Heather Wheeler's Blog

South Derbyshire Charities are now using JustTextGiving

Submitted by Heather on 2 February 2012 - 3:29pm

JustTextGiving is a service that allows charities and individuals to raise money via text message and provides a free, swift and convenient means of fundraising.

Several South Derbyshire charities have already started using JustTextGiving, including Newton Solney Village Hall, Scropton Riding for the Disabled Centre, South Derbyshire Mental Health Association, and Tara Mahayana Buddhist Centre.

The service is free to set up, with an every penny donated going to the charity, and works by allowing individuals to make donations by text messages. Donations can be made by the customers of any network provider without network charges and gift aid can also be claimed on each donation. Although this scheme was developed by Vodafone, they do not profit from the service.

It is hoped such service will encourage charitable donations, particularly among the younger generation who are comfortable using mobile technology, and it is estimated that text donations could be worth £96million annually by 2014.

I think this is a really good initiative and would encourage all South Derbyshire charities to take advantage of this service. If you would like more information then please visit the following link for more information: http://www.justgiving.com/justtextgiving.

I was delighted to welcome Byrony Balen Home to Melbourne after her record breaking 705 mile ski to the South Pole

Submitted by Heather on 1 February 2012 - 4:05pm

On Sunday I was delighted, at her family home near Melbourne, to meet Bryony Balen after her 705 mile ski to the South Pole. Bryony now holds the official title of being the youngest Briton to ski the full distance from the Hercules Inlet to the Pole.

Bryony told me all about her trip, in particular how she skied for eight hours a day pulling a sled with a 60kg bag on her back containing food, equipment and a tent. I also was shown her equipment including the incredible warm clothing Bryony had to wear for her 56 day adventure.

I think Bryony is an exceptional young lady, having turned 21 on her travels she still has plenty of time ahead of her to continue on with her adventures. I would like to wish her and her family all the best. I particularly look forwarded to hearing about her next trip.

What a great example Bryony is to other young people in South Derbyshire, always strive, work hard and will get you there.

If you would like more information about Bryony and her South Pole adventure, and particularly how much she was able to raise for Charity, please visit her website on http://southpoleadventure.com/record-breaker/.

Swadlincote Post Office will remain open

Submitted by Heather on 30 January 2012 - 2:49pm

I am delighted to tell you, that after a lot of work behind the scenes, the Swadlincote Post Office has been saved. It has now changed hands and will remain open. Although there has been much uncertainly surrounding this Post Office, especially over whether it will remain open to the public, it has now been bourght by Derbyshire business V and B Retail Ltd who have pledged to keep the Post Office on site and will open an accompnaying convenience store.

V and B have combined post offices and convenience stores elsewhere in the County and hope to employ more staff. V and B have also decided to move their head office to the Swadlincote site. So another new business investment comes to South Derbyshire.

V and B business manager Patrick Connolly expressed delight at the deal’s conclusion he told the Burton Mail on Friday the 27^th of January:

“I know there has been some anxiety about the future of the post office and I’m sure this will come as excellent news to the people of Swadlincote. I hope people will show their support by using these facilities and also the new food store. We are honoured to locate our offices in Swadlincote and hope to bring employment opportunities to the town.”

I think this is great news, the Post Office provides a vital service and I’m so pleased that the Co-op and V and B were able to come to an agreement that will see it remain open. I hope this decision will lead to continued investment in the Delph area.

Picture courtesy of Local Data Search: (http://www.localdatasearch.com/swadlincote/newhall/post_office_services/post_office_ltd-12505036)

Holocaust Memorial Day 2012

Submitted by Heather on 30 January 2012 - 10:08am

Friday, the 27^th of January, marked the official Holocaust Memorial Day, marking the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration and extermination camp which is the site of the largest mass murder in history.

For me Holocaust Memorial Day provides an excellent opportunity in which to reflect on what has happened in the past and the lessons we can learn for the future.

Last week I took the opportunity to sign the Book of Commitment in the Houses of Parliament, paying tribute to the extraordinary men and women who having survived the Holocaust, have dedicated their lives to educating young people about what they have endured, through the Holocaust Educational Trust’s outreach programme. In February I will be joining the trust and pupils from South Derbyshire to visit Auschwitz, to learn in more detail the events of this very dark chapter in human history.

I fully back the Holocaust Memorial Day 2012 ‘speaking up and speaking out’ campaign against prejudiced, injustice and hatred. If you would like more information on what you can do, please visit the Holocaust Memorial Day website on http://www.speakupnow.org.uk/.

