James Wharton

Yesterday the Gazette ran a story about my UKIP opponent here in Stockton South, who has stood down from his post to join the Conservative Party after seeing the work we have been doing for the local community.   At the next election the only way to get Labour out will be to vote Conservative and it is great news that we are now attracting people from across the political spectrum to our team.  This is the second former Parliemantary Candidate to join Stockton Conservatives, Nigel Boddy, a former Lib Dem who stood in Hartlepool in 2001 joined us in late 2007.

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2009/02/26/ukip-man-joins-tories-84229-23011162/

I have been dealing with a number of issues at Sun Gardens, the new development just off the A66 in Thornaby.  Today we made some real progress in resolving the landscaping and land ownership issues which will hopfully improve the local area for residents.

I have also been contacted by a resident of Ingleby Barwick who has a problem with the footpath running behind her house.   People have been congregating there at night and vandalising her fence, as well as dropping littler and even setting light to a council sign.  I have raised the issue with the local police and care for your area so hopefully something can be done.

Students from my old University, Durham came down for the afternoon to help deliver the current edition of intouch.  I was a member of Durham University Conservative Association (DUCA) in my time there and it was great to see that they are still going strong.

The Northern Echo published my letter about the economy and the state of the public finances:

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/search/4147743.Budget_blues/

Today I took a look at the allotments in Thornaby.  The new fence makes the whole site look much more secure and tidy and stakes have now been set out marking plots.  I understand paths etc will be using recycled materials from elsewhere in the town and that it should now only be a matter of weeks before plots are allocated to residents.  This project is extremely positive and a credit to the community groups which have supported it.