Campaigns

• Improving the lives of Telford people
• Protecting and improving services at the PRH
• Jobs for Telford
• A fairer deal for pensioners
• Taking immigration seriously
• More support for Telford families
• Protecting Telford's public and local services
• More police on Telford's streets
• Putting the law back on the side of local people
• Borough renewal and regeneration
• Supporting Telford's valuable green spaces
• Standing up for small businesses in Telford
• Supporting key education facilities in Telford

Improving the lives of Telford people 

Tom believes that Labour is failing the country. Problems such as anti-social behaviour and family breakdown, excessive red tape, lack of employment opportunities and pensioner security are all issues that are not being tackled effectively. Tom is determined to:

• See improvements in local services and facilities, particularly for the elderly, but also young people growing up within the community
• See changes to the benefits system to reward working people, help sustain pensions and eliminate fraudulent claims
• See more people take part in the democratic process, with more fundamental powers and decision making being restored to local people – ‘bottom-up, not top down’
• See greater protection of the environment, through the greening of local and national energy policies, through significantly increased levels of energy saving at household and industrial levels and the protection of valuable green spaces
• See cuts to unnecessary regulation and red tape to allow large and small businesses to thrive, create jobs and ensure a growing and thriving local economy in Telford
• See whole communities working together, upholding civic pride and championing social responsibility at all levels
• See a robust stance on immigration, including reducing the numbers of illegal immigrants
• See improved academic standards in schools so that all young people maximise their potential
• See a new agreement negotiated with the European Union to restore more powers to Westminster   

Protecting and improving services at the PRH

  
   
Bringing David Cameron to Telford to join the fight to protect services at the PRH.

Jobs for Telford

“Unemployment is fast becoming the most pressing social and economic problem plaguing Telford,” says Tom Biggins. “We need an urgent programme to tackle unemployment which is ruining the lives of many and becoming a terrible burden for some families.

“Official figures for Telford show that the number of unemployed people in the constituency and who are claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance stands at well over 3,000 [Jan 2010], with six people chasing every job vacancy.”

Tom has regularly accused Labour of being ‘in denial’ about the true scale of the Unemployment problem and doing virtually nothing to address the problem. If elected, Tom and the Conservatives have pledged more support for those who have lost their jobs and has proposed a radical plan to ‘Get Britain Working’ including:

• Abolishing all tax on jobs created by new companies for two years 
• Providing incentives to employers who take on someone who has been unemployed for more than three months 
• Creating 400,000 new apprenticeships, building a new generation of technical schools, and funding 10,000 extra university places 
• A new network of business mentors giving one-to-one advice to anyone who wants to set up their own business 

A fairer deal for pensioners

Tom has been fighting for a fairer deal for pensioners; restoring the earnings link for pensions, as well as retaining free bus passes, TV licences and the winter fuel allowance. 

“In some districts of Telford, like parts of Sutton Hill and Brookside, almost 40% have slipped below the poverty line since 1997,” says Tom Biggins. “I’m committed to increasing the state pension every year and linking it back to earnings. A Conservative Government would also keep the winter fuel allowance, free TV licences and free bus passes.

“We would also help pensioners by freezing Council Tax for two years, and by providing £6,500 of energy saving measures for every household to cut energy bills.”

Taking immigration seriously

In the past 13 years under Labour, there has been an open door policy, widespread abuse of the rules and, as a result, uncontrolled immigration into our country. To make matters worse, the Government’s lax approach has enabled human traffickers to exploit vulnerable people for profit.

“I can say, from personal experience, that Labour is categorically failing to manage the system effectively, allowing people to enter the country under false pretences and stay here without challenge,” explains Tom.

“Unusually for a candidate, I have had first-hand experience of getting an illegal immigrant arrested and sent to prison. The man in question was found to be in possession of the passport and driving licence of a dead person. Court proceedings followed and he was given an eight-month prison sentence.

“However, in spite of all of the evidence of his illegal status, the UK Border Agency has failed to deport him. They messed up the paperwork and released him back into the community.

“It’s no wonder that over the last 13 years an estimated 700,000 people have entered Britain illegally and are still here. This situation has got to change. The only way that I can see this happening is by changing the Government.”

Tom support’s vital reforms to the immigration system including an annual limit on the number of economic migrants, transitional controls for new EU entrants, a proper border police force to protect the UK from illegal immigration, organised immigration crime and human trafficking, measures to prevent sham and forced marriages.

 

More support for Telford families

“I want to see Britain as the most family friendly country in Europe,” says Tom Biggins.

“At the moment, the tax and benefits system actually rewards couples who split up, rather than stay married - that can’t be right.