How the Government and Age UK are supporting us through the Cold Weather

Submitted by Heather on 18 January 2012 - 9:31am

As the weather is getting colder this week, I thought it would be good to highlight how the Government and Age UK are working to ensure that the most vulnerable in society are not forgotten this winter.

This year, the new Warm Home Discount Scheme will support over 2 million homes, including over 600,000 vulnerable pensioners, by providing a £120 discount on electricity bills. In contrast to the Winter Fuel Payment, this scheme is targeted specifically at the fuel poor and it has been estimated that over four years it will be worth up to £1.1 billion, two-thirds more than the voluntary scheme it replaces.

Secondly, the Government has continued its commitment to paying £25 a week in Cold Weather Payments. Cold Weather payments are made from the Social Fund to certain recipients of Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit during periods of very cold weather. To ‘trigger’ the payments, the average temperature at a specified weather station must be recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees or below for seven consecutive days. The scheme runs from 1 November to 31 March each winter.

For the Winter 2010/2011, 17.2 million individual payments were made worth £430.8 million in Cold Weather payments. Payments are made automatically to those entitled to them. There should be no need to make a claim, but people who think they may be entitled but do not receive a payment should contact the Pension, Disability and Carers Service, or Jobcentre Plus

The Government is also supporting Ofgem’s proposals for simplifying the energy market to ensure that consumers have a much clearer idea of how to save money and I am pleased that energy suppliers have pledged to write to eight million vulnerable customers advising them on how they can save money this winter.

Age UK’s ‘spread the warmth’ campaign this year, is doing an excellent job to raise awareness about the effects of Cold Weather. I strongly recommend that you visit their website on http://www.ageuk.org.uk/get-involved/spread-the-warmth/ to learn more about how best to tackle Cold Weather. Also, below, you can open their guide ’Winter Wrapped Up,’ for practical information on how to keep warm this winter.

If you would like any more information as to what you can do to prepare yourself for winter then please do not hesitate to contact me.

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I welcome Derbyshire County Councils’ commitment to bringing fast and reliable broadband to all areas of Derbyshire

Submitted by Heather on 16 January 2012 - 1:31pm

Derbyshire County Council has recently contacted me to update me on the work they have been doing to improve broadband in Derbyshire.

In August the Government announced £363 million for English and Scottish counties as part of the £530 million total investment in the UK’s broadband network, to be distributed by the Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK). Derbyshire County Council (Including Derby City) was allocated an indicative sum of £7.39 million. This is based on almost a third of Derbyshire properties being in ‘white areas,’ which have limited or no broadband provision and are eligible for state support.

Derbyshire County Council’s vision is to ‘provide the best possible digital infrastructure for superfast broadband to 100% of Derbyshire businesses and residents by 2012’. In order to do this Derbyshire County Council have developed a Local Broadband Plan to successfully bid, in partnership with Derby’s City Council, and with as many residents and businesses as possible for the £7.39 million from the BDUK.

In order to unlock the BDUK allocation, it is vital that residents and businesses continue to demonstrate the demand for faster broadband. One way you can do this is to take part in the ‘broadband survey’ available at: http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/community/lottery_funding/community_broadband/default.asp?vd=communitybroadband.

Derbyshire County Council has also launched a Derbyshire Broadband Champions programme which was launched on the 11^th of January 2012 in Matlock. Broadband Champions will be recruited at the event to work closely with residents and businesses in their area to help publicise the Derbyshire County Council’s campaign and engage people in their programme for better broadband.

I really do welcome the Derbyshire County Council’s efforts. Having fast, reliable broadband is essential for modern day living. I will continue to work to this aim and hope by 2017 Derbyshire reaches this goal.

I asked the Prime Minister on the 11th January 2012 to congratulate Bombardier for securing its new £188 million contract

Submitted by Heather on 13 January 2012 - 3:04pm

On Wednesday the 11^th of January I took the opportunity to ask the Prime Minister, in the first Prime Minister Questions after the Christmas break, to congratulate Bombardier and the Secretary of State for Transport for securing a new £188 million contract for the UK train-maker in Derbyshire.

As I have already noted on my website, Bombardier has successfully secured a contract to build 130 rail carriages for the Southern rail company for use on their routes in London, Surrey, Sussex and Kent. The contract was secured with the help of a £80 million subsidy from the Government.

The Prime Minister said he had congratulated everyone at Bombardier for winning the contract, further stating that he wants the government to be a good customer of British firms, and to work with its supply chain.

I welcomed the Prime Ministers statements. I am dedicated to seeing Derbyshire continue to be a successful train manufacturing centre. We need to ensure that future contracts are not lost to companies based outside of Britain.

