| HOME | David Heathcoat-Amory MP | Feedback | CONTACT US |
| About Us | ||
| Join Us | ||
| Diary | ||
| Your Help | ||
| News Room | ||
| South West-MEPs | ||
| Local Councillors | ||
| Somerset Constituency Offices | ||
| Back to Winning Ways | ||
| Useful Links | ||
| Conservative Clubs | ||
| Conservative Party Website | ||
News Room For more information, please contact the Wells Press Office at: Tel: 01749 673 146 Fax: 01749 670 783 Mail: Priory Lodge, 7 Priory Road, Wells, Somerset. BA5 1SR Individual releases: click on subject for full story: |
|||
| . | . |
|
|
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 22 April 2008 Subject: Lib Dem Council Leader Defects to the Conservatives The Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Sedgemoor District Council has resigned to join the Conservative Party. Danny Titcombe, who represents the Highbridge Ward, has dramatically crossed the floor to join the controlling Conservative Group. Welcoming him to the Conservative Party, local MP David Heathcoat-Amory says, "I am delighted that Danny Titcombe has joined the Conservative Group and I look forward to working with him on a wide range of policy matters and for the good of the people of Highbridge" Cllr Titcombe, who lives in Poplar Estate, has been unhappy with his old party for some time, both locally and nationally. Speaking on his decision to join the Conservatives, he says, ""I am very happy to have joined the Conservative group on the District Council and look forward to being able to do for Highbridge what I was elected to do. I can also send out an assurance to the residents of the ward of Highbridge that although my political allegiance may have changed, my commitment to the people of Highbridge has not. I will continue on in the same manner in which I have done for the last year and strive to build on successes already achieved." Leader of the Council Duncan McGinty commented, "We are delighted that Cllr Danny Titcombe has decided to leave the Lib Dems and join the Conservative Group on Sedgemoor District Council. " Veteran Tory councillor and past mayor for four terms, Neville Jones said: "I knew that Danny had been concerned about the Lib Dem stance on so many local issues. They have always tried to take a negative stance instead of welcoming moves to meet present day challenges, like the swimming pool, and their lateness in grasping the problem with the Walrow Railway Bridge. The Town Council welcomed Danny Titcombe's attitude and indeed only last year the Group nominated him to be the vice-chairman of the council's most influential Policy committee. I think he will be able to do his job much better for the people of Highbridge within the Conservative Group. He will find a great welcome." This increases the number of Conservatives on the district council to 36 out of 50 and leaves the Liberal Democrats with just 3. He also joins the Conservative Group on Burnham and Highbridge Town Council, taking the Conservatives up to 13members, with the Liberal Democrats on 4 and Labour on one. |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 18 March 2008 Subject: MP Says School Debate More Lively Than Debates In House Of Commons Sir, if you get through next time will you become the Prime Minister? Local MP for Wells David Heathcoat Amory visited Ss Joseph and Teresa’s Catholic School on Friday 14th March. He spoke to pupils and staff; this included an hour long debate with pupils from years five and six. Members of the class reported on the question and answer session as their classmates put forward a focused and articulate debate which included a varied number of questions. One pupil asked if Mr Heathcoat-Amory had always wanted to be an MP, to which he replied no, he was originally a business man before entering politics and as a child like numerous other boys of the time he had wanted to be an engine driver and drive a steam engine. He advised the children to choose a career that they would enjoy. Other questions ranged from Mr Heathcoat-Amory becoming the next Prime Minister, to why ‘the top man’ didn’t hold a general election last year. The MP replied that he didn’t think he would become the next Prime Minister and in his view David Cameron would be the best next Prime Minister - and that the current one had possibly been advised to put off calling a general election last October, as he was behind in the opinion polls. He went on to say that everyone should vote, as many wars have been fought to give people the right to do so, and all women have only been able to vote since 1928. Mr Heathcoat-Amory was thanked and applauded as he left the classroom. Commenting after the visit Mr Heathcoat-Amory said: “It was an excellent meeting I have attended meetings in the House of Commons that didn’t come up to that standard. I have invited the children up to London if a suitable date can be arranged.” |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 17 March 2008 Subject: MP Backs Bill To Tackle Fly Tipping