Views sought on Mundesley road safety

Trevor Ivory, North Norfolk’s Conservative Candidate, is seeking views on whether the speed limit on a main

Trevor Ivory with Mundesley’s District Councillors, Barry Smith and Wyndham Northam

road through Mundesley should be reduced.

Local people have contacted Mr Ivory concerned about speeding on the Cromer Road through the village and have said that they would like to see the 20mph zone at the east of the village extended further west.

“Local people have pointed out that there are no pavements outside some houses on Cromer Road, which is a busy road – especially in the tourist season,” Trevor Ivory explained.

“I am happy to take the matter up with the Highway Department but first I have written to the Parish Council asking for its views.  I am also sending a survey to every house in the village to find out what residents think.

“I want to hear form as many people as possible, including people who use the road regularly but who might not live in the village.  Anyone who wants to take part in the survey can do so here.  Speeding is a big problem in rural areas but the solution is not always easy – is the answer a reduced speed limit or is it better enforcement of the current limit?”

Mr Ivory will share the results of the consultation with the Highways Department and push for action if that is what local people want.

Make sure your views are heard - take the survey today.

Conservative plans to protect children will be widely welcomed

David Cameron and Trevor Ivory are committed to strengthen families in order to build a more responsible society.

David Cameron’s announcement of measures that a future Conservative Government will take to protect children from what Mr Cameron described as, “premature sexualisation and excessive commercialisation,” will be widely welcomed in Norfolk, according to North Norfolk’s Conservative Candidate, Trevor Ivory.

The measures include restrictions on the use on children of manipulative marketing techniques and a strengthened regulatory regime.  Mr Cameron also said that irresponsible companies who flout the new rules would be banned from securing lucrative government contracts.

Welcoming the news, Trevor Ivory said, “Family breakdown is a major cause of broken Britain.  Children in this country grow up surrounded by images of sex and it is no coincidence that we have one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in Europe.  We cannot go on like this and we have to do more to protect our children from inappropriate exposure to sexual influences.

“The economic bust which followed Gordon Brown’s unsustainable credit-fuelled spending boom has shown that we also need to become less materialistic and to relearn the lesson that we can only spend what we first earn and save.  Excessive and often manipulative advertising aimed directly at children is one of the causes of the culture of spending that has built-up in recent years, with hard-pressed parents finding themselves under pressure to make sure that their children have the latest toys, clothes and electrical goods.  If we are serious about changing our spend, spend, spend culture, we need to start with the youngest and most impressionable members of our society and that means protecting children from the worst excesses of commercialisation.

“Stronger families are at the heart of creating a more responsible society and this announcement is yet another example of how a Conservative Government will deliver the change we need to strengthen families.”

Find out more at conservatives.com.

Ivory renews call for Government to do more to help businesses

Trevor Ivory, North Norfolk’s Conservative Candidate, has repeated his call for Gordon Brown to adopt Conservative plans to help small businesses by using Government guarantees to get credit flowing to them again.

As the latest figures from the Institute of Directors show that two thirds of businesses were refused a loan by banks last year, Trevor Ivory has said that this shows that the Government must do more to help business to get access to the finance that they need to stay afloat.  As unemployment continues to rise towards three million people, Mr Ivory stressed that supporting businesses was the only way to protect jobs.

Trevor Ivory said, “Whilst the Government has poured hundreds of billions of pounds into the banking system, it has refused to support the rest of the economy in the same way.  Conservatives would use Government guarantees to create more diverse sources of affordable credit for businesses, building on our proposals at the beginning of the recession for a big, bold and simple National Loan Guarantee Scheme.  Such proposals would make a real difference to businesses across Norfolk and the rest of the country who are being strangled by the banks.

“Helping good businesses to survive this recession is the best way that we could have avoided the massive increase in unemployment that we have seen.  But Gordon Brown has seemed intent on pouring money into the public sector and the banks to the detriment of the only part of the economy that creates sustainable jobs and generates wealth for the country – businesses.

“It is not too late for the Government to act and I urge the Prime Minister and the Chancellor to take another look at our plans.”

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Government accused of playing politics with Norfolk’s future

Trevor Ivory, North Norfolk’s Conservative Candidate, has delivered a withering attack on the Government over its announcement of the creation of a unitary council for Norwich.

The controversial decision flies in the face of the views of all of the councils in Norfolk except Norwich itself and is opposed by the majority of the County’s residents.  It was also rejected by the Government’s own independent advisers.

Commenting on the news Mr Ivory said, “This is a simply outrageous announcement from a Government who I thought I could no longer be shocked by.  Having wasted time on Tuesday fiddling with the voting system in an attempt to curry favour with supporters of proportional representation, Gordon Brown is today looking to kick Norfolk people in the teeth simply to do his Labour cronies at City Hall a favour.

