Councillor Michael Wyatt has today called on the District Council to seriously look at his proposal of employing litter enforcement officers to dish out fines to people who cannot be bothered to bin their litter.

Councillor Michael Wyatt has been pushing for litter wardens for the past few weeks due to the ever-increasing problem of litter piling up in our streets in Coalville, which is giving a bad impression to people who visit the area.

Councillor Wyatt said, “Local people are sick and tired of seeing our streets littered with waste. Where ever you go there’s litter in our hedges, roads, footpaths and our flowerbeds. It’s disgusting; It’s nothing but a disgrace. We need to start fining people who cannot be bothered to put their waste in a bin.

Educating people is clearly not working. The only way to educate people who drop their waste is to hit them in their pocket by giving them a fine. How can we encourage people to take pride in our area when clearly the Tory Bosses at the Council are not taking the matter of litter in our streets seriously? We need positive action to tackle this problem. By employing litter wardens we will be sending a very strong message that enough is enough.”

Cllr Michael Wyatt is continuing to highlight the concerns of local residents on Bardon Road and the surrounding area to Officers of the Highway Forum, urging action to be taken to help alleviate the growing traffic and pollution concerns along Bardon Road. Michael had asked the Offiicers to push for the construction of the Bardon By-Pass sooner rather than later. Michael said, “I will continue to highlight the need for the By-Pass to be construction. Residents have had to live with the increased traffic and pollution problems for far to long. Action is now needed or the health of local people will be affected.”

Cllr Michael Wyatt has today started a consultation exercise to see if the public back his call for litter enforcement officers for North West Leicestershire.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Michael Wyatt said, “Many residents are angry that the Tories Bosses on the Council are failing to tackle the growing problem of litter being dropped in our streets. I believe that the Council need to employ litter enforcement officers to help promote the need for litter louts to take a more responsible attitude. Litter in our streets, hedges, green spaces and play area’s in unacceptable and needs to be tackled.”

Michael Wyatt and his colleagues Julie and Dominic want to know your views on this issue. Please send your comments to northwestleicslibdems@hotmail.com

Cllr Michael Wyatt has today highlighted in the local press a case where a council tenant is living in extremely poor conditions, with mould on the walls and water dripping through the ceiling. Michael has been contacted by several more tenants today asking for his help.

Cllr Michael Wyatt said, “I am totally disgusted by what’s happening. It’s 2010, these sort of things should not be happening in this day and age. The Tories should be ashamed. Clearly they do not understand what is means by providing a quality service. Im sure there will be many more cases, which will come to light. Please let me know if you or you know someone who is suffering from Tory Housing neglect.”

If you know someone or you live in a council property where the Tory Council have provided a sub standard service then contact Michael on 07773341531 or you can e-mail him at: mikewyatt1@hotmail.co.uk

Staff at Alison’s Cafe on the High Street in Coalville have decided to hold a coffee morning, supporting the Macmillan Cancer Appeal from 9am Friday 25th September. Large Coffee or Tea with a slice of Cake only £2. Everyone welcome.

Every care home run by County Hall could be sold off in a bid to save money.

Leicestershire County Council said nothing could be ruled out after a consortium pulled out of plans to buy six of its 10 homes last month. The county council wanted to transfer those homes to the private sector to save £650,000 a year in running costs. The proposal included the promise of up to four new large sheltered housing projects, known as extra care schemes, in the county.

Around 200 people use or live in the 10 homes which are spread across Leicestershire’s districts.

County Councillor Michael Wyatt said, “Once again the future of Tillson House in Coalville may be under threat. It’s nothing but a disgrace. The Tories have once again shown they inability to get their act together. All they have done is created undue stress for many families who use the current service.”

Councillor Michael Wyatt will report back when more information is available.

Cllr Michael Wyatt will be having a meeting with Highway Officers at County Hall on Wednesday to discuss how they can progress with the construction of the Bardon By-pass. Michael is keen to start pushing hard to have the Bardon By-pass constructed before the thousands of additional houses are built in the local area.

Cllr Michael Wyatt said, “I promised the local residents of Bardon that I will be doing my upmost to push for the construction of the By-pass as soon as possible. If there was ever a need for the By-pass its now. The ever increasing traffic flow on Bardon Road is making it impossible for many to cross the road at peak time, and the ever increasing vehicle fumes from the traffic using the road is now becoming a major health issue. On Wednesday I will be making sure the Officers understand once and for all that only the construction of the By-pass is what the people of Bardon want and deserve.”

Cllr Michael Wyatt has successfully finalised putting together a number of environmental projects with the support of Bardon Aggregates the District Council, local charity groups, and local residents.

