Derbyshire Dales Labour

(Reported in the Matlock Mercury  on Thursday 7th January 2010 – Article here)

Charges are set to increase by ten per cent at council-run car parks, with traders fearing the price hike could deter shoppers.

Derbyshire Dales District Council hopes £148,000 will be generated by the proposed increases as it bids to balance the council revenue budget – but business bosses say the move will affect tourism and trade.

Shirley Johnson, secretary of Matlock Business Group, said: “We need all the help we can get at the moment and we certainly don’t need a price increase. This would not be helpful for traders.”

Roger Lownsbrough, chairman of Bakewell Chamber of Trade, added: “This will be greeted with amazement and disappointment. I think it speaks volumes about the imagination and understanding that the council have got about the problems we face.”

District council officers are recommending new fees are brought in from April 1 to keep pace with inflation. Charges were due to be increased last year but because of the financial climate that increase was deferred. Charges were last increased in 2006.

Traders have also called for more short-stay parking fees in a bid to to increase the turn-over of shoppers.

District Councillor Collin Swindell, who is manager of Cornerstone shop, in Bakewell, said he had received complaints from concerned traders.

He added: “Everybody is literally crying out for a break. This is just another blow.

“It’s not just traders I’ve had complaints from, customers have said it is easier to go to Peak Village or Meadow Hall where there is no charge. It is deterring tourism and deterring trade.”

The review of charges is set to be discussed in Matlock Town Hall on Thursday, January 14.

The Derbyshire Dales CLP General Committee, Councillors and Prospective Candidate Colin Swindell would like to wish all our members, supporters and comrades a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

(Reported in the Matlock Mercury on Thursday 5th November 2009 – Article here)

WEST Derbyshire Patrick McLoughlin MP has been accused of “taking advantage” of the expenses system, by paying his wife Lynn up to £39,999 a year.

Colin Swindell, Labour Party prospective parliamentary candidate for the [Derbyshire] Dales, made the comments while discussing Sir Christopher Kelly’s review of Parliamentary expenses, prior to its publication yesterday, after the Mercury’s deadline.

The widely-leaked report, which leaders of all three main parties have stated they will back, will recommend a ban on MPs employing relatives. Sir Christopher was expected to call for his plans to be introduced without delay.

Mr Swindell said: “I welcome this review and hopefully it will bring back trust into politics through more transparency.

“Employing relatives is a very sensitive issue. I appreciate that for lots of MPs it can be a lonely life and relatives can also provide trustworthy members of staff.

“But I think Patrick has taken advantage of that by paying his wife nearly the top amount available.”

Mr Swindell, from Elton, added there was a “big gap” between what Mrs McLoughlin received from Westminster and what she would get “in the real world”.

Mr McLoughlin, who is Conservative Party Chief Whip, has been unavailable to speak to the Mercury during the past week, despite repeated attempts to contact him.

But he has defended his right to employ his wife – who The Daily Telegraph revealed in July to be paid between £30,000 and £39,999 – during previous interviews.

The Derbyshire Dales Labour Party website has been updated again with new integration with Flickr and Twitter and further optimisation for mobile phones. You can follow us on Twitter here and flickr here

With Conference nearly upon us we’ll be using the website more and more to keep interested parties informed about our goings on down at Conference in Brighton!

Derbyshire Dales Labour

You may have noticed that our website has undergone a little ‘transformation’.

We hope that you like it and will utilise the commenting and other interactive features now available. If you spot any errors or find something isn’t working appropriately, don’t hesitate to get in contact and tell us the problem.

All the best,

Derbyshire Dales Labour

Labour’s Colin Swindell has been elected to the Derbyshire Dales District Council, taking the seat from the Conservatives.

Bucking the national trend, Colin and his campaign team achieved an amazing 20% swing from the the Tories to take the Winster and South Darley Ward.

On a turnout of 48.4%, Colin took 426 (63%) votes against his Conservative opponents 255 (37%).

Colin and his team campaigned on a number of local issues, including protecting rural public services, local quarrying concerns, rural crime and road congestion.

On his election to the Council Colin said,

It is an absolute honour to have been elected to represent the residents of the Winster and South Darley Ward.

I will work hard over the coming years to continue campaigning on rural issues, improve the lives of local people and speak-up for them on the District Council.

I would like to thank everybody who put their trust in me and voted for me in the by-election – I won’t let them down.  I will take my new responsibilities seriously and start working straight away to resolve the concerns residents have raised with me on the doorstep over the past few weeks.

I would also like to thank my fantastic campaign team, including my agent Fin Bowie, fellow Derbyshire Dales CLP colleagues and local residents who came out to help me secure a great victory. I am indebted to them all.

At the age of 26, Colin will now be the youngest current serving Councillor on the Conservative dominated District Council.

Result

Robin Green 255
Conservative

Colin Swindell 426 *
Labour Party

Turnout: 48.4%