Winchester Post

The Summer 2008 65p (where sold)

FWor WinIcheNster Cand tHhe surErounSdingTvillaEges,RincludiPng COhandlSer’s T Ford Fighting the INSIDE Page 2 “Supporting Superbugs our forces” ‘Bold and innovative’ work of hospital Steve Brine added: “The Trust Page 3 praised as Shadow Health Secretary visits ambition to have an infection- free hospital in Winchester is “Help for Prospective Winchester MP, by a doctor and are flushed exactly where we should be Steve Brine welcomed a senior daily with saline solution to aiming and it’s nothing less small member of David Cameron’s spot early signs of any than local people expect. Shadow Cabinet to Winchester infection. There will always be set-backs along the way but we should businesses” recently. Now Dr Chris Gordon, congratulate those working at Health supremo, Andrew consultant physician, believes the Royal Hampshire for really Lansley, came to the Royal it could slash infection rates setting the standard in such a Hampshire County Hospital to and save lives in hospitals bold and innovative way.” Page 4 see the Trust’s 'breakthrough' across the UK. While at the hospital, Mr in the fight against the MRSA Mr Lansley said: “A zero Lansley also saw ambitious “Sat Nav superbug. Staff at the hospital tolerance approach to MRSA plans for the Romsey Road claim it has discovered a new has to be the way forward site which will see a new madness in way to help fight the spread across the whole country and hospital emerge next year and of infection which they say treating cannulae as a met with staff to discuss a Twyford” could have national prescribed event is an wide range of current issues implications. excellent example of a search across the NHS. It involves better management and destroy strategy that is of what is called a cannula, a working. It is not good thin tube inserted by needle enough to set an arbitrary Dr Chris Gordon, left, Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley under the skin to administer target for just a reduction in MP, and Prospective Winchester MP intravenous fluids. The tubes cases of infection because Steve Brine chat to a ward sister at can now only be prescribed even one is too many.” the RHCH Latest poll just in... Con – 44% Lab – 30%

Lib Dem – 16% Source: ComRes for The Independent Newspaper

Results from the most recent poll show a healthy lead for David Cameron’s Conservatives. This would lead to a Conservative majority of 102 seats at a General Election! At the next election, Winchester will have a chance to play its part in removing Gordon Brown’s failing Labour Party and elect a fresh new Government that is committed to social justice and a cleaner, greener, fairer society. www.stevebrine.com

