Penrith Dairy Farmer speaks to Local Farmers and Residents

Penrith Dairy Farmer and MEP Candidate speaks to Local Farmers and Residents

Kevin Beaty, a dairy Farmer from Penrith, who is a Conservative Candidate for the North West MEP elections in May,  came to speak to the Congleton Constituency Conservative Association and local Farmers at a supper  at Sandhole Farm Oak Barn last week, arranged by Fiona Bruce MP. 

He spoke of his travels around the world studying milk production and took questions. Topics discussed included the importance of not building on flood plains, the need for Governments at both National and European levels to continue to support our farmers in the fight to combat bovine  TB and the need for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy which continues to be unduly weighted in favour of other countries such as France.

After speaking at the event Kevin drove straight back to Penrith to milk his 300 Jersey cows! 

Alsager Railway Station

Fiona Bruce MP Visits Rode Hall Art Exhibition



Fiona Bruce at the Rode Hall Art Exhibition with paintings by artists from Alsager and Sandbach



Fiona Bruce MP Celebrates Victory in her Campaign for Free Speech

Fiona Bruce MP Celebrates Victory in her Campaign for Free Speech

Fiona Bruce MP celebrates campaign victory as Government changes law that would have criminalised ‘annoyance’.

Having long campaigned to maintain free speech, Fiona Bruce MP for Congleton welcomes the Government’s decision to scrap plans to criminalise annoying and nuisance behaviour in public. The proposals could have criminalised peaceful protestors on virtually any issue.

The Government had originally proposed an extension to the replacement to Labour’s ASBOs, by allowing the Courts to restrict any action “capable of causing nuisance or annoyance” by any person in any place.

Campaigners said that the wording and the low evidence thresholds were dangerous as almost anyone and any action was capable of being annoying, or causing a nuisance and would lead to a slew of ridiculous and costly cases.

Following a three month campaign by the Fiona Bruce MP along with other MPs, Peers and the group Reform Clause 1, and a key vote in the House of Lords earlier this month, where peers voted overwhelmingly for Lord Dear’s amendment to the legislation, the Government has confirmed that they will accept the key changes.

Fiona Bruce MP said:

“The legislation was far too subjectively worded and a much higher threshold of antisocial behaviour than mere ‘annoyance or nuisance’ in someone’s eyes, must apply if we are to ensure our nation’s precious historic respect for freedom of speech remains intact. If we do allow infringements of free speech, many other freedoms would disappear. The United Kingdom has been a beacon of free speech to the world and I am pleased that common sense has prevailed.”

The Rt. Hon Theresa May MP has said that the Government has now tabled amendments for a:

 “More effective solution for victims of anti-social behaviour which includes the terms harassment, alarm or distress”.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 27^th January said in the House of Lords that he was pleased with the Government’s decision to change the wording to “harassment, alarm or distress”:

“We are content that the test for the grant of an injunction should be based on conduct that has caused, or is likely to cause, “harassment, alarm or distress”. [i]

Notes:

On Wednesday 27^th November Fiona Bruce MP with two other MPs launched of a campaign to protect free speech - ‘Reform Clause 1 – Feel Free To Annoy Me campaign.’

Fiona Bruce MP explained:

“Freedom of speech is one of the most precious – and fundamental – elements of a free society. Lose that and you risk losing a whole lot more. The Government has plans to introduce a new law which defines ‘anti-social behaviour’ as ‘conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to any person.’ This is a very open ended definition which has the potential to affect free speech for literally millions of ordinary people because what we say can be capable of causing nuisance, or annoyance to others, but as Voltaire said, I may ‘not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.’”

Fiona Bruce continued:

“This new law, Clause 1 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill, could mean that a person protesting with a placard, a busker or even a street preacher could all be subject to court proceedings - feeling ‘annoyed’ about someone else’s view should never result in this, and I am fighting vigorously to stop this law being introduced.”

---

[i] The Hansard Debate from House of Lords Debate 27^th January 2014 Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201314/ldhansrd/text/140127-0001.htm#1401272000350

 

Lottery funding to mark the Centenary of the First World War

Fiona Bruce MP urges Congleton communities to apply for Lottery funding to mark the Centenary of the First World War

With the upcoming centenary of the UK entering the First World War, Fiona Bruce MP is urging her constituents to apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for community projects to learn more about the First World War.  