Local MP David Heathcoat-Amory sponsored a private member’s bill on Tuesday 11th March, to tackle the menace of fly-tipping, or the dumping of rubbish in unauthorised sites. The bill, introduced by North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin, would place a duty on the relevant local authority to remove illegally dumped waste and would place an obligation on them to investigate. At present, waste dumped on public land is removed by the local authority under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, but there is no such protection for private landowners. People who are the victims of fly-tipping are threatened with prosecution unless they pay for the waste to be removed. David Heathcoat-Amory was the minister in 1990 who took the Environmental Protection Act through the House of Commons and into law. ‘This private member’s bill completes that Act by ensuring that fly-tipping on private land or gardens is properly dealt with. Those who dump waste in the countryside must be tracked down and punished.’ The bill received a second reading but further progress depends on government support. |
|||
| back to top | |||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 11 February 2008 Subject: MP Prepared To Fight ‘Not On The Beaches But On The Coast Road’ David Heathcoat-Amory says: ‘The Government is riding roughshod over local democracy' Local MP David Heathcoat-Amory has written to the Transport Minister, Rosie Winterton, after it was revealed that the badly needed improvement scheme to build a footpath/cycle way along a dangerous stretch of road has been blocked. The reason being; it does not conform to Central Government criteria laid down in the Local Transport Plan. These criteria are primarily for urban areas and are not appropriate for more rural areas. On July 21st 2007, Mr Heathcoat-Amory met residents of Berrow and Brean, who turned out in force to voice their concerns about the failure to provide a pavement for a busy stretch of Coast Road between Berrow Church and Brean. Mr Heathcoat-Amory has demanded that the Government Office of the South West examine this scheme which has widespread local support, including from Brean Parish Council and the police, as well as safety campaigners. David Heathcoat-Amory says: ‘The government is riding roughshod over local democracy. It is madness to block this badly needed scheme when it has widespread support and was agreed by Somerset County Council. The extra land is available and all the necessary planning had been done before it was blocked by Central Government. I am demanding that the Department for Transport respects local decision making and allows this scheme to proceed.’ |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 22 August 2007 Subject: Conservatives At The Shepton Show The Conservative Party stand at the Shepton Show on Sunday 19th August was well supported, despite the blustery weather. The Wells and Somerton & Frome constituency associations ran the stand jointly. Somerton & Frome Conservative Parliamentary spokesman Annunziata Rees-Mogg said, "We were pleased to support this excellent show once again this year. It was just a shame that the livestock part of the show had to be cancelled." Party Agent Mark Merchant stated, "The Conservatives are the only political party that has a stand at the show and I'm sure we will be back next year! Volunteers handed out leaflets to passers-by on farming, party membership and forthcoming events. Pictured are Annunziata Rees-Mogg,(left) and Abi Cox from Street with Keith Buckland who lives in Croscombe  |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 25 July 2007 Subject: MP Delighted At Failure Of Unitary Bid David Heathcoat-Amory says: ‘I am delighted that our campaign for local democracy succeeded. I regret that the Lib Dem controlled County Council wasted a great deal of time and money in promoting itself as the sole local authority for Somerset when it was clear that the public were overwhelmingly against it. The message for the public is that they don’t like centralised empire building, but want good services under local control. I will be demanding an estimate of how much money the County Council wasted in its fruitless campaign; money that could have been spent on education and social services.’ Reaction from the Leader of the Conservative Group, Ken Maddock: ‘I am glad that the Government has listened to the people and vetoed this unwelcome proposal. It is hard to know how the County Council could persist for so long when it was clear to everyone that it was just not wanted. I regret the time and money that was wasted on the bid and the disruption and anxiety it has caused to so many people. I am glad that the uncertainty is now at an end. We need to get on with the job in hand, i.e., to provide good quality local services to our local customers at a reasonable price.’ The news has been welcomed by all district councils including Mendip where leader Cllr Harvey Siggs urged everyone to focus their attentions on co-operation and shared services. He said: "I am delighted that the government has listened to the people of Somerset and their message that one huge council for was not for them. "We must now lead the way in working together to provide co-operation and shared services that we believed all along was the right way forward. "This has to be the start of a major change in local government, and this is not an end this is a beginning." In a recent poll on unitary status, which was managed by Electoral Reform Services, almost half the population of Somerset voted, with 82 per cent against the creation of a unitary authority and just 18 per cent in favour. Working with other district councils across Somerset, Mendip was opposed to plans for a single new unitary authority in the county. The council believes that improved team working across councils in Somerset is the way forward, not total reorganisation. |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 25 July 2007 Subject: MP says: “Government Should Clean Up Its Own Backyard” Local MP has responded to concerns of constituents regarding fears over local flooding Commenting after his weekend in his Wells Constituency, Mr Heathcoat-Amory said; “Travelling around the constituency this weekend, I have become increasingly aware of the concerns of my constituents regarding flooding. And what procedures, if any, are in place should an emergency situation arise such as we have seen in other parts of the country in the last few weeks.” As a result of this: “I will ask for the Environmental Agency to do a comprehensive survey of the Bristol Channel to assess the vulnerability of flooding. As there are low floodplains around Burnham on Sea I will be requesting a survey of the local plan I will also suggest that the local authority must do an assessment or survey of buildings to assess that future houses and householders are not at risk by building on vulnerable floodplains. It has been reported that our emergency services have been so overstretched that the Territorial Army were brought in to assist. We are very lucky to have such people who volunteer to put their own lives at risk. However the government needs to examine our overseas commitments to ensure that we do not leave our population at home at risk. The government seems to have plans to deal with overseas development in some cases in advance of what is available here. One final note like the Queen Mother who after Buckingham Palace was bombed said: “I can now look the East End in the Eye”. I can now equate with constituents, and residents throughout the country, as whilst I was caught up in the deluge on the M5 on Friday evening, over a hundred miles away my house in London was being flooded by a downpour. Thankfully nothing serious but it was quite frightening.” |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 25 July 2007 Subject: MP Meets Residents at Potential Accident Black Spot Local MP David Heathcoat-Amory met residents of Berrow and Brean who turned out in force last Saturday (July 21st) at St Mary’s Church Berrow. It was estimated that over 100 people some carrying children on their shoulders, attended the meeting to voice their concerns about Somerset County Council’s failure to provide a pavement for a busy stretch of Coast Road between Berrow Church and Brean. The meeting was organised by County Councillor Alan Ham who has worked for many years to get progress on the matter and make the area safer for local residents and holidaymakers. Speaking at the meeting David Heathcoat-Amory said: “This has been going on for almost as long as I have been an MP. Everyone understands the importance of extending the length of the pavement except those at Somerset County Council. Not only is this a very important issue for local residents, but thousands of holidaymakers with tens of thousands of cars come to this area in the tourist season.” The Rector of Berrow and Brean Sally Lacy said: It’s dreadfully frightening to walk down this part of the road. Holiday makers are not aware of how dangerous it is. It also stops people from using the church on Sundays.” Another resident Ken May said he wondered if the County Council had ever considered the cost if someone were to be killed or maimed on the stretch of the road, as the cost of administration to investigate one fatality would be in the region of £500,000, far outweighing the £250,000 needed to complete the final piece of the pavement. The MP and District Councillor Tony Grimes joined residents in walking along the unadopted part of the road which stretches for one mile from Berrow Church to Brean and experienced for themselves the perils of walking along such a busy stretch of road without a pavement. Mr Heathcoat-Amory was also able to observe what resident Jackie Dean had informed him of during the meeting, that, in order for double-decker buses and caravans to be able to pass each other on the road they have to pull into private lay-bys. The result