FUTURE OF FIRESTATIONS STILL UNCLEAR

FIREFIGHTERS and residents are still being kept in the dark about proposed plans to axe seven fire stations across Warwickshire.

Campaigners are calling for a date to be announced when the results of the consultation on the future of Kenilworth, Warwick, Studley, Bidford, Brinklow, Fenny Compton and Bedworth fire stations will be made.

But until this date has been given, campaigners say they will not give up their fight.

Karen Scarrott, a protester who organised a march in Warwick, said: “They (the council) had put the decision on hold hoping that any point of complacency would set in, but residents are still passionate and I hope in my heart of hearts that all these fire stations are kept open.

“The stations provide a vital service when there’s an emergency, such as a fire or a flood, and we need them to be on our doorstep to react quick enough.

“There is a massive amount of public support, which was evident in the last march we did from Warwick Racecourse to Warwick Market, where 600 people turned up.

“We need to let common sense prevail, we want all the stations saved, not a situation where one might close, because that could cause a snowball effect for others to close.”

Fire chiefs first announced the modernisation plans last September and said it was not a cost-cutting exercise, but one to make services more efficient. But if the stations were to close the Fire Brigades’ Union (FBU) said that about 100 jobs could be lost, and this has left morale low among firefighters.

Marcus Giles, chairman of the Warwickshire branch of the FBU, said: “Everyone has been quite worried because they have been left in limbo for so long.

“We were expecting a decision at some point in January, but now almost five months later, we still don’t know what is happening.

“Morale among the team is low, but they have to carry on with their job. We hope the proposal is changed so all the fire stations remain.”

The FBU said it was also concerned about plans to centralise five regional fire control centres to Wolverhampton, as this could lead to a further 100 job losses.

Chris Downes, regional secretary for the FBU, said: “It is just total uncertainty at the moment, and coupled with a potential move of the regional fire control centre to Wolverhampton, adds to the fear factor.

“The plan was to move five regional offices to Wolverhampton in 2007. But these plans have been delayed time and time again, plus there is a massive overspend on it.

The project started off costing £100 million, but this has quadrupled to around £420 million.

“The whole thing needs to be scrapped, someone needs the gumption to say so.”

A Warwickshire County Council meeting is taking place on June 18 at Shire Hall to discuss a proposal to keep all seven fire stations.

Chris White, new Conservative MP for Leamington and Warwick, is also backing the campaign to save the stations.

He said: “I’m not 100 per cent sure about what is happening, I am meeting with the leader of the county council (Alan Farnell), and chief fire officer Graeme Smith on June 18 to discuss things further.

“I will be putting a very vigorous case forward because there are good reasons to keep the fire stations open.

“In this area we have one of the most united groups of support for this cause from all sorts of levels, such as district and county.

“We have to make sure this consultation is about putting the best case forward, and get these proposals off the table.”

What do you think? Write to us or email timesletters@mrn.co.uk.

NURSERY CONSULTATION HAS STARTED DESPITE PROTESTS

A MOTION to stop a consultation on six nursery schools in Warwickshire, was defeated at a council meeting.

Six nursery schools – Warwick, Whitnash, Kenilworth, Stockingford, Bedworth Heath, and Atherstone – are now undergoing a consultation to see how best they should run in future.

At a full council meeting in Shire Hall yesterday Councillor John Whitehouse, (Lib Dem, Kenilworth Abbey), asked for the consultation not to go ahead, but it was voted against.

The consultation will explore three options for the schools: amalgamation with a local
primary school; developing them as children’s centres; or developing them as nursery school centres of excellence.

Councillor Izzi Seccombe, cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: “We want to hear the views of all maintained nurseries before any decisions are made.

“We are determined to keep the knowledge, professionalism, and expertise contained within our current nursery schools, to ensure they have a better future.

“We have been working closely with representatives from the nurseries, and we are now keen to hear the views of parents and families about the good experiences that they have received.

“This will help us to secure, improve, and build on the outstanding education and good practice
that is currently available to produce the best possible outcomes for children.

