Oxfordshire Conservatives

With the European Commission announcing approval of a grant of £115 million for flooding disaster relief for Britain, South-East European MP James Elles has spoken to senior colleagues to ensure that the money will be distributed as quickly as possible.

Mr Elles, who in a speech to the European Parliament in September gave a graphic account of the seriousness of the Thames Valley flooding, said today (Wednesday, 12 December 2007): “I have raised this issue with senior colleagues to make sure that a speedy decision will now be taken to distribute these funds to local authorities in the UK. I know that councils in the Thames Valley, the area most affected in the South-East region, worked tirelessly to help those whose homes were damaged by flooding. Through no fault of their own these councils are out of pocket to the tune of millions of pounds at a time when their budgets are being strained by other pressures.

“Whilst Gloucestershire and parts of the North of England were seriously flooded, the Thames Valley bore the brunt of the flooding in the South-East. Across Oxfordshire more than 2,600 homes (1,650 in West Oxfordshire alone) were flooded and there were 2,500 homes flooded in West Berkshire. I have examined the flood damage for myself and sympathise with many families who still will not be in their homes for Christmas.”

The European Commission is preparing an amending budget proposal to be agreed by the Budget Authority (The European Parliament and the Council) early in the New Year.

The grant will go towards reimbursing part of the cost of emergency measures such as rescue services, cleaning up after flood damage and restoring basic infrastructure.

Wantage Conservatives today called for the Vale of White Horse District Council to re-consider its decision to hold the meeting that will determine the future of the former Wantage school St Mary’s in Abingdon.

Developer Berkeley Homes who own the site have now applied for planning permission to build 229 homes on the site, meaning there will be almost no other facilities on the site.

Campaigners in Wantage, supported by the local MP Ed Vaizey have been asking for the music building to be kept as an Arts Centre, for use by the towns people. A petition with 2,500 signatures has already been submitted to the Council calling for the building to be retained.

In addition a further campaign is being run by District Councillor Bill Melotti to improve access to the Church Primary School in Newbury St. He is working with Governors and parents to establish a footpath through the development to open up a new entrance to the school, thereby easing its travel problems.

However when a request was made by Bill for the public planning meeting to be held in Wantage as this is clearly of such importance to the town he was told there were no special reasons to do so.

MP Ed Vaizey said “This really is an outrageous decision. The Arts Centre campaign has been very much in the public eye because of the support of many people in the town. Only a couple of months ago I personally delivered a large petition to the Council in support of it. I just despair if they cannot see the special reasons to hold this decision making meeting locally.”

District Councillor Bill Melotti said “The loss of St Mary’s to the town is a big blow and it is not just the size of this development, just under a 6% housing increase in one stroke, but the other aspects that have caused such interest, such as the Arts Centre and footpath.”

He added “I suspect the real reason behind this decision is the cost of holding it in Wantage and the dire state of Vale finances. We have been encouraging the ruling Liberal group for years to keep most meetings in one place to save money, but they’ve left it so late to take our advice, it appears they can no longer afford to do anything else. What price do we put on democracy?”

The European MP, who put more money into the European Parliament’s 2007 budget for research and development, has welcomed the news that a British-led team of scientists has won European Union approval to seek to make nuclear fusion – the physicist’s dream - a reality.

James Elles, the Conservative European MP for the South-East region, as the rapporteur (the person appointed to steer legislation through the Parliament) for the 2007 budget, was the architect of many budgetary innovations. One of these was increasing expenditure on research and development so that Europe can more effectively face the challenges and opportunities of globalisation.

At the time the 2007 budget was approved Mr Elles argued: “Promoting top-quality research and development and innovation is the key to improving the competitiveness of the European economy.”

Speaking at a breakfast meeting of businessmen and women at Grant Thornton’s Oxford office today (Friday 14 September 2007) Mr Elles said: “It is excellent news that the European Union money has just been granted for a feasibility study for the HIPER project.

“The HIPER project is laser driven and its approach is a different technology to the one used to harness fusion at JET (the Joint European Torus) project at Culham, where powerful magnetic fields are used to confine a much larger hot gas.”

Nuclear fusion has the potential to solve the world’s energy crisis with carbon-neutral technology by harnessing the process that drives the sun.

The European Union money will be used over the next few years to determine a design for HIPER. This will involve scientists all over Europe, including the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) in Oxfordshire – who are one of the lead parties in the project.

If funds are provided to build HIPER, it may be running in 10 years (with a £500 million cost) and the location of the facility could be at RAL, although it could go elsewhere in Europe.

On a similar timescale to HIPER (in the next 10 years), the new international magnetic confinement experiment – ITER – the successor to JET will be operating at Cadarache in the South of France. The path for ITER towards a (magnetic confinement) fusion power plant has been intensely researched from an engineering and technological perspective. In contrast, HIPER is more a physics proof-of-principle experiment and the path from HIPER to a (laser driven) fusion power plant has not been so closely studied.

Mr Elles has been closely involved in the JET project and fought successfully for British scientists to receive pay parity with their European counterparts who previously received higher salaries. He is also extremely active in securing the future of the European School at Culham.

At an extraordinary meeting of the Vale of White Horse District Council, held last night (Wednesday), members of the public were able to tell Councillors the problems that they experienced during the recent flooding emergency.

The meeting, called by members of the Conservative Group was attended by a large number of members of the public, many of whom addressed the meeting and explained how they had been affected by the floods.

Conservative Leader, Councillor Melinda Tilley said, “When we called this meeting the Lib Dem Leader criticised us for acting rashly. I think the public attendance at the meeting, and comments made by local residents both at the meeting and afterwards make it clear that this meeting was welcomed.”

Other Council’s in Oxfordshire have held meetings since the flooding, it was only in the Vale that the Opposition Conservatives had to call an extraordinary meeting as the ruling group refused to allow residents a public forum.

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Oxford West & Abingdon, Nicola Blackwood commented, “I think it was a very valuable and worthwhile meeting. The debate was constructive and I am confident that tonight’s meeting will help the Council develop better plans to deal with future flooding incidents.”

Conservative Councillor and Shadow Cabinet Member for Planning, Terry Cox, supported two motions calling on the Council to think again about future building in the flood plain, and supporting ‘Save Radley Lakes’ in their call for a review. Cllr Cox said, “These are important decisions and although they will be discussed by the Council at a later date it is disappointing the Lib Dems could not agree them on the night.

Councillor Matthew Barber, Conservative Finance Spokesman added, “The tone of the meeting was generally constructive and it was good to see Councillors of both parties working together. It was regrettable however that at least one member seemed not to recognise the problems faced by residents.” When a member of the public explained that she felt she had been treated like a criminal by the Council, Cllr Jenny Hannaby comment, ‘this was for her own good’. Matthew Barber concluded, “This is an unfortunate example of process being put before the good of local residents, and exactly what should be avoided in the future.”

The Liberal Democrat Vale of White Horse District Council was rocked by another crisis today as Conservative Councillors expressed their outrage at the continuing poor performance of the Council’s telephone benefit advice service. The Conservatives first published details of the problems with the Councils system back in May 2007. Figures obtained by the Conservatives showed that in March only 1,600 of the 6,000 calls to the Councils helpline were answered. At the time Leader of the Conservative Group Cllr Melinda Tilley said “People ringing this helpline are often desperate for assistance and advice, they deserve to be treated with respect. Not long ago the Councils performance in this area was one of the best in the country, now it is quite frankly scary”.

The latest figures obtained from the Conservatives show that this worrying scenario is continuing. Call logs from April to August show that on average over 3100 calls were still going unanswered every month.

Cllr Matthew Barber commented, “This is quite frankly ridiculous, we pointed out this failing in April and the Liberal Democrats response was that they were unaware of a problem, they have now had five months to address the problem and we are still showing unacceptable response figures. We seem to be lurching from one crisis to another, we have the Council threatened with legal action for non payment of bills, we have had problems paying our own staff and still the people who need help and assistance can’t get through to anybody that can help them! When is someone from the administration going to hold their hands up and take responsibility?”

Cllr Roger Cox Shadow Cabinet member for Contact Services added “This is simply not good enough, back in May we were told that this situation would be resolved and quite frankly it hasn’t, it’s time Mr Patterson came up with some answers rather than avoid the questions”

European MP James Elles gave a graphic account of the seriousness of the Thames Valley’s flooding when he spoke in the European Parliament in Strasbourg yesterday (Monday).

The debate had largely centred on the how the European Union’s Solidarity Fund should help Greece, where more than 60 people have perished in forest fires.

Mr Elles said that whilst he accepted Greece had experienced one of the most lethal fire disasters to have occurred worldwide since 1871, parts of Britain – particularly Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire – had seen one of the wettest June and July’s since records began. In some areas of the Thames Valley the damage caused was worse than the notorious 1947 floods.

Across Oxfordshire more than 2,600 homes (1650 in West Oxfordshire alone) had been flooded and businesses were also affected. In West Berkshire no less than 2,500 homes were flooded internally and the damage to homes varied between £10,000 and £50,000.

With predictions of more heavy rain and flooding in Britain this winter, Mr Elles emphasised the need for better flood defences. He also mentioned the real prospect of flashfloods.