The first project will be started within the next few weeks, which will see a massive improvement to the Greenhill ward. Michael has managed to put together a two year rolling programme of environmental initiatives with his colleagues Cllr Julie Roberts and Cllr Dominic McGill.

Michael commenting said, “One of our key election pledges two years ago to the people of the Greenhill ward was to work hard to improve the area in which we live. We have managed to put together another set of projects, which will affect all areas within the Greenhill ward. Over the next few weeks we will be consulting local residents on our plans for the area. Hopefully this year we will finally start to see a real improvement to the area. Already we have showed that by working in partnership many things can be achieved to improve the local area. You only have to look at the new footpath across Cropston Drive, or the new play area off Blackbrook Court to see the difference we have made locally.”

If you would like to get involved or would like more information about the forthcoming environmental projects being put forward then send Michael an e-mail asking for more information to: mikewyatt1@hotmail.co.uk

Cllr Julie Roberts has asked the council to plant trees around the boundary of the Greenhill Playing Field after a request from local residents for more trees in the area to help off set their local carbon footprint.

Cllr Roberts said, “The idea of planting more trees is to make the area greener, and help towards cutting our carbon footprint. We have many areas, which we can utilies to help improve our environment. The Greenhill Playing Field project will hopefully be started this Autumn with the help of local school children from Broom Leys.”

Another Environmental project from your Lib Dem Team to help improve the area after years of Labour neglect.

At last nights communities scrutiny meeting Cllr Michael Wyatt expressed his concerns to the Police Inspector over drug and alcohol related problems within the area.

Cllr Wyatt said, “Im very concerned at the lack of action being taken to tackle the selling and taking of drugs in the area. It seems to be on the increase and needs urgent attention. Im hopeful the Inspector listened to my concerns, and will take my comments back for consideration.”

Cllr Wyatt also expressed his support for further alcohol drinking bans, which the committee was informed will be coming into force this summer.

North West Leicestershire District Council has accepted a report from its Environmental Scrutiny Committee to extend, improve and further promote the recycling services it offers residents, communities and businesses in the District.

The report, accepted by Cabinet at the end of 2008, highlights the need to extend recycling services to include trade waste and for schools not covered by the County Council. It also recommends a trial of street recycling. Kerbside collection of batteries, an extension of the pilot currently taking place in Agar Nook and Greenhill, is also being considered.

Cllr Michael Wyatt, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Greenhill and Chairman of the Recycling working Party who agreed with the recommendations being put forward welcomed the decision by the Cabinet to support the idea’s put forward by the members of the committee.

Cllr Michael Wyatt said, “I am very passionate about recycling, and improving the service that is currently being offered. We need to not only increase our recycling figures but also provide an even better service, which gives even more opportunities for the council to stop the ever increasing amount of rubbish going to landfill.”

 Well Families Clinic will be held at Agar Nook Community Centre, Belgrave Close, Agar Nook, Coalville on Wednesday 28th January from 11am until 1pm.

Organised by North West Leicestershire District Council, this drop-in clinic offers free blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes tests and health, diet and exercise advice. The Council’s Early Years Physical Activity Specialist will be organising activities for children aged two and upwards. Everyone attending will also receive a free pedometer.

More than 30 companies are interested in building a county waste treatment facility, which could include a controversial incinerator. They will now bid for the contract to divert about half Leicestershire’s rubbish away from landfill sites from 2015.

Leicestershire County Council has been courting companies for the past year to encourage them to bid for the contract. It has culminated in a bidders’ event at Loughborough University in October, attended by 48 companies.

A planning application for a site and the technology used will be submitted in April 2011, and, if approved, work would start in April 2012. Land in Bardon, which was bought by the council this year, would be offered to private companies for development. However, waste businesses would also have the choice of using Whetstone tip, or to come up with their own location.

The Conservative Bosses at County Hall found that the best option to reduce the rubbish it buries would be to incinerate it.

Cllr Michael Wyatt said, “The Conservative run County Council needs to realise that the local residents of Bardon DO NOT want a waste treatment site near to them. Any waste treatment site must be well away from residential area’s, and must NOT be an incinerator, which is one option being put forward by the Tory County Council. They need to invest in better recycling, not burn our waste and create toxic waste.”

Many thanks to everyone who has joined our campaign to convince the Tory Bosses to scrap any plans for an incinerator at Bardon. Please click on the link at the side to sign our petition.

Cllr Michael Wyatt took his fight against Tory plans for an incinerator one step further by meeting Simon Hughes MP in the East Midlands today, to talk about the Tory controlled County Council’s proposed incinerator for Bardon.