of this, as Mr Heathcoat-Amory observed, is that anyone walking the route would be in danger but the danger is further emphasised when anyone pushing a pram or bike need to use the road. |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 17 July 2007 Subject: MP IN BID TO BLOCK UNITARY COUNCIL In Somerset we do not want a huge remote Unitary Council based on a County Council which is already in debt Local MP David Heathcoat-Amory had a meeting with Local Government Minister John Healey on Monday 16th June to protest at plans to abolish Somerset's five District Councils and create a single large Unitary Council based in Taunton. The proposal has been made by Liberal-Democrat controlled Somerset County Council which hopes to take over all local services. David Heathcoat-Amory also invited the other four Somerset MPs, and all were unanimous in opposing the unitary bid. The minister was accompanied by the official in charge of all the 16 unitary bids across the rest of the country. David Heathcoat-Amory said: 'I impressed on the minister that the Somerset referendum went 82 percent against the destruction of the District Councils. The proposal requires, 'a broad cross section of support' to succeed so obviously that does not exist. We also pointed out that the claimed savings for a unitary structure can be achieved anyway by closer working between the County and District councils and this is happening already. In Somerset we do not want a huge remote Unitary Council based on a County Council which is already in debt.' 'The minister took on board our points and promised to consider them carefully before any final decision. He hopes to announce the result by the time parliament rises for the summer recess on 26th July but warned that this might not be possible.' |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 17 July 2007 Subject: MP Leads Unitary Opposition at meeting with Minister MP for Wells David Heathcoat-Amory this week led a five-strong delegation who met Labour's new Local Government Minister to voice opposition to plans for a Somerset unitary authority. The county's five MPs presented a united front to Minister John Healey as they outlined their case against the change which Somerset County Council wants to make. |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 21 May 2007 Subject: MP Meets With Wookey Residents over Heating Bills David Heathcoat-Amory joins forces with councillor to reduce the cost of heating Wells MP David Heathcoat-Amory and newly elected Mendip District Councillor for Wookey Alistair Glanvile, met with residents of Buxton Close and Vicarage Road, Wookey on Friday 18th May. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss concerns over the high cost of heating bills which are as much as £22.73 per week for a 2 bedroom bungalow 48 weeks of the year. The consensus of opinion is that this is as a result of a communal oil fired heating system. The meeting was well supported and chaired by Mrs Ivy Flagg, several residents spoke on behalf of the assembled group and for others who were unable to attend. Mrs Daniels a resident of Buxton close told the MP that the cost of heating had been raised at Sheltered Housing Federation Level for over a year, but nothing had been done about it. She added: “Someone told us that we could always move if we weren’t happy here. But we don’t want to move, it’s a lovely site to live on but it’s getting too expensive to live here”. Miss Betty Wood a Vicarage Road resident said: “I am on my own and I pay such a lot of rent; I would prefer an individual meter as I think it is a much fairer system. In that way I have control of my own money.” Another resident asked Mr Heathcoat-Amory: “How, with a shared heating system can they calculate what I use? Our heating bills have increased twice in 10 months; the drop in the price of oil has not been passed on to us. The exorbitant cost of heating was further emphasized when a villager not living in sheltered accommodation said that her heating was not nearly as expensive as the amount quoted by the residents of Buxton Close and Vicarage Road. Speaking after the meeting Mr Heathcoat-Amory said: “I will be taking this issue up with Mendip Housing with a view to getting individual heating controls, so that people can use what heating they need. I believe the residents are paying too much for their heating. A change is needed to the boiler and controls to provide individual more efficient heating. This will not only bring bills down but will also be good for the environment. If there is no individual assessment there isn’t any incentive to turn their heating off, whereas, if people pay individually there is.” |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 27 February 2007 Subject: MP Presents Wookey Primary School With Basic Skills Award Wells MP David Heathcoat-Amory visited Wookey Primary School on Monday 26th February to present a Basic Skills Award to the pupils. Although the appointment was at 10.am the pupils