Andrew will be meeting once again with the developers of the Keadby Wind farm, RES Ltd, next week for a further update on the proposal to open up an access route to the site off the A18. Andrew and local Conservative Councillors John Briggs, Caroline Fox and Gordon Megson, have been working hard to ensure that the alternative route is opened up so as to save Old Goole, Swinefleet, Ealand and Eastoft from thousands of construction vehicles.

Andrew Percy says, "I wrote to residents at the beginning of February to let them know that Network Rail had contacted me to confirm that they were now formally considering the proposal by RES Ltd to construct a bridge over their railway line which would open up the alternative route off the A18.

"I also reported that RES had confirmed to me that, subject to the negotiations with Network Rail, ‘RES are confident that either all, or almost all, construction traffic would avoid Keadby and Ealand, while no construction traffic would go through Eastoft, Swinefleet or Old Goole’.

"I am therefore hopeful that I will have more good news for residents shortly and I look forward to meeting with RES next week."

Andrew Percy has reacted with anger at an attempt by Labour Councillors to double the Council tax rise for residents in the Goole and Snaith area. The East Riding Council met today to set the Council Tax for the next year with Labour Councillors trying to force a higher than inflation rise of 3% on hard pressed taxpayers.

Andrew Percy says, "With unemployment in our area still rising, and with the Humber area suffering the hardest from Gordon Brown's recession, you would have thought that Labour Councillors would have wanted to give hard pressed taxpayers a break. Pensioners in particular feel Council Tax rises especially hard, and after 13 years of putting up the bills of pensioners, Labour have clearly learned nothing!

It is only thanks to the vigilance of Conservative Councillors that this year's rise will be kept to 1.5%, well below the current rate of inflation. I don't always agree with everything the East Riding Council does but they have certainly made the right decision on this year's Council Tax.

The East Riding receives some of the worst funding in England from the Labour Government, meaning that keeping Council Tax rises down is no mean feat."  

The Environment Agency consultation into flood plans for the Rivers Ouse, Aire, Trent and Don have officially being launched with the start of a 12 week consultation period.

The original plans for the River Aire and the River Trent caused an outcry locally when they proposed increasing the risk of flooding on the Isle of Axholme and in the Snaith area.

Andrew Percy led campaigns against both of these plans and the Environment Agency agreed to look again at the proposals and then to re-consult. The new plans are now subject to a 12 week consultation which will run until April 23rd.

Prospective MP and Airmyn Parish Councillor, Andrew Percy, explains, “The new proposals are now live and I hope residents will comment on them. So far as the River Trent is concerned, the Environment Agency is now proposing to adopt a different policy which will see the current levels of flood protection maintained. More details on this will be released via the more detailed Isle of Axholme Flood Strategy which will be released in the coming months.

For the rivers meeting in the Goole area, the Environment Agency has decided that rather than simply apply one policy for the area, they have divided it up into smaller ‘clusters’ where different policies are proposed.

"The Environment Agency are now proposing to adopt a policy that will continue with existing levels of flood protection for the area covered by cluster 4. For cluster 6, they propose to go further by adopting a policy which will see them taking further action to sustain the current level of protection into the future, as the risk of flooding increases. For the Snaith and Gowdall area, cluster 5, they propose adopting a policy which will ‘take action with others to store water or manage run-off in locations that provide overall flood risk reduction or environmental benefits.’They go on to say that this policy would see better use of the washlands in the event of river or tidal flooding. Personally, I want to know more from the Environment Agency about what this will actually mean as I will not accept any proposals which will put homes at risk of more flooding.

"I have contacted them requesting more information as we cannot accept anything which would see flooding increased locally. There is also a consultation event organised for Monday March 8^th at the Goole Leisure Centre. Representatives of the Environment Agency will be present between 2pm and 7pm to answer residents’ queries and to record their views."

Anyone wanting to know more can either contact Andrew or visit the Environment Agency website. The plans can be found by clicking on the links below -

Photo: Andrew discussing the plans for the Aire with Cllr Caroline Fox in Snaith.

Prospective MP and NHS Campaigner, Andrew Percy, has formally pledged his support to two campaigns committed to supporting research into cancer.Andrew has signed up to both Cancer Research UK’s Cancer Commitment and the Breast Cancer Campaign 2010. Both campaigns have been launched in the run up to the general election with the aim of securing a pledge from election candidates that they will support vital research into cancer and do everything they can to improve cancer research and treatment.

Prospective MP, Andrew Percy says, "A couple of years ago I campaigned on behalf of women in this constituency who were waiting too long for breast cancer screening and so I was happy to support these pledges.