“I must stress to parents that we expect that our proposals will secure long-term, sustainable nursery education and services for families and children.”

But Cllr Whitehouse said the consultation is a “time-wasting exercise.”

He added: “The decision that needs to be taken is how we are going to turn these nurseries into centres of excellence, because that option has been clear since January.

“We are wasting time and money with this unnecessary process.

“We tried to stop them, but I regret to say we failed.”

Members of the public can send in their comments to: Nursery School Consultation, Warwickshire County Council, Children Young People and Families Directorate, Early Years and Childcare, Saltisford Business Park, Ansell Way, Warwick CV34 4UL or via email at consultations@warwickshire.gov.uk.

What do you think? Write to us or email timesletters@mrn.co.uk.

GREENBELT VICTORY FOR RESIDENTS COULD BE CLOSE

VICTORY for campaigners opposing swathes of greenbelt land being bulldozed for housing could be closer than ever.

Councillor John Mutton, the newly-appointed leader of Coventry’s now Labour-run cabinet, has said he is strongly against building on greenbelt land around the city.

Cllr Mutton, who represents the Binley and Willenhall ward, said: “The Labour group has opposed the core strategy since the beginning as we don’t believe there is any need to build on greenbelt land.

“At the moment we are waiting for the government inspector to come back with their report following the consultation, which should be anytime now.

“We, as a council, will oppose any recommendation to build on greenbelt.

“I have no problems with building 22,000 homes on brownfield sites, but we do not endorse on building anywhere else.”

Under the previous Labour government’s Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), Coventry,
Solihull and Warwickshire would have to accommodate 82,000 homes – around 32,500 of this figure going to Coventry as it was identified as a ‘growth point’.

Under the RSS – now set to be scrapped by the new coalition government – the homes would have to be built on brownfield or greenbelt sites that were highlighted by the city council’s core strategy, by 2026.

This included a 3,500-home “eco suburb” in Keresley, areas near Longford, Eastern Green and Ash Green, and a 3,500-home estate on greenbelt land next to Finham which falls under Warwick District Council’s core strategy.

Sandra Camwell, chairman of the Keresley Parish Council, said: “Thank heavens Cllr Mutton has seen some sense in all of this. At the end of the day Coventry cannot support the amount of housing that was being asked to be built.

“We need to look after what we have got at the moment and improve that before we start adding bits here and there on greenbelt fields.

“A lot of people who live near these sites chose them so they could be near the countryside, not so they can see it turn into a concrete jungle.

“I very much hope greenbelt won’t be used, there are plenty of brownfield sites the council can build on.”

Isobel Jacques, of Ash Green, added: “This is what we have been saying all along and we are glad to hear this news.

“Since the beginning we have never felt the consultation had been very good – as far as I’m concerned there wasn’t any consultation.

“Of course we’re still worried that building on greenbelt could still happen, but it’s
reassuring to know John Mutton is sharing our views.”

Conservative MP for Meriden Caroline Spelman, who has been appointed secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, said the new coalition government plans to scrap the RSS altogether.

“When I have visited Coventry, one of the biggest concerns felt by residents was on this
issue and rightly so,” she said.

“There are unfortunately too many brownfield sites in the city and these should be used first.

“We are planning to scrap the RSS, in which the previous government said how many houses should be built by 2026.

“Instead we are now going to leave it up to local authorities to look at their housing lists, to look at the demands, and work out how many homes they need to build in the area and how many.

“We also want development to be mixed, so it will include homes, retail parks and economic uses.”

What do you think? Write to us or email timesletters@mrn.co.uk.

STRANDED MOTHER TO RETURN TO COVENTRY

A MOTHER who has been stranded in Africa for the past five months is due to be reunited with her husband and three children.

Asha Omari, of Gerard Avenue, Canley, flew out to Tanga, Tanzania, to attend her mother’s
funeral in December last year.

She was due to fly back to England on January 13, but only got as far as Nairobi, Kenya, as she did not have the correct paperwork, and was sent back to Tanzania.