A Green Winchester publication, printed on 100% recycled paper

Promoted by Paul Twelftree on behalf of Winchester Conservative Association, both of The Coach House, Worthy Park, Abbots Worthy, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 1AN and Printed by Culverlands Press, Winnall Valley Road, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 0LN Page 2 - THE WINCHESTER POST NEWS SHORTS Supporting our forces Tower @ Kings’ stronger than ever and their families Winchester’s Tower Arts Centre finally transferred to Conservatives launch new commission to protect Military Kings’ School at the end of April and early signs are that the much-loved live performance venue is Covenant in support of City’s service personnel. stronger than ever. Conservatives, locally and nationally, are Hampshire County Council (HCC) controversially working hard for service personnel and first proposed that management of the centre move their families. Here in Winchester, local City to Kings’ last year as a response to ever increasing demands on its adult social care costs. Exhaustive Councillors and Winchester’s Prospective pressure from campaigners and Prospective MP, Steve Brine, have supported the Winchester MP, Steve Brine, led to HCC and Conservative-led City Council to retain a Winchester City Council committing a total of strong military presence in this historic £150,000 over the next three years to help develop garrison city. a mixed evening programme at the Tower. “This is Local military personnel have been warmly the key issue we need to watch now,” says Steve. welcomed back from service in Iraq and Afghanistan, others have marched in Freedom Parades and the future of Worthy Down and Southwick Park have been secured. Nationally, David Cameron is showing wholehearted support for the British armed forces. The Opposition leader has recently launched the “Military Covenant Commission” to He adds: “The school have appointed a local arts examine the health of the military covenant and Returning soldiers march through Winchester in promoter, Ben Ward, to the new post of Tower Arts how Government and society can better support Co-ordinator. He is well known with musicians in January of this year the military. He has also promised a Forces’ and around Winchester. I think it was unfortunate Steve Brine says: “The commission is gathering the way the campaign last year became so party Families Manifesto at the next election. political but it is becoming increasingly clear now evidence from service personnel, their families and the public. It is one way for everyone to have that maintaining the status quo would have “Soldiers will be called upon to make eventually seen the closure of the Tower as public their say on how the Government should look personal sacrifices in the service of the funds are increasingly squeezed. I am confident the after the interests of the extended military family. transfer will mark a positive new chapter in its Nation. In return, British soldiers must The website contains all the information and a history if we all work together and support its always be able to expect fair treatment, way to have your say. I would urge you to take programme.” to be valued and respected as individuals, part if at all possible.” and that they (and their families) will be sustained and rewarded.” Visit the website and have your say via www.stevebrine.com/military or email Conservatives retain Extract from the Military Covenant [email protected] control of the Council Local elections were held across the district (with the exception of Sparsholt, Crawley and the villages of the Itchen Valley) on May 1st and they saw the We must help elderly Conservatives re-elected to lead Winchester City Council. A delighted Council leader, George Beckett, spoke to couples stay together The Winchester Post after the count: “In spite of a concerted and wholly negative campaign from our Conservative leader, David Cameron, says pensioners should opponents, we were able to run a decent, honest and 100% positive campaign, focusing on our not have to sell their homes to pay for residential care. candidates and their record/proposals for each local area. When you consider where we have come from He said it was one of the society is how it looks after its in the past six years, huge steps have been made, “great unfairnesses” that senior citizens when they now we need to get on with the work we were people who had saved need help the most.” elected to do.” money and “done the right He continued: “To be fair to thing” were then more the current Government, they likely to fail a means test have talked much about this and face having to sell Cracking down on issue. We have to find a way their home. “I think what to keep couples together and underage drinking we can do is look at save them from a situation schemes like they have in Local Community Safety Officers where they have to sell certain American states, (pictured) plan to take their everything they ever worked where if you put a bit tough message on underage for, live apart and drain the drinking into Winchester’s aside to pay for maybe the inheritance they want to pass schools following impressive first year … or two years Steve Brine discusses the issues onto their kids just to pay for results in the past six months. of residential care … the around long-term care with Margaret & Terry Thorp of their care in old age. The CSO’s, who are employed by Tory-led Hampshire state will guarantee that’s Harestock and local campaigner, County Council, say 95 per cent of the alcohol all you have to pay for,” he “I think we also need to look Patrick Cunningham seized from people drinking in Winchester’s central said. at the wider point which is to Alcohol Exclusion Zone between October 2007 and transform the lives of the so- At the moment, anyone with March 2008 came from under 18’s. They operate a called ‘sandwich’ generation of assets of more than £22,250 WHAT DO YOU THINK? yellow card scheme which acts as an early warning grown-up children with frail has to pay for a place in a system and involves the parent/guardian of the elderly parents. We need plans care home, which can cost Has the young person caught misbehaving. to allow people caring for tens of thousands of pounds a elderly relatives to go to work Steve Brine, who is standing to become Winchester’s year. care crisis next MP, says: “The patrols and the yellow card without losing benefit system has obviously had an effect and that can Winchester’s Conservative affected you? payments. At the moment only be positive in tackling anti-social behaviour in Parliamentary Candidate, Join the debate at many are reluctant to take up the city. It is important however, that the CSO’s are Steve Brine, threw his weight www.stevebrine.com/socialcare work or further their careers backed up by continuing use of the 101 non- behind the need for change or write to: because the moment they Steve Brine, The Coach House, emergency number, a vibrant programme of youth and told The Winchester Post: earn more than £95 a week activities and strong family units if we are to make Worthy Park, Winchester, SO21 1AN “One of the true ways we they lose support from the continuing progress.” or call us on 01962 762023 should judge a compassionate state.”

