David's weekly article, 1st august

This period when Parliament is in recess is very valuable for me - I can catch up on so many important issues and people.

One of the issues which I received a briefing on last week was the "Yeovil Vision". This is an exciting project which has not just been "Council" led, but which has included many key representatives of the local community, including local business. The idea has been to set out a broad but detailed strategy for the future of Yeovil - including tackling traffic congestion, improving the quality of the town centre, significantly upgrading sports facilities, redeveloping key sites within the town, and investing in new health and educational facilities.

Not all of the Vision can be achieved overnight, but without a vision of where we are trying to get to, the risk is that change will otherwise be piecemeal and poorly thought-out.

The Yeovil Vision has so far had a very good response from the public, and the key now is to take action to deliver on this vision, as well as fleshing out the detail of, for example, how we improve on our sports facilities. A thriving Yeovil has the potential to boost the rest of South Somerset, and has the critical mass to provide high quality local leisure and other services. Yeovil is now becoming as important a town in Somerset as Taunton, and we have to ensure that we receive a fair slice of government and other investment.

Another issue on my mind last week was policing. Over the last two years, people in our area have seen the arrival of a new Chief Constable (Colin Port), a new District Commander (Andy Marsh), and a new Sector Inspector for Chard, Ilminster and Crewkerne (Neil Pitman).

I met up (separately) with Colin, Andy and Neil last week, and I was impressed with their determination to reduce rime and improve detection rates in our area. The new Chief Constable is clearly not here for a quiet life, and he briefed me on a number of key issues for the force. Police numbers have increased over the last few years, and the new Police Community Safety Officers are helping to gradually bring back local "beat" policing. The Avon and Somerset Constabulary are planning to make a new bid for more Police Community Safety Officers, from the Government. This would be useful for a large district such as ours, where the police have to cover a huge area.

For many years, the crime figures in Avon and Somerset have not looked very good, and we have had very low detection rates. This has also been a problem in our own area, the East Somerset District (including Chard,
Ilminster, South Petherton, Crewkerne and Yeovil).

Part of the poor figures has been due to our reporting practices (we have recorded EVERYTHING), but part has been down to poor performance. Andy Marsh was able to update me on the latest figures, which show a continued fall in burglary (down 21.7% year to date), and an improving detection rate. The huge decline in burglary over the last 5 or so years has been one of the most encouraging, dramatic, and under-reported aspects of the battle against crime.

Our national newspapers have reported with detailed relish the rise in violent crime (often young people beating up other young people outside pubs and nightclubs), but have ignored the massive reduction in burglary - one of the most hated and feared crimes.

Now, instead of being in the bottom section of the league table of similar police forces, we are now (in East Somerset) in the top section for the first time for many years. The year to date detection rate in East Somerset is up to almost 29% - double the figure of a few years ago, and the best figure in the force area.

Of course, there is still a long way to go, and crime in general is far too high. But the progress made by the police over the last few years has been impressive, and they deserve our full support in the fight against crime, as well as recognition for progress made.

Last Friday evening, after an Advice Centre in Yeovil, I set off to the beautiful village of Middle Chinnock, 10 minutes outside Yeovil. I eventually reached Bridge Farm, and the fields which the local farmer had very kindly allowed to be used by our South Somerset Scout Association, and their guests - 55 Polish Scouts!

The South Somerset Scouts had visited Poland around a year ago, and the Polish Scouts were on a return visit. The Polish Scouts had had an eventful visit - being caught up in London during the second terrorist incident on 21st July, then being exposed to the full rigours of an English summer, down in Somerset.

But everyone was in very good spirits when I arrived for the closing ceremony at 7.45pm. I had the odd experience of having my speech simultaneously translated into Polish, perhaps for the first and last time.

Congratulations to Kerry Clear and his team for all the hard-work which was so obviously put into making the camp a success, and thanks to all those whose generosity helped to make the event possible.

On Saturday, I travelled to Yeovil to take part in the South Somerset Disability Forum "Mobility Challenge". The idea was to discover how hard it can be to get around in a wheelchair - particularly when there are so many everyday obstacles to negotiate.

I opened the event by trying to navigate a wheelchair around a basic "assault course", set out in the Quedam Centre in Yeovil. I made it around the course, but not with a great deal of skill or subtlety. Fortunately, no record was kept of our course times, because I am sure that Mayor Ian Martin beat me by quite a margin. In fact, I am sure that most people beat me by a clear margin. James Richards, MD of Ivel FM, looked the quickest, and negotiated the course so speedily that I wonder if he had been having secret practice sessions!

The point was well made by the Disability Forum that we need to think a lot harder about access issues for people with disabilities - because the barriers we faced were trivial compared with those experienced day to day by people who are blind or who use wheelchairs.

On Saturday afternoon, I opened the Oak Lodge Nursing Home Summer Fete in Chard. I use the word "Summer" in the loosest sense, because the weekend weather was once against distinctly.......well, British!

However, the odd shower did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of residents, staff and guests, and a very enjoyable afternoon was had by all. Thanks to Val Cox and her team for all their hard work.

This week I have a lot more meetings fixed up, as well as three Advice Centres. On Wednesday evening I am in Buckland St. Mary to talk with the Parish Council about road safety issues on the A303. I will also be visiting the Roping Road flats in Yeovil, attending a meeting of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, visiting Yeovil District Hospital, meeting staff from the Citizens Advice Bureau, giving a speech on pensions, talking with the Chief Executive of Somerset County Council, calling in on Pittards in Yeovil, attending an event in West Coker about protecting Chinese Bears, and going to the dentist! Nobody can say this job isn't varied!

All best wishes,

David.

PS: Please call my Yeovil office on 01935 423284 for the dates and times of my next Advice Centres. My Villages Advice Centre is on 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th September.