Dear Editor,

I was surprised to read last week (p.3 the Comet) that Conservative rising star, Oliver Heald MP, was so adamantly opposed to the proposed wind farm at Benington. Mr Heald’s position seems at odds with that of his leader, David Cameron, who gave a high profile speech on the 16^th June where he praised wind turbines and said Britain “can’t afford not to go green.”

Mr Heald is of course right to point out that local residents should be properly consulted when new developments are built, but he fails to acknowledge that if we are going to reduce our debilitating dependence on oil that affects everyone in the community, we need to invest in renewable energy sources.

It appears that we are seeing once again that the Tories prefer salesmanship to leadership. On the one hand they claim to be the champions of green causes and on the other they shy away when real decisions have to be taken. Indeed we can all see that just by saying you have gone green, doesn’t make it so.

By contrast this week Gordon Brown has emphasised his detailed plans to invest in nuclear and green energy and showed that he has the determination to tackle climate change head on.

At a time when we’re all feeling the pinch from rising food and fuel bills, we need politicians with the bravery to invest in clean energy sources - which is the only way to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and save the planet from dangerous climate change.

Oli de Botton
Labour Parliamentry Candidate for Hitchin and Harpenden

Labour PPC Oli de Botton expresses “deep concern” at the planning application for a car park near the village of Cockernhoe

Oli de Botton today urged North Herts District Council to ensure that the proposed 268 vehicle car park for Luton Airport be refused planning permission. The car park will be situated on a piece of land on the road servicing the village of Cockernhoe. Not only is the proposal a threat to green belt land, increased volumes of traffic will also have an impact on the air quality in the area.

In addition, the proposed car park poses the risk of increasing traffic on roads which at present do not have adequate traffic calming measures. On Crawley Green Road, for example, there is a downhill section which is hidden from view for drivers approaching Luton Town centre - there is a school crossing for Wigmore Primary School but there is no zebra crossing, pedestrian lights or zig zag lines to prevent parking. Any increase in traffic on this road will only enhance road safety concerns.

Oli said “I have been contacted by a number of residents who want to make sure their local area doesn’t become a car-park for holidaymakers.”

“At a time when we should be trying to reduce our collective carbon footprint, we don’t need new ways for people to park and fly.”

“North Herts District Council will need to work with Luton Borough Council to ensure a thorough consultation is carried out and that the views of local residents are fully taken into account.”

Oli continued, “All local people want to make sure the area stays beautiful and safe, I only hope North Herts District Council has the resources and appetite to ensure this planning application doesn’t slip through.”

“At a time when the Conservative run council and the local MP are expressing anger at proposed green belt housing plans (see ‘MP’s anger at secret building discussion’, the Comet 13/3/08 p.2) and claim to be doing everything in their power to stop Luton Airport expansion, I think it is important that this planning application is given the attention it needs to ensure local residents don’t suffer.”

Details of the planning application can be found on the North Herts website. The reference number is 08/00269/1. Please note: the planning application has not been submitted by Luton Airport itself.

Is it crime? Is it health? Is it the environment? Whatever your concerns are I want to know. Part of being a Labour candidate is about listening and trying to influence the government in a way that helps local people.So let me know by emailing or phoning me (contacts above). Please leave your name and contact details so your local Labour team can get in touch.

More coverage in the Review here. Please get in touch if you have stories to tell.

Labour PPC, Oli de Botton ‘worried about proposed cuts to local services for the elderly and those with disabilities’

Oli de Botton today accused Herts County Council of ‘abdicating its responsibility to older people in the area’ after it became clear that the proposed closure of the Jubilee Day Centre in St.Albans would mean some older residents in Harpenden would loose their much needed support.

Although the council is due to make the final decision next month, the Adult Care Service (ACS) has decided not to renew the lease on the half of the building it occupies. What’s more there are no concrete plans to replace the specialist and personalised provision that Jubilee provides.

The County Council initially planned to build a purpose-built replacement in Fleetville but these proposals, costing approximately £3.5million, have since been scrapped. This now means that people with disabilities in Harpenden, who currently use the Jubilee centre, are now facing the very real possibility of being excluded from the service. Harpenden Day Centre can not support those who are wheel chair bound.

Oli de Botton said ‘I have been contacted by a number of Harpenden residents who have expressed deep concern at the proposed closure. All feel that their council tax payments should guarantee a decent level of service for those who need it most.’

There around 70 users of the centre at present and ACS have admitted there is a waiting list. Users suffer from illnesses and conditions such as MS and motor neurone disease and need all the friends and support they can get.

Staff and relatives, angered at the proposals, drew up a petition and asked people to sign it last Saturday outside St.Albans town hall. Oli de Botton said ‘I will take the petition with me when I meet residents this Sunday. I only hope the council will see sense and realise that these proposals are desperately unpopular and damaging to vital local services.’

We are delighted the Tories have scrapped their school closing agenda in Harpenden and canceled their review of primary schools. We were quoted in the Review below:

Harpenden Labour parliamentary candidate Oli de Botton, a former assistant headteacher, said:

“We are delighted. We thought both the Lea and Sauncey Wood schools were vulnerable, because they have falling roles. We put up strong opposition and forced them to think again. But we will be watchful to make sure these proposals don’t return.”

Labour PCC Oli de Botton ‘deeply troubled’ by Country Council’s consultation over local schools

LABOUR PCC Oli de Botton has today accused County Council chiefs of trying to push through school closures in Harpenden behind a ‘smoke screen’. Mr de Botton has raised serious concerns about Hertfordshire County Council’s current consultation into primary school provision in the area. His fears follow unpopular school closures in other parts of the county, including Stevenage, Potters Bar,

The Parliamentary hopeful for Hitchin and Harpenden said: “I am deeply troubled by this review. Not only does it appear to be a smoke screen to disguise the council’s school closing agenda, but it shows a disregard for the needs and aspirations of parents and their children.”

The former Assistant Headteacher and educational consultant continued “All schools in the area should be the best they can be, the extra investment from central government should be used not to close school gates but to open doors for youngsters.”

The County Council has carried out a series of reviews of primary school provision in several areas, of which the Harpenden review is the last currently planned. Subsequent closures were argued entirely on the basis of surplus places, rather than on poor educational performance. Labour councillors have fought the proposals, mainly on the grounds of maintaining parent choice and keeping high quality schools which are vital to the surrounding communities.But the decision by the all-Tory Cabinet to close Westbury Primary School, leaving its surrounding area with no school, even saw Conservative MP Oliver Heald join in fierce local protests.

Mr de Botton warned: “The council does not take community needs or educational standards into account, but instead imposes the County’s accounting for numbers and financial savings.”

“In particular we are concerned about any threats to The Lea and Sauncey Wood schools, based on their relatively low pupil numbers.”

“These schools serve their particular communities well, and the effect on safe pupil movements of the barrier of the Lower Luton Road is serious.”

“We do not believe that any schools need to close, but that some schools need even more support from County to raise standards further so that parents are equally happy with all of them.”

Labour Party members in Hitchin and Harpenden have selected their prospective parliamentary candidate. Oli de Botton, 26, is an Assistant Head Teacher at an Enfield Comprehensive School. He is an expert in education policy, with national journalistic experience and local campaigning skills. He believes in extending opportunities to everyone, regardless of their background and has a passion for social justice.

Oli says:
‘I am looking forward to a positive campaign focusing on the issues that people in Hitchin and Harpenden care about. I want to listen and to learn and I will work hard to make sure local residents get the representation they deserve.’