I will continue to work alongside the Government to ensure that the mistakes of the last Government in the rail procurement process are not repeated.

Encouraging South Derbyshire to start projects to mark the anniversary of 1914

Submitted by Heather on 13 January 2012 - 2:05pm

I am strongly encouraging constituents to look at the Imperial War museum’s website http://www.1914.org to find out more about the Centenary Partnership Programme. 2014 will mark 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War and the Imperial War Museum, alongside the Heritage Lottery Fund is giving support to those that would like to start projects to make the centenary.

We all celebrate the bringing of peace in November 1918; however 2014 will mark a truly unique date in our history: a hundred years since the beginning of World War One. If anyone in the constituency has an idea as to how we can mark this occasion in South Derbyshire I would strongly recommend that they visit the Heritage Lottery Fund website on http://www.hlf.org.uk/HowToApply/whatwefund/FirstWorldWar/Pages/FirstWorldWar.aspx to find out more about funding.

It would be really good to show our respect for those that fought in the 1914-1918 war by marking its beginning in South Derbyshire.

Bombardier Update

Submitted by Heather on 6 January 2012 - 9:44am

On the 28^th December Bombardier announced that they have been awarded a new £188 million contract.

Bombardier, with the help of an £80 million subsidy from the Government, have successfully secured a deal to build 130 rail carriages for the Southern rail company for use on their routes in London, Surrey, Sussex and Kent.

This is excellent news. Since the summer I have been working tirelessly with all those involved at Bombardier, regional MPs and various Ministers from the Departments of Transport and Treasury to ensure that Derbyshire maintains a viable train manufacturing industry. We are delighted to see our hard work finally pay off.

There have been many meetings and phone calls but the news was embargoed and I was not prepared to leak it before Christmas because the announcement had to be made on the Toronto Stock exchange and I did not feel it acceptable to break the embargo. I would love to have had the satisfaction of contacting all the Constituents, early, who have been in touch with me but that would not be acceptable behaviour.

With the acquisition of this new contract, I hope that confidence will be restored to Bombardier employees and will invigorate the train manufacturing industry in the UK.

My very best wishes to Justine Greening MP, Theresa Villiers MP, Paul Roberts and the Team at Bombardier.

Picture courtesy of The Sun published 29.12.11

Christmas wishes and Office reopens 03.01.12

Submitted by Heather on 21 December 2011 - 5:05pm

Dear all of South Derbyshire

I would like to wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

I hope that in the New Year; news from businesses such as Nestlé and Toyota are the first of many promising developments for South Derbyshire. New jobs and new investment are still the key issues that I am focusing on.

Please note that the office will be closed until Tuesday 3^rd of January.

I joined fellow MPs to discuss the impact closing the Margaret Stanhope Centre in Burton would have on South Derbyshire

Submitted by Heather on 21 December 2011 - 4:36pm

On the 20^th of December, I joined my neighbouring MP Andrew Griffiths for Burton to discuss the Margret Stanhope Centre in Burton, a very important mental health facility which is much needed and used by the people of Burton East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire, which has come under threat of closure.

Mr Griffiths called the debate as a means to discuss in more detail the impact closing the Margaret Stanhope Centre in Burton would have on the local community. For me I was keen to highlight the fact that my constituents have to travel either to Derby or to Burton, and my southern villages are covered by the South Staffordshire PCT, which is why I feel the continued existence of the Margaret Stanhope Centre is so important. I personally think it is outrageous that one of the reasons that the PCT is putting forward to support its closure is that people want care in the community. What people want is respite care, and that is why it is so important that the unit should stay open.

If you would like to see the whole debate then please visit the following link. The debate starts at 6:09 mark and you can see my speech at 6:37 mark: http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=9665

I will continue to work with Mr Griffiths to see what can be done to ensure the continued access to care at the Margaret Stanhope Centre. The Burton Mail has some excellent coverage on this issue; I would like to thank them for it as well as the campaigning work done by Dr Long and Mr Chatfield. South Staffs PCT has extended the deadline for Consultation for another 4 weeks; do get involved if you can. I hope in the New Year there will be an agreeable outcome, if not then the PCT have not listened to the local feeling at all.

Earlier this month I visited the Hatton Sorting Office to see how the Royal Mail is preparing for the Christmas period

Submitted by Heather on 20 December 2011 - 5:37pm

On Friday the 2^nd of December I made an early visit to the Royal Mail sorting office at Hatton to see their preparation for the Christmas rush and winter weather.

