Steve McClaren unhappy with Derby County display in disappointing return to Middlesbrough
Wrong to merge Derbyshire villages of Stanley and Little Eaton
THE Boundary Commission for England has proposed merging Little Eaton and Stanley.
I am disappointed that this proposal has been presented to the Commission by the Conservative-led Erewash Borough Council and was a member of the Labour team considering an alternative strategy.
A priority for Labour was to ensure that areas should not lose their ward names and identity.
It would seem that the main Conservative concern was to identify where electoral seats could be maintained, increased or won by boundary adjustment.
As ward councillor for Stanley I feel that area identity has been sacrificed to electoral imperative and I write this letter to inform my constituents that I do not and will not approve this.
There are many reasons why the changes would compromise the unique nature of Stanley.
We annually hold the Royal British Legion W5795 Bomber memorial; we have our own gala, we have two parish churches with healthy congregations, we have our own magazine, we have two well-used community centres; we have our own post offices, a local pre-school, two primary schools, drama groups and two lively village pubs.
In addition, we have community farm shops and general stores, annual farm association meetings, football groups, a gun club, Christmas tree celebrations and last, but not least, historical walks that are recognised by the Ramblers' Association.
I want local residents to know that I will be delivering a letter to each and every household to encourage them to write to the Boundaries' Commission stating their disquiet at being sacrificed on the altar of political expediency.
The people of Stanley and Stanley Common recently fought hard to preserve the green belt and countryside for generations to come but they were ignored instead of being applauded for their efforts.
Should the present proposals go ahead, there will be huge implications with regard to future housing and other development plans.
Erewash Borough Council will have been given the green light to 'build and be damned'.
I urge everyone who cares about the green and pleasant land of Stanley to make his or her objections to the Council and the Commission.
Stanley is now green and pleasant. Like the vast majority of its residents, I, the elected Stanley councillor, want to keep it that way.
Councillor Mrs Linda McGraw
Stanley
You know you're from Ilkeston when…
DERBY 10K: Derbyshire's Phil Hogg beats Paralympic gold medalist in the wheelchair race
Heather Wheeler: Pensions shake-up will help keep your money in your pocket
EACH March the Chancellor makes his annual Budget speech in the House of Commons. This year is the last full Budget before the General Election next May and we, as MPs, had high hopes of what would be included. We were not disappointed, the Chancellor really delivered.
There was a raft of announcements to encourage businesses to set up and expand, ensuring continued growth in the number of jobs available, which is great news.
However, the best news was reserved for individuals. My Government wants you to keep your money in your pocket to spend how you think fit. The raising of the individual personal allowance to £10,000 this year and to £10,500 in 2015/16 will mean that every working person will have an additional £112 this year and a further £100 from April 2015 to do just that.
There were price cuts or freezes on beer, cider and spirits. Air passenger duty on some long-haul flights has been cut and fuel duty has been frozen. There were initiatives to encourage savings and the rules around ISAs were relaxed so that the full allowance can now be used in a cash ISA.
The most revolutionary part of the Budget was the Chancellor's announcements regarding pensions. George Osborne proposed the most radical changes since personal pensions were introduced in 1921.
Up until 1997, our company pension schemes were the envy of the world until, in his first budget, Gordon Brown signed the death warrant for almost all of them. By removing the tax credits on share dividends it is estimated he took at least £100 billion out of our future retirement pots. This forced companies to close schemes, which gave their employees a secure pension, instead offering them personal pensions where the payout at retirement was uncertain.
Pensions were seen as poor value and many people became reluctant to save into them.
As you know, we had previously made improvements to the state pension by increasing the weekly amount and introducing the triple lock. The state pension will increase by at least 2.5% or keep in line with inflation and everyone will receive a flat rate of around £150 from next April.
George Osborne ripped up the pension rule book, making your money completely accessible to you from the age of 55. From next April you will still be able to take 25% of the fund you have built up tax-free, but you will have freedom to choose what to do with the remainder. If you prefer, you can still use it to buy a regular monthly income, or you can keep it as a savings account simply paying tax at your normal rate on any money drawn out.
There were other changes to pensions, all designed to put control over your money in your own hands.
These measures address the concerns constituents have raised with me about pensions and savings, particularly regarding annuities, and will result in a much-needed shake-up in the insurance industry.
We are keeping your money in your pocket!
DERBY 10K: Runner Richard Weir wins big race second year running
Derby 10K: 5,000 take part in big race won by Richard Weir for second year running
@AjayHenry@DerbyTelegraph@Derby10k#10kselfiepic.twitter.com/t4rFX2LleV
— Josh Ward (@JoshWard_4) April 6, 2014
#Derby10kselfie@DerbyTelegraphpic.twitter.com/Il0V9SBJam
— Melley (@melmelapplegirl) April 6, 2014
@DerbyTelegraph#Derby10k#Derby10kselfie team ImpactPhysio supporting the runners pic.twitter.com/Q6wK4PJv58
— Rachel Royer (@ImpactPhysio) April 6, 2014
#derby10kselfie@DerbyTelegraphpic.twitter.com/0XEyP0lOHS
— Ian Lewins (@ianlewins) April 6, 2014
Spring into action and create a blooming success of your garden
the Derby Telegraph HAS launched its new gardening column featuring tips and advice from Mark Smith, manager of Swarkestone Nursery.
THIS is a very busy time of the year in the garden, as some of you will have or are preparing for summer bedding plants and also some of you will be sowing or planting vegetable plants. But what about this week? Well it's way too early to be planting out tender summer bedding plants – as proved by last Monday morning's frost.
Currently we are experiencing typical spring weather where there is a good chance of being caught by frosts after having had bright, clear evenings. So beware.
It's the perfect time to plant out "harden off" vegetable plants, such as broad beans, beetroot and all year round lettuce. If you are still worried about frosts, cover newly-planted vegetable plants with horticultural fleece. If you haven't yet got round to sowing vegetable seeds it's not too late start this weekend.
If you are not into "grow-your-own" remember now is a great time to introduce much-needed colour into your garden before any summer bedding appears and the colour choice available at this time of year is overwhelming.
Every week I will choose a plant for an aspect that is well worth a go.
This week my choice of plant for a pot:
Euonymus japonicus "Paloma Blanca" – a compact-