Why?

Why bother to vote?

• We are lucky to live in a democracy. This means that we don't need guns or bombs to change our Government. We can walk into the local church hall or community centre and remove the government from power using a pencil.
• People across the world are literally dying to vote. We have seen the people demand democracy in Egypt. We are seeing the struggle in Syria. We can vote therefore we should.
• Not that long ago people who did not own land (the poor) were not allowed to vote. Even more recently some women even lost their lives fighting to get the same voting rights as men.

Why vote Labour in Leadgate, Medomsley and the surrounding villages?

• Put simply, a vote for Labour is a vote for positive change. We have had Independent representation for too long. We need councillors who are influential and will make a difference.
• A vote for Labour sends the clearest message to the Tory Government that the people of this area want a change of direction and that targeting the people of our region for cuts is wholly unacceptable.
• There is a clear choice on Thursday: A vote for blame and more of the same; another 4 years of looking backwards at a Derwentside that no longer exists. Or a vote for change; with influential councillors standing up for our area in difficult times.

Liam Carr

Change Gonna Come

One of the things I am hearing about while I am canvassing for the local elections is the bedroom tax.

Many of the houses in Leadgate, Ebchester, Hamsterley and The Dene are bungalows. Most are like my Gran's house at Watling, with 5 small rooms in total: Living room, kitchen, bathroom and 2 bedrooms. There are very few 1 bedroom flats in the area because demand for this type of property has always been low.

I listened to one voter who had been recently made redundant. She told me she was losing £16 a week due to the bedroom tax, and that this meant she was going to struggle to pay for bus fares. Even people who are unaffected can see the gross unfairness of this tax.

People who live in social housing are not scroungers or skivers, they are normal people. The vast majority of people in receipt of benefits are in work, and even those that aren't are not long term unemployed. I spoke with another man who lived alone and was being hit by the bedroom tax. He was, like many people, unemployed for short periods, signing on and off almost on a monthly basis when he could not find work or when fixed term contracts came to an end.

We must not allow ourselves to be divided and categorised by this government into strivers and skivers. Unless we are super rich, we are all just a couple of months away from not being able to afford the rent or mortgage.

It is claimed that the purpose of the bedroom tax is to save money and free up social housing but in reality people can't downsize when there are no smaller properties. All that will happen is that the people affected will have to move into a similar property that is owned by a private landlord. Regardless of size these properties do not attract the bedroom tax. The cost to the taxpayer goes up, and the shortage of housing is not addressed.

Many private landlords look after both their properties and their tenants, but walk round any former council estate and you will see that there are 3 types of houses. Privately owned, council owned and private landlord owned. There are some private rented properties that are badly maintained and cost a fortune to heat. The council must use all the powers it has available to make sure that the decent homes standard is met. When housing benefit is paid to unscrupulous landlords, both the tenant and the taxpayer are being ripped off.

We hear about 'austerity' on the news; there is talk of the 'chancellor's failed economic policy', but these are abstract terms. What they actually mean in real life is that people who have very little are being asked to live on even less and the disabled are being forced into poverty. Older people are having to choose between heating and eating and relied-on services are being put at risk. Permanent jobs are scarce.

We can expect more of the same from the Tories; they have tried to decimate Northern towns like Consett before, they are doing it again, not by closing the pits and the steelworks but by a policy of disproportionate cuts, under-investment and wilful neglect. Change cannot come soon enough.

Liam Carr

People Before Politcs

During the May 2nd election campaign I have seen the claim "We put people before politics"

One person who really does put people before politics is Malcolm Clarke the Labour Candidate for the Grove, Moorside and Berry Edge.

He was one for the leading members of Lanchester Parish Council for which there are 15 seats, it turned out that 16 people put their names forward for the ballot. This would have resulted in a ballot paper with 16 names on it and 15 votes. People would have to decide which candidate not to put an X next to.

Malcolm waited until the 11th hour before choosing to withdraw. Lanchester Parish have therefore avoided the costs associated with an election, an estimated £6000 that can now be spent on community projects.

For some, "People before politics" is just a tag line on a leaflet. For others, actions speak louder than words.

Crime Rate Falls in the Consett Area

I was at the most recent Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting in Leadgate and the annual crime figures for the Consett area were discussed. Overall crime has fallen from 1811 to 1597, that means that there were 214 fewer victims of crime in the period April 2012 to March 2013 compared to the same period last year, in other words a 12% decrease.

