. Political solutions are also crucial and it is incumbent upon all politicians to work towards a lasting worldwide settlement on conflict, famine, poverty and other humanitarian issues.

"Please accept my sincere best wishes and season’s greetings."

Make a difference today on world poverty, please visit the War On Want website

DAVID WILLIAMS ADDRESSES THE NANTWICH BRANCH OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

David Williams, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, was invited to address the Nantwich branch of The Royal British Legion at the Conservative Club on Churchyardside, and has signed up to their ‘Do Your Bit’ campaign.

David said, "The Royal British Legion does great work for our Armed Forces family – our serving personnel, veterans and their families. I fully support the Legion’s ‘Do Your Bit’ campaign and have already signed up in support of their campaign.”

The Royal British Legion have drawn up a manifesto for the next General Election and to ensure that the next Government does their bit for the whole Armed Forces family.

David Williams told the Nantwich branch that the Government has already announced a review of the Armed Forces Compensation scheme, with Admiral the Lord Boyce acting as an independent chair of the review. Ensuring that our Armed Forces have better accommodation has also been a priority of this Government in remedying decades of under investment. The Government has committed £3bn to enhancing accommodation over the next ten years. The 2009 pay award of 2.8% meant that for the third year running the Forces pay increase was amongst the highest in the public sector. Welfare support for casualties in hospitals has been much improved.

Last year the Government published the ‘Service Personnel Command Paper’ which the Royal British Legion praised at the time. Amongst the forty commitments in the paper are steps to ensure that:

• Service dependents can retain their place on an NHS waiting list when they move to a new area.

• Injured personnel can now access grants of up to £30,000 to adapt their home, without their compensation payments being means-tested. Seriously injured personnel are entitled to privileged access to affordable housing schemes in England.

• Priority status in affordable housing schemes across Great Britain, including the ability to apply 12 months after discharge.

David concluded, “The Nantwich branch of the Royal British Legion made me very welcome and we had a very useful and fruitful discussion. The branch raised a few issues that I will take back and discuss with the appropriate Government Minister.

DAVID WILLIAMS CONDEMNS RAILWAY STONE THROWERS

David Williams, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, strongly condemned the increase in the number of incidents of people throwing stones at railway trains.

David Williams, addressing a meeting of Labour supporters, said, “I am extremely concerned at the recent announcement by the British Transport Police regarding the increase in the number of incidents of young people throwing stones at passing trains. Fortunately no-one has been injured as yet.”

A recent report by the BT Police shows that the number of such incidents has increased over the past few weeks, and that children as young as ten have been seen throwing stones and other objects at trains in the Crewe area.

David said, “I welcome the moves by BT Police to step up their patrols and efforts to put a stop to this very dangerous practice. If a stone were to break one of the windows on the train then passengers could suffer terrible injuries. If the driver’s window was to be shattered, then a serious accident could result. The BT Police are quite right in treating these incidents as very serious and I support their actions to bring a stop to this dreadful and thoughtless practice.”