I had another busy weekend in the constituency visiting various people and events. Sunday morning I spent at the Goole Farmers Market before heading off over to Burringham and Gunness to join some of our volunteers leafletting. The Farmers Market was great and I did my bit to support local business by purchasing some bread, a Yorkshire curd and a pound of sprouts!! Notice I bought a pound of sprouts, none of this silly kilogram nonsense the EU tried to saddle us with!

Sunday night I crunched the figures from the last few weeks canvassing which put a big smile on my face. The swing we are recording locally at the moment is even bigger than the national polls suggest. Needless to say I slept well last night! 

Since the shock announcement that the Barts House facility will be closed this year, Andrew has been in contact with both the Humber Mental Health Trust and the Belgravia Carers to make clear the objections to the closure. There is now a petition for local people to add their voices to the campaign.

Sign the petition here.

We held two really successful public meetings this week on the subject of Labour's proposed Local Development Framework. The proposals include an additional 400 houses in Brigg, the expansion of the Sandtoft Industrial Estate by 250 acres and massive housing and industrial development around the Parklandssite off Scotter Road.

We have already leafleted every house in all of the communities affected, informing them of how they can make their views known. However, we also decided to organise some public meetings on the issue. Two of these were held this week, one to discuss the Parklands issue and one in Belton to discuss the Sandtoft expansion.

I was really pleasantly surprised by the turn out to both of them with about 100 people turning up to each meeting. The vast majority of residents at the meetings were opposed to the developments and we will support residents on this. Opposition to the expansion of the Sandtoft Industrial Estate hardened when it was made clear that the Government's Highways Agency has ruled out any possibility of a separate access from the site onto the M180. For some at the meeting this was the real clencher.

I was also touched at how warmly received I was at both the meetings with many people coming up to me both before and afterwards to assure me privately of their support. We even picked up some new leafletters which I had not expected.

I had a very busy weekend out and about across the constituency. Saturday was tinged with sadness though due to a helicopter crash in Sandtoft. We happened to be just arriving in the village as the roads were being closed off following the crash. We found out later that the pilot in the helicopter had sadly been killed.

Saturday I attended the valtentines night bash at the Conservative Club in Goole. The evening was great fun and I managed to win the bingo, with my winning number being Number 10. Lets hope that was an omen that Labour will be kicked out soon. I was made to feel really welcome at the Club and they kindly asked me to say a few words on the mic.

Sunday I was back on the Isle where we have a public meeting tonight to discuss quite an important local issue. I also heard last night from one of the carers who had attended the meeting on Friday to discuss the proposed closure of Barts. The meeting had not gone so well and so we shall have to consider our next move.

Sign Andrew's Petition

Andrew Percy has launched a petition against proposals which could see parking charges levied on the Estcourt Street and Leisure Centre car parks in Goole. If the plans are agreed, it would mean that the car parks will be free for the first half hour and after that be subject to a charge of 50p for an hour's stay and 70p for every additional hour after that. They also recommended a £2.50 all day fee.

Prospective MP Andrew Percy says, "I am concerned at these proposals and do not believe they are in the best interests of local residents and businesses. Given that residents can shop in Tesco and use their car park for two hours free, I do not really understand why the Council is considering this as an option.

People would simply be forced to use the Tesco car-park meaning that businesses in other parts of Goole could suffer. Drivers may also avoid the charges by parking on residential streeets causing problems to local residents.

The plans have not yet been agreed and are now the subject of more consultation. A final decision is due in a couple of months time and I would really like to know what local people think about the proposals.

Photo: Andrew and Cllr Caroline Fox in the Estcourt Street Car park.

I meant to put this post up last week but work commitments got in the way a little. I spent one of my days last week teaching in a primary school which is always a challenge for we secondary school teachers. The last primary school I went to was at Alkborough where I taught the reception class! This time it was Year 6 but I still found it totally terrifying. They ask lots of questions at primary school! Teaching primary is such a different job.

Anyway, I was disappointed that the Transport Secretary, Geoff Hoon, has decided not to help us get a hearing for the Bridge Toll Inquiry on the south bank. Beverley MP Graham Stuart asked him to hold a hearing on the south bank when the Public Inquiry into the proposed rise in the tolls takes place in March.

Sadly, the Minister decided to wash his hands of the issue which tells you something of what Government Ministers think about our area. We shall keep pushing though.

This weekend I spent on the doorstep in Brigg where we received one of the best responses I have ever known. The response is better now than when we were apparently 20 points ahead last summer.

Andrew Percy has reacted with anger at figures showing the North Linconlnshire and the East Riding are missing out on their fair share of funding for mental health services. The most recently available figures (2006-07) show that -

• Per person funding for mental health services in England was £167
• In the East Riding per person funding was just £113
• In North Lincs the per person funding was £143

Andrew Percy, who is campaigning against the closure of a mental health unit in Goole says, "Yet again our area is missing out on its fair share of funding. Whether it is cancer spending or school funding, Labour funds our area well below the national average. What have they got against us?

The figures were revealed following David Davis asking a question to the Minister and show that in some areas the spending is well over £350 per person. These figures are a disgrace and need to be addressed as soon as possible. With unemployment and business failures increasing, it is likely that we could see a greater demand on mental-health services.

We need to support our local health workers which is why by highlighting Labour's underfunding I hope that we will get a fairer deal in future."