LOCAL ISSUES

Wednesday 28th April 2010

NHS cuts spinal and joint injections for York patients

I am appalled that the North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust [the hospital to you and me] has decided to stop funding spinal and joint injections for those in chronic pain.

Quite apart from the way this decision is ruining people's lives, it is as clear an example as you could wish for of the total lack of joined-up thinking in government. The hospitals are saving a few hundred pounds per patient but the patients are ending up on Disability Living Allowance. The elderly are put on morphine that takes away all their quality of life. Those who have been working are now reduced to staying at home, in pain, dependent on the state, unable to work or pay tax or lead independent lives. We NEED a government that sees the big picture and acts in the interests of citizens. We HAVE a government that seems totally unable to co-ordinate anything.

Monday 19th April 2010

A Community Stadium for York

In 2008, as executive member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion on the city council, I ensured that plans to develop a real community stadium were advanced for the city. Among the ideas I discussed with Sport England, the Universities and Yorkshire Forward [the regional development agency] was the idea of creating the country's first 'solar stadium' in York.

We won't get a new stadium unless we advance bold and ambitious plans. My plan is to bring inward investment by creating a community-owned solar power station on the roof of the new stadium, like the one in Freiberg, Germany. You can see the video where I explain my vision for a community stadium by visiting the astadiumforyork website how to bring a community stadium to York

Sunday 18th April 2010

Mobile Skate Park in Acomb?

Delivering leaflets in Acomb this week a couple of mums asked me why there was nothing for the kids to do in the holidays. Among other things they asked why there aren't more activities going on in schools and why the mobile skate park goes to Foxwood and Westfield and not to Acomb. I have asked around and the answer so far is this: the mobile skate park does not come to Acomb because the local councillors have decided there is nowhere suitable for it to go.

I will ask questions to find out whether this is true and what we can do about it. I cannot believe that there is nowhere suitable in Acomb and I am happy to do what I can to help identify a site. I know that when the mobile skate park comes to Wheldrake it's like the arrival of the Pied Piper - kids coming rushing in from all directions because it is great fun and because the team do a great job of helping the kids get the most out of the equipment. I'll let you know how I get on.

Sutton Bridge - Jan/Feb 2010

Christian was happy to help provide a solution to the issue of the closure of Sutton bridge at Elvington, following damage done to the structure in the New Year. While East Riding of Yorkshire Council appeared to have its eye off the ball, local businesses in Elvington were suffering a disastrous drop in income as passing traffic disappeared overnight.

There was talk of the bridge staying closed until Easter, which was unacceptable. Christian proposed to council leader, Andrew Waller, that the city council offer its ancient monument team to help move things along and get minds focussed on sorting the matter out. He was delighted that the council did just that. It had an immediate effect. Temporary repairs were carried out and the bridge was re-opened within two weeks. Discussions are taking place about when the main repairs will happen and Christian welcomes the news that a weight or width limit will finally be placed on the bridge to prevent further damage being done.

What needs to happen on York Central? - September 2009

Consider two plans for York Central. Plan One. Build three thousand homes and a familiar mix of retail and offices in a style to match existing new housing estates found across York or Leeds, with the usual pattern of roads, services and infrastructure.

Plan Two. Exploit the fact that the site includes one of the nation's premier railway stations and the National Railway Museum to create a development based around a 21st century public transportation system that runs through the site and on up to a new northern ring road park and ride. Commit to ...

Link to press article

Post Office Closures in York - complacency and missed opportunities - Jan 2008

Since the Labour Government was elected in 1997 almost a quarter of all our post offices have disappeared. With a Labour MP announcing in parliament that 'we all have broadband' it is clear that the government is out of touch with people's needs and ,with its failure to allow the post office to create new business opportunities, the government shows a lamentable lack of interest in sustaining this vital service ...

Direct Action Day - how to make real reductions in energy use in council buildings - Aug 2007

How many Switch it off stickers does it take to change a light bulb?

It is an unfortunate fact that without adequate information and feedback persuading people to reduce energy consumption by switching equipment off when it is not in use is all but impossible. Unless we have proof that our actions have an impact it is always easier to believe that our individual actions are too small and too ineffective to matter. That is why Christian, as the council's Energy Champion, organised a Direct Action Day in one of the council's buildings last summer.

Published and promoted by Christian Vassie, 10 Blake Court, Wheldrake, York YO19 6BT