“The unitary debate has been running for years, has cost taxpayers huge sums of money and yet, despite several attempts at rewriting the rules, the Government has been unable to get its own independent advisers to back a unitary council for Norwich so now it is going to simply go ahead regardless.  What exactly was the point of the endless consultation that we have been subjected to all this time?  Even after rewriting their own rules the Government could not get the Norwich proposals to work, but now we are going to be left as local taxpayers to pick up the tab for a reorganisation that we do not want.

“The Government’s behaviour is simply disgraceful, as well as being cynical and entirely self-serving.  Whilst Norfolk is crying out for the Government to tackle the huge problems we face in our economy, our NHS and with our transport system, the Government is focusing its efforts on political stunts.  We simply cannot go on like this.”

Mr Ivory said that he hoped Norfolk’s councils would seriously consider a judicial review of the Government’s decision and he also reminded local people that the Conservatives were already committed to repealing any legislation that Labour forces through before the election if they win that election, which is now only weeks away.

Ivory: “Everyone must be able to participate in the General Election”

Trevor has long championed better facilities for disabled people, including securing a promise from First Bus to stop using coaches on the Norwich -Stalham route so that disabled people could use the service.

North Norfolk’s Conservative Candidate has backed a national campaign to make sure that polling stations are accessible to disabled people when the time comes to vote in this year’s General Election.

According to the national charity, Scope, 68% of polling stations had at least one serious access barrier that could have prevented disabled people from voting.  Mr Ivory said that he was shocked that the figure was so high and has sought assurances that polling stations in North Norfolk will be accessible to voters with disabilities.

“68% of polling stations is simply too many and I am sure that much more could be done, with relatively little effort, to improve on the figure this time around,” Mr Ivory commented.

“I want to find out how bad the situation was locally last time and also make sure that disabled people have full access to polling stations at this General Election, whenever it comes.  Whilst postal voting is a good idea for many people, disabled people should have the same right to cast their vote in person as everyone else if they want to,” he added.

Mr Ivory has written to the Council seeking assurances that disabled access will be provided in as many polling stations as possible, with proper alternatives where this cannot be achieved.

Let’s have superfast broadband – without an unfair phone tax

Trevor Ivory has welcomed Conservative plans to bring high speed broadband to North Norfolk by 2017.

Trevor Ivory has welcomed new Conservative plans to deliver the roll out of superfast broadband at speeds of up to 100 Mbps across North Norfolk by 2017.  This stands in stark contrast to the Government’s new £7 per year ‘phone tax’ on every telephone line.

Gordon Brown’s Government wants to impose a new tax which will be levied on every fixed telephone line in all homes and businesses across the country.  Homes with multiple lines might pay multiple times.  The tax would be levied on homes – even those without broadband access.

Conservatives have unveiled alternative proposals to increase competition and introduce superfast broadband across the United Kingdom, including rural areas.  The action plan includes measures to break BT’s monopoly on the so called “local loop” as well as plans to use sewers and other utility infrastructure to lay broadband cables.  At the same time, all new housing will have to be built with access to superfast broadband and from 2012 the money currently being spent on the switch to digital TV will be used to roll-out a superfast broadband network all over the UK, including to rural areas like North Norfolk.

Mr Ivory, who will fight North Norfolk for the Conservatives at the General Election, said, “North Norfolk’s homes and businesses deserve access to the latest 21^st Century technology.  It’s time to end the digital divide and deliver superfast broadband to all parts of the country, including rural areas.  Conservatives will open up the BT monopoly and increase competition, while Labour just want to hit homes with an unfair new phone tax.  There is nothing that Gordon Brown won’t tax, which is why it’s time for change.

“Rural areas have suffered greatly under Labour in many ways, but the lack of access to high speed broadband is one of the best examples as it is a real threat to our local economy and jobs.  Increasingly, high speed broadband is as important to a business as access to electricity and water and if they cannot get it locally they simply will not locate here.  Local businesses also find themselves at a competitive disadvantage if they chose to remain here.  At a time when we desperately need more jobs in North Norfolk, the lack of investment in high speed broadband is a serious mistake by Gordon Brown.”

Find out more at www.conservatives.com.

Ivory slams Council Tax anguish

Trevor Ivory is concerned that too many families are facing soaring bills at a time of financial pressure.

Labour’s Council Tax hikes are putting Norfolk’s families under huge pressure as they are forced to tighten their belts.

The man who will fight North Norfolk for the Conservatives at the General Election, Trevor Ivory, has expressed anger at new figures that reveal the soaring use of court orders and bailiffs to collect council tax.  Council tax bills have more than doubled across the country under Labour.  In North Norfolk, bills have risen by 138% since 1997, thanks to Gordon Brown.

