Welcome to Broxtowe Enews, brought to you by the Liberal Democrats and edited by David Watts, on behalf of the Lib-Dems in Broxtowe. It seems to have been a quiet week this week for Broxtowe news, so this weeks newsletter is shorter than some.

1. Oxjam 2016
Next Saturday, 15th October, is Oxjam 2016. 15 venues, 12 hours of music, dozens of bands and artists! Oxjam is the UK’s largest music festival, taking place over the whole month of October. It’s made up of hundreds of events happening all around the country, all organised by volunteers. Beeston has been hosting an Oxjam Takeover since 2011, and it has been getting bigger and bigger ever since, becoming an iconic event for our town. Last year, it raised £17,050 for Oxfam, which is more money than any other Oxjam event in the UK. Tickets: £8 early bird from Oxfam Books & Music (58 High Road, NG9 2JP), The Guitar Spot (106 Chilwell Rd, NG9 1ES) and http://www.wegottickets.com/event/372200 (+80p online booking fee) £10 on the day (limited number available). Travel by tram to Beeston Centre with a £2 return event ticket (bring proof of Oxjam ticket purchase for inspection)

2. Liberty Leisure
This week the Conservative administration on Brpxtowe Borough Company formally handed over management responsibility for the councils leisure centres to a private company, Liberty Leisure. The councils press release says “Existing members of the Council’s Leisure Centres and Leisure Card Holders don’t need to worry – they can still enjoy the same services and great discounts but with the added benefits of an exciting programme of improvements over the coming months including new activities and new services. The new company is an innovative approach to providing better value for money for local people, as well as an exciting opportunity to improve health and wellbeing with profits being reinvested directly in to leisure and culture services.

3. HS2 Call
The Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce have called on the chancellor of the Exchequor, Philip Hammond, to make clear his support for the construction of the eastern leg of HS2, including the proposed station in Toton. In a letter jointly submitted with other chambers, they have reminded the Chancellor that the independent report by KPMG estimated that the scheme would be worth £4.2 billion to the economies of the East Midlands and Yorkshire. The previous Chancellor, George Osborne, was very in favour of the scheme but the feelings of the new chancellor are less well known.

4. Anna Soubry on Brexit
On the whole I have been pleasantly surprised by Anna’s outspoken defence of Britain remaining in the European Union, something that we both campaigned for earlier this year. However when she was asked on Sunday on the Robert Peston show on ITV whether she would vote against Article 50 being implemented she said that she did not know. I would hope that MP’s would vote according to their conscience and as Anna has said repeatedly that she did not believe that Brexit would be good for the UK I don’t understand why she would even consider voting for it. How can any MP vote for something that they firmly believe is wrong?

5. New School For Lyncroft?
Lyncroft Primary and Nursery School in Eastwood has applied for planning permission to build new classrooms at the site of the former Eastwood Comprehensive Lower School, 500 metres from their current location. The application has been submitted to Notts County Council and will be decided on at a council meeting on 13th December. If approved the school hope to be in their new home by October next year.

6. Eastwood Cemetery Chapel
Readers may recall that about two and a half years ago Eastwood Cemetery Chapel was severely damages in an arson attack. I’m pleased to say that the chapel has now been restored and will re-open later this month. The repairs have cost £150,000 and at the same time new toilets and IT facilities have been added to the building.

7. School Refugee Appeal

Students at The Bramcote School and Alderman White School (bth part of the White Hills Park federation) have come together this week to support refugees living in Calais. The Federation was approached by local group East Midlands Solidarity and asked to lend its support to their ‘BIG Food Collection’ by bringing in an assortment of foods to be collected and delivered to the refugees. The school collection was delivered to the main collection point last Saturday and the organisers estimated that the collection included enough food to feed at least 100 people. May I give a huge thanks to everyone who donated. Much of the food has already arrived in Calais and updates can be found on the Facebook page EM Solidarity.

8. Death Café
A frank and open discussion about death and dying. Not group therapy or counselling and with no agenda other than to talk about any aspect of this most difficult of subjects. The point of it being that if we can acknowledge and accept our mortality, we can live better and happier lives. And you can drink coffee and eat cake. This will take place at Rumbletums Cafe, 2a Victoria Street, Kimberley, NG16 2NH on Tuesday evening starting at 7pm.

9. Barn Dance
This is the main annual fundraising event for Greasley Scouts, Cubs, Beavers & Explorers. The event is supported by Barclays Bank for the 7th year in succession, with special thank to Sharon & Sue at the Eastwood Branch. The money raised will be used to provide a wide range of activities to develop, support and encourage young people throughout the coming year. A fun and informal evening of dancing to the music of “Curly Kale” including a licenced bar with reasonable prices. It takes place next Saturday, 15th October, at Plumtree Hall at the back of Eastwood Church. Unfortunately the press release that was sent out doesn’t mention costs or where to get tickets from.

10. Harvest Celebration at Dig In
On Saturday 22nd October join us from 1pm – 4pm for our free admission family event with activities including apple pancakes, apple pressing, smoothie bikes with Pulp Friction, pumpkin carving, chutneys and preserves, seasonal produce grown on the allotment, tombola and more! Free entry. Certain activities require a small donation to help with running costs. Dig In is run by volunteers for the benefit of the community. Please come along and support us. The event takes place at Albany Allotments site, Pasture Rd, Stapleford NG9 8HZ

11. Poetry
This is rather a change for the newsletter but to end this week I thought I would share this piece, written by local resident Gav Slater. It is based on the words of Pastor Martin Niemöller during World War 2 but updated for the current political situation:
First they came for the Foreigners, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Foreigner, and I was told they were stealing OUR jobs, even though they do the jobs that none of US want to do.
Then they came for the Muslims, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Muslim, and I was told they wanted to destroy OUR way of life, even though we invited them here in the first place.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist, as I couldn’t afford the membership fees or to go on strike as my mortgage (which was six times my salary) was so high.
Then they came for me. Despite the fact I was working 70 hours a week and had never broken the law, I was claiming Tax Credits and not contributing enough to the Kingdom — and there was no one left to speak for me.

As ever thank you for your support for this newsletter. I’m afraid that there won’t be an edition next week as I will be on a course with work all day, so the next edition will be in two weeks time. As ever any feedback is gratefully received.

Best wishes

David
www.davidwatts.org.uk
www.broxtoweliberaldemocrats.org.uk
Follow me on Twitter @davidwatts12.