The paperwork was proof the 37-year-old had been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK. This allows a person to live in the UK as long as they do not leave the country for more than two years.

Her husband Dessa Makoko, 57, frantically began to collect evidence she had ILR status,
and she had not been living in England.

Dessa, a part-time cleaner, said: “We accept we had lost the original document proving her ILR, she only had a photocopy, but she was granted ILR in November 2007.

“When she heard her mother had died, she wanted to be with her family.

“On her way back she got as far as Nairobi when she was told she couldn’t prove she had ILR, or that she had been in the UK two years previously.

“Straight away we sent doctors’ records and pay slips to prove it, but we didn’t hear anything back.”

Mr Makoko, who has been married to Asha for 16 years, had to explain to his three children, Farashuu, 13, Abdul, 10 and Aisha, seven, that their mother was stuck in Tanzania.

“My children were missing their mother so much, the youngest would cry herself to sleep.

“But now we are all so happy to hear she will be back within 10 days. We don’t know what’s changed, but it doesn’t matter.”

A UK Border Agency spokesman said: “A foreign national who has been granted indefinite leave to
remain in the UK will lose that entitlement if they cannot prove that they have been in the UK during the last two years.

“In light of new evidence provided in support of her claim, Ms Omari has now been granted an entry clearance.”

INCINERATOR PLAN COULD BE ON THE SCRAPHEAP

THE new leader of Coventry City Council has suggested plans for a new £1billion incinerator could be put on the scrapheap.

Project Transform – a joint scheme between the city council, Solihull Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council – would see the incinerator in Whitley, Coventry rebuilt to cater for more waste.

These plans have been bitterly opposed by many, including Warwickshire Liberal Democrats and green campaigners Friends of the Earth.

But there could be hope the plans are scrapped altogether after the recent elections saw Coventry’s Tory-run cabinet turn red as Labour took control.

And new leader of the council, John Mutton, said he wants to consider alternatives, including refurbishing the current Whitley incinerator.

He said: “If we put money into this PFI then we will have to look at cutting frontline services to fund it.

“The present incinerator can last until 2015 to 2020, so I have asked officers to work out the costing to improve the existing one.”

Councillor John Whitehouse, (Lib Dem, Kenilworth Abbey), who had put forward a motion at a county council meeting to delay the incinerator plans, said he welcomed the news.

He added: “I would very much agree with this idea, if we can refurbish the current one so we have more time to see where the targets for housing growth are going.

“If there isn’t the growth that’s expected and if recycling rates increase then we won’t need such a big incinerator.

“So yes, I’m very much in favour of this idea.”

The idea is also being backed by Friends of the Earth member Keith Kondakor.

He said: “I think it’s a great idea not to go ahead with it.

“There is a similar incinerator in Nottingham that was rebuilt for £14million last year so it’s obviously very do-able.

“Eventually we’d like to see it close down, but until there is new technology to make recycling easier, we have to keep the old one going.

“Fundamentally we are making less and less waste and our rubbish is becoming more valuable as natural resources are drying up.

“So it’s in everyone’s best interests to recycle more.”

What do you think? Write to us or email timesletters@mrn.co.uk.

ABIGAIL SET TO STRUT HER STUFF DOWN THE CATWALK

COVENTRY student Abigail Botcham is ready to make the grade as a design diva after impressing top fashion names Karen Millen and Anthony Campbell with her work.

The 20-year-old has made an early name for herself after winning just one of 11 places to show off her designs at London’s Graduate Fashion Week.

Abigail, of Davenport Road, Earlsdon, was among students who showcased their work to a panel of judges that would decide whether they would win a place at the event.

And fashion big guns Karen Millen and Anthony Campbell who were on the panel were so impressed with her work, they gave her a “golden ticket” to the prestigious show.

Abigail, 20, who is a studying fashion design at De Montfort University, in Leicester, said: “I’m really excited to see my work and it will be really good to see it on proper models going on catwalks.

“I have been interested in fashion since I’ve been at school and did a fashion design btec at City College, before going to DMU.

“For our final year project, we had a show selection for students’ graduation work that consists of six outfits.