The figures are heading in the right direction, little consolation to those who have been victims of a crime but progress is being made.

The number of reported incidents of anti-social behaviour also fell from 2653 to 1842 which is a massive 30% drop. I would urge anyone who witnesses anti-social behaviour to contact the police by calling 101: Local police take all reports seriously and will act to address the concerns of residents.

Metal theft remains a problem especially in more remote areas. If we see an unfamiliar vehicle loading metal then we should contact the police straight away. Similarly if we witness underage drinking or see young people carrying alcohol in public it is best to contact the police at the time. Criminal damage is often carried out after excessive alcohol consumption, early action could also prevent a hospital visit.

When there are high profile cases, like the recent crash for cash arrests, the work of the police is front page news. However the crime rate in the Consett area remains low when compared to other parts of the country. We can help keep it that way by remaining vigilant and reporting anything out of the ordinary to the police.

101 is the non-emergency number. If a crime is in progress however 999 is still the number to call.

The Party Line

Candidates for the County Durham Local elections have been announced and as usual there are Independents standing for most seats.¹ The 'Derwentside Independents' have voted with the Tories in every recorded vote for 3 years and must have been hoping that the electorate wouldn't notice. 

Independent politicians claim to be apolitical, but they are simply politicians who do not tell the public what they truly believe. A Party affiliation tells voters something about the values of a candidate. I may not agree with these values but at least they are explicit; for example we know that a Tory will believe in a free market economy and thinks there is a place for profiteering in health and education.  Before the Coalition, the Liberal Democrats used to believe in Gay marriage, green energy and electoral reform.  We know that a UKIP candidate will do nothing apart from blame the EU for everything.  The Labour Candidate believes in social justice, community cohesion, progressive taxation and being rewarded for hard work.

Independent candidates are not so open about their beliefs. This can sometimes be an advantage. When talking to voters an independent can simply agree with the voter. They can agree with every position on every matter and change colour like a chameleon. They can also disagree with all parties and join in with the ‘plague on all your houses’ approach to politics. Make no mistake, Independent candidates are politicians. Several groups of ‘Independents’ in the County Durham area even belong to registered political parties and have party leaders.

There were Independent candidates in the Police and Crime Commissioner elections who were actually Lib Dems. There are Independents in the North East who are actually Tories. Rather than being apolitical these candidates are just hiding their views from the electorate.

My values are Labour values. I do not share many of the values that Tories hold dear. The Lib Dems have shelved their values in return for a taste of power, but at least voters know what these values were. Political parties get a lot of criticism, but when you put an X next to a Labour rose you know exactly what you are voting for.

1. List of candidates: http://liamrcarr.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/durham-county-council-candidates-for.html

Durham County Council Candidates for May 2nd

Candidates for the May 2^nd Durham County Council Elections have been published. Voters in Leadgate, Medomsley and the surrounding villages have the following to choose from:

Liam Carr and Estelle Spring – Labour   

2 Independents

1 Conservative

So that might as well be 2 Labour and 3 Tories:  Independent Councillors voted with the Tories in every single recorded vote between the formation of the Council and Summer 2011. There is no Lib Dem standing in Leadgate and Medomsley. They have failed to put forward Candidates in most of the wards in the County.

There is a short ballot paper in Consett South…

Malcolm Clarke – Labour

1 Independent

..and a long one in Crook

Geoff Mowbray, Eddie Tomlinson and Lindsay Wright – Labour

3 Greens

3 Lib Dems

5 Independents

Here are a few other candidates in North West Durham

Burnopfield and Dipton

Joanne Carr and Ivan Jewell – Labour

4 Independents

Blackhill and Benfieldside

John Davies and Brynnen Ririe - Labour

2 Independents

2 Liberal Democrats

Consett North

Sara-Jane Heslop and Clive Robson – Labour

2 Liberal Democrats

2 Independents

1 UKIP

 

Delves Lane

Jane Brown and Bob Glass - Labour

1 Independent

Tow Law

John Hart – Labour

4 Independents

Weardale

Joe Kirwin – Labour

2 Conservatives

2 Independents

Esh and Witton Gilbert

Barbara Armstrong  and Joe Armstrong – Labour

2 UKIP

2 Conservatives

2 Liberal Democrats

2 Independents

 All the candidates named above have been working hard to serve their respective communities for years. They deserve to do well on May 2^nd

First Time Voters

If you are reading this and your 18th birthday was not too long ago then May 2nd could be the first time that you you vote in the Local Elections in County Durham. It is easy to vote. Just turn up to your nearest polling station between 7am and 10pm.

