TRAVELLERS BACK IN ELSTOW

We have been plagued by illegal traveller encampments this year. Travellers invaded the Abbeyfields park today for the 5th time in 3 months. My residents suffer anti social behaviour, thefts and flytipping. In June I persuaded the landowners David Wilson Homes to instal wooden posts at the 4 entrances but the travellers cut down 2 posts with a chainsaw, causing an ugly confrontation with residents. The land is still privately owned so DWH bring in bailiffs and move them on fast but soon the land will be transferred to Bedford Borough Council.

Under the present weak Labour Government it is hard to evict travellers fast from publicly owned land because of the need for social services and education checks and magistrates' orders. Kempston had to tolerate a large group of travellers for 6 weeks before they were finally given their marching orders.

The next Conservative Government will review the law and like the Irish Government could make illegal traveller encampments a form of criminal trespass, leading to instant eviction. Law abiding council taxpayers should not have to tolerate the mess and anti social behaviour caused by freeloading travellers.

In partnership with DWH, Bedford Borough Council, Elstow Parish Council and the Police I expect to resolve the Elstow traveller problem with permanent defensive measures in September before the land transfer takes place.

STOP PRESS There is still one day to vote for me as Bedfordshire's Sexiest Politician on Blogging for Bedford. I have 156 votes but am still only in
3rd place so I need more people to vote for me. What are you waiting for?

PS Had a great Bank Holiday weekend in Staffordshire with my daughter and small grandchildren Jessica and Oliver. On Sunday we visited Drayton Manor Theme Park which has a Zoo and lots of big rides but costs a small fortune so on Monday we opted for the simpler pleasure of walking in the National Forest.

THE SANDWICH GENERATION (1)

THOMAS - A VERY SERIOUS YOUNG MAN


Like many 'Baby Boomers' I have elderly relatives as well as children and grandchildren. So after a busy week sitting on 3 separate Employment Tribunals,
attending Council committees and conducting a Saturday Advice Surgery in Wilstead
I am off to a Jungle Birthday Party in Watford for my smallest grandson Thomas, who is 3 next week and is mad on animals and the film Madagascar.

On Sunday I have to head south to my home town Portsmouth for 2/3 days to finalise the move of my frail 92 year old aunt from a sheltered flat into a nursing home.

In Elstow this week we have had a dropped kerb installed at Bunyans Mead to enable wheelchair bound residents to access the social centre more easily and very soon we should have a lorry ban sign and better road signs installed at the Elstow roundabout to prevent continental lorries straying on to the Abbeyfields Estate.

Wilstead has one of the largest Women's Institute Branches in Bedfordshire, with 40+ members, including me. On Thursday we had a fascinating talk entitled "All About Chocolate" from Jill, a Bedfordshire Librarian, who told us the history of chocolate using 7 chosen books and gave us a taste of 5 different types of chocolate.

Wilstead also has a first class amateur dramatic group, the Wilstead Players, who have won several awards with a one act play "Lear's Daughter". They are giving a charity performance of this play on Wednesday 9 July at 8pm in Wilstead Village Hall.

Have a good weekend