We are hard at work for you

Speech by Nigel Allwood delivered to Matlock Mercury on Fri 25th May 2007

Madam,

I would be grateful if you would give me the opportunity to reply to Eric Samson's letter in last week's Matlock Mercury.

I am sorry he feels the Liberal Democrat councillors have not done anything for the town. I was elected as county councillor for the Derwent Valley Division which stretches from the Darley Dale border with Matlock to Stoney Middleton two years ago.

Who would have believed a year ago that not only would I have had the day to day problems from pot holes, re-surfacing, new and replacement signs but also to had to deal with the proposed closure of a Whitworth Maternity unit and Stoney Middleton School.

I congratulate MOMS for saving the maternity unit and the Governors and Save Stoney School Action Committee both of whom have had the help of considerable "people power" and the Matlock Mercury. I have been active in all these campaigns behind closed doors at the county hall lobbying councillors and the chairmen of committees and reporting back to parish and town councils.

The school in particular involved numerous meetings with the governors, Parish Councillors and parents. I walked the filthy A623 from Curbar to Stoney with other councillors twice. In the middle of all this the Dam Burst at Stoney Middleton involved me in considerable liaison with various council offices ensuring that the sludge was removed.

There are 15 different parish councils and Meeting in Derwent Division so it has been a very busy year attending over 100 parish meetings often two and even three in an evening.

In addition I have met with parish chairmen and councillors in throughout the division to discuss highway issues spending up to half day discussing a variety of problems.

At present I am dealing with at least four applications for BOATs (Byways open to all Traffic) in Baslow, Edensor, Pilsley and Stoney Middleton.

In the past 12 months I have attended a high proportion of the meetings of Darley Dale Town Council, the Whitworth Trust, Enthoven liaison committee and the A6 working group. At the present time I am dealing with four TPOs (Tree Preservation Orders), traffic issues on Chesterfield Road, parking problems on Hooleys Estate, a public footpath up Greenaway Lane and problems on Flash Lane and Jaggers Lane.

In the past two weeks I have received over 100 emails together with many phone calls and letters and that is all without my new district council hat on.

I hope this letter goes some way towards answering Eric Samson's question "Will they do us any good?" and explaining some of the work which I and my fellow Liberal Democrat District Councillors do getting on with the job behind the scenes without bragging or writing silly letters in the press.

I would also like to take this opportunity in thanking everyone who voted for us in the recent election. We will work for the good of everyone whatever their political persuasion, race, gender, age, or religion.

Councillor Nigel Allwood on behalf of Cllrs David Burton and David Fearn

Ridgewood Drive

Cromford

Last Updated: 23 May 2007