Mr Elles said that had river water levels been reduced by earlier dredging certain areas would have avoided being flooded. The EU should review its directive which prevents the spoil from dredging rivers and streams being left on the banks of rivers.

He sought assurances from Vladimir Spidla, the European Commissioner for Employment and International Assistance, that flood damage would be included in the budget for natural disasters and that the monies will be dispensed efficiently and effectively and as soon as possible. In reply, the Commissioner said every effort would be made to secure the funds and, once allocated, would distributed speedily.

Following the publication of the Examination in Public Panel Report on the South East Plan Nicola Blackwood, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Oxford West & Abingdon has hit out at the Government for not providing the necessary infrastructure for new homes.

Whilst welcoming the new affordable housing that is much needed for key workers and those on low incomes, Nicola has condemned Gordon Brown’s plans to increase building in Oxfordshire by more than the national average.

Commenting, Nicola Blackwood said…
‘Our key workers in Oxford West & Abingdon need more affordable housing so I am pleased to see that Conservative calls for this have been heard. I am concerned, however, about the impact of the City Liberals’ plan to build an extra 4,000 houses on Green Belt land and will be asking Gordon Brown what measures the government will take to ensure that there is enough investment in local schools, medical centres, transport links and other infrastructure. We also need to make sure that all building programmes will include a full flooding impact assessment and integrated flood defence measures. What we need is an ‘I before E’ strategy: Infrastructure before expansion.’

Nicola Blackwood is launching a campaign to petition Gordon Brown to think again about the provision of infrastructure for the new homes. The campaign, to be launched this Saturday in Summertown, will encourage members of the public to sign letters to the Prime Minister calling on him to review the Government’s approach to housing. Nicola Blackwood will be personally delivering the letters to Downing Street during the consultation period.

Councillor Tia MacGregor was alerted to the closure of Vallis Alley between Quarry High Street and Maragret Road Recreation ground by a resident and an article that appeared in the Oxfortd Mail. The closure was initially granted by Oxfordshire County Council for 20 weeks from February. Residents have become annoyed because the signage on the alley indicates that the footpath should have opened some weeks ago. As the two County Councillors in the area had done nothing about the ovelong closure, Cllr Tia MacGregor made enquiries and was given the fllowing answer from the senior highways technician:

"This job has taken much longer for the developer to complete because of the texture of the ground beneath. The job was anticipated to take 20 weeks but a closure order automatically applies for 6 months or until work is complete, whichever is sooner. The developer has told us that work to stabilise the ground is having to be carried out to support the new building.

"The developer came to the county council for an extension to the closure of a footpath to enable this to happen. The council did not have the legal powers to close the footpath and had to approach the Government Office for the South East. The Government granted permission for a six month closure from August 1 - although the path would re-open sooner if the job is completed before then. We have spoken to the developer this morning and they are already active in progressing their work. I will monitor the situation very closely."

Councillor MacGregor has asked that the signage at tboth ends of the closed section is updated.

The Vale of White Horse Conservative Group has requisitioned an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council to allow members of the public to ask question and put forward their views about the recent floods to hit the Vale of White Horse.

Under the councils constitution a meeting may be called by a minimum of 5 members of the council. The Conservative notice was signed by Cllrs Tilley (Group Leader), T. Cox (Deputy Leader), Barber (Faringdon), McGee (Grove), Duffield (Sutton Courtney & Appleford) and Murray (The Hendreds).

• The Meeting will formally record the thanks of the Councillors to the Officers of the Council whose commitment and dedication was much valued during the recent emergency.
• To allow statements and questions from members of the public.
• To discuss the allocation of Government funding to help those affected by the flooding.
• To discuss how the councils emergency planning and response can deal with future emergencies.

Faringdon Councillor Matthew Barber said, “it is very important that we recognise the hard work that all officers of the council undertook, many working through the night to ensure information could be supplied to residents; but it is also important that all members of the public who were affected have a public forum in which they can tell the Council what went well and any areas on which we need to improve.”

Leader of the Conservative Group Cllr Melinda Tilley added, “The next meeting of The Council isn’t until November 21st and that is simply too far away. The problems encountered by our residents show just how quickly situations like this can occur and with rivers still not back at summer levels it is vital we are prepared should this happen again”

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate Nicola Blackwood said, “I am pleased the Vale Conservatives have called this meeting, it will allow all members of the public to highlight any problems they have encountered or any that are still ongoing. I urge anybody who would like to speak or make a point at the meeting to contact their local Conservatives who will be able to help them do so.”

Councillor Paul Austin Sargent has pledged to fight an application by Nightclub Po Na to become the first all-night drinking venue in Oxford licensed to open until 8am.

Councillor Sargent said, “I understand that the manager of Po Na Na feels that people don’t have long enough to club between the hours of 23.30 and 03.00, what nonsense! Residence in the City Centre are regularly disturbed by late night and early morning noise, this has become worse since the smoking ban, as smokers now pop outside for a smoke.”

The former city centre police commander said before he left his post this month that 24-hour licensing had reduced crime around 'chucking out' time - but added crime and disorder now happened over a longer period.

Cllr Sargent has written to some 300 residents alerting them of the application and has undertaken to represent a number of residents at the hearing of the application by the Licensing Committee on the 4th September.

The University Estates Directorate need to urgently reconsider £29m plans for a new book repository on Osney Mead

Paul Sargent has demanded a rethink following the devastating floods - the worst since 1947 - which hit the area last month. Paul is concerned because this is the third extreme high magnitude-flooding event within the last ten years. Paul decided to speak out against the application. He said,

“I know that a great deal of work has been put in by the university, but this is one development too far for Osney and the Oxford flood plain. Oxford University definitely needs help from the local authorities to find somewhere suitable to store its books, but I don't think this is the right location because of the flooding risk and the impact the building would have on displacement and flow of flood waters.”

Following the recent heavy flooding of West and South Oxford the City Council’s Central, South & West Area Committee have arranged a series of meetings to discuss the floods, action by the environment agency, the role of the emergency services, the City and the County councils.

The meetings are scheduled as follows:

South Oxford Community Centre 13th Aug 7 pm - CSW residents meeting

St Luke's Community Centre 14th Aug 7 pm - CSW residents meeting

King's Centre, Osney Mead 14th Aug 4 -7 - Environment Agency ‘drop-in’ event for the whole of this Oxford and immediate area affected by flooding

West Oxford Community Centre 5th Sept 7 pm - CSW residents meeting

Conservative City Councillor Dr. Tia MacGregor has been pleased with the Thames Valley Police crackdown on drivers and cyclists who flout the 'one way' traffic order in Stile Road. Residents of Stile Road were concerned about the illegal traffic and the potential danger to other users of the street.

Councillor MacGregor wrote to people living in Stile Road to explain the action she intended to take. This was followed-up by the police visiting residents to assess the scale of the problem. In the following ten hour enforcement blitz the police made two arrests and fined sixty people.

Tia said, "I have had many people thanking me for the action the police have taken. We have to ensure that regular enforcement takes place in the future."

Cllr. Dr. Tia MacGregor has raised concerns about the condition of the pedestrian subways running under the Green Road roundabout. Tia has complained to City Works regarding offensive graffiti, broken glass, litter and poor lighting.

Although an immediate clean-up was organised by the City's cleansing department, Yia wants to ensure the subways are regularly maintained to the satisfaction of local residents, and that, where possible, some improvements can be made.

Therefore Cllr. MacGregor has organised an open meeting on Tuesday 14th August at 7.30pm at the Conservative Club, Windmill Road, for residenst, to which she has invited the County Councillors responsible for highways, county council officers and city council officers.

Nicola Blackwood, Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Oxford West & Abingdon, has attacked the Government for the mismanagement of both the prisons and immigration system.

Nicola spoke out on the conditions at the centre earlier in the year when riots broke out at the Immigration Removal Centre in Kidlington. It has emerged over the weekend that twenty-six detainees escaped during rioting on Saturday night. This follows a hunger strike which was only brought to a conclusion last week.

Nicola Blackwood comment, “The conditions at the centre have been inadequate for some time and the Government have failed to put in the necessary investment.”

The Centre is intended to hold asylum seekers whose applications for asylum have been turned down and are awaiting removal to their own countries, but is has become overstretched. Campsfield has suffered from the Government’s mismanagement of the prison service. Foreign prisoners who have served prison sentences in the UK for crimes committed here are sent to Campsfield whilst arrangements are made to deport them.

Nicola added, “It was the failure to deport foreign criminals that forced Charles Clarke to resign as Home Secretary. It is clear that the problem is still unresolved. Campsfield is not designed to hold criminals, and the staff are not trained as prison officers. The Government must start deportation procedures earlier in foreign prisoners’ sentences to ensure that they are not held in these centres.”

It has emerged that 60% of inmates at the Centre are in fact convicted criminals who are only in Campsfield because the Home Office has not improved its procedures.

Nicola supported Shadow Immigration Minister, Damian Green who said, "We need immigration detention centres as part of the process of removing people who have no right to be here, but what we should not be doing is mixing up immigration offenders with other criminals. That's where the big failure lies."

Nicola concluded, “The conditions at Campsfield have deteriorated due to mismanagement. People are being held there indefinitely in poor conditions. This is no way to run our immigration service.”