were alert and eager to show their MP and the governors of the school what were the attributes that had gained them the accolade of being one of only six schools in the whole of the Wells Constituency to win this award. Headteacher Mr Reeve introduced the children to their important visitor and asked if any of them knew what an MP was . Several of the youngsters not only knew what Mr Heathcoat-Amory did but also where he worked and that MP's make the rules. Although the purpose of Mr Heathcoat-Amory's visit was to present the Basic Skills Award to the pupils it soon became evident that the children had a wealth of knowlege other than basic skills. Their knowledge of history became evident when they sang some Victorian songs and they showed their geographical knowledge by performing a dance from Paraguay, which they will also be performing on Friday March 2nd in Wookey Church for Women's World Day of Prayer. Mr Heathcoat-Amory told them that he had recently journeyed to South America and had visited Paraguay. Commenting after the visit Mr Heathcoat-Amory said: "I was delighted to present Wookey Primary School with this Basic Skills Quality Mark. This is an enthusiastic school with a growing reputation. They concentrate on giving every pupil the essential skills to cope the demmands of later life, but also they take a creative interest in the wider world." |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 13 February 2007 Subject: MP Queries Regional Development Agency’s Claim to Support Local Enterprise Wells MP David Heathcoat-Amory took his long running battle with the South West of England Regional Development Agency a step further last week (Wednesday 7th February) when he took part in a Commons debate on Regional Development Agencies. Mr Heathcoat-Amory took the opportunity to voice his concerns regarding the decisions made by the SWERDA after they had bought the Morlands site at Glastonbury. David Heathcoat-Amory enquired: When the South West of England Regional Development Agency bought the Morlands site at Glastonbury, it turned down applications by local businesses to move to the park on the ground that they were not high-tech enough, even though one firm made automotive parts in a very competitive environment? Does not that completely undermine the claim of regional development agencies to support local enterprises and to boost local employment? I find regional development agencies incredibly old-fashioned. They remind me of the National Enterprise Board, for which I briefly worked. In those days, people thought that Governments produced economic success, but surely we have moved away from that. The concept of picking winners and giving certain sectors privileged access to Government funding belongs to another age, but the attitude is alive and well, certainly in the South West of England Regional Development Agency as I found over the issue of Morlands business park, which I mentioned in an intervention. The site was nationalised—in other words, we all own it now, in theory at least—some six years ago, and the press release at the time was encouraging. It stated that the site would be "brought back into beneficial use for the local community...this site will meet the needs and demands of local businesses." That turned out to be completely untrue. The RDA said that it wanted the site for high-technology businesses. Several local firms wanted to relocate to the site but were told that they were not good enough. Such a snobbish attitude towards local employment is absolutely repellent. All right, some of the firms are not in the top league, but they provide valuable local employment. I took the matter up with the RDA and was told that the problem was that the firms did not fit into certain key sectors such as emerging environmental technologies, creative industries or aerospace. Of course, Glastonbury would love to have a rocket factory, but we are a little more modest. However, we did have—and still do, I am glad to say—a plastic extrusion company that makes products for the automotive industry. I call that high-tech, but it was not thought good enough. I understand that the RDA has had a rethink, but it did not give an inch in the initial correspondence. It was absolutely adamant that it knew what was best for my constituency and the region. In other words, the decision making is getting further and further away from the market. In my case, it moves right away from Glastonbury up to the RDA,then probably to Brussels. The officials and officers think that they know best, and we must fit in with their key sectors rather than their fitting in with what market signals tell us about future. |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 17 January 2007 Subject: MP Supports the Noble Art of Boxing A revamped boxing club has been given the support of its local MP; Wells Boxing Club was officially re-opened by David Heathcoat-Amory on Friday 8th December 2006. Some of the youngest constituents in Wells turned out to