Our area has had independents as Local Councillors for the last decade. They have not done enough to improve the lives of people in the area, especially young people. Internet speeds are even slower here than in more rural areas which really are in the middle of nowhere.

We will work hard for you in tough times, to protect families and young people from the worst of the cuts in government spending.

The Tory Government have targeted young people:

• Stopped Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
• Tripled University fees.
• Failed to regulate landlords or cap student rents.

Voting on May 2nd sends a sends a clear message to both the local council and central government: Young adults will not be ignored.

                                    

You could really help the campaign by sharing this article on Facebook or Twitter.

  Thanks, Liam Carr

(Labour Candidate for Leadgate, Medomsley, Ebchester and the surrounding vilages)

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#%21/LiamRCarr
Subscribe on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=513288238

#LabourDoorstep

I have been out knocking on doors and listening to voters in Leadgate, Medomsley, Ebchester, Low Westwood, Hamsterley and the Dene. These are former mining villages with a mixture of people from all sorts of backgrounds.

I always introduce myself as the Labour Candidate in the County Council elections and then say I'm just listening to people's concerns in the area. The variety of things I hear is great - here are a few local concerns:

• Speeding Traffic

• Litter

• Buses

• Hedge cutting

• Potholes in footpaths and roads

• Play areas for kids (for and occasionally against)

• Dog poo

• Anti social behaviour

And some wider issues: 

• Disability benefit appeals; people are under real stress due to the way ATOS have handled the process.

• Unemployment, lack of job opportunities.

• Bedroom tax; even people who are unaffected think it is unfair.

I have also  learned that most people are nice, and that many of the older generation expect to see candidates on the doorstep. The few voters who are anti-Labour are still very polite about it. You get a tiny minority of people who are just rude and there is no correlation between the price of the house you live in and how rude you are.

There are people from normal backgrounds who feel let down by Labour. I can reel off achievements like the national minimum wage and local measures to protect the vulnerable, but this does not change how people actually feel about the Labour Party.

People are also angry about being ignored by The Council. This anger is occasionally directed at the wrong person. There is currently no Labour Representation in the ward. Strangely the sitting councillors often blame The Council for any unfavourable decision or lack of action.

Voter apathy is a problem, not only for politicians but also for voters. Pensioners are not often targeted for cuts, and this is because almost all of them vote. After listening to people I ask, "do you usually vote?" The most challenging conversations are not with rude people or the few anti-Labour voters that I encounter, but the people who list loads of issues and then say that they don't bother to vote.

I have introduced myself to voters, answered questions about my priorities and about my background, but I have learned far more about the people of the local area than they have about me. Which is exactly the way it should be. 

Speed of Traffic in Low Westwood

The main concern I hear from residents living in the villages of Hamsterley, Low Westwood, Ebchester and East Law is the speed of traffic along the Low Road (A694). I decided to try and investigate the extent of the problem. 

I stood opposite the flashing speed visor in Low Westwood in a high visibility vest. The speed visor flashes if traffic is approaching at over 30mph: This is a simple method to find out if the traffic was obeying the speed limit. 

The 30mph visor is 200M into the 30mph zone and traffic should slow down from 40mph before it enters the built up area. I recorded a vehicle as speeding when the it was still travelling in excess of 30mph 100m after the 30mph speed limit sign.

Results

• Time: 8.20 to 9.20
• Direction of Travel: East, Consett to Newcastle
• Total Number of Vehicles: 148
• Number exceeding 30mph: 58

The results were surprising: 38% of vehicles broke the speed limit. I had assumed drivers would see the flashing sign, see me in a high vis jacket and then slow down. Some drivers appeared oblivious to the speed limit, the sign or the brightly dressed prospective local councillor glaring at them with a notepad. 

I learned a lot in my hour watching traffic: The concerns of the residents are completely justified. When we are in our cars we sometimes disregard the people who live in the villages through which we travel. I will report my findings to the Police and discuss what further action can be taken to address this ongoing problem.

Another Millionaires Budget

Cutting income tax make no sense to me at all, it is one of the few truly progressive taxes, the more you earn the more you pay. (That is until you get so rich you just avoid tax). The cut also gives employers an excuse to persistently refuse to increase wages in line with anything approaching inflation.