“We will end the couple penalty in the tax credit system and recognise marriage in the tax system. In addition, we will provide better maternity care, more health visitors, and help Sure Start to benefit those families most in need.

“At school, I want standards raised and more emphasis on discipline. It is a complete travesty that today four in ten children leave primary school without reaching the required standard in reading, writing and maths.

“We need a new generation of independent state schools funded by taxpayers, but run by teachers responsible to parents, where there is a disciplined environment and learning
can flourish.”

Protecting Telford’s public and local services

This government’s closure programme for Post Offices has seen almost 5,000 businesses axed since 1997 – including Dawley Bank, St Georges, Lawley Village and Ketley Bank. As a result, customers have been forced to travel much further and, when they arrive, they are usually faced with longer queues. Sadly, in 2008, the government announced that a further 2,500 local post offices would close, including Randlay.

Local health services haven’t escaped either. The government is also pushing ahead with the closure of many GP practices, replacing them with so-called ‘polyclinics’, and threats to facilities and services at the Princess Royal Hospital are ongoing.

It’s last orders, too, for many local pubs. The Campaign for Real Ale, an independent pressure group, has warned that Gordon Brown’s planned tax rises on a pint of beer will
bring about further closures. A staggering six pubs every week are currently shutting down, unable to compete with cheap booze in supermarkets and ‘booze cruises’ which escape the higher taxes.

Tom Biggins is determined to stand up for the local community and is calling for vital local services in Telford to be protected. “Once again, this government doesn’t seem to care about the social value of keeping local services that people use - local,” says Tom.

“I will also fight for local people to be given a greater say in how services, such as schools, are provided and for services to be tailored to local needs.”


Backed by local residents and business people, Tom Biggins fought hard for months to keep Randlay Post Office open. Tom’s campaign included a public meeting packed full of local people who were able to get their views over directly to representatives of Post Office Ltd and Postwatch. He also organised a postcard campaign, encouraging hundreds of people to write in directly to Post Office Ltd, together with a petition, as a result of which 1,800 signatures were presented at No 10 Downing Street. 


    
 

More police on Telford’s streets

Tom has been fighting for fairer funding for West Mercia Police to help put more officers on the beat in Telford, to help reduce crime and raise public confidence.

“Locals frequently tell me that they feel the police are almost invisible in Telford,” says Tom. “Apart from community support officers, it is obvious to everyone in the Borough that there are simply not enough police officers. But that’s little wonder - our local police are under great pressure, partly due to under-funding.”

Tom has acquired figures that fully expose the Government’s under-funding of West Mercia Police, which is the fourth lowest funded Police Authority in the country. “As a result, there are 40% fewer police officers per head of population in Telford than say in Wolverhampton,” Tom points out.

“What we need to get more police on the streets of Telford is far better funding - and that’s one of the changes I am fighting for.” 

  

Putting the law back on the side of local people

“What people want in Telford is a no-nonsense approach to crime and disorder,” says Tom.

“Time and time again, the troublemakers just seem to get away with it. It makes all of us furious and decent, law-abiding people are asking - who’s looking after me?”

To restore confidence in Britain’s criminal justice system, Tom Biggins is strongly supporting bold Conservative plans to tackle crime. Their importance is underlined by new crime figures reporting 2,540 violent attacks on people across Telford and Wrekin in the last year.

Tom is supporting Conservative proposals to:

• Give Telford residents greater protection if they have to defend themselves against intruders in their homes, or if they stop a crime being committed in the street

• Grant the Borough Council new powers to fight booze-fuelled anti-social behaviour in Telford 

• Strictly enforce laws to tackle drug and alcohol abuse in the town, and take action to address the wider causes of abuse 

• Introduce alcohol-free-zones in specific areas where alcohol abuse is endemic

Borough renewal and regeneration

“After many years of neglect, the new Conservative administration at Telford & Wrekin Council is working hard to reinvigorate the borough,” says Tom, who has given his full backing to the planned regeneration.

“The Council’s projected investments in renewal programmes for the Market Towns will help give a lifeline to the local housing market and make more low cost rented housing available.

“The continued regeneration programme for estates like Woodside and Sutton Hill also sends the clear message that the Council is determined to get things moving and to improve the quality of life of everyone in these important areas of the borough.”

 Bringing David Cameron to Telford to promote and help secure regeneration in Sutton Hill and other estates.

Supporting Telford's valuable 'green spaces' 

Tom Biggins is appalled at the prospect of 10,000 extra new houses being built in Telford over the next ten years, which is on top of the 26,500 already allocated to the town.