Last year the rural areas served from the Hatton sorting office were badly affected when we had snowy weather, so I wanted to go and see how things are going to be dealt with this year.

I was very impressed with the team at Hatton, their Delivery Office Manager, Stephen Martin, showed me the equipment bought for the vans and shoes of the ‘posties’ to help them get out and about safely when the snow arrives.

Also if it does get too bad for the Royal Mail to get out members of the public can, if they want to, make their own way to the sorting office and on the production of two forms of ID can pick their own post up.

Mr Martin told me about general issues that would help get the post out.

Mr Martin said:

“With the automatic letter recognition machines if people actually put Findern, rather than Derby, on the envelopes it would help get their letters that village quicker. Also, if people could not use gold coloured pens on the envelopes because the machines cannot pick that up, that would really help.”

I think after this time of year when the Royal Mail handle an incredible 130 million items of post, the pressure on the ‘posties’ is immense. I wanted to meet them to say thank you and hope that they keep safe from dogs and cope with the bad weather this year. We cannot do without the service they offer.

“Keep the cold out this winter” information pack

Submitted by Heather on 15 December 2011 - 10:29am

I have welcomed the move by the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) to highlight five cost-saving tips to keep homes in good energy-efficiency order, helping to keep bills down.

HHIC have produced a leaflet giving five safe and simple ways to keep energy bills low this winter. They are: only heat the rooms you use most; insulate your home; stop drafts; draw your curtains and use radiator reflectors. You can also look at their website to get more impartial advice at www.centralheating.co.uk.

I know rising fuel bills are a real concern for families in South Derbyshire. People are worried about how they will pay to keep their homes warm this winter.

That is why I welcome this initiative by the HHIC who have put together this no nonsense advice in their leaflet. I’d urge my constituents to look at the HHIC website www.centralheating.co.uk or open the pdf attachment below to see the HHIC leaflet.”

Chief Executive of the energy trade association SBGI, Mike Foster said:

“Having impartial advice from the energy experts of the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council on how to keep fuel bills down this winter can only be a good thing. Such practical steps can be taken by everyone.”

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My visit to Chequers!

Submitted by Heather on 13 December 2011 - 3:48pm

I had the fantastic opportunity to join the Prime Minister at Chequers with 20 or so of my Parliamentary colleagues for dinner on Friday the 9^th of December. It was a real pleasure to see the Prime Minister in the comfort of this historic home when away from No 10.

As you may be aware he joined our dinner party shortly after returning home from Brussels where he did not agree to a new EU treaty as he felt that it would not provide adequate safeguards for Britain. I personally welcomed his decision to use Britain’s power to veto a new EU treaty. I have campaigned persistently, since I was elected, for Britain to repatriate powers back from Europe and I think Mr Cameron’s decision was a step in the right direction.

Despite the Prime Minister only having two hours sleep the night before he was high spirits. We had a beautiful dinner and the atmosphere was fantastic. It was great to speak to the Prime Minister again, especially following his visit to South Derbyshire on the 24^th of November to welcome the excellent announcements of £210m investment and 1800 new jobs at Toyota and Nestle.

I will endeavour to keep you updated on developments in Europe and on any further information I have from the Prime Minister regarding our position.

Backing South Derbyshire’s Bryony Balen in her attempt to be the youngest Briton to reach the South Pole

Submitted by Heather on 6 December 2011 - 11:45am

Some of you may have already heard about Bryony Balen, a 20 year old, South Derbyshire girl that aims to become the youngest Briton to reach the South Pole from the Hercules Inlet. At the moment Bryony is studying Geography BSc at Newcastle University, however she is taking a year out to focus on the challenge of crossing 1,100km journey of icy inclines in freezing temperatures, in just 57 days, to reach her goal of getting to the South Pole.

The youngest Briton so far to have reached the South Pole is Andrew Cooney who at the age of 23 gained the title. Currently Bryony is already a week into her expedition and will celebrate her 21^st birthday in a few weeks time whilst on her way. Bryony needs all the support she can get, so I am urging all of South Derbyshire to send her words of encouragement and if possible donations!

If you would like to make a donation to Bryony, then please visit her website at http://southpoleadventure.com/?page_id=258

Here you can make an online donation or contact her by email.

I wish Bryony all the best and I can’t wait to hear all about her journey when she returns; this is such a fantastic opportunity!

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Welcome to my Parliamentary Website, particularly for those of you visiting for the first time, I hope you drop in regularly in the future. I hope this website allows you to see how I am representing your interests locally and nationally, working to improve South Derbyshire. This would not have been possible without your support and I thank the people of SD for electing me.

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