Welfare reform

Angie has written her latest article for the Ealing Gazette on the welfare reforms currently making their way through Parliament. You can read her article by clicking here.

Campaigning in Feltham and Heston

Angie paid a couple of visits to Feltham and Heston with other Ealing and Acton volunteers (pictured left with Matthew Salter). They were swiftly put to work delivering leaflets and pledge letters, and they managed to miss all the horrible weather!

Angie said "It's always good to get out and about and Mark Bowen has been a great candidate. It's unfortunate we didn't get over the line, but this was always going to be a difficult seat for us to win and we fought a good campaign."

Opening a new Vetinary Surgery

Angie was delighted to be invited to open the larger and refurbished Vetinary Surgery at Bedford Corner (pictured with lead vet Catherine Williams and owner, Cllr Anthony Young). As the proud owner of two dogs, Poppy and Phoebe, she knows well the importance of having a good vet round the corner.

Angie chairs debate on Academies and Free Schools – force for good or not?

Angie was invited to chair a major seminar on the impact of Free Schools and Academies on state education across the country. Amongst those taking part on the panel was Thomas Packer, Headmaster of the West London Free School. The contributions from the panellists and from the floor varied in their opinions, but were lively and well argued. The Westminster Education Forum is a long established organisation, and Angie has subsequently been invited to become a patron.

After the event, Angie said "It was a fascinating morning discussing hugely important issues for this country. I remain an enthusiastic supporter of the changes the Education Secretary Michael Gove is making, and the choices he is opening up for parents and their children by offering a wider range of schools. However, it is always good to hear alternative views, particularly when they come from such distinguished people with great experience."

Diwali

Angie organised a reception in the House of Commons for members of Ealing's Hindu community to celebrate Diwali.A large crowd joined her and representatives from the National Council of Hindu Temples UK for speeches and a discussion on the importance of marking the occasion.

Riot follow up - meeting the Association of British Insurers

As the inquest into last summer's riots continues, Angie has been taking up the problems faced by a number of local Ealing residents and businesses with their insurance companies. Swift promises were made to help get the local residents and businesses caught up and affected by the violence back on their feet again, but one of the big complaints to emerge is that some insurers have been slow in paying out on claims, causing all manner of problems for the small local businesses in particular need of our support.

Angie raised this issue at a recent meeting in the House of Commons with Nick Starling, Director of General Insurance at the Association of British Insurers. He conceded that some factors have complicated the processing of claims from the riots, but did say that overall the industry has responded quickly and effectively to help customers.

Afterwards, Angie said "It was a productive meeting and I'm encouraged that Mr Starling has agreed to look into the specific cases I raised with him. It's not right that innocent members of the public and our upstanding local business-people who unfortunately got caught up in all this should still be suffering – least of all that they are unable to access the compensation they are entitled to."

Ealing Cinema

Last week brought the fantastic news that work is set to start on the new cinema we've been promised in Ealing. After lots of hard work and a few false dawns, work will finally get underway at the site at the turn of the year.

On hearing the news, Angie said "This is great to hear and is very welcome news. As I've said time and again, Ealing really is a bit lost without its cinema. The team from Empire have exciting plans to make the new cinema one of the very best around, and it will deliver a much-needed boost to our town centre – I'm looking forward to seeing the progress early next year."

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home - Staffies Campaign

Angie is lending her support to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home's campaign to tackle public misconceptions surrounding Staffordshire Bull Terriers. The leading animal charity took in 2,470 stray and unwanted Staffies last year, and like rescue organisations and local authorities across the UK it is struggling to deal with the sheer number of Staffies needing its help.

Staffies have become stigmatised by a minority of irresponsible owners who have used the dog as a status symbol or a weapon. However Battersea is keen to prove that in the right hands, they are loyal and loving pets.

Angie said, "It's awful that Staffies have been branded with such a bad reputation through no fault of their own. Irresponsible breeders have given this breed a bad name and now local authorities and charities like Battersea are struggling to deal with the consequences. I hope that I can help people in my constituency to see that Staffies are softer than they may think."

Remembrance Sunday

Angie joined councillors and dignatories at the traditional Remembrance Sunday service outside Pitzhanger Manor on Ealing Green.

She was joined by Dr Charles Tannock MEP in laying a wreath in memory of the fallen.

Let's keep recycling free and weekly

From April 2012, Ealing's Labour Council intends to charge residents £40 a year to have our garden waste collected. The frequency of this collection will also be reduced to fortnightly.

In addition to these changes, the white sacks currently used for plastic recycling, will also be withdrawn and plastic will be collected in green boxes with a "hair net" cover.

Also written into the new contract is the option to reduce collection of both waste and recycling to fortnightly.

Angie is supporting her local Ealing Conservative colleagues, who do not believe that these changes will benefit residents and will lead to increased fly tipping and our recycling rates going down, thereby increasing landfill.

Under the previous Conservative Council, when the decision was taken to stop charging to recycle garden waste, our recycling rate more than doubled, thereby confirming that most people will recycle, providing it is free and convenient to do so.

As you can see from the picture, Angie has been talking to staff at her local recycling centre about the petition which has been organised and is to be presented to Full Council, asking for our waste and recycling service to remain free and weekly. You can sign the petition by clicking here.