Helen Jones

Helen in Warrington

Helen was delighted to join staff and students at Culcheth High School recently to perform the ‘Topping Out’ ceremony, which completes the first stage of the re-building project. Helen is pictured above on the roof of the new school building and with Culcheth High headteacher Martyn Froggatt.

Helen Jones MP oficially opens the new wind turbine at the North West Regional Development Agency with Chief Executive Steven Broomhead.

Helen with ward councillors Mike Hannon, Kate Hannon and Terry Whelan at Orford Park.

Helen Jones MP has welcomed the announcement that the £28 million Orford Park Project is to go ahead. Helen, who led a delegation to meet the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to gain government support for the project, said:

"This development represents a huge government investment in Warrington North. It will provide new health facilities, a new school and a sports village. Together with the private sector money which has been brought in as a result, this will transform the area."

Helen said she was now approaching the local council and NHS Warrington to ensure that firms building the project used local labour and provided apprenticeships for young people in the area.

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WORKING IN WARRINGTON NORTH

During the past few years, Helen has continued to meet with constituents at various events and through the numerous types of surgeries she holds. She aims to visit every school in the constituency at least once during this Parliament, as she did in the last. Residents’ Associations, local community and voluntary groups and businesses also receive regular visits. Her mobile surgeries- held most weeks- in which she visits around a hundred homes to talk to constituents, are proving very popular.

When Parliament is in session, Helen, who lives in this constituency with her family, is in Warrington from Friday to Sunday. During Parliamentary recess, she works all week in Warrington North from her fully staffed constituency office in Bewsey Street.

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TACKLING CRIME AND ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

Results of a local survey which Helen conducted in the constituency showed that your concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour remain a top priority.

The government are trying to tackle many of these problems by giving communities the tools they need to encourage good behaviour and punish bad behaviour. New powers have been introduced but, as Helen said during the Queen’s Speech Debate, the borough council and housing authorities have to use them effectively. Anti-Social Behaviour Orders can help communities terrorised by threatening behaviour, graffiti, vandalism or disruptive neighbours. Tough powers to close drug dens and disperse gangs of youths are now available and councils should now ensure they clean graffiti and deal promptly with tenants who make lives miserable for their neighbours. Helen will be pressing the local council and housing associations to use the powers they have been given to tackle anti-social behaviour.

The Respect Action Plan has been launched by the Government to make sure law-abiding, decent people don’t have to tolerate the bad behaviour of the few individuals and families who think the rules don’t apply to them. The Respect Action Plan sets out ways in which bad behaviour can be tackled, by focusing on problem families, tackling the lack of appropriate youth provision and dealing with disrespect and anti-social behaviour everywhere that it occurs. New measures include:

• increased use of Fixed Penalty Notices which give police, community safety and council officers the chance to fine people on the spot for littering or drunken behaviour;
• Parenting Orders for parents who persistently fail to give their children the guidance they need.

If you know of a problem area or are experiencing anti-social behaviour yourself please let Helen know.

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SANDY LANE CHILDREN'S CENTRE

Helen was delighted to welcome Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls to Warrington North recently, where she introduced him to staff and children at the new Sandy Lane Children's Centre. Helen is pictured above with Ed Balls and Chair of Governors at Sandy Lane, Maureen Banner.