Cllr Geoff Heathcock

Geoff in his role as Chairman of the Queen Edith’s Community Forum has announced that there will be a Community Christmas Tree event in Wulfstan Way on the evening of December 14th with the assistance of both the City Council Community Development Department, the local Schools and other local organisations, which by its name will centre around the avenue of trees outside the shops - with different activities going on including music and fun. I want this to be a truly inclusive event for the yound and the old who can all join in ahead of the Main Christmas celebrations. More details to follow but get this date in your diary now.

Geoff has been in contact with Highways Officers to express the frustration of local residents at the time it is taking to complete crossing works in the ward - especially outside Netherhall School, arguing that more and more delay to folk on Queen Edith’s Way causes even more back logs to build up and with no traffic lights potential for an accident. Officers have responded that delays have been caused by the discovery of a gas valve in the footpath which had to be dealt with by Transco the gas distributor. It is still anticipated that work will be complete in time for the beginning of the New School Term in early September.

Geoff as a keen Rail enthusiast and rail user and member of Railfuture is arguing that the Annual round of Rail fare increases in January 2011 should exercise some restraint - in order both to help hard pressed users but also in the fight to get more people to shift from road use to rail. If the Government is really “green” and wants to get more rail usage then they need to be sensible in the sort of increase they allow to be brought in.

Rail fare over the last decade have risen considerably more than road costs despite petrol rises - and if we are to see modal shift then there needs to be incentives not continuous significant rises in train travel.

Following his own experience and the representations made to him by local residents off Hills Road - Geoff has made written complaint to Transport bosses at Shire Hall - about the increasing amount of frustration being experienced by longer journey times, more congestion on the Bridge and the nonsensical lack of forward planning which sees parts of Brooklands Avenue closed for the second time in months. Its made all the more annoying by the number of times you travel through this section of the network and there is simply no work being carried out at all, who is monitoring performance to ensure that the disruption is kept to a bare minimum and work completed as soon as possible? It is simply yet another example of everything stopping for the Guided Bus project and to hell with what impact it has on local people and that is simply not acceptable.

Geoff as a keen Rail Supporter and member of Railfuture has welcomed the announcement of a consultation paper by the Government - examining the possibility of giving Rail Franchises in the future a much longer term even up to 15 years which would allow more stability in a particular area - but critically the incentive for a Private Company to really invest in serious developments for service users, better rolling stock, better bargaining power to purchase new trains and put improvements in at stations across the piece.

We are all painfully aware that Central funding for the Rail network is going to be very hard to come by over the next 5 years or so - and if suitable investment can be found in the private sector this could even see rail re-openings on a scale in the UK comparable with the rate of closures in the 60’s. Experience in various parts of the UK including the South West show - that if you put in services which people can and want to use - they will be used at an even greater volume than first thought benefiting everyone with an interest in green sustainable rail travel.

Geoff who recently announced he is likely to stand as a Candidate in 2012 for the elected Police Commissioner for Cambridgeshire - assuming the legislation goes through Parliament has again expressed his anxiety at the amount of time most Police Officers in the County indeed the Country are able to spend actually doing the job for which they were sworn in - keeping the Queen’s Peace and being seen in their Community.

It can be no surprise to hear the latest miserable statistic of 10% - from a report by the HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary which reflects the very tiny amount of time a Police Officer is visable on the streets. You will never drive crime down or give the Public any measure of assurance that they are safe - while the criminal is aware that Officers are so invisable. By 1950 or 1960 standards - we have more Officers that ever and yet in both large towns like Cambridge and Huntingdon nevermind the smaller ones like Ely or March, the ability to actually see an Officer walking the streets and making contact with the Public is as likely as winning the Lottery on a Saturday evening. This has to be reversed with a bonfire of regulations and the ability of an Officer to get out there and use their common sense, their training and their instinct to Police intelligently.

Geoff has received a number of complaints over recent weeks surrounding the cleanliness of both Gunhild and Nightingale Parks due to the persistence of some users to allow their dogs to foul both the grass areas and childrens play area. Can we remind you this is not only expensive to clean up, spreads germs which could be serious for little children and is against the law. Please consider others and ensure when taking the dog for a walk you are suitably prepared to clear away all material. This is after all for the wider good.

Geoff advises residents that their next Jumble Sale which helps pay for the printing costs of FOCUS - will take place on Saturday 4th September, 2pm St James’ Church, Wulfstan Way. If you have clothes, toys, bric a brac(not furniture) which could be sold on the day please let him know on 244901 or bring them on the morning between 10am-12 noon. No books since they usually go to a separate function on another day. Look forward to hearing from you.

Geoff as a former JP in Cambridge and East Cambridgeshire has strongly criticised a system which allows a criminal like Ian Huntley to possibly sue the Prison Service for injuries sustained whilst in Prison and says it sends precisely the wrong message when Public Service funding is under pressure and the victims of crime frequently only ever receive pretty miserable amounts of compensation.

My view is crystal clear - someone like Huntley must never be allowed to profit from such an appalling and misery crime which took two beautiful girls from their families and inflicted such heartache which for them will surely last a life time.

I also have to question the morality of any lawyer who is prepared to represent him in such circumstances and likely take significant sums of money in fees from the Legal Aid fund. 

Geoff as the local County Councillor has expressed his astonishment and frustration at the level of violent attacks on staff in the Hospital during the last three months - which saw 15 such instances. At the recent Area Committee held at Homerton College - he stated his view that such attacks were both unacceptable and should receive severe sentences when they come before the Courts.

Meanwhile he sought assurance that Security systems and staff were doing all they could to deal with the problem and working actively with the Local Police to detect those responsible. The local neighbourhood Police Sgt - Gavin Townsend indicated that he met with the Security Manager each month. Clearly an issue to keep a close eye on over the coming months.