Both Councillor Tia MacGregor and Councillor Paul Austin Sargent have opposed applications made by Oxford Brookes University for two sites in Headington. If the application had been successful it would have resulted in the demolition of houses at 88 and 90 Windmill Road and 1a Mattock Close and the erection in their place of two new halls of residence housing 49 students for Oxford Brookes University.

The City Council have been putting pressure on the University of Oxford and its colleges and Oxford Brookes University to build more purpose-built student accommodation. This policy ensures better support and accommodation for the students, but it also helps to relieve the pressure on the housing stock in the City.

Paul Austin Sargent said, “As a councillor involved in the planning process you have to weigh up the pros and cons of every application. At our last Strategic Planning meeting we gave permission for the demolition of two blocks at Morrell Hall so that a new student block housing 170 students could be built. The difference between that application and these current two are huge.”

“170 student rooms added to the Brookes Campus at Morrell Hall can be absorbed without making much of a difference. Whereas, 49 student bedrooms imposed upon a small residential cul-de-sac is just asking for trouble.”

Councillor Paul Austin Sargent has been nominated to represent the Council’s case at an appeal if one is made.

Oxford City Council meets this Monday to debate the current postal strike. The meeting was requisitioned by IWCA and Green councillors who want the Council to adopt a motion supporting the strikers.

Conservative Group Leader, Cllr. Paul Austin Sargent said, “This is a waste of Council tax payers money, calling a meeting to debate something we have no working knowledge of and no jurisdiction over. This is the very worst kind of Party political grandstanding.”

Conservative City Councillor Tia MacGregor has been campaigning for the use of renewable energy sources to run City Council vehicle stock. The Labour & Liberal councillors at a recent meeting of the council voted down a motion put forward by Councillor MacGregor. In proposing the motion councillor Dr. Tia MacGregor said:

“It's probably harder than you might think to change your motoring habits to help to save the planet. Several related but distinct subjects become hopelessly mixed up - saving money, energy security and the need to contain or reduce CO2 emissions, for example. Detailed data on tailpipe emissions for different models are available but it's difficult to find information about the overall environmental impact cars have over their lives, including manufacture and disposal. And not only consumers are confused; the muddle is reflected in official policy.

The transport sector is the third largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the UK, and the only sector, according to the Tyndall Centre, where emissions are expected to be higher in 2020 than in 1990. Despite the rise and rise of air travel, by 2010, 85% of these emissions will still come from road transport.

One thing is clear, there is no one clear solution that will meet our transport needs and combat the effects of global warming and climate change. A raft of solutions is required. In a small way this motion goes some way in developing this in terms of Oxford and its Council.

Traditionally, environmental organisations have not had much to say about cars, except to try and persuade people not to use them, and more recently not to buy 4x4s. But realists are acutely aware of our dependence on the private car. This country’s transport infrastructure is currently based upon the car or more accurately the internal combustion engine. Oxford has had its part to play for some time in the UK motor industry and many of our citizens still have jobs in or associated with the BMW Plant at Cowley. This should be our starting point, not some unobtainable idealist utopia that people will not buy in to. We pragmatists realise that despite the seriousness of the situation, it is still very much a battle of hearts and minds that has to be won.

Petrol and diesel vehicles of about the same size in the same class vary hugely in efficiency: the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has worked out that if everyone switched to the most efficient car in the same class, emissions from cars would fall by 30%. Exciting new developments in fuels, engines, aerodynamics and ultra-lighting all have the potential to make cars much more efficient… and they’ll be here all the quicker if we demand them.

The one that's getting the attention at the moment is E-85; 85 per cent bio ethanol, a renewable fuel made from, say, rapeseed or wheat or sugar beet, and 15 per cent petrol. E-85-capable versions of the Ford Focus and the Saab 9-5 are on sale, and Morrisons has opened the first dozen E-85 pumps in East Anglia and Somerset. New technologies that exploit E85 and B20 are already available such as bio-diesel and flexi-fuel vehicles.

A Flexi fuel engine senses the combustion pattern of the fuel — ethanol, petroleum or any mixture of the two — and automatically adjusts the piston speed accordingly. If it's ethanol, which burns more quickly, the pistons slow down. If it's petroleum, they speed up.

The flexi-fuel engine is already in 90% of all cars and light commercial vehicles sold in Brazil; and by next year, it will be almost impossible to find a new car there without one. Toyota's new line of flexi-fuel engine cars hits the showrooms next month and VW (Brazil) has already announced it's ceasing production of all petroleum-only cars.

Here in the U.K., Swedish carmaker Saab is turning competitors green with envy because its entire model line, including the flashy Saab 9-3 Convertible, is offered with its new "Bio Power" flexi-fuel engines. Ford too is in on the action by providing a flexi-fuel version of the Focus range.

But as I said earlier, this motion is not purely about sourcing flexi-fuel vehicles and retrofitting existing vehicles for fuels derived from plants. We need to be investigating the possibility of sourcing vehicles that use stored electricity derived from renewable sources and also in the future vehicles that use emerging technology such as hydrogen fuel cells.

Other councils have already taken the steps that this motion proposes and accepted their responsibility to set the example for public and private organisations and individuals who live and work in their area. I commend this motion to Council.”

Ever the pragmatist Tia has pledged to bring back the motion, for as she said, “It was plain that Labour and Liberal councillors didn’t understand the issue and had seized on one aspect – a problem in South America, to rule out implementation, here in Oxford.

The Liberal Democrat run City Council last week announced plans, first proposed by Conservative city councillor, Paul Sargent to replace the crumbling Oxford Ice Rink in Oxpens Road and the partially defunct Temple Cowley Pool.

The ice rink would be Olympic size, while there could also be room for a skate park. However, the new centre would not include an Olympic-size swimming pool - just a facility of "competition standard". The City of Oxford Swimming Club, said that there should be a dialogue as the needs for serious swimmers should be taken into account

Long-standing City Council leisure critic and Conservative city councillor Paul Sargent said: "Something has to be done. It makes absolute sense to build a swimming pool and ice rink together because you get the environmental benefits. The Liberals are proposing a centre located on the ring road, demonstrating that they do not have a real understanding of, or commitment to, environmental or community sustainability "But we need a competition standard pool – Lib Dem proposals for flumes and leisure pool facilities pander to fads. We need facilities that cater for the community that they serve and the serious sportsperson. The Liberal Democrats understandably have failed to understand the needs and aspirations of the people of Oxford”

Parliamentary Spokesman for Oxford West & Abingdon, Nicola Blackwood, has praised the efforts of Council workers and member of the Emergency services who have been helping those affected by the recent flooding. Over 10,000 sandbags were distributed in the Vale of White Horse alone, and many people will be suffering the consequences of this disaster for months to come.

Nicola Blackwood said, "The commitment of workers and volunteers has been much appreciated by those affected and it shows the strength of our community." she added, "This emphasises the importance of protecting flood plains from unnecessary building that will only make future disasters even more devastating."

Both Oxford City Council and the Vale of White Horse have guidance on their website to help homeowners with the clear up operation:

Anne Dreydel who was a long-standing, active and much respected member of the Association died on 3rd July 2007. The following obituary appear in the Daily Telegraph.

Anne Dreydel, who has died aged 89, co-founded the Oxford English Centre, which later became St Clare's international college; paralysed by a wartime bomb, she spent almost all her adult life in a wheelchair.

Known affectionately as The Rolling Throne, Anne Dreydel struck staff and students alike with the power of her personality, her arresting good looks and above all her consummate charm.

Anne Dreydel was born on May 27 1918. After what she confessed was an inadequate education, she had no future plans other than to be a debutante and make a good marriage.

Aged 22, she barely survived a German bomb which fell on her London home, killing her stepfather.

After 15 months in hospital and accepting that she would never walk again, she embarked on a tough personal programme of study which would qualify her for entry to Oxford University.

Her mother, who up to the end of her own very long life was to have a key role in supporting her daughter, pushed her through the London streets to catch a train to the Oxford interview, sat with her in the luggage van and had to bellow down the line at Oxford station when the van stopped short of the platform.

After the interview to study English, she was offered a place to study History because "English was upstairs". A year later she was able to transfer to English and consequently spent four years at St Anne's College.

She was to live in Oxford for the rest of what was, considering her physical disability, an extraordinarily long and vigorous life, crowded with unusual achievements.

Central to her career at Oxford was a love-affair with foreign languages and other cultures, started before the Second World War on an exchange visit to Germany; Anne Dreydel famously believed that: "There's no point in speaking four languages if you haven't got anything interesting to say."

In 1947 she was one of a group of students at Oxford who, through Christian Action, raised funds for books for German schools and for a conference of British and European students, including Germans and Austrians, to discuss mutual understanding through education.

Soon she was visiting Germany and helping with the foundation of the Oxford-Bonn Universities Committee, from which the twinning of the two cities developed. A few years later she was a founding committee member of the Anglo-German (now British-German) Association with which she was to be actively involved for the rest of her life.

Germany honoured her with the award, first, of the Bundesverdienstkreuz (1958) and, in 1981, with the Commander's Cross of the same order, the equivalent to the British CBE.

Early in her teaching career Anne Dreydel was fortunate to meet a like-minded and equally vigorous fellow-teacher, Pamela Morris. In 1953 they founded the Oxford English Centre for foreign students, with a kitty of £5 (for postage stamps) and office support from the British Council.