"125 women every day are diagnosed with breast cancer, making it the UK’s most common form of cancer. I hope that more and more candidates and MPs will sign this pledge so that whoever forms the next government, we can be sure that cancer research will remain a top priority.

"Like most people, my family has been touched by cancer and I am more than happy to do whatever I can to support action in tackling this dreadful disease."

Prospective MP Andrew Percy met with members of the Goole Air Cadets last Friday where he handed over a cheque for £340 to the group. The money was raised by Andrew at a recent dinner attended by Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague MP.

Andrew Percy says, “I was delighted to be able to hand over this money which I know the ATC will put to good use. It’s really important that the work of groups such as the ATC are acknowledged and supported as much as we can. Young people often get a pretty bad press, so it was a pleasure to be able to meet with the Air Cadets who were not only extremely polite, but were also brilliantly turned out and disciplined.

It is also important to acknowledge the work of the adults who help support organisations such as the ATC. Volunteering to work with young people involves a lot of commitment as well as a lot of paperwork these days and so I pay tribute to those who give of their time freely.

Supporting young people is something I am committed to doing which is why I have raised money for other youth groups in the past such as the Snaith St John Ambulance. I shall continue to do what I can to support these and other groups in our area.

Andrew Percy joined Cllr Rob Waltham at the Environment Agency presentation in Gunness recently. The presentation set out the agency's proposed works as part of the Gunness flood defence improvement scheme which should improve protection for Gunness and western Scunthorpe.

Prospective MP Andrew Percy explains, "We were really keen that any residents with a view on this popped along to the presentation, which is why we leafletted the entire village before the event to let residents know.

Basically, the Environment Agency plan to strengthen the existing defences along the River Trent by driving vinyl sheet piles along the length of the defences from Grove Wharf to Gunness Wharf. This work is necessary because of the danger of slippage and failure of the banks in certain flood events.

The works are due to start in the new year and should last 6 months and will sadly mean the closure of the footpath along the riverbank until the works are completed.

Rob and I were keen to make known to the Environment Agency our view that they must ensure that disruption to local residents is kept to a minimum whilst the works are completed."

Andrew Percy chaired a meeting at Drax Social Club last Thursday to discuss fears over a new waste incinerator.

The concerns relate to a proposal by Scottish and Southern Electricity to construct a multi-fuel combined heat and power incinerator at the Ferrbridge Power Station. Concerns have been raised about the pollution generated from this facility and the impact the emissions could have on the Goole, Snaith and Isle of Axholme areas. The facility would burn a variety of fuels including biomass and waste wood and would have the capacity to generate 90 megawatts of power.

Prospective MP Andrew Percy says, “I was contacted by the Chairman of a campaign group, A.I.R.E, who are fighting this proposal who asked me to Chair the meeting. The group are fighting the proposal on the basis of concerns about what will be burned at the facility and the impact these emissions could have on public health.

The meeting was addressed by Dr Dick Van Steenis MBBS who been involved in research into health damage resulting from industrial air pollution since January 1995. Dr Van Steenis has been involved in campaigns against incinerators in various parts of the country.

The main crux of the concerns raised at the meeting related to the emissions from these facilities and the impact they can have on the health of people living in the vicinity of them. Dr Van Steenis was very clear that in his view people in our area would be affected by the emissions.

I’m no expert on incineration but I would obviously be very concerned at anything which would impact negatively on our area. We really need to be assured that there will be no negative impact on local health. It is really important that anyone who is concerned about either of these proposals makes their views known as soon as possible.”

Prospective Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy has welcomed news that the term Humberside could be dropped forever from postal addresses thanks to a long-running campaign supported by Andrew Percy and Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart.

After more than two years of meetings, co-ordinating joint submissions and calling on Postcomm to drop the long-defunct title from electronic files used by the Royal Mail, commissioners have announced they will make a decision by the end of the year.

Andrew Percy said, "There is still some way to go on this yet, but this is the closest to getting a result we have been since Humberside was abolished in the mid-1990s.

"For years people who live in the East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull and Northern Lincolnshire have been complaining about the use of Humberside on postal addresses, despite the fact that the much disliked county was abolished over a decade ago. East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire are proud counties with great histories and that is why Humberside was so disliked. Frankly, it’s a shame it has taken this long to get this far.

"I recently received a new database which contained the Humberside name on every address in the Brigg and Goole constituency. I simply refused to use the database until the county name was removed.”

Graham Stuart MP, who has been leading the campaign, added: “I have met with Royal Mail directors, senior members of the Postal Services Commission Postcomm, I have written numerous letters to both and I have co-ordinated joint submissions and pleas from other MPs and councillors across the area for Humberside to be dropped.”