Osborne has chosen to cut income tax. This may seem like a good idea so I went on the BBCs budget predictor and put in my pay: I save £300 in income tax this year. Great you might think, not me... I then lied to the BBCs predictor to find out what would happen if I was a hedge fund manager instead of a Lecturer. I put in a salary of a million quid,  just for a laugh. It wasn't funny. Osborne's budget would grant 'millionaire me' a £42000 tax cut. That's enough to give every child  in my daughters primary school free school meals for a whole year.

Because the economy is not growing, such lavish tax cuts have to paid for: Osborne has told each 'government department' to cut an additional 1% on top of the cuts he has already inflicted. When terms like 'government department' are used it makes people think that it has no effect. What we are talking about here are public services. The Tories are giving the rich a tax cut and paying for it by cutting services that the rich can afford not to utilise.

This Chancellor is stubbornly sticking to plan A and this budget promises more of the same: More Champagne for him and his millionaire chums. The rest of us just have to make do with the pain bit.

Liam Carr

Estelle Spring

Estelle Spring has worked at both senior schools in Consett and is a comminity governor at Ebchester Church of England Primrary School. She is involved in local campaigning and charity work, and is also a foster carer. She is approachable and a good listener, and will use her skills to be the best for the local area and the County.

  "I will speak and act in your interest. The hardworking, caring people of this area should get the council services they deserve"

Estelle Spring

Consett CAB to Close

Both Consett and Stanley Citizens Advice Bureaux are to cease giving advice because of poor governance and financial mismanagement. With benefit changes, a stagnant economy and youth unemployment in the local area, the timing could not be worse. 

The national association of the CAB has suspended the membership of the Derwentside centres and ordered them to cease giving advice. There are no concerns over the quality of advice given by the volunteers, it is management who have failed to address concerns about finances.

Nick Bussey a spokesman for the CAB has said: 

"This decision has been taken because of concerns about persistent problems with the way Derwentside CAB has been governed and managed its finances"¹

The National CAB are blaming Derwentside CAB for failings but there must be fault on both sides: Local managers have clearly not been up to the job but National structures have not addressed these failings.  

The closure is a massive disapointment to anyone who cares about their local community. The CAB provides a unique service that is distinct and separate from other assistance provided by Durham County Council, The Jobcentre, Derwnentside Homes and the MPs offices. Talks are ongoing about alternative provision but the specialist nature of the work carried out by the CAB makes that difficult.

It is the vulnerable who will suffer: One common reaction to falling on hard times is to bury your head in the sand. People who take the step of going to the CAB do so because they are in desperate need of help. It is tragic that those in greatest need that will pay the price for the failure of managers who were running an organisation that was supposed to help.

Anyone who needs advice can call the CAB on 0191 3884752. The closest functioning CAB centres are in Weardale and Chester le St.

1. http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/northdurham/consett/10286116.CAB_closed_amid_national_body_s_concerns_about_management/

Newcastle City Council

After a long, bad tempered and at times, upsetting meeting, Newcastle City Council set a budget that will cut £100M of spending. One Labour Councillor had to hold back the tears when she spoke of how the people she represents are being targeted. Lib Dems blamed Labour for the implementation of cuts which their own party supported in Westminister. Local Lib Dems will find at out the ballot box, if it is possible to face both ways on an issue that affects so many people's lives, without the electorate noticing. 

North East Councillors argued long into the night about where the axe will fall and who is to blame. Tory led councils in the South will not be making such difficult decisions; some are not being cut at all. Council budgets are a well established, simple method of redistribution. Councils in less well off areas receive more money from Central Government than those in rich areas. Now we are seeing the opposite; the most vulnerable are targeted while millionaires get a tax cut.

It is now time to forget the politics and remember the workers. Initial estimates are that 1300 local authority staff will lose their jobs. I hope that voluntary redundancy, retirement and not replacing staff who choose to move on,  can be used to keep compulsory redundancies to an absolute minimum.

Vote Labour in May

Election literature has arrived: The election of Durham County Councillors takes place on May 2nd

 Front of county wide leaflet: Candidates will work with the community for the benefit of the local area.

Reverse of leaflet: When the 'independents' turn up to County Hall to vote, they vote with the Tories.

If you are you out when we call round to listen to your concerns, you will get one of these.

Standing up for people in Leadgate, Medomsley, Ebchester and the surrounding villages, in the face of Tory cuts.