To her early, mainly European, students, Anne Dreydel became known as a gifted teacher and counsellor.

From this modest start, she and Pamela Morris gradually built up not only the foreign student base of their school, in EFL (English as a foreign language) programmes and in a junior year abroad for American university students, but also a group of British students studying A-levels.

In 1962 the school became a charitable trust. After Pamela Morris retired in 1972 Anne Dreydel became sole principal.

In 1977 she took the courageous and visionary step of abandoning A-levels in favour of the International Baccalaureate, a sixth-form programme in tune with her own ideas of the importance to 16- 18-year-olds of study across the boundaries of language, race and religion.

In 1981 she was appointed OBE for services to education and retired two years later.

In 1985 she became for a time head of the American International School of Florence, and at various times was governor of several Oxford schools.

Anne Dreydel, who died on July 3, never married.

Conservative Councillors at the Vale of White Horse District Council have expressed their anger at the "Hypocrisy" of Liberal Democrat Executive Member Bob Johnston. Cllr Johnston who lives in Radley, which is situated on one of the Best bus routes provided by Oxford Bus Company (35 & 35A) is the author of the Councils Green travel plan. According to copies of Cllr Johnston's Travel expense claims obtained by the Conservative Group Cllr Johnston claimed car allowances for 82 separate journeys to the Council offices in Abingdon in the last 12 months. in the forward to the Green Travel plan Cllr Johnston says "With the help of the new Green Travel plan the Council is in a better position to lead by example" The Document also includes the phrase "It's not about feeling bad when using a car its about feeling good when you don't" Its another embarrassing revelation for Cllr Johnston who was recently embroiled in a row regarding the value of the Old Gaol site.

Cllr Matthew Barber said, "You really couldn't make it up. On the one hand we have Cllr Johnston telling all of us how we must ensure we use public transport for as many of our journeys as possible, then producing a glossy document ordering the councils staff to do the same, and on the other hand he submits an expense claim for over 980 miles despite living on one of the best bus routes in the Vale. He even has a concessionary fare buss pass! It certainly falls into the "Do as I say, not as I do” Cllr Barber continued, we all support the reduction of emission and support green travel wherever possible Executive members should be exemplary not exempt It appears that the only people that are exempt from the Liberal Democrat war on the motorist are the Liberal Democrats"

Leader of the Conservative Group Cllr Melinda Tilley said, "This is just plain hypocrisy and another example of Cllr Johnston's arrogance and contempt for the Staff and residents of the Vale of White Horse. In light of this latest outrage Cllr Johnston should seriously be considering his position as an executive member of the Council

Wantage Councillor, Bill Melotti, has started a debate on the schooling issues in Wantage and Grove on his blog. Bill wants as many people as possible to take part in the debate about future school options. You can visit his blog at billmelotti.co.uk.

Local Conservative District and County councillors in the Wantage and Grove area have reacted with anger to the decision of the County Council Liberal-Democrats under Cllr Zoe Patrick to ‘call-in’ the decision of the cabinet to create a new 600 place school in Grove.

The call-in means that the cabinet decision has to be referred to the council’s Children Services Scrutiny Committee to see whether they wish to ask the cabinet to think again.

The call-in is widely seen as an attempt by the Liberal-Democrats to save face after a calamitous performance by Cllr Patrick and her colleagues at the cabinet meeting on 20 June. Whilst she supported the option which would slash King Alfred’s School in Wantage down to 1250 students and cause massive disruption, her colleague Cllr Jean Fooks supported an option of one super-school of 2,500 pupils based both in Wantage and Grove.

The cabinet chose the option which allowed King Alfred’s School to remain in control of its own destiny whilst giving Grove a new school initially of 600 places but with the potential to grow in line with local need.

Cllr Bill Melotti (District Councillor, Wantage) said:

“This is nothing more than a stunt. The Liberal-Democrats have let our communities down badly over the future of schooling in Wantage and Grove and they know it.

“They claim that the call-in is needed to give voice to local concerns. It’s nothing of the sort. They are playing politics with the future of our children’s education solely to save face and to make a futile political gesture.”

Cllr Iain Brown (Hanneys and Hendreds) said:

“The suggestion that a secondary school with no sixth form is second rate is a contemptible remark and is a personal insult to many former pupils of Icknield and Segsbury schools who never went to sixth form. Councillor Patrick has exhibited a form of educational snobbery that has no place in civilised society.

“It is particularly ironic that the Liberal-Democrats have called-in this decision on the grounds that educational aspects have not been considered when they appeared to be completely unaware that some of our best schools in the county do not have sixth forms.”

James McGee (District Councillor, Grove) said

“We have a decision that gives a new school for Grove, which it has needed for 30 years. This is a very welcome decision, yet local Liberal Democrats wish to push us down a route that would start a prolonged legal battle into unchartered territory, between the County Council and King Alfred’s school. Surely they cannot be serious, they can only be playing politics to try and get a good headline ?”

“What we also find confusing is that Cllr Patrick, Lib Dem Leader for Oxfordshire says one thing, but her colleague in Oxford says another. The right arm is working against the left and clearly have no real idea of what they are trying to achieve.”

The leader of Oxfordshire County Council, Councillor Keith Mitchell, has spoken of his delight and surprise at being appointed a CBE for services to local government.

Famous for devoting around 100 hours a week to his public duties, Keith is a chartered accountant by profession. He gave up his business interests in 1990 to enter public life and is now leader of the county council and chairman of various regional and national bodies.

He said: "I view this award as an honourable recognition in which everyone at Oxfordshire County Council has a share. The council's Audit Commission ranking has moved from 'fair' to 'excellent' in the space of five years. A tremendous amount of hard work has gone into that and all of our employees should be immensely proud. My CBE is yet more recognition for them and they deserve it."

"It was totally unexpected. I usually get home late and when I saw the envelope was from 10 Downing Street I believed it would be politically related. I was stunned and delighted when I opened it and saw the contents. It has been quite difficult to remain quiet until the official announcement!
Championing Oxfordshire's interests

"When I sold my business interests in 1990 I didn't know where my career would lead. I am delighted to have been able to contribute so much and now to be in a position to champion Oxfordshire's interests at the highest levels.

"My business career has stood me in good stead and still, to this day, shapes many of my thoughts and my outlook.

"My first public role was on a rather old fashioned body called the Family Practitioners Committee in the NHS. The world has changed incredibly since then. Local government is far more professional but far more demanding. I am lucky to have had a successful business which I was able to sell. I could then devote my time to public life. I regularly work a 100-hour week so there is not much chance of me having an independent career as well.

"However, I am supported by a fantastic team of councillors, particularly but not exclusively my Cabinet and other councillors, excellent officers and hard working colleagues across the South East. My appointment as a CBE is wonderful but it isn't an award at the end of a life's work. I still have lots of hard work ahead of me."

After years of Labour and Lib Dem poor management Oxford City Council is officially one of the worst run council in England according to the Audit Commission. This is reflected in basic services like our children’s play areas. Across the City play areas that should have been maintained by the previous Labour administration, are now being closed by the Lib Dem-run Council. Councillor Tia MacGregor has opposed the closure of playgrounds in her ward and was rewarded for her efforts this month when it was announced that Quarry Hollow Play Area had been reprieved.

Tia had tabled a public question addressed to the Healthier Environment Portfolio Holder:

“It is recognised that there is a huge backlog of maintenance in the maintenance of play areas which goes back almost twenty five years

In Quarry & Risinghurst Ward we have two play areas designated to close. Many people feel that one of these; Quarry Hollow should be saved and re-designated for the use of older children and young teens. Although not earmarked for closure, Ridgeway Road play area in Risinghurst will need £73k to bring it up to standard.

I welcome the Lottery money secured to fund work on play areas at Wood Farm and Barton. What, if any, approaches have been made by the Council to charitable trusts and/or commercial organisations to secure funding or sponsorship for specific play areas or groups of play areas in order to deal with the maintenance backlog?”

On hearing the news about Quarry Hollow Tia said,

“Of course I’m delighted that one of the play areas has been saved but we must continue the campaign to ensure that those play areas in the ward that are to remain are brought-up to the highest standard but also regularly maintained in the future.”

Cllr MacGregor was congratulated by both Nicola Blackwood and Shadow Minister for Children, Tim Loughton MP. On a recent visit to Oxford Mr Loughton praised Cllr MacGregor for her hard work for the local community and emphasised how vitally important such play areas can be to young people's lives.

Wantage MP and Conservative Councillors helping campaign to save Madison's Tea Rooms

Following a shock decision by Liberal Democrats on the Vale to refuse planning permission for this successful small business in Wantage to move to new premises, Conservatives have been campaigning for the decision to be reversed.

Madison's Tea Room is much loved by the people of Wantage and now faces closure. At a recent planning meeting all 8 LDs voted against allowing a change of use on empty premises elsewhere in town, effectively blocking the owners plans to move to keep their business going.

All 5 Conservatives on the committee voted to allow the change, but we do not have the majority on the committee. However the local MP Ed Vaizey has now joined new Councillors Bill Melotti and James McGee in calling for the decision to be reversed. James and Bill were helping collect signatures on a petition that will be presented to the Council shortly showing support.

