18/06/10 - Swindon Advertiser Weekly Article

It’s been a busy week in Westminster.  I’m using every available opportunity to question ministers on behalf of local residents.  Some of the issues have been raised specifically by constituents, while others I’m taking the lead on because I believe we need to tackle them.  A good example is the bullying of children on social networking sites.  This is a growing problem.  You may have heard the news this week that a new study shows a worryingly high proportion of teenage suicides have been linked directly to bullying.  The problem is that schools have no control.  Gone are the days when bullying in the playground could be spotted by teachers and dealt with swiftly in the headmaster’s office. This new e-bullying, as it’s being called, takes place in a way that adults cannot control and from which children feel they have no escape.  I’ve pressed for action to force the websites to introduce far greater safeguards to protect our young people.

I’m also pushing for urgent changes to the way we cast our votes at election time.  I’m a big believer in ‘advanced voting’, and have requested ministers to look at reintroducing internet and telephone voting to help ease the queues on election days.  In North Swindon we saw this all too clearly on 6 May – something which I’ve been talking to the Returning Officer in Swindon about.  Also, when planning the size and location of polling stations, we should be considering not only the number of electors, but also the demographics of the area.  Particular problems were experienced in areas with high numbers of working residents, where everyone wanted to vote on their way home.  The queues that formed at 5pm didn’t subside all evening.  I’ve asked ministers to look into all the options to ensure as many people as possible can cast their votes with minimum inconvenience.

I’ve been very concerned that financial problems now threaten the Highworth Rec.  One of my last actions as a councillor was to seek assurances that Swindon Borough Council’s Leisure Team would do all it could to support the facility. The Team, supported by senior councillors, are analysing the finances to see if costs can be reduced and additional income generated.  I have had a meeting with the Leisure Team to explore all the solutions and to put forward suggestions, not only for solving the immediate problems but also for finding a viable long-term solution. All the options will be considered in a forthcoming Council paper.   I’ll do everything I can to ensure that the future of this wonderful local facility is secured for the whole Highworth community.