James Wharton

Tonight I attended a meeting of the Oxbridge Residents Association.  It was well attended with wide ranging discussion about local issues.  It is great to see a group of local residents who really do care about their area and who are working so hard to improve their community.

It is sad that the Labour MP did not support the vote in Parliament, which would have saved their local Post Office in Oxbridge Lane, she really has let so many people down.

Tonight I had coffee with one of the independent councillors at Tall Trees Hotel in Yarm to discuss issues across the area.  It was a useful meeting and it happened that there was a dinner to raise funds for a struggling Stockton South and Sunderland (Houghton-le-Spring) based organisation going on at the same time.  We enjoyed the opportunity to talk to some of those attending and seeing who was supporting their efforts. 

This afternoon I visited Ian Ramsey School in Stockton.  I was shown around by June Thomas (Chair of Governors) and Michael Davison (Head Teacher).  I saw the site, some of the lessons which were going on during the tour and then had a meeting with Mr Davison and Mrs Thomas about Stockton Council’s Building Schools for the Future proposals.  It is clear that the plan to move Ian Ramsey School is not in the best interests of the children or community and, having seen first hand the atmosphere at the school, I will be doing what I can to help prevent Ian Ramsey being moved from its current site.

The Northern Echo have today printed a letter which I sent in about planning issues:

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/letters/display.var.2139740.0.planning_pledge.php

My old school in Yarm has decided not to press ahead with its plans to move to a new site.   This will be great news for many local residents who objected to the plans but I do understand that it must be upsetting for the staff and governors who had put so much time and effort into the project.  I am sure the school will now look to invest in its future in other ways and will continue to be a beacon of academic excellent in this part of the North East.

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.2137941.0.
school_abandons_plan_to_move_site_out_of_town.php