Only one LD Councillor on the planning committee supported the measure, Jenny Hannaby from Wantage. However she had to be excluded from the debate and vote because of a procedural error, a mistake criticised by Bill Melotti.

He said 'Jenny Hannaby has been on the Council for years and knows all the rules. To let herself be excluded on a technicality like this and not be able to support a vital small business in town is an unforgivable mistake.'

Recent comments by Zoe Patrick Lib Dem Councillor on the lack of consultation were branded an ‘Own Goal’ by Wantage and Grove District Councillors James McGee and Bill Melotti.

The comments referred to the poor response to a survey conducted by Ms Patrick in Grove. Just over 1% were returned and of those, most indicated there had not been enough residents’ consultation.

The issue at stake is the planned development of 2,500 houses to take place from 2011 onwards in Grove, as part of the local plan, which was adopted by the District Council last year and whether there has been enough consultation.

At the second stage of the local plan, a long process to determine planning priorities for the next ten years, only about 4,000 responses had been received. The deadline for those responses was June 2004 and formed the bulk of activity to influence the local plan.

‘This is a spectacular own goal’, said Bill Melotti. ‘At the second publication of the local plan, way back in 2004 the figure for people responding was less than 4% and dominated by vested interests, often national lobby groups. It was clear that the people living in Grove did not want the development, yet the Lib Dems agreed it anyway and added insult to injury by expanding it from 900 to 2,500 homes.

Bill continued ‘It is Zoe Patrick’s party that is responsible for this. To talk about consultation now is frankly insulting. The developer has been chosen by the Council and when they apply for planning permission is it largely a formality. The Council cannot legally stop this development now.

James McGee said ‘It is clear form the low response that people are fed up with meaningless Lib Dem surveys. However for once Zoe Patrick’s comments are spot on. The Council which her party is running has not been listening to the people of Wantage and Grove ! If she is starting to question her own side, perhaps she should join us on the Opposition, like her colleagues in Oxford City have recently done and together we could hold the ruling Lib Dem group to account "

Conservative Councillors have called for an explanation after an Executive member of the Vale of White Horse District Council appeared to compromise the Council’s negotiating position with respect to the sale of the Old Gaol freehold. Liberal Democrat member Bob Johnston spoke at the Community in the Old Gaol meeting held prior to the election at which he said “public Access to the Old Gaol site will be guaranteed. The listed historic building will not be harmed. By insisting on the restrictions, it will cost the council £350,000 maybe £500,000 on the final disposal price”

Conservative Cllr Matthew Barber said, “This is outrageous! Cllr Johnston was, at the time, the personal responsible for Council property he is reported to be saying things with regards to the Old Gaol and how much below the real value the council would be willing to accept quoting figures on which he has no evidence to support. This is quite frankly a signal to any potential developer of how much to offer. We should be seeking to get the maximum amount possible for the site to re-invest in our public services”

In a letter to Cllr Johnston Cllr Matthew barber said “By way of explanation, I feel that you should explain where the figure of between £350,000 and £500,000 came from, and whether or not it is a figure provided to you by Council officers? Also do you consider your behaviour to be compatible with that which the Council should expect from its Executive Members?”

Leader of the Conservative Group Cllr Melinda Tilley said, “You couldn’t make this stuff up! I have checked with the Councils officers and there is no evidence to support Cllr Johnstons claim. He has gone to a public meeting giving the impression that he is representing the council and made statements which he cannot support. This kind of action is music to any developers’ ears and has significantly impacted on the councils negotiating position. The Conservative Group is demanding an explanation and apology.

Nicola Blackwood, today presented a petition to Number 11 Downing Street, calling on the Government to think again about its proposed Post Office closures. Nicola took her petition to Westminster, accompanied by local Councillors and Post Office campaigners. You can find out more about the campaign by clicking here...

The Conservatives have tightened their grip on the majority of District Councils in Oxfordshire. Yesterday (3rd May) voters in Oxfordshire voted for continued investment in public services by Conservatives in West Oxfordshire, South Oxfordshire and Cherwell Districts. There were less positive results in the Vale of White Horse, where the Conservatives suffered losses in Abingdon. There were however many good results in the Vale, such as gains the the Lib Dem stronghold of Kennington & South Hinksey, and the election of the youngest councillor, James McGee, in Grove.

Next Wednesday, 25^th April, Nicola Blackwood, Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Oxford West & Abingdon, will be visiting the CCTV control room at Abingdon Police Station in Colwell Drive, Abingdon. The CCTV system is operated by the Vale of White Horse District Council.

Nicola has expressed concern at Liberal Democrat proposals to cut funding for the CCTV scheme. She commented, “To cut funding for CCTV at a time when violent crime is on the increase is not the action of a council that puts the safety of the community first. I think we would all like to see the Liberal Democrats prioritising crime and anti-social behaviour rather than juggling the figures in their budget.”

The Liberal Democrats are removing cameras, which they claim to be redundant, rather than redeploying them to trouble spots.

Nicola added, “Cameras provide reassurance to the public and act as a deterrent to criminals and those engaged in anti-social behaviour, as well as providing a valuable tool to police in reacting to, preventing and solving crime. Conservatives are committed to helping the police and the community to combat crime and grime. Together we can make Abingdon centre a better, safer place to live.”

David Willets MP today met with the Principal of Abingdon & Witney College at the Abingdon Campus. He was joined by local Parliamentary Spokesman, Nicola Blackwood, and local Council candidate Guy Rogers. They discussed the issues effecting Further Education, and the problems that are causing fewer people to take short courses.

David and Nicola then met with a group of students studying an access course, with the hope of going on to University. Nicola commented on the excellent work being done by the college, but called on local and national government to do more to support their activities.

Conservative Party leader the Rt Hon David Cameron MP visited Abingdon today as the Vale of White Horse Conservatives launch their manifesto for the district elections to be held on May 3^rd.

On his visit to Abingdon Mr Cameron was told of Conservative plans to protect the historic town centre’s economic vitality and businesses.

As part of the manifesto the Leader of the Conservative group unveiled a car parking bonanza for residents and traders.

Not only would the Conservatives make the first hour free to park in all its pay and display car parks across the Vale but it would also remove its staff permit holders from the town centre’s Charter car park and relocate them to the Audlett drive, Rye farm and Cattle Market car parks. In a further step Cllr Tilley also announced that the Conservatives would fully investigate a move to pay on exit car parks to allow shoppers to spend more time in the town centres without the worry of overstaying and getting a parking ticket.

Leader of the Conservative Group Cllr Melinda Tilley said, “I am delighted David has joined us today to help us reinforce our message and offer his support for our plans to bring trade back into our town centres. After walking around with David and speaking to shoppers as well as traders and members of the Chamber of Commerce we believe that these car parking measures are an essential tool in supporting Abingdon’s businesses. The increased space in the Abingdon Town centre car park coupled with the free car parking will enable people not only to come into the town but to stay for longer and enjoy all the facilities this beautiful town has to offer. This will end the Lib Dem war on the motorist in the Vale once and for all”.

Leader of the Conservatives on Abingdon Town Council Cllr Mike Badcock added, “This Conservative pledge not only allows people to use the facilities of the town but it makes their time their own. If they wish to nip in they can without paying at all. The Lib Dem proposal is like a supermarket promotion - buy one get one free - the trouble is it’s like all Lib Dem proposals – past it’s sell by date!”

Parliamentary Spokesman for Oxford West and Abingdon Nicola Blackwood concluded, “I am pleased David was here today to see for himself how hard the Vale of White Horse Conservatives are working to protect our historic town centres. The measures Melinda has announced today are what the towns businesses have told us is needed to ensure the vitality of the town and we are pleased to show that a Conservative controlled Vale of White Horse District Council will deliver them.

The Rt Hon. Theresa May MP Shadow leader of the House of Commons called into Abingdon Town FC to visit Abingdon Town Chairman Tom Larman and St Edmunds Youth Football Team.

The Maidenhead MP was visiting the Culham Road ground as part of the Vale of White Horse Conservatives campaign to improve Sports provision across the Vale. St Edmunds Football Club has enjoyed great success both on and off the field with its membership numbers continuing to thrive. However the club has fallen victim to its own success, despite growing numbers the club has found it very difficult to find enough pitches to play on for its numerous teams.

The club has been assisted in its search by Abingdon Town FC and Appleford Parish Council basing teams both in the village and at Towns’ Culham Road ground. But with over 300 members the club is still struggling for space.

Mrs May said “I’m delighted to visit Abingdon Town FC and see the support the club is giving to St Edmunds FC. Youth Sport provision is an integral part of the healthier living campaign and every council has a duty to do as much as it possibly can to assist clubs such as these. The Conservatives on the Vale of White Horse District Council have been constantly campaigning for increased sports facilities across the Vale but the Liberal Democrats seem determined not to listen. I am please to see the Conservative manifesto commitment to increase the budget for grants available to clubs like St Edmunds by half a million pounds ensuring more money is available to groups and clubs at the heart of their communities”

Cllr Monica Lovatt who has previously assisted St Edmunds in their search for playing accommodation added “The success of St Edmunds FC is a shining example of what can be achieved by hard working parents and young people. However without the support of people like the Chairman and Committee of Abingdon Town FC and also Appleford Parish Council clubs such as this could not grow and develop. We’ve been calling on the Vale of White Horse District Council Liberal Democrats to provide pitches for the club but to no avail. The Council must do more to assist.

