Andrew has teamed up with neighbouring MP David Davis to sign the ‘Fair Deal on the Docks’ petition which is calling on the Government to scrap changes to the way business rates for companies operating on the ports along the Humber are charged. The changes have lead to increased tax bills back-dated for three years, meaning local jobs are being put at risk.

Prospective MP Andrew Percy says; “David and I have both been down to the docks and have also had discussions with some of the affected businesses. The simple fact of the matter is that if local businesses can’t afford to pay these bills then they may be forced to close and that means local jobs will be lost. The Government really needs to pull its finger out and get this issue, which they have now known about for months, resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned.”

The petition is available to sign at http://www.humberbusiness.com/Petition.aspx.

Prospective MP Andrew Percy is demanding that the decision to downgrade Goole Fire Station be revisited following the admission by Humberside Fire Brigade that they are desperately short of retained firefighters at both Howden and Snaith Fire Stations. Goole is presently crewed by two full-time pumps but will be reduced to one full-time and one part-time retained pump.

Andrew Percy says, "I could not believe my eyes when I read that a spokesman for the Fire Brigade had said that the recruitment of retained firefighters was so bad that if there was a fire next to some of the retained stations at the moment, crews would have to come from other areas to fight the fire!

Worse still, we are told that recruitment at Snaith and Howden is especially desperate which is very concerning as these two stations are presently backed-up by the full-time crews at Goole. What will happen if they have similar issues recruiting retained firefighters in Goole for the downgraded second pump.

We could end up with exactly the situation we predicted during the recent consultation on the proposed fire cuts, i.e. the one full-time crew being left to cover the Goole, Howden and Snaith fire areas! When we suggested this during the consultation our concerns were poo-poohed and we were assured this could not happen!

I am frankly astonished that senior fire officers continued to recommend the downgrading of Goole Fire Station when they must have known that the recruitment of retained firefighters was such an issue. I have written to the Chief Fire Officer demanding he revisits the decision to downgrade Goole once again."

Shadow Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Jim Paice MP visited Brigg and Goole last week to discuss flooding issues on the Isle of Axholme. Jim met with Andrew and Isle Councillors John Briggs and Liz Redfern.

Prospective MP Andrew Percy explains, "We met with Jim Paice in Owston Ferry where we discussed concerns over the River Trent Flood Catchment Plan which proposes increasing the flood risk on the Isle of Axholme. The plan has been created by the Enviornment Agency who are working to Government directions which require them to protect urban areas to the detriment of rural areas. I also took the opportunity to express similar concerns about the River Aire Flood Catchment Plan which will increase flooding in the Snaith and Rawcliffe areas.

Jim's visit is the latest in a series by Shadow Ministers who, unlike Labour Ministers, are keen to come our area to hear our concerns."

Shadow Minister Jim Paice MP says, "I was delighted to come to Brigg and Goole to hear how concerned local people are about both of these flood plans. For the Environment to simply turn its back on 100s years of maintaining defences does not make sense. It is contrary to local opinion and illogical. The Government must place flood prevention higher up the agenda."

Following his visit to Owston Ferry, Jim Paice went to meet with local farmers from across North Lincolnshire.

Prospective MP Andrew Percy has officially backed the 'A Toll Too Far' campaign which has been launched jointly by The Scunthorpe Telegraph and the Hull Daily Mail. The campaign is gathering signatures from across the region on a petition which demands Government action to deal with the tolls.

Andrew Percy, who has been campaigning for action on the tolls explains, "I was delighted to sign up for this campaign and would urge as many residents as possible to sign up too.

Having the local media on side is a real boost to our campaign as they are in an excellent position to bring everyone together on this matter and to really provide the publicity we need. The Humber Bridge Tolls Study which reported last week showed that  the cost of the tolls to the local economy over the next 25 years will be in excess of £1 billion.

We really need action from the Government to address this issue and hopefully the Scunthorpe Telegraph's campaign will prove to Ministers just how important this matter is to local people."

Photo: Andrew signs the 'A Toll Too Far' petition.

Prospective MP Andrew Percy took the fight to protect local jobs to the Conservative Party Conference in recently where Andrew raised the issue of recent Government changes to the way businesses operating on the docks in Goole are taxed.

Andrew reports, "As a result of the Labour Government changing the way businesses operating on the docks are taxed, businesses have been left with massive tax bills backdated for three years. I have met with some of the affected businesses who told me that these changes could cause businesses to stop their plans for expansion or, even worse, put some of them out of business.

"This would mean local jobs would be lost and I therefore put my name down to speak at the Conservative Party Conference and was delighted to be called to speak. I explained what impact the changes could have locally and how important it was that local jobs were protected.

"I am therefore delighted that David Cameron has taken this issue up and we must all hope that the Government will see sense and change their minds. We need a Government that supports local jobs, not one that puts them at risk."