New statistics show that 1.4 million households had bailiffs knocking at their door for unpaid council tax last year – up nearly 70 per cent since 1997. Another 1,517 people were made bankrupt by the courts for their council tax debts. In North Norfolk alone, the bailiffs were called in on 1,480 people who had not paid their Council Tax.  The latest official figures also reveal that that a record 3.1 million households nationally are now in severe council tax difficulties and face liability orders for unpaid council tax. Liability orders allow councils to seize money from wage packets and benefits or commence bailiff proceedings.

Trevor Ivory said, “Thanks to Gordon Brown doubling council tax bills, a record number of families in North Norfolk and across the country are struggling to make ends meet.  More people now face the threat of menacing bailiffs knocking at their door.  This is a crisis of Labour’s own making and at a time when people are already feeling financial pressure.

“Labour Ministers have blocked a council tax freeze for England, whilst one has been introduced in Scotland.  This shows how out of touch Gordon Brown is with the plight of hard-working families and pensioners.  A Conservative Government will make sure that local councils can freeze council tax for at least two years, bringing real help to low and middle income families. ”

Ivory: Put the law back on the side of local people

Trevor Ivory has long supported local people's calls for a tough approach to crime and anti-social behaviour. Last year he arranged for the Shadow Home Secretary to visit Briston to discuss local people's concerns with police.

Blueprint to tackle crime in North Norfolk is welcomed, as figures reveal that 805 violent attacks took place in the area last year

Trevor Ivory, Conservative Candidate for North Norfolk, has strongly endorsed radical and bold new plans to tackle crime and to restore confidence in Britain’s ‘broken’ criminal justice system.

The importance of the Conservative plans is underlined by new figures showing that there were 805 violent attacks on people across North Norfolk last year, a rise of 48% per cent in a decade.  The Conservatives have published their crime manifesto, which includes proposals to give people greater protection if they have to defend themselves against intruders in their homes or if they stop a crime being committed in the street.  The plans also include measures to create fifteen new rape crisis centres across the country and give all existing rape crisis centres stable, long-term funding.

Mr Ivory said that local people would particularly welcome new powers for councils to fight booze-fuelled antisocial behaviour and to clampdown on supermarkets selling alcohol at below cost-price, which is destroying law-abiding local pubs and fuelling low-level crime.

The Conservative Candidate told a meeting of concerned local people that part of the solution to the problems of Broken Britain is to make the police accountable to local communities and highlighted plans to replace the invisible and unaccountable Norfolk Police Authority with a directly elected person who will set priorities for local policing.

Speaking in Northrepps last night Mr Ivory said, “Labour have launched endless initiatives and top-down schemes which have made little difference to criminals.  Their broken promises have undermined people’s trust.  We can’t go on with the police filling in forms instead of fighting crime.”

“Our hard-working police officers do a great job, but people are frustrated with the criminal justice system.  They feel that it’s just not on their side anymore. These major Conservative proposals will help put the law back on the side of local people and give our police the full support they so richly deserve.”

To see the draft manifesto, click here.

A ray of light for Norfolk’s future?

Whilst the Government is hellbent on pushing through a unitary council for Norfolk despite most local people opposing the idea, our Shadow Local Government Minister, Bob Neil, could hardly have been clearer than this.

Let’s hope that Labour now act decently and at least wait until after the election before pressing ahead with these unpopular plans.

Conservatives will deliver a new “age of agriculture”

North Norfolk’s farmers welcome new Conservative plans to tackle the power of supermarkets

Local farmers have welcomed Conservative plans for a Supermarket Ombudsman

North Norfolk’s farmers have welcomed a major speech on the future of farming by the Conservative Shadow Environment Secretary, Nick Herbert.  Addressing the Oxford Farming Conference, Mr Herbert promised action on food security and recognised the need to increase domestic food production as global demand threatens foreign supplies.

Mr Herbert promised that a Conservative Government would do more to support British farmers, including legislating to ensure honest food labelling.  He also announced that a Conservative Government will create a Supermarket Ombudsman to prevent supermarkets abusing their market dominance to the detriment of British farmers and consumers.

Announcing the new body, Mr Herbert said, “We will introduce an Ombudsman to curb abuses of power which undermine our farmers and act against the long-term interest of consumers.  As the Competition Commission has made clear, failure to do so could result in reduced investment by suppliers, lower product quality and less product choice, with potentially higher prices in the long run.  It is time to act.”

Trevor Ivory, the man who will fight North Norfolk for the Conservatives at the General Election, welcomed the announcement saying, “Local farmers are fed up with being treated as second class citizens by the Government.  Farming is not just one of North Norfolk’s most important industries, it is one of the biggest industries in the country, so why does the Government go out of its way to undermine farmers and their businesses?”

“Nick’s speech showed that the Conservatives understand the importance of domestic food production and the challenges faced by farmers.  Many of North Norfolk’s farmers have already told me what a good idea the Supermarket Ombudsman is.  They are tired of supermarkets forcing them to accept retrospective discounts and other unfair practices that can threaten the very survival of a farm.  An Ombudsman will be able to take action to stop these unfair practices.”