At last night's Town Council meeting in Abingdon, Cllr Paul Campbell, who represents the Caldecott ward, took his seat alongside Conservative councillors. In his statement to the press Cllr Campbell described the Lib Dems as extremely complacent.

Conservative group leader Mike Badcock said: "Paul has been so disenchanted with the Lib Dems that it's no surprise he's joined us.

"He cares about Abingdon and doesn't like what has happened under the Lib Dems. I look forward to working with him in the future."

Paul Campbell's statement in full...

I have changed my Political Allegiances from the Liberal Democrat Party to the Conservative Party.

The reason for this is to benefit the local electorate, as some of the Liberal Democrats seem to have lost touch

with all of them! I believe they have become extremely complacent after being in power for so long.

Whilst the minority among them are working hard for the electorate trying their utmost to improve our town, the

others seem to think it’s their right not an honour to be elected, using it not as a duty to the electorate and town

but as a means to do what they like, not to do what the electorate wants but to do what the elected want.

The Conservative Party, even though in minority, have always fought for the person in the street no matter who

they voted for.

I believe it is time for a change and I sincerely hope it comes on May 3^rd. For our towns sake I hope you join us in

fighting this complacency.

Conservatives on the Vale of White Horse District Council have welcomed the Secretary of State's decision to refuse permission for Oxford City Council to form a Unitary Authority.

Leader of the Conservatives Cllr Melinda Tilley said, "The Conservatives firmly believe that the way forward for Oxfordshire is closer ties and closer working between the two tiers of Local Government and I am glad that the Government has recognised this."

Any successful City bid would not only have affected Oxford City but would have created two other unitary authorities, The Vale of White Horse District Council and South Oxfordshire would have merged along with the merging of Cherwell District Council and West Oxfordshire District Council.

District and County Councillor Michael Badcock commented "This decision is good news for the people of Oxfordshire; this will allay the fears of Abingdon residents who were worried about 'urban sprawl' from Oxford. It is now time for us to put this animosity behind us and time for all Local Authorities across Oxfordshire to work together to deliver the best services possible for our residents"

Fellow Conservative Cllr Matthew Barber said, "Conservatives right across the districts and County are and have always been committed to working closely together. Authorities with Conservative administrations are all rated well by the Audit Commission including the Conservative controlled County Council which has just been awarded excellent status. I am extremely glad the Secretary of State has seen through the Fantasy finance and smoke and mirrors of the City bid and given the Conservative partnership approach its backing"

Nicola Blackwood, Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Oxford West & Abingdon, today met with the Inner Abingdon Neighbourhood Team (North) PC Kevin Taylor and PCSO Sue Bradshaw and Crime Reduction Officer Roger Foster (all pictured).

Nicola said, ‘Peachcroft has seen a huge improvement in safety levels and I was delighted to have the opportunity to thank PC Kevin Taylor, PCSO Sue Bradshaw and Crime Reduction Officer, Roger Foster for all their hard work over the last months.

‘Community policing strategies appear to be having a dramatic impact already. Developing trust between local police officers and residents and helping to rebuild community cohesion is the goal. Today I heard of simple but effective measures which are being put in place to achieve this. For example, providing police officer with bikes, which makes them so much more accessible, and the fact that PC Kevin Taylor has been assigned to Abingdon
(North) for 3 years which gives him a chance to really get to know the area properly and build up trust with local residents.

‘These officers are doing a fantastic job, and having a significant impact, but as we can see what we really need to do is to free up more police officers to get out there in the community and not sitting behind a desk filling out paperwork.’

‘I look forward to working with PC Kevin Taylor, PCSO Sue Bradshaw and Crime Reduction Officer, Roger Foster to continue making Oxford West & Abingdon a safer, closer community.’

Nicola Blackwood, Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Oxford West & Abingdon, has called for an inquiry into the disturbance at Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre in which seven staff and two inmates were taken to hospital.

She commented, "The incident yesterday, in which nine people were injured, raises serious questions about the future of the removal centre.

‘I am concerned that the detention of foreign prisoners in immigration centres is exacerbating the problem by creating an atmosphere which is dangerous for both inmates and staff. I have written to the Home Office to ask exactly how many of the 1300 foreign prisoners awaiting deportation from the UK are being held in Campsfield.

‘Detention centres are becoming less safe. Home Office figures show that the number of assaults in detention centres are set to double. Lack of capacity in the immigration and prison services is at the root of this and it is unacceptable that the inmates and staff at Campsfield are potentially being put at risk in this way.

‘There needs to be a full inquiry into the events leading up to the disturbance to ensure that lessons are learnt and measures put in place to ensure we do not see a repeat of this kind of incident."

Nicola went on to praise the bravery of the Prison Officers and emergency services that brought the situation under control.

Wantage and Didcot MP Ed Vaizey has formally congratulated Oxfordshire County Council on becoming one of the best councils in England by tabling an Early Day Motion (EDM) before Parliament.

The EDM has also been signed by David Cameron, the leader of the opposition and MP for Witney. Tony Baldry, MP for North Oxfordshire, has added his signature along with Boris Johnson, the MP for Henley and other MPs.

The county council was given four-star or 'excellent' status by the Audit Commission following a comprehensive inspection of all of its services.

What services does the council provide?

Oxfordshire County Council provides 80% of local authority services in the county including highways and transport, trading standards, The Registration Service, social care, education services and libraries and museums.

In his Early Day Motion, Mr Vaizey congratulates the county council for achieving efficiency savings of £5million in 2005/6 and combining back office and support services into one shared service centre to achieve £27million of savings over eight years.

Mr Vaizey also draws attention to the fact that children's services are judged to be 'good with an excellent capacity to improve' and that the council helped deliver the acclaimed Oxford Castle project, which was opened by HM The Queen in 2006.

The EDM concludes: "This demonstrates the determination of Oxfordshire County Council to deliver high quality, cost effective services to local residents."

Recognised in parliament

Councillor Keith Mitchell, the Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: "I'm pleased that our hard work has been highlighted by local MPs and recognised in parliament. Every single member of our staff should be proud of their contribution to our four-star or 'excellent' status and they deserve to take their part of the praise that this Early Day Motion bestows."

Climate Change is a huge challenge for the UK and the world, and Nicola is keen to see protection of the environment taken more seriously not only by politicians, both nationally and locally, but also by our local community.

Nicola’s Green Action Campaign, launched in Abingdon on the day local councillors signed up to the Notthingham declaration on Climate Change, is designed to raise awareness of the work that Local Authorities are doing to create climate change strategies and to encourage their residents to take an active part in tackling climate change by asking them to sign up to 5 simple pledges in exchange for a free energy saving light bulb:

> I will think before I buy—reduce my food waste
> I will walk or cycle journeys less than 1 mile and travel by public transport wherever possible

To encourage us all to reduce our Carbon footprint in these simple but effective ways, Nicola will be continuing to take her Green Action Campaign to all areas of Oxford West & Abingdon over the coming months.

Nicola commented, “Climate change is a huge challenge, but together we can make a difference. There are many small changes that we can all make, such as switching to energy saving light bulbs and not leaving appliances on stand-by, which are easy to do and collectively can have a dramatic impact on the preservation of our Planet.”

Nicola Blackwood, Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Oxford West & Abingdon, has this week handed in a letter to the Department of Trade & Industry, strongly opposing the Government’s proposed Post Office cuts.

Nicola has been collecting signature for a petition of Oxfordshire residents against the proposed closures. With thousands of people signed up to the campaign so far, Nicola is pressing for the Government to listen to local people, and preserve these essential services.

Post Offices are often at the centre of communities, and provide a vital link for vulnerable people in towns and cities as well as in rural areas.

Conservative County Councillors on a high-level County Council committee which co-ordinates the work of the whole Council were incredulous today to hear Liberal-Democrats withdraw their party’s participation in key reviews of County Council services.

The reviews are designed to look for ways in which, by working in a different way, money can be saved and channelled into front-line policy areas particularly for the vulnerable and needy in Oxfordshire.

The County Council is undertaking a series of these reviews – known as Fundamental Service Reviews. They analyse the whole basis of a service to ensure it is delivering value for money for the people it supports. The first of these – a review of Home Care Support – identified savings of £600,000 a year which could be re-directed to crucial council priorities.

Councillors from the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee (an all party committee) had been invited to provide critical challenge to a review of the Council’s ICT. More and more people depend on ICT for access to Council services.

Now, Liberal-Democrats have indicated that they will no longer participate in this or similar reviews because of a job’s worth attitude to roles and responsibilities within the Council.

Cllr. John Howell, Cabinet Member for Change Management, who is responsible for ICT said:

“I wanted to include elected members in the review of this key area. The Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee is supposed to be apolitical and was the obvious choice to go for critical feedback during the course of the review.

“I am not surprised that Liberal-Democrats have dreamt up some obscure reason for not participating. They seem incapable of taking responsibility for anything.

“I thought all of us, from whichever party, had one aim – making life better for the people of Oxfordshire. It seems the Liberal-Democrats would prefer to whinge about the state of the floor in the Council’s café than rise to this challenge.”