A Green Winchester publication, printed on 100% recycled paper • A Green Winchester publication, printed on 100% recycled paper THE WINCHESTER POST - Page 3 STEVE BRINE living here The candidate aiming to replace Mark Oaten as Help for City’s Winchester’s Member of Parliament is Steve Brine. Help for Steve is a local family man, living near Alresford with his wife Susie, seven-month old daughter Emily Small Businesses and dog ‘Popcorn’! He says: “My aim is to be the best local MP Winchester has seen.” Small businesses in Homebuyers Winchester are in line for Scrapping HIPs and raising the Stamp a leg-up with the opening Duty threshold will ease the burden in of a new enterprise centre. troubled times. Up to 70 businesses could be House costs have greatly increased in recent years based at the building in – with rising Council Tax, utility bills and higher Winnall Valley Road, Winnall. mortgage rates making it harder to move. We now It will be run by business have additional costs to battle with compulsory centre operator, Basepoint, which will provide Home Information Packs (HIPs). offices and studio workshops in the building Steve Brine says: “Moving home is one of the most owned by Winchester City Council. stressful things that anyone can do. The The centre will offer space to suit all sizes and Government’s new red-tape threatens to make it types of business, ranging from one-person worse, not better. Rather than protecting consumers, their new regulations will increase the Winchester Sport Relief micro-offices for the emerging entrepreneur, Steve and Emily completed the g rain – and raised just office suites for larger teams and studio cost of moving and threaten to undermine the Mile in March - in spite of drivin ties. He says: “Any requests stability of the housing market. At a time when the over £300 for the chosen chari workshops. Licensees will also benefit from with a strict no comment – housing market is under great pressure, the last for my official time will be met shared facilities including meeting rooms and on wet ground!” I was held back by a pushchair the support of an on-site management team. It is thing anyone needs is the introduction of HIPs on one or two-bedroomed homes. This latest move hoped the centre will replicate the success of “I applaud your work in this area, which shows how other local centres in Southampton, Romsey and will dismay hard-working families because it much you care about our community. You have Andover. increases instability in an already fragile market.” convinced a hardcore Labour supporter to switch to you at the next election.” Mrs C. Kings Worthy George Beckett, Conservative leader of the City The Conservatives have launched a House-Buying Council (pictured) adds: "As a small business Review, led by TV property guru Kirstie Allsopp. owner myself, I am delighted by the agreement Conservatives will: that has been reached. Not only will an area of • Raise the Stamp Duty Winchester be given a new lease of life, but new threshold to 250,000 for and emerging local businesses will also have a first-time buyers – wealth of business facilities available to them. helping them to afford a The fact that Basepoint also generates funding house for charities makes this project particularly agreeable." • Scrap Labour’s pointless and expensive HIPs – All profits made by Basepoint go to worthy keeping the new Energy causes, including four Winchester-based Certificates Steve was fortunate eno charities: Naomi House, the Trinity drop-in ugh to be invited to the launch earlier this year of Br Centre, Friends of Shepherds Down School and • Examine the whole asserie Blanc, Raymond Blanc’s newest restaurant in Jew ry Street. The new restaurant the Emmaus project at Bar End, which we process of buying a is housed in pu rpose-built premises created by featured in the Spring Winchester Post. home with a Home- Winchester-based developer, Mohamed Bakhaty. Buying Review, currently You can find out more about this initiative at underway. www.stevebrine.com/business “You are certainly doing a good job and will get my vote at the next election - and may it be sooner rather than later!” Ecotricity Mrs S, Winchester City Centre Winchester finds eco-saviour in Green Electricity Company The UK’s leading renewable energy company, tariff. Each household will also receive free of Ecotricity, has launched in our city. charge an energy saving pack from Ecotricity which includes four energy saving light bulbs Ecotricity is the only independent electricity and a ‘Bye Bye’ Standby Kit that can reduce an company in Britain. It produces clean power from average homes electricity bill by up to £74 per wind turbines and plunges all profit into the year. technology - last year the company invested £15.6 million. The offer is open to the Winchester business Alresford celebrated its an community too. If companies sign up during the nual Watercress Festival in May Prospective Conservative MP, Steve Brine, recently – on one of the hottest da launch period, they’ll receive a special discounted ys of the Spring. Steve is joined joined forces with Winchester’s current MP to help by Alresford Councillo rate. They’ll also receive a r Ernie Jeffs and Rob & Pauline Ecotricity launch into the Winchester area. The Brown. It really must ha business pack with a certificate, ve been a hot day because even company are giving Winchester Steve has shorts on! web logos and stickers to residents a chance to sign up for demonstrate their environmental “Thank you for taking the time to help us the same price as they currently pay credentials to both existing and when we didn’t know where else to turn. We on their local supplier’s standard potential new customers. have always supported Mark Oaten in Winchester, but you will be a worthy successor Mark Oaten and Steve Brine are both in our view.” Mr & Mrs H. Weeke Estate taking the opportunity to go green and are switching their Winchester offices to Ecotricity. Steve Brine says: "I have always maintained that going green needs to make as much financial as environmental sense, in other words that we need to make it a no-brainer for consumers. As the cost of living, and in particular utility bills, rise steeply for Winchester families I would think Ecotricity have chosen an extremely smart time to come to the market. I wish them every success." For more information phone 08000 326 100 or visit www.ecotricity.co.uk Steve Brine with Ben Ward from Ecotricity Steve recently dro pped into KAYAC, the King Alfred Youth Activity Cen tre in Winnall to hear about the current funding chal lenges they face, to play a game of Ping-Pong and to www.stevebrine.com updated every day really get his (blue) hands dirty! Page 4 - THE WINCHESTER POST