Fiona Bruce MP, speaking after a meeting with the Heritage Lottery Fund in Parliament, said:

“I’m delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund is making this money available to local communities.  Like many areas across the UK, the First World War greatly impacted the people of our local area.   I am very pleased that some groups in my constituency have already obtained this funding - in some instances up to £10,000 - and for those who want to find out more about the First World War’s legacy or who wish to mark the Centenary, I would urge them to get in touch with HLF.”    

Fiona Bruce continued:

“HLF is making at least £1million a year available until 2019 as part of the First World War: then and now programme for small, community grants.  It will provide grants of £3,000 to £10,000 enabling groups right across the UK to explore, conserve and share their First World War heritage and deepen their understanding of the impact of the conflict.”

Fiona Bruce MP urged her constituents to think about how they would like to mark the Centenary.  Successful projects will include:

·         researching, identifying and recording local heritage;

• creating a community archive or collection;
• developing new interpretation of heritage through exhibitions, trails, smartphone apps etc;
• researching, writing and performing creative material based on heritage sources;
• conserving and finding out more about war memorials

Dame Jenny Abramsky, Chair of HLF, said:

“The impact of the First World War was far reaching, touching and shaping every corner of the UK and beyond.  The Heritage Lottery Fund’s First World War: then and now programme will enable communities to explore the continuing legacy of this war and help young people in particular to broaden their understanding of how it has shaped our modern world.”

HLF has already invested over £45million in projects – large and small – that will mark the Centenary of First World War. If a group have a project idea to mark the Centenary of the First World War, an online application pack is available http://www.hlf.org.uk/ThenAndNow.  If a group needs a grant of more than £10,000 for a First World War project, it can apply to HLF through its open programmes. 

Congleton Multi Academy Trust is Lanched

CONGLETON MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST IS LAUNCHED

On the 1st February 2014, Congleton High School converted from a Single Academy Trust to a Multi-Academy Trust.  The new Trust is known as "The Congleton Multi-Academy Trust (CMAT)" and is the largest and fastest growing Multi-Academy Trust in Congleton employing over 170 staff providing education to more than 1,000 students.

The CMAT provides support for ‘good’ Primary Schools to convert to Academies without having to establish individual trusts. All eligible local primary schools have been invited to join the Trust. The Trust has been established to provide mutual advantage for ‘good’ local schools to work more closely together.

 

Fiona Bruce MP, who has been involved with Congleton High School for many years, has agreed to become the patron of the Trust. “Congratulations on this pioneering step which will support young people in Congleton to flourish, make the most of their skills talents and abilities and achieve an even greater degree of success than they are achieving already.”

The Trust is led by David Hermitt, who is Chief Executive Officer and Executive Principal of Congleton High School.  He said “I am delighted that we are able to share our expertise as a well-established Academy with primary schools as they move to Academy status. Local primary schools are considering joining the Trust in April." 

Chair of the Trust, Richard Hinckley, who is a National Leader of Governance, said “As the largest educational institution in the town, it is vital that we support primary schools by sharing our economies of scale. The new Trust allows ‘good’ schools to take mutual advantage of the benefits of Academy status. These are exciting times of rapid change." 

Chair of Finance, Geoff Eardley commented: “I have been a governor at the school for over 35 years and this is a big step in the development of education in the town. We are able to share our financial acumen and ability to secure government grants with all schools in the CMAT. Our strong track record of financial management is a key reason why the Government has given us permission to form this Trust". 

The launch of CMAT provides schools in Congleton with another way to join together to strengthen the educational provision in the town.

Fiona Bruce supports sports provision in Alsager

““One of the key provisions which people in Alsager want is the re-opening of the Sports facilities at the former MMU site.

I have and will continue to press Cheshire East Council to ensure that provision is made for both wet and dry weather facilities and includes the Sports Hall, Drama Hall and Gym as well as existing and new all weather pitches. There are a huge number of sports groups in Alsager, as well as an active U3A. Meeting many of them has impressed me as to how much they contribute to Alsager community life and these facilities will enable them to do so to an even greater degree.

I have been pleased to obtain Sport England’s strong support for a community sports hub in Alsager and will continue to press to ensure this is delivered—and without further delay. Many of the excellent facilities on the site were built with public money and would not require huge additional sums to re-open for community use.

I commend the hard work of Alsager Sports and Recreation Association towards the development of plans for the site.”