meet their MP when he visited them at the re-opening of their boxing club. A number of alterations have been made to the premises used by the club. Currently there are 14 registered boxers with some members as young as six in training. In total there are around 50 people who use it on a regular basis. During his visit Mr Heathcoat-Amory revealed that he believes in the noble art of boxing and was a boxer when he was at Oxford. He said: “I lost my first fight but on the second occasion -in1969- I won on points. “I am now the secretary of the All-Party Boxing Group in the House of Commons, a group of MPs that believes in the sport especially at amateur level. “We believe in promoting it as an Olympic sport. “But more importantly for me, we believe in supporting it at club level and local level. In other words, exactly what you are doing. “After all we do a lot of boxing in the House of Commons.” Mr Heathcoat-Amory spent a considerable time talking to the coaches and members and before leaving said: I will do anything I can to help the club in its future development,including backing its attempt to secure lottery funding. |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 28 November 2006 Subject: MP’s Intervention Reduces Threat from Flooding for Residents of Oakhill Local MP wades in after residents seek his help David Heathcoat-Amory has been successful in obtaining help from Wessex Water and Somerset Highways Department after residents from Oakhill enlisted his help after a flash flood in August caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to cars and houses. For many years when there was heavy rainfall the drains and sewers were inadequate to take away the water and severe damage had been done to homes. Larger pipes have now been installed to carry away flood water and improvements made to the roads and kerbs to divert water away from the High Street. Further drains are also to be laid at the other end of the village so that the chances of further flooding will be minimised. Commenting on the preventative measures that have been implemented, Mr Heathcoat-Amory said: “I am delighted that my intervention has helped solve this drainage problem. If climate change is a reality we may have to get used to these patterns of rainfall and I will be watching the situation very closely.” |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 7 November 2006 Subject: MP Backs Campaign to Support Farmers David Heathcoat-Amory is supporting this campaign by farmers to get their agricultural payments on time. Last year’s Single Farm Payments were delayed by almost a year and in some cases have still not been received, leaving farmers in a desperate cash situation. Farmers in Scotland, Wales and other EU countries were paid on time, but the new £37 million computer system owned by Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs for English payments resulted in chaos. DEFRA faces heavy EU fines for non-compliance, thus further reducing,the money available for farmers. David Heathcoat-Amory says: “I know of farmers in this Constituency who are still waiting, for their 2005 payments. This puts an intolerable strain on their businesses and forces them to sell stock early. This campaign calls on the Government to pay at least 80% of the 2006 payments by Christmas to prevent a repetition of this fiasco.” |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 15 August 2006 Subject: MP Suggests Campaign to Make Wells the Headquarters of Somerset PCT Reports that the Victorian workhouse situated on the Glastonbury Road in Wells, and converted to house the Mendip Primary Care Trust, is to close has prompted local MP David Heathcoat-Amory to write to the chairman of the Mendip Primary Care Trust Stephen Harrison suggesting a campaign to make Wells the headquarters of the new Somerset PCT. Commenting on why he wants to start a campaign, Mr Heathcoat-Amory said: “It will be a sorry waste of public money if the Mendip PCT vacates the current site after only four years. I want the new Somerset PCT based in Wells. We are an ideal location for a countywide body and it would secure the future of the Priory site.” The cost to the tax payer to convert the listed building more recently known as the Priory Hospital was a staggering £6 million pounds. |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 24 May 2006 Subject: Conservatives say No to Regional Government and Yes to Somerset We, Conservative council group leaders and MPs, are increasingly concerned at government attempts to reorganise local authorities in Somerset and replace them with a system of regional government. The Labour government, supported in this by the Liberal Democrats, are in favour of elected Regional Assemblies. This is despite the crushing defeat in the North East referendum two years ago, when the public voted 78% against plans for an elected Regional Assembly. The South West Regional Assembly is steadily being given more powers. Areas of policy, such as