Simon Hughes said, “It was really nice to speak to someone so passionate about campaigning with local people to stop any proposal for an incinerator. What the County Council should be doing is investing in better recycling facilities. Incineration should only be considered as a last resort, until all avenues of recycling have been exhausted. The Conservative controlled council should scrap any plans for an incinerator.”

Cllr Michael Wyatt said, “I’m delighted to see Simon backing our campaign to convince the Conservative controlled County Council that their plans for an incinerator needs to be scrapped. What local people want is better recycling facilities, not an incinerator.”

Please remember there is still time to send back your petition forms, and sign our online petition. See below link.

http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/stopincineratoratbardon

Cllr Michael Wyatt would like to thank everyone who has so far sent back their petition slip calling on the County Council to scrap plans to build an incinerator on the Bardon Industrial Estate, which less is than a mile away.

If you have not already sent you slips back please do not worry. You can still send them directly to Michael Wyatt at 51 Sharpley Avenue Coalville Leics LE67 4DU or you can drop them off at the District Council Offices on Whitwick Road Coalville, where they will be forwarded on.

Cllr Michael Wyatt said, “I am delighted to see so many residents agree with us that the plans for an incinerator at Bardon must be scrapped. The Tory Bosses need to realise that we want better recycling not short cuts to dealing with our waste. Incineration should only be considered as a last resort, and situated in a isolated spot well away from any residential area”.

        Thank you for your support. Please remember there is still time to send back your objections concerning the possibility of an incinerator at Bardon.

The next ‘man’s clinic’ will be on the 10th November from 3pm-6pm. The ‘man’s clinic’ which took place on Monday at St David’s Church Hall was a huge success with some people having to be turned away due to the huge demand for this service. The idea of the ‘man’s clinic’ came from the neighbourhood forum meetings, which take place four times a year.

Cllr Michael Wyatt, pictured having his blood pressure took said, “I was genuinely surprised to see so many men wanting, and using this service. Clearly their is a need for more ‘man clinic’s’. Many of the people who turned up told us that their local doctor’s surgery did not provide such basic testing facilities like blood pressure and cholesterol checking.

The Conservative controlled Leicestershire County Council is planning to build an incinerator at the Bardon Industrial estate - just a couple of miles from our homes.Conservative plans will mean a constant stream of waste from all over Leicestershire being brought for burning right on our doorsteps. Not only will this cause pollution in and around our area but also increased traffic along already busy roads as the lorries drop off the rubbish.

The Conservative County Council’s stated aim is that over half of the county’s waste should be incinerated by 2015. You can help by joining our campaign today. Click on the below link and sign our petition, so we can send a strong message to the Tory Bosses that we do not want to be the dumping ground of Britain.

http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/stopincineratoratbardon

Cllr Michael Wyatt has been working very hard to secure a site for alloments in the Greenhill Ward. Many local residents have approached Michael to see if he can help. At the moment many alloment sites in the area are fully booked and have a long waiting list. Michael decided take up this challenge due to his very own green fingers, and his passion for growing his own vegetables.

Michael is today asking all local residents who are interested in taking on an allotment plot locally to send him their details so he can see if their is enough support for his idea.

If you live in the Greenhill Ward and would like an allotment in the local area please contact Michael on 07773341531 or send an e-mail to mikewyatt1@hotmail.co.uk to register your interest.

The District Council are holding a ‘well man’s clinic’ for the Greenhill and Agar Nook area on the 13th October from 3pm until 6pm. No appointment needed. The clinic will take place at St David’s Church Hall, Broom Leys Road Coalville. This clinic is open to any ‘male local residents’ in the Greenhill Ward.

The clinic is to help provide valuable information for people who are concerned about their health. there will be a free health assessment advice, diet and healthy eating advice, smoking cessation advice, blood pressure and cholesterol checks and exercise advice.

At the man’s clinic all visitors will receive a free pedometer.

For more information on this ‘man’s clinic’ please contact Julie Summerton on 01530 454541 or e-mail: julie.summerton@nwleicestershire.gov.uk

Your Local Lib Dem Councillors have received a number of complaints concerning odour problems of tar coming from the workings at Bardon Quarry. We can now report the following statement from Bardon Quarry: 

“Regarding the Odour complaint, our Asphalt Plant Manager has confirmed that the mechanism which injects an odour neutraliser into the production process has been intermittently malfunctioning. It is anticipated that a full repair will be effected this afternoon. In addition to the repair, we have also ordered a second piece of equipment to run alongside as a back-up. Such that should one fail, the second unit will automatically cut in.”

We would like to thank all the local residents who made us aware of this problem. We would also like to remind you that Cllr Michael Wyatt is a member of the Bardon Quarry liaision committee, so any complaints will be passed on directly to the Quarry for immediate investigation.