Cllr. Judith Heathcoat, chairman of the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee, added:

“The Liberal-Democrats claim that these reviews are matters to be dealt with by the Cabinet alone. But, they follow on from the Best Value Reviews we previously did in which all parties participated.

“As scrutiny, we are providing a challenge and this review allows us to get ahead of and influence policy.”

Cllr. Melinda Tilley, vice-chairman of the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee, commented:

“Throughout this Council we have had to listen to Liberal-Democrats complaining that we have taken all the Scrutiny Chairman and Vice-chairman positions. Now we give them the chance to participate and they walk away in a huff.

“After years of having to endure Liberal-Democrats on Vale of White Horse District Council I shouldn’t be surprised. Getting them to do anything constructive is like nailing jelly to the ceiling.”

Yesterday, Nicola Blackwood, Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Oxford West & Abingdon and Shadow Environment Minister, Peter Ainsworth MP, visited Didcot based company Regenatec. They heard how Regenatec are leading the way in bio-fuels technology, and are already supplying vehicle conversion for local busses and public service vehicles.

They were accompanied on the visit by Cllr Matthew Barber, of Vale of White Horse District Council. Conservative’s in the Vale are pledging to convert all council-owned vehicles to run on the new technology.

Local Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman, Nicola Blackwood welcomed the opportunity to discuss the technology with the companies founder, Mike Lawton. Nicola commented, “I am keen to see this technology implemented by all local authorities. Not only will it greatly reduce carbon emission, but it can also be cheaper to run”.

On Thursday, 22^nd February, Shadow Environment Minister, Peter Ainsworth MP, will be visiting Didcot based company Regenatec. His visit will focus on the development of new technologies to provide low-emission sources of power.

Local Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman, Nicola Blackwood will be joining Mr Ainsworth on his visit, along with Vale of White Horse District Councillor, Matthew Barber. Vale Conservatives are committed to local environmental improvements, and are keen to convert Council-owned vehicles to run on bio-fuels.

Nicola Blackwood said, “The Vale Conservatives have shown a great commitment to environmental improvements. Converting vehicles will help the environment and, as bio-fuels are cheaper, save tax payers’ money.”

Nicola added, “As well as supporting the Nottingham Declaration on climate change, the Conservatives are urging the District Council to sign up to the Aalborg+10 commitments.”

County Council Tories will not allow Council performance to be undermined by Lib Dem & Labour budget proposals

The County Council currently provides about 80% of local authority services in Oxfordshire and does so to a high standard; it is rated as ‘good’ by the Audit Commission but is expected shortly to be ranked as one of the best in the country. All of this could be put at risk by changes proposed by the Liberal-Democrat and Labour groups on the County Council in their amendments to the Conservative budget for 2007/8.

Over the past two years, the Conservative administration on the council has pursued a radical programme of organisational and behavioural change across the authority. This programme has been widely admired and has played an influential part in demonstrating to the Audit Commission that the council is a highly focused and efficient organisation delivering real service improvements and excellent value for money for the people of Oxfordshire.

Proposals in the Liberal and Labour budgets for the County Council seek to cut funding for these changes which would put at risk the ability of the council to continue its excellent performance in the future.

“No council likes spending money on itself. But we need to keep in mind not only how our reforms of the council are delivering better value for money for all but also how they are taking the pressure off our front-line services for the vulnerable and needy.

“For example, our Shared Services project, by which we have centralised many of our back-office and support functions, is expected to meet the lion’s share of our government-set efficiency savings targets in a few years time. That will make life easier for services such as adult and children’s social care.

“The budget proposals illustrate quite how out of touch the Liberals, in particular, are. It’s clear that they believe the change programme can be delivered by a couple of ICT projects, one of which is already out of date, and, by cutting an additional senior post which has already been filled – short-sighted, out of touch and dangerous.

“Our change programme is helping us become (officially) an excellent, 4 star council – not because we like collecting stars but because they show just how well we have done in turning the council round to focus on the needs of the people of Oxfordshire. Why the Liberals and Labour want to put this at risk makes no sense?”

In its second budget since winning control of the County Council in May 2005, the Conservative group has combined the caring Conservatism of David Cameron with the good housekeeping of Margaret Thatcher.

At 4%, the increase in the County Council’s element of the Council Tax is expected, for the second year running, to be the lowest of any shire county in the South-East. This reduction to 4% is delivered two years ahead of the expected timetable set out in the Oxfordshire Conservative Group’s election manifesto of 2005. It reflects our total commitment to a regime of low taxes, real choice and value for money.

This comes on top of excellent ratings from the Audit Commission for the Council’s financial management and the value for money it delivers. The Council is widely believed to be about to receive a ranking which will put it among the best in the country for its overall performance.

The budget also recognises the pressures faced by many vulnerable and needy groups in the county and targets money to relieve those pressures. It also shows the Council leading the way in the battle against climate change and energy waste by reducing its own carbon footprint.

“We are a party that not only delivers our promises but delivers them ahead of plan. I am very pleased that we have been able to bring the rise in the council tax down to 4% two years ahead of our target date. This is actually lower than the increase in the Retail Price Index in December of 4.4%. If Gordon Brown’s review of Whitehall and council spending later this year allows, we will be looking at ways to bring the rise down further to the benefit of the many people on low or fixed incomes.

“We also promised to target money where it is most needed and we’ve done that with significant increases in spending on older people and their carers, the young and people over 16 with special educational needs.

“I am grateful to all of my cabinet colleagues and fellow Conservative councillors, to our directors and managers and, most especially, to all of our staff for helping us to deliver excellent services for the people of Oxfordshire.

“We’ve been able to deliver all of this because of the excellent way we are running the Council. Our reforms continue to focus on delivering low taxes, real choice and value for money”.

The Conservative agenda of low tax, real choice and value for money has led the way in this year’s budget round at County Hall.

Budget proposals from the other main political parties show broad agreement with the Conservative Cabinet’s planned County Council budget although, true to form, the Liberals are seeking to increase the council’s on-going core budget by £1.6 million.

“There is no doubt that the continued pressure we’ve put on reducing the council tax increase has made a big impact. The big spending parties such as Labour and the Liberal-Democrats have clearly had to fall in behind the logic of our budget strategy as can be seen from the fact they are proposing very few changes to it.

“We are truly leading the way here with a budget which combines David Cameron’s caring Conservatism with the good housekeeping of Margaret Thatcher.

“Sadly, this hasn’t entirely stopped the Liberal group from seeking, true to form, to increase the council’s on-going core budget by £1.6 million at a time when prudence dictates they should be doing the opposite.

“In addition, several other changes which both Labour and the Liberals want to make to our budget will put the council and the people of Oxfordshire at risk.

“Later this year we face what we expect to be Gordon Brown’s last Comprehensive Spending Review as Chancellor. By all accounts, it’s not going to be good news and cuts are expected in the money which councils receive from government.

“Our budget puts some of this year’s money away to cope with this and to ensure that, whatever Gordon Brown throws at us, we’ve got something in reserve to make sure it doesn’t hit services here in Oxfordshire quite so hard. Labour and the Liberals have removed that protection, placing at risk the most vulnerable and needy in the county.”

The Conservative budget proposes a lower increase in the Council Tax of just 4% - two years ahead of its manifesto promise. It is expected that, for the second year running, Oxfordshire County Council will set the lowest council tax increase of any shire county in the South East.

The budget also proposes significant targeting of expenditure on vulnerable and needy groups. There is additional money for older people’s services and for carers, and, provision is made to improve educational services for those over 16 with Special Educational Needs.

The regional arm of Women2Win held a successful lunch event in Oxford on Monday for Andrew Mitchell MP, the Shadow Cabinet secretary for international development. Niina Kaariniemi, regional co-ordinator of Women2Win and Joanne Bowlt, national director, hosted Andrew and over 20 local Women2Win supporters. These included Nicola Blackwood, Conservative Parliamentary spokesman for Oxford West & Abingdon, and representatives from Oxfordshire Women In Politics as well as local constituencies.

Women2Win is the Conservative group that operates to encourage more women to become members of Parliament and support those who do. It does this through networking and training events, providing links to women currently active in politics and mentoring those who are at an early stage of their careers.

The event was generously hosted by Rashel Aziz at the Aziz Pandesia restaurant on Folly Bridge. The Women2Win group will be hosting further events throughout the year.

Shadow International Development Minister, Andrew Mitchell MP, visiting the British Red Cross’s Oxfordshire Branch office in Abingdon, yesterday. His visit focussed on the role of international aid organisations in building voluntary networks in the UK and abroad.

Local Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman and human rights activist, Nicola Blackwood joined Mr Mitchell on his visit. Nicola, who is a member of David Cameron’s Human Right’s Commission, is building links with local voluntary organisations. The Conservative Party recognises the vital role that is played by the voluntary sector and is keen to harness their potential for good in the local and global community.

Boris Johnson, popular journalist and Member of Parliament for the Henley constituency has secured a debate in Westminster Hall, to highlight the issue of deportations to Zimbabwe. The debate will take place at 4.30pm on Wednesday 7th February.

Post Offices are central to our communities – this is the message from local residents.