housing, planning, health, police and fire services, are gradually being transferred to regional control. In parallel with this, the government wants to abolish or merge existing councils into new “unitary authorities” which would take over the functions of County and District councils. But the government has made no statement to parliament nor any public announcement about this strategy. Instead, these plans are proceeding on the basis of leaked ministerial memos and a series of meetings, often with local officials, without the public or press being invited. We believe that tearing up the map of Somerset in this way would incur massive costs and would take power away from local voters. We want to improve the delivery of services by better working between established and familiar councils, not by setting up remote regional bodies and new unitary councils. We call on the government to come clean about its intentions for Somerset. For our part we will defend local democracy against the dictates of Central Government. David Heathcoat-Amory MP Ian Liddell-Grainger MP - Member of Parliament for Bridgwater Christopher Wolverson - Conservative Group Leader, Somerset CC Ken Maddock - Conservative Group Leader, Mendip DC Duncan McKinty - Conservative Group Leader, Sedgemoor DC John Williams - Conservative Group Leader, Taunton Deane BC Christine Lawrence - Conservative Group Leader, West Somerset Council Mike Lewis - Conservative Group Leader South Somerset DC |
|||
| back to top |
|||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 18 April 2006 Subject: Burnham and Highbridge MP David Heathcoat-Amory visited Amcor Flexibles Baricol on the Isleport Busines Park on Thursday 13th April. He met the General Manager Simon Embleton-Smith and Sales Manager Bill Longworth, who both explained AF Baricol's business in high barrier, plastic packaging films for the food market. He was then taken on a tour of the factory by Simon and Production Manager Chris Bailey. After the visit David H-Amory said: "Amcor uses advanced technology to stay ahead in this highly competitive sector. I do whatever I can to support such firms as they are vital for future employment. And our public services are funded out of the taxes they pay." Simon Embleton-Smith added, "It was a pleasure to welcome David to our business and good to hear of his support for local manufacturing activities."  David Heathcoat-Amory is shown the plastic packaging film being made by Chris Bailey |
|||
| back to top |
|||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 10 April 2006 Subject: MP Voices Concern as NHS Axes 300 Jobs at Royal United Hospital. Almost 10 per cent of the workforce to go Staff at Bath’s cash-strapped Royal United Hospital were informed last week of the news that 300 frontline jobs are to go in an effort to save £13.2 million. When informed of the impending job cuts, MP for Wells David Heathcoat Amory commented: “I am very concerned at the news of job cuts at the Royal United Hospital. This news came like a bolt out of the blue. I was not given any notification that this was going to happen. A great many of my constituents are treated at the hospital and I have grave reservations as to how this will affect waiting times. Taxes are going up and up but somehow we never see the equivalent benefits in the NHS. When Parliament reconvenes after the Easter recess I will be asking the Government some urgent questions about how this has come about. |
|||
| back to top |
|||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 6 April 2006 Subject: 'Confusing' road markings are a risk to motorists, says Burnham MP Burnham-On-Sea's MP David Heathcoat-Amory says a set of 'confusing' road markings running across a busy road junction in the town could be a potential danger to motorists. The double yellow lines which run across the junction of Pier Street, next to an access road into Somerfield supermarket, have been attacked as "plain ludicrous" by town councillor Cllr Arthur Thorogood. And this week, Burnham's MP joined the debate when he saw them himself. "They are at best confusing and at worst a possible hazard to motorists," he told Burnham-On-Sea.com. "Something should be done to improve the junction." But a County Council highways spokeswoman told Burnham-On-Sea.com that it had checked the markings and said it was satisfied that they do not contravene regulations. She added that disabled motorists would not be permitted from parking on the lines, because they would be causing an obstruction.  Image: www.burnham-on-sea.com |
|||
| back to top |