A letter from Philip Groves, Senior Associate, Strategy and Market Development, at Postcomm, said: “Royal Mail has proposed to handle this question outside the immediate review of the Code of Practice and to consult the Postcode Address File (PAF) Advisory Board before deciding on the best approach to adopt.

“Our Commissioners will consider the proposed changes to the Code of Practice including Royal Mail's approach on the issue of county information in November and we hope to publish a decision this year which will include the issue you and your colleagues raised.”

Graham added: “I am delighted the commissioners are taking this seriously. I know many of my constituents will be delighted if it is finally decided to rectify this anomaly and drop Humberside forever."

Councillor Stephen Parnaby OBE, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council said:  “I too am delighted that it is being taken seriously, as many people have contacted me to express their utter frustration that Humberside is still being used in addresses after all these years.  Hopefully commonsense will prevail.”

Prospective Brigg and Goole MP, Andrew Percy, welcomed the Conservative’s Shadow Transport Secretary, Theresa Villiers MP, to North Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire last week, where she committed a future Conservative Government to action on the Humber Bridge tolls. Ms Villiers met with local campaigners and promised that a future Conservative Government would initiate a full treasury-led review of the Humber Bridge looking at all aspects of the tolls and bridge debt.

Photo: Andrew with Theresa Villers and Humber Action Against Tolls Campaigner, Jenny Walton.

Andrew Percy says, “Theresa Villiers came to the bridge to announce that a future Conservative government would undertake a treasury led review of the tolls which will look at all possible options for the bridge. I explained to Theresa the way in which the toll divides the local economy, limits employment opportunities and also costs patients who need care on the north bank dearly. I’m pleased to say that Theresa confirmed that the Humber Bridge was one of the most important issues in her in-tray.”

Shadow Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers MP continues, “If the Conservatives are elected as the next Government, we will commission a Treasury led review of the Humber Bridge tolls and their economic impact.

"The review we propose will be an objective and thoughtful analysis of the relevant issues around the tolls. This decision is the direct result of the determined and effective campaign run by the region’s newspapers, local councillors and campaigners such as Andrew Percy who have all worked incredibly hard to highlight the very real concern about the tolls within the communities living near the bridge and put the case for change.

"While it is true that the state of the public finances means that there are no easy solutions here, we believe that it is vital to look at the whole issue in the round and carry out a thorough investigation of the facts. The review we propose will be an objective and thoughtful analysis of the relevant issues around the tolls. We will look seriously and carefully at all the options with an open mind and give the communities affected by the issue a fair hearing.”

Andrew adds, “If elected, the Conservatives will be the first Government in the history of the bridge to commit to a full treasury led review of the tolls and the bridge debt. The involvement of the treasury is vital as that is where the debt is held and only with their involvement will anything be done about the underlying debt issue. Unlike the  recent short term announcements, which are more about the forthcoming election, this announcement goes much further by offering us the possibility of real long term solutions to the toll issue. ”

Prospective MP, Andrew Percy, recently met with representatives of Network Rail and British Waterways to discuss their involvement in helping to find a solution to the Keadby wind farm traffic problem. Andrew handed over 150 letters to Network Rail from local residents asking for their involvement and assistance.

Andrew Percy said: “I was delighted to be able to meet with senior representatives of both these organisations to explain to them in detail the exact nature of the problem and the strength of local feeling on this important matter. I explained to both organisations that it was important that everything possible was done to ensure that Swinefleet, Ealand, Eastoft and Luddington could spared from the horror of thousands of construction vehicles.

"In my meeting with the representatives of Network Rail, I handed over 150 letters from residents asking for their involvement. Since the meeting, I have received many more letters and the total now stands at over 220. Colette Fowler (pictured receiving the surveys) from Network Rail informed me that she had been asked to bring together a report on this issue and she informed me that the letters were very useful in demonstrating the strength of feeling locally.

"I also met with British Waterways whose involvement could be key. I was keen to express my belief that as much use as possible should be made of the canal for bringing in construction materials. This is a view which was expressed to me by many residents at the exhibitions held in Eastoft and Ealand a couple of weeks ago. I was informed that RES and British Waterways are looking into this option and I hope that it can be achieved.

"The various organisations involved in this issue will meet at a round table event in November to discuss this issue further. Myself and Cllr Caroline Fox have asked Ian Cawsey MP, who is hosting the event, for an invite to the meeting but despite waiting nearly a month we have received no communication from him.

"We all need to work together on this issue which is why I contacted Mr Cawsey before my meetings with Network Rail and British Waterways to ask if there is anything he wanted me to raise. The fact that we have not even received the courtesy of an acknowledgment suggests an unwillingness to work cross-party. I really hope Labour are not trying to act politically on this important issue."