Yet, having already closed 4,000 Post Offices, the Government has now announced the closure of a further 3,000 sub-Post Offices, with a looming threat to another 5,000 Post Offices.

This is simply unacceptable. The Federation of Post Masters and Mistresses agree this will devastate many communities. Post Offices are more than just a convenience, they offer vital services to the elderly, the unemployed, and those on low wages. Over 72,000 pensioners in Oxfordshire rely on the Post Office Card Account. It is those in the community that often have the least, who will suffer most if Post Offices are closed on this scale.

This is why Nicola Blackwood is launching a Petition to Protect Our Post Offices. She will be starting the campaign this Saturday (3^rd February) at Kennington Post Office, where we will be highlighting the importance of this local service.

The Petition urges the Government to stop action which will lead to the immediate closure of Post Offices, calling for an urgent review of funding for Post Offices and the services they offer. In particular, it presses for the following measures:

It calls on Ministers to allow Post Offices to continue to serve as the cornerstone of the community, for individuals, business and the most vulnerable in society.

Nicola commented, “When I speak to sub-postmasters, they tell me that they do not want to depend on subsidy; they want the opportunity to do more business and serve their customers. And that is exactly what the Government is denying them: a strong Post Office network, not held back and undermined by the Government, but allowed to flourish and offer a full range of services for everyone.”

Nicola is also writing to thousands of people across Oxford West & Abingdon urging them to sign the petition and support their local services.

Yesterday's by-election for the Witney Central ward of West Oxfordshire District Council saw Colin Adams elected for the Conservatives. Colin had fought a vigorous and energetic campaign - in contrast to the extremely negative efforts made by the Lib Dems. The full result follows:

Nicola Blackwood, Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Oxford West & Abingdon, expressed concern today at new figures which have exposed the true extent of youth-on-youth crime. The shocking statistics were obtained by Conservatives under the Freedom of Information Act.

“These new statistics reveal a worrying area of crime that has gone unrecognised. This is likely to be the tip off the iceberg given how few crimes are actually reported.

“Secondary school students and their parents will immediately recognise the picture of life these crime figures paint. Having mobiles and ipods routinely stolen, being marched to the cashpoint, seeing their friends mugged – this is the everyday life for too many of Oxfordshire’s teenagers.

“Youth-on-youth crime could be a serious long-term problem and the Government are not properly monitoring it. I believe young people have a right to expect violent crime against them to be taken seriously by this Government.”

Nicola Blackwood, Conservative Spokesman for Oxford West and Abingdon, today visited County Hall where the Cabinet were debating the future of Dunmore Infant and Junior Schools.

Nicola commented: “I was pleased to see that the recommendation to Cabinet was not to pursue the creation of an all through 3-19 school, which has been so strongly opposed by parents.”

Nicola has closely followed this issue as the consultation process has moved on. She added: “I am delighted that the County Council have listened to local residents, and I hope that parents, governors and councillors can continue to work together.”

“It is encouraging to see parent’s rally together over such an important issue as their children’s education. The effort they have put into the campaign has been incredible.”

This vitally important issues should rise above political point scoring, and all parties have worked together to the benefit of the children’s education.

Didcot MP Ed Vaizey today met with Alison Forster Chief Executive of First Great Western to discuss the chaos that has been caused by the recently introduced timetable changes. Ed held Alison and other FGW executives to account over their failure to ensure people living in Didcot are able to commute ito London , Swindon and Bristol in comfort, on time and safely. Since the introduction of the new timetable the number of trains running between Didcot and London has fallen dramatically , as has the capacity of the trains .

The cut in the number of trains and the use of older, smaller trains has come as rail fares have continued to rocket with some ticket prices rising by as much as 40%. To add insult to injury for commuters trains are rarely on time with passengers left in the dark about when their train will arrive.

Speaking after the meeting Ed said “The meeting offered few crumbs of comfort to train passengers in Didcot. Whilst First Great Western accepted that there were major problems with their services they were unable to present us with a plan to put on more trains or ease overcrowding. It is unacceptable for the firm to continue to blame others rather than take action to resolve some of the issues. I will now be pressing for a meeting with the Rail Minster to raise the concerns of passengers in Didcot.”

Ed and his fellow MPs have now agreed to write to the Secretary of State for Transport to demand an urgent meeting with GOvernment officials and First Great Western. "It is vital to get all sides in a room together, to stop the buck being passed. We need a solution, and we need one fast".

Conservative run Oxfordshire County Council is likely to set a lower council tax rise than it had originally predicted as well as increasing the amount it spends on services.

The council's Cabinet is set to propose a 4 per cent rise for its share of the council tax when it meets on Tuesday, 16 January. A 4.25 per cent rise had originally been planned for the 2007/08 financial year. A meeting of the council will make a final decision on 13 February.

The Cabinet is also set to endorse a plan to set a 4 per cent rise in each of the next four years. The cabinet will look for further reductions in the rate of increase as funds allow.

The Cabinet has continued its financial strategy of requiring managers to deliver balanced budgets by making sure increases in money spent in one area are equal to the savings in another.

Oxfordshire County Council was recently the subject of an independent Audit Commission inspection on the way it manages its finances. All councils in the country are ranked on their use of resources by the Audit Commission with four stars being the top score and no stars at all being the worst.

The county council was awarded three stars for financial management, value for money and overall use of resources. This was an improvement on the previous inspection.

Meanwhile, an extra £1.3million could become available if current estimates on better than expected council tax collection are realised.

Councillor Charles Shouler, Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Finance, said: "I am delighted to be able to say that the council tax rise will be lower than expected and we will still be able to spend more on services.

"The recent Audit Commission inspection of our services told us that our rigorous approach is providing value for money for people in Oxfordshire. The budget for 2007/8 continues on exactly the same lines. Tax payers expect their money to be spent carefully. We have a strong reputation for doing that and I am determined that this will continue."

Oxfordshire County Council- on 9 January at the council meeting- vowed vigorously to oppose any Oxford City Council unitary bid and work better and more efficiently with the county's five district councils.

It believes there is compelling evidence that were the city council’s bid to succeed, services for the people of Oxford would become less efficient and more expensive.

The county council is graded as a 'good' authority by the Audit Commission and has every chance of becoming an 'excellent' authority when it receives its next assessment in February.

Oxford City Council is graded as 'weak'. It is ranked in the lowest 9% of district councils in the country for value for money and use of resources. It levies the 10th highest council tax of all 238 district councils in the country.

In the event of being given unitary status the city council would take over services such as highways, education, social care and trading standards.

But it must also explain how local government should be reorganised across the rest of Oxfordshire. Accountants Price Waterhouse Cooper confirm calculations that each possible option would lead to huge costs for the Oxfordshire taxpayer to bear.

For instance, costs for the creation of three unitary councils covering north Oxfordshire, the city and southern Oxfordshire would be £53.8million Ongoing costs would be £18.5million which means that the reorganisation would never recoup its costs, let alone make savings.

Councillor Keith Mitchell, the leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: "On any measure Oxford City Council is one of the worst performing authorities in England. It would be madness to allow such a poor performer to take over responsibility for crucial services such as education and social care.

"This arrangement would spell financial disaster for residents across Oxfordshire. Instead of having one set of senior managers at the county council there would be three sets across the county.

"Instead of having one set of statutory partnerships with the health sector and the police there would be three - with all of the extra bureaucracy, waste and cost that would entail. This is a recipe for disaster, both in terms of cost to the taxpayer and quality of services.

"Oxfordshire County Council is providing high quality services to a well established and logical county unit that has a strong sense of identity. The city and county are interdependent and each strengthens the other. The proposed changes would create a mess that would never fully be cleared up or paid for."

Councillor Mitchell added: "There are a wealth of possibilities to explore to improve the system we have without the huge costs that a reorganisation would entail."

Funding for five advice centers offering information to careers as well as housing and debt advice looks secure for another year.

A proposal to withdraw the £131,000 a year grant-funding for the centers - four in Oxford, one in Banbury - is now expected to be dropped, a meeting of Oxfordshire County Council has been told.

The proposal to withdraw the funding was originally put to the policy-making Cabinet in December but councillors had reservations about the proposals and decided to defer their decision until they met again on January 16.

A meeting of the full council today voted in favor of funding the centers for another year, while the value of the service they provide is reviewed.

They called on the decision making Cabinet not to include withdrawal of funding from the centers in the budget proposals it will present to Council on February 13.

Councillor Jim Couchman, Cabinet Member for Social Care for Adults, said after the meeting that he expected Cabinet to endorse the council’s request when it meets on January 16.

“We had reservations after concerns were raised by our scrutiny committee colleagues. And of course we also listened to the centers and their supporters.

“Consequently we have looked at the proposal again and decided we should pay the grant for the next year.

“During that time we will consider whether the centers offer value for money to the council and whether they are providing services which the council ought to fund. We need to see whether this is the best use of tax payers’ money in the light of the council’s overall responsibilities.”

“Banbury Benefit Advisory centre is in my ward. The work they do is invaluable and help the less advantaged within the community, who are in most need of support and advise. The Banbury centre is mainly run by volunteers who not only work in the centre 3 mornings a week but also carry out home visits and help with appeals. I strongly support the case to retain this service for the foreseeable future and applaud the decision made by our Cabinet.”