|||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 23 March 2006 Subject: Government caves in on shoe tariff vote Clarks Shoes – Government abstains on key vote Trade minister Ian Pearson admitted in a parliamentary answer to David Heathcoat-Amory on 23 March that the government abstained on an EU vote on placing a tax on imported shoes. (Hansard attached). EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson has drawn up proposals for tariffs, or import taxes, of up to 19.4% on leather shoes imported from China and Viet Nam. This is in response to alleged sales of such shoes at below cost price. The effect will be to raise the price of such shoes by up to £6 a pair, and will hit Clarks which imports shoes from Asian factories. Nine Member States, including Ireland and the Scandinavian countries, voted against. Britain abstained, and the measures went through. David Heathcoat-Amory said, ‘It is bad enough that we have handed over our trade policy to the EU, but now the government doesn’t even vote on a proposal which damages our interests, and those of poorer countries.’ Mr. David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells) (Con): As the Minister knows, the EU has proposed steep tariff increases on imported shoes from China and Vietnam. That will raise the price of shoes in this country and damage Clarks Shoes, which is based in my constituency. How did the United Kingdom representative vote in the committee that considered those tariff increases? Ian Pearson: I am certainly aware of the problem. Indeed, I met the chief executive of Clarks Shoes only recently to discuss the situation. He was very pleased that the UK Government had lobbied on behalf of Clarks and other manufacturers to exclude athletic footwear and children's shoes from the increases. We judged it best to negotiate with the Commission rather than oppose the increases from the outset so that we can secure improvements. It is very much a tactical issue, and we abstained from voting. |
|||
| back to top |
|||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 21 March 2006 Subject: Wells MP Demands Explanation on Closure of Wells Magistrates Court Local MP David Heathcoat-Amory has written to HM Courts Service in London demanding an explanation as to why the apparent decision has been taken to close the Wells Magistrates Court. Commenting on the decision, Mr Heathcoat-Amory said: It appears to be only a matter of time before the entire Wells Magistrates Court closes. It is yet another local service that is being taken away in the name of so-called ‘efficiency.’ Any closure of the Wells Courthouse would be a blow to local justice and would involve lengthy travel by witnesses and defendants. If the court is transferred to Frome, for a person travelling from Street for example, it would involve a round trip of 60 miles. The decision to switch criminal cases from Wells to Frome was taken on February 25th. When asked for his opinion on the closure of the court Wells City Councillor and Deputy Mayor Simon Davies said: " There has been a criminal court in Wells since Judge Jefferies and the ‘Bloody Assizes’. It has become part of the heritage. Wells is a rural court for rural areas. It would have been more acceptable to move to Shepton Mallet than to Frome." |
|||
| back to top |
|||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: February 2006 Subject: Blow to Farmers David Heathcoat-Amory is concerned about the effect of the Pre-Movement Testing of Cattle for bovine TB which is due to come into effect next week. He has spoken to Maurice Wall, owner of the Highbridge Market and has offered to meet local farmers. The government is requiring that all cattle moved off farms are tested for bovine TB unless they are going straight to slaughter. The cost per animal will be about £30. Farmers are worried that this will badly damage local markets and put power back into the hands of the abattoirs, leading to lower prices and loss of competition. They are also concerned that government assurances that bovine TB would also be tackled by culling the growing population of badgers, which also carry the disease, have been further delayed. David Heathcoat-Amory says: ‘This is still a farming constituency and I am extremely concerned at the effect these new regulations will have on the cattle trade and farmers’ margins. The regulations are confusing and unclear and I am asking that they be delayed until proper consultation has taken place’. |
|||
| back to top |
|||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 6 December 2005 Subject: David Cameron elected new Conservative Leader
|
|||
| back to top |
|||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 22 November 2005 |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 21 November 2005 |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 8 November 2005 |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 1 November 2005 |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 27 October 2005 |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 25 October 2005 |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 21 October 2005 |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 18 October 2005 |
|||
| back to top | |||
PRESS RELEASE Date of issue: 18 October 2005 |
|||
| back to top | |||
| If you need more information or details about any of the press releases listed here, please contact the Association office | ||