| Tony Colman MP for Putney writes
I met this week with the head of the Royal Parks Association and we discussed further the agency's traffic calming plans and the proposed reduction of Pen Ponds car park which so many constituents objected to. As many of you will know the car park is now to be reduced rather than closed altogether, so our lobbying did pay off. I have also been concerned, however, about the possibility of a new golf club house being built at the Roehampton edge of Richmond Park. I have made clear my very serious reservations about the plan not least the increased traffic it will create as well as possible floodlighting affecting local residents. Local Pharmacies Further to the petition I presented to the Speaker of the House of Commons on protecting our local pharmacies I spoke to a group of pharmacists last week. I feel strongly that we need to protect pharmacies that serve local communities and will continue to press the Government to ensure they do not implement the Office of Fair Trading's recommendations on this issue, and to press the Strategic Health Authority and NHS Primary Care Trusts to ensure that their actions do not threaten neighbourhood pharmacies. School Funding Some schools in Putney have been under real financial pressure. This is partly due to increased personnel costs including teachers' pay and pension funding. While this is a national problem the pressure in Wandsworth is greater because Wandsworth spends the least on education per pupil of all the inner London boroughs. The Parent Teacher Association of Elliot School recently held a meeting to decide how they could help the school. I was not able to attend but Martin Linton Mp for Battersea and the leader of the Labour group on the Council, Tony Belton, did attend. The 9th to the 15th of June was Carers' Week. Putney has 7580 carers who do an extraordinary job. In the UK as a whole 1 in 8 people who work also care for a partner or a child – meaning they have to juggle their responsibilities. Carers' Week is all about giving carers advice, support and forging links. I am attending an event at the Royal Hospital for Neurodisability this Sunday to celebrate with local carers. If any Putney constituents would like to find out more about the support available for carers feel free to contact me. The Euro The big announcement at Parliament this week came from the Chancellor who, as you all know, said that the time was not yet right for the UK to join the Euro. The issue of Euro membership is extremely important for Putney; a large proportion of Putney residents work in the financial services sector. I have no doubt that in the long term joining the Euro is the right path for Britain, but for the time being I fully support the Chancellor's decision to wait until all five economic tests have been passed – this way we can ensure that our hard won stability is not threatened. This approach basically puts the British economic interest at the forefront – any decision will be based on what is best for the economy of Putney and the national economy not any dogma or pre-conceived ideology. I appreciate that the Euro is a controversial issue but I welcome comments from constituents on this and any other issues. June 13, 2003 Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Comment on this story on the Related Articles Transport Education and Putney in a globalised world 03.06.2003 School's admissions, Smoking (Restaurants) Bill & extra cash for the over 80's 17.04.2003 War in Iraq, the Arndale Centre and a bill to ban smoking in restaurants 03.04.2003 Planning, recycling, education and war are all on our MPs agenda. 21.03.2003 Busy with Local and International aspects of life 06.03.2003 Putney MP Quizzes Clare Short on Humanitarian Planning for Iraq 13.02.2003 Christmas in SW15 .....................20.12.02 Aviation, finance, local hospitals and local events all in this weeks diary........ 5.12.02 An eventful fortnight in Putney & Westminster........15.11.02 MP Welcomes Queen's Speech ....1.11.02 visits at Westminster from the Limbless Association (based in Putney) and the tour he gave to children from Linden Lodge School, plans to talk to the RPA and his stance on top up fees for students..... 01.11.02 The Garden Centre site & Richmond Park are yet again centre stage......10.10.02 Visit to the CCTV centre and his concerns on crime 01.07.02 "another small step in dragging politics in the UK in to the technological age." Postwatch and London Housing Federation are under the MP's scrutiny. MP for Putney announces 11 achievement awards to local primary schools MP for Putney commends the work of four local community groups Planning issues are top on Mr Colman's constituients' agenda Tony Coman explains his motion to support UNIFEM in the fight against International Sex Trade. MP's response to Terminal 5 go ahead Lister Blasts Terminal 5 Decision Putney Post Office Under Threat First Putneysw15.com Diary Entry 8.11.2001 If you have a point to make about a local issue why not contribute to our forum
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Richmond Park