Clarion Column

Written by Annette Brooke MP and published in The Clarion on Mon 15th Jan 2007

First, may I wish all Clarion readers a very Happy New Year!

Just before Christmas we had some good news regarding a partial restoration of a bus service in the Dacombe Drive area. Looking back in my files I see that I first wrote to both Poole and Dorset Councils specifically asking them to work together to find a solution for Upton residents way back in August. I had previously just written to the Bus Company and Dorset County Council, and I am pleased that the joint working has produced a result. We shall have to see how well the service works and how much it is used. Do let me have your views.

I held my usual competition for my MP's Christmas card design. This year, over 840 young people entered from 13 different schools and as you may imagine it was very difficult to choose the winner. Beth Gladden, from Upton Junior School, was one of four runners up. I was pleased to visit the school, participate in an Assembly, and present Beth with her prize.

Future housing development is still concerning many residents. Although, the new town proposal (in the vicinity of Lytchett Matravers) was removed from the Regional Spatial Strategy, representations have been made to re-introduce a sizeable development. An Examination in Public is due to be heard later this year and I have requested that I speak on this issue. No MP's were included in the initial programme and so I am hoping my request will be met.

Natural England, has recently imposed a ban on any new development within 400 metres of an SSSI, and is requiring extra contributions from developers on any development within a 5 kilometre radius. This is proving very controversial!