“These have been designed and created by each student and my collection has taken
inspiration from the Russian Revolution – my clothes take some of the opulence the Russian tsars had by using Swarovski crystals and I have incorporated a military theme too.”

Fashion designer Karen Millen said: “What was impressive about the students was the really varied techniques they were using to create some really individual pieces that will look fantastic on the catwalk.

“It’s good to see the passion and involvement they already have within the industry they want a career in and that will definitely stand them in good stead once they graduate.”

Freelance designer Anthony Campbell, who has previously worked with Richard Nicoll, was also on the panel to help choose the students who should make the final cut.

He said: “It was a pleasure to be a part of a process which has helped to launch so many careers in the past.”

Abigail said she is inspired by designers Miu Miu and Louis Vuitton and after graduating wants to secure an internship in London.

LORD MAYORS' APPEAL RAISES £100,000

A MASSIVE £100,000 has been raised for the three charities chosen by Coventry’s Lord Mayor.

Councillor Jack Harrison is delighted after his civic appeal produced the highest total in
recent years – four times the average amount raised.

He has paid tribute to the efforts of businesses, residents, community groups and individuals who have supported the cause in the past year.

At the start of his mayoral term, Cllr Harrison picked three organisations that would benefit from fundraising events from May last year to May this year.

And the beneficiaries, who will each get around a third of the money raised, are the neo-natal ward, in Coventry’s University Hospital, in Walsgrave, the Transplant Games and children who are in the care of the local authority.

Cllr Harrison (Lab, Lower Stoke) said: “I am absolutely delighted with the fundraising efforts by everyone that has contributed.

“To raise £100,000 is great, but to know the average is usually £25,000, and to have done so during a recession, is even better.

“There have been so many memorable fundraising moments that have bought a smile to my face.

“Earlier this week I was visiting children at Davenport Lodge, who had organised a cake sale, but a lot of the three and four-year-olds had fallen asleep during the assembly.

“Chief executive Martin Reeves took part in the Coventry Half Marathon to raise money and Stoke Aldermoor held their own version of Britain’s Got Talent to raise £300.

“The Sikh community also donated £1,000 – I thank them all, this has been a real community effort.”

The money at the neo-natal ward will be used to improve the facilities for parents who are visiting babies in the ward and to buy soft toys.

Funds going to the Transplant Games – events run for those who have received a transplant – will go towards people’s accommodation to get to the games.

And the money going to children in local authority care will be used to fund school trips which parents can’t afford.

Today (Thursday) the new Lord Mayor will be taking part in his mayor-making ceremony.

Councillor Brian Kelsey (Con, Bablake) will take over the reins from Cllr Harrison.

FLOOD-PROOF FURNITURE DESIGNED BY STUDENT

FLOOD-proof furniture that will help people safeguard vital documents has been designed by a Coventry University student.

For his final year project, Peter Miller has created a set of sofas that are able to rise 1.5metres above the ground and have water-tight compartments.

The sofa has been designed with special drawers built under a panel of the sofa that can be used to store paperwork and electrical goods.

Peter, a final year industrial product design student, said: “The seats of the sofa also fold down creating more space for items, maybe even as large as a television, to be stored.

“It also rises 1.5metres above the ground if the flood levels are increasing in the house to keep the sofa dry.”

Peter, from Leamington, has been working on the design since September last year and will be displaying a prototype of the furniture at a university show next month.

The 22-year-old said the idea for the design first came about when he was asked to do a research project.

“Every year we see on the news that in certain parts of the UK flooding is a recurring problem. There are some households in the UK that are still trying to get their homes back in order since the last floods,” he said.

“So when we did our research project, flooding was a big issue and I decided to theme my final year work on that.

“With five million households at risk from flooding, the furniture in our homes should have some practical element and the furniture I have produced will be able to protect items which would have previously perished in the floods from water damage.”

Peter’s work will be on show as part of the Coventry School of Art and Design Degree Show from June 5 to June 11 in the Maurice Foss building between 10am and 5pm.

Admission is free and open to the public.