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TINTWISTLE COFFEE MORNING

Following news that their Post Office has been earmarked for closure I have been asked by my colleague on High Peak Borough Council, Cllr. Cynthia Mitchell to attend a residents coffee morning to discuss the matter. I explain the situation and highlight how difficult it has become under this Government to run a small sub Post Office nowadays. We also discuss a wide range of other issues. Whilst in the village Cynthia takes me to see the war memorial that is undergoing further renovation to add to the work we did last year.

CHARITY WALK 2008

Emma McClarkin & I get together to discuss a new Charity walk for 2008. Lasy year we walked the constituency boundary, this year we have decided to take to the hills and walk '4 peaks in 2 days'. We will walk up Kinder Scout, Mam Tor, Castle Naze, and Corbar Cross. Emma is now a prospective European Parliamentary Candidate for the East Midlands so this walk will give her a panormaic view over the northern most part of the East Midlands.

DOVE HOLES POST OFFICE

Nowhere in the High Peak has the proposed Post office closures caused more unrest than in Dove Holes. The Post Office operates 3 days a week out of the Methodist Church and provides a vital service for the villagers. Following telephone conversations, I meet with the vilagers to explain the consultation process and what we can do to try and save the facility. I agree that I too will make strong representations to the Post Office on their behalf and that of the service.

THORNSETT SCHOOL

Thornsett School is crying out for renewal. Its a great little school hampered by its buildings. I take Cllr. Andrew Lewer, Conservative Leader on Derbyshire County Council to see the school. This appointment was made when the school wasnt included as a possible case for a new school by DCC. I had visited the school on my own some time ago, but I thought that Andrew needed to see the problem for himself. In the intervening time, the school has now been added to the list. We now need to fight to drive it up the list as high as we can.

CHARITY AUCTION - THE ROYAL OAK, CHAPEL

The local school in Chapel has organised an auction in aid of chairty in the name of one of the teachers who sadly dies recently. I have agreed to ccok a meal for 4 people in their own home for whoever bids the most. The offer sold for £60 and the night overall looked to be going well, and a good sum looked on the cards.

MOORLAND MANAGEMENT

I have been invited on to Moscar Moor for a presentation on moorland management and how this helps the scenery and economy of the High Peak. Whilst Mocar Moor is just outside the constituency it is typical of much of the moorland of the High Peak. Many people think that the moors around us just happen and look like they do through acts of nature alone. Nothing can be further from the truth. It takes many hours over years and years of careful nurturing to ensure that they provide a home to a balanced array of wildlife which itself helps to preserve the moors as we see them. The presentation is fascinating, but with so much detail to absorb, I think I ned to speak further to the experts to gain a fuller understanding of the moors.

EMERGENCY SERVICES DAY

I attend the Emergency Services Day in Buxton. All the services are represented and lots of people attend to watch demonstrations and visit the stands that the Police, Fire etc have set up in the Pavilion Gardens.

42 DAYS WITHOUT TRIAL

Today sees the vote on the Governments intentions to extend the right to hold suspect without trial to 42 days. This means that someone could be held for 6 weeks without any knowledge of why they are being held. This concerns me as I think 42 days seem too long and unnecessary, even when faced with the terrorist threats of today

POST OFFICE CLOSURES ANNOUNCED

In the ofice for 6am today hoping to see the proposals for Post Office closures posted on the website, I am disappointed to see that I am a bit early. However they do eventually appear and they propose the closure of 5 Post Offices across the High Peak. There is plenty of information on the site on this, but people must take the opportunity to comment during the consultation which is too short in my opinion at 6 weeks.

MAYORS CIVIC SERVICE

Mayor Robin Baldry holds his Civic Service today. Preceded by a mayoral parade, the service is held at St. Johns church. An excellent service to a packed church. Reading the second lesson at Robin's request, I am pleased to see faces of many Conservative colleagues from HPBC. A selection of stirring hymns, a delightful address from Rev. Hughton, the service is one to remember.

HYDRO EQUIPMENT DELIVERED TO NEW MILLS

The New Mills Hydro project takes a big step forward to day when the archimedean scrw unit is delivered on to site. at 22ft long and weighing 11 tons it is an impressive operation is it is lowered down from the road above. This is a great project that has the support of all. I visitd the site with Peter Ainsworth MP when the idea was in its infancy. I look forward to the day when the electricity begins to flow from this unit

HADFIELD SORTING OFFICE

Accompanied by local Conservative Councillor, Peter Kay, I go to Hadfield Post Office to meet with Mr. Daljitkur to discuss the threatened closure of their sorting office. The decision to me seems somewhat short sighted and whilst ther ewill be the opportunity for people to collect unde;livered parcels from the office following the closure, there is no guarantee how long this will be available for. Also it will mean staff travelling to and fro from the sorting office in Hyde at unreasonable times. Likewise it threatens the livelihood of Mrs. Daljitkur and her family. Whilst there we also have discusions with postmen who will be affected by these changes 

THE RENT SERVICE

Continuing to work for housing benefit recipients in the Glossop area who are hit by recent changes. I and officers of HPBC have a meeting with officers from The Rent Service to discuss the forthcoming review and how it will work. We need to ensure that we get our point across that this decision has hit people hard in the Glossop area.

HADFIELD SORTING OFFICE

I have been contacted by residents of Hadfield following news that the sorting office at Hadfield Post Office has been threatened with closure. This is separate to the Post Office closure programme which is closing thousands of Post Offices across the country. The programme is due to announce its proposals for the High Peak on June 10th.

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