If you live in North West Durham and would prefer to vote by post then please get in touch:
Email - liam_carr@yahoo.com
Phone - 01207 566956
Subscribe on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/liamrcarr
Twitter - @LiamRCarr 

It's UP2 Leadgate!

All three Leadgate based projects received Area Action Partnership funding at the It's UP2U event in Consett today.

The Watling Wood bid was successful and received £2923.50. This will enable conservation work to be carried out and facilitate community involvement.

Leadgate Carers got the £500 that they bid for. The work that the group does is really worthwhile; providing a break for those who care for others full time.

Leadgate Newsletter got £750 of the £1200 requested, this is a good result. The newsletter is a vital source of information, especially for those without the Internet at home.

Other projects that received funding were:

Willowburn Hospice £1392

Act On Theatre Group £3000

Salvation Army kitchen £3000

Shotley Bridge Hospital Support Group £1000

React Youth Theatre £1895.58

Stepping Stones Co-op Nursery £3000

Derwentside Mind, Mental Health and Wellbeing Skills £2850

Methodist Church, Family Fun Day in Blackhill Park £2702

Consett AFC Juniors New Equipment £3000

Blackhill & District Comrades Social Club £3000

CBS Musical & Stage Society £3000

YMCA New activity: White Water Tubing £2741.20

Friends of Blackhill Park, Animated Heritage project £1500

Bridge Repairs in Ebchester

Ebchester bridge will get resurfaced and water ingress problems will be addressed in the near future. The repairs will not be funded by Northumberland or Durham County Council but by EDF energy. The Energy Company wanted to run a cable across the bridge, community activists negotiated additional work on the 150 year old stone bridge that should help preserve the structure into the future.

This is a sensible compromise: EDF avoids the need to run a cable under the Derwent, work that would have raised environmental concerns. The community gets a resurfaced bridge with the drainage issues solved.

Energy companies are rightly criticised for putting up bills, charging the vulnerable the highest tariff and then returning massive profits to rich shareholders. Occasionally when they do the right thing it should be acknowledged.



http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2013/02/18/150-year-old-ebchester-old-bridge-set-for-a-makeover-61634-32827288/

Welfare Changes Advice in Medomsley

The Residents Association have arranged for a welfare rights officer from Derwentside Homes to come into into the village to deliver a presentation about changes to the benefits system. Changes include the bedroom tax and universal credit. Initial advice will be available to all and follow up action may also be arranged.

• Date and Time: Thursday 28th February, 7pm Bishop Ian Ramsey School.

• If you are from Medomsley or the Dene and you are worried about benefit payments for yourself or a relative then please come along.

 

If you know of anyone in the local area who may find this useful then please do pass this information on.

Worried about Whittonstall

I have been working with Whittonstall Action Group who are opposing a planning application for a large opencast development at Hoodsclose, overlooking the villages of Ebchester and Medomsley. The proposed site will be close to a primary school and will operate for at least 7 years. Restoration after opencast takes decades. The landscape is permanently altered and for biodiversity to even partially recover, a detailed aftercare plan is needed. A restoration team would have to carry out remedial work to prevent habitat destruction. If restoration is carried out, the impact on biodiversity leads to populations that are more susecptible to disease and extinction.¹ If restoration is not carried out then we are left with land that is of no ecological value.

The reason that I am particularly worried about the long term future of the Hoodsclose site is that UK Coal have sold the land to a property developer.² They have not withdrawn the opencast application but they no longer own the land out of which they plan to extract 200 million tonnes of coal. The only explanation for this bizzare piece of business is that they are experiencing such financial difficulties that they need the cash.³

The sale demonstrates that any restoration pledges made by UK Coal must now be viewed with suspicion. Recent developments should convince the planners at Northumberland County Council of what we already know; that UK Coal have absolutely no interest in the long term future of the land, the school or the people of the surrounding villages.

Coal is our heritage, not our future.


Links
Recent ITV Coverage of the development can be found here:
http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2013-02-15/opponents-say-opencast-mine-would-scar-northumberland-landscape/

1. http://liamrcarr.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/succession-genetic-diversity-and-coal.html
2. http://www.journallive.co.uk/northumberland-sites/corbridge-northumberland/corbridge-and-stocksfield-news/2013/02/14/confusion-as-uk-coal-sells-land-ahead-of-whittonstall-opencast-hearing-61634-32810584/
3. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/mining/9735823/UK-Coal-Britains-biggest-coal-miner-makes-final-bid-for-survival.html