Give us a break! Sat Nav blamed as the volume of heavy traffic increases in Twyford. Round one to It is one of those problems which simply didn’t exist in the past. The growth of sat nav technology in vehicles has pushed ever increasing numbers of heavy goods lorries off main roads into much smaller towns and villages. Winchester! Prospective Winchester MP, Steve Brine, says: “ I have seen a steady growth in the number of In the last edition of The letters received from residents worried about the changes sat nav is forcing upon their Winchester Post (in March, see communities as more and more traffic is diverted away from nearby motorways.” inset) we looked at the very The problem has got so bad for one village, serious threat new mass Twyford, that there are now calls to implement a tonnage restriction on the through road. development poses to our city Local campaigner, Susie Evershed, told The and surrounding villages. Winchester Post that she increasingly feared for the safety of local residents. “The size and Since that publication Ministers have wisely volume of lorries coming through on a short cut turned away from forcing a 12,500 house eco- is very dangerous and sometimes they even town on land at Micheldever Station. Thanks to mount the pavement.” heroic efforts by the Dever Society, who put Steve Brine adds: “The main road from Fair Oak together a first-class case on behalf of local The Winchester District is still being told it must through Colden Common and Twyford is a short people, we will NOT now be included in Gordon build 12,000 news homes by 2026 and around cut for haulage companies from the M27 to the Brown’s plan for ten major new towns. 5,000 of these must be in its Northern part. Steve M3 at Hockley and, to add to this, there is a Brine adds; “While we are meeting current targets, large distribution centre in Fair Oak where many as recently reported in the Hampshire Chronicle, of them are headed. It would seem to me that Barton Farm remains in the firing line thanks to there is a strong case for tonnage restrictions if ever-increasing Government targets. Winchester’s the villagers supported such a move.” Challenge is to work together in a grown up way to respond to them. In my view Barton Farm is a vital What do you think about the idea of a part of our wonderful landscape setting and while tonnage restriction on the main road through Twyford? Find out more about more homes may be needed, 2,000 on this site this subject and have your say at would kill the patient in my view. I simply don’t www.stevebine.com/campaigns or write think Winchester’s present road network, public with your view to Steve Brine/Susie services, infrastructure and even our supermarkets Evershed, The Coach House, Worthy Park, can cope.” Winchester, SO21 1AN.

April of this year - Time to crack open the bubbly as the news came through in Micheldever Prospective Winchester MP, Steve Brine does not believe however, that we can now sit back and toast our victory for too long. “It was excellent news that Micheldever was left of out the eco- town plan but there are still huge challenges facing Winchester in terms of new development. It is tempting to look at the slow-down in the housing market and think the economy will stop our green fields being targetted by central Barton Farm on Andover Road in its late Spring Government housing numbers but that would be glory covered in the vivid yellow flowers of far from accurate.” oilseed rape plant blossom Steve Brine and local campaigner, Susie Evershed, run through the issues with Twyford resident, Veronica Cloke Browne This is a live issue that changes by the day - you can stay up-to-date (and 16-month old Anthony) and have your say via www.stevebrine.com/winchesterchallenge

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