“While it is accepted that Telford will grow in size in the future, it must do so in a sustainable way,” argues Tom. “The important thing is to ensure that, as well as new homes, new jobs are created to sustain employment for the new residents. There also has to be a balance between building new homes, creating new jobs and having the necessary infrastructure in place. Too many houses and a poor or overloaded infrastructure is just a recipe for disaster.

“What local people do not want is to see the whole of Telford turned into one massive building site. It is vital to protect the existing green areas around the town for recreation and to serve as the green lungs of Telford – a balance must be maintained. That’s why I am campaigning vigorously against even more housing coming to Telford.” 

  

Standing up for small businesses in Telford

Tom Biggins has called for less regulation and red tape to help small businesses compete.

“As a Shropshire businessman, I believe government must stand up for small retailers and businesses, many of whom have been hit by the recession. It is small businesses that collectively create the most jobs and we are still seeing an estimated 2,000 shops close nationally every year.

“The Conservative government will introduce a number of measures, such as automatic Small Business Rate Relief and reduce the payroll taxes of the smallest employers.

“I’m also pleased that we have pledged 400,000 new apprenticeships, college and training places for young people over the next two years.”



Tom Biggins and Nick Herbert MP have pledged to help small retailers like John Pagan of Parkinson’s Butchers, Wrockwardine Wood.

Problem solving around the town

Pictured: Tom Biggins organises and chairs a successful meeting at Jubilee House, Madeley, in March.

The purpose of the meeting was to identify a number of road issues that are of great concern to residents of the Severn Gorge Park in Cuckoo Oak, and to set about tackling those issues.

Also present were Cllr Adrian Lawrence (cabinet member for the Environment and Roads) and Cllr Graham Hossell (local member for Cuckoo Oak) from Telford and Wrekin Borough Council, together with Mr Stuart Freeman from the Traffic Department.

“This was a very useful and constructive evening,” says Tom. “I arranged this meeting as I have been made aware of a number of traffic issues which are causing problems and I thought the best way forward was to start a dialogue between local people and the Borough Council.

“About 30 local people attended and everyone had the opportunity to have their say. A number of concerns were raised including the noise of traffic coming from the Eastern Primary, speed of traffic in Bridgnorth Road, the great width of the Bridgnorth road and the difficulty of crossing it on foot, the lack of footpaths in the vicinity and the location of the bus shelter which obstructs visibility on the right hand side for vehicles turning out of the entrance to the Severn Gorge Park.”

Local people suggested a number of improvements, including the possibility of a foot crossing with traffic lights (Pelican crossing), and speed enforcement along the adjacent roads.

Recycling mission

Tom is on a mission to help improve local recycling facilities, particularly of plastics, and raise awareness of the need to use them.

Saying NO to proposals for an incinerator in North Telford

Tom has been fighting plans to site an incinerator at the Granville landfill site at Redhill.

“I am totally opposed to SITA UK’s planning application for an incinerator waste burner at the Granville site. Regardless of the benefits of turning waste into energy, the location of the proposed site is completely unacceptable given the proximity of the site close to thousands of people who live in nearby residential areas, particularly St Georges, Priorslee, Muxton and Donnington.

“Siting of the incinerator aside, there is also a strong argument that there is already surplus incinerator capacity in the West Midlands,“ he pointed out. “Telford already has experience of this; specifically when the incinerator at Stafford Park was closed down some years ago owing to insufficient waste to run it.

“To sustain the necessary volume to feed the Granville incinerator, waste would very probably have to be imported from outside of the county, adding many additional vehicle movements to Telford’s roads,” he added.

“We do not need a repeat of the same mistakes in Telford.  And, I am not prepared to risk the health of people living nearby, irrespective of the benefits of turning waste into energy.”

Tom is wholeheartedly supporting the members of TelfordPAIN in their campaign to stop the  incinerator. 

Supporting key education and research facilities

Tom promoting and supporting education facilities and cutting edge research for local businesses at the Telford Campus (University of Wolverhampton) at Priorslee.

Pictured with Professors Caroline Gibbs and Ian Oakes, and Conservative MEP, Malcolm Harbour.

Raising spirits and raising money for good causes

Tom has been an active volunteer and fundraiser since his youth, helping both local and national charities. Over the summer months, he has again been out and about raising money and raising spirits at a number of local events:

Tom with Robert Weaver and Diane Kidd of Telford’s 2 Hands (www.2hands.org.uk), presenting money raised for his sponsored walk.

Tom at Dawley Day, supporting Lenny Worthing who will be crossing the desert to raise money for MacMillan nurses.

Tom takes part in the Coracle World Championships on the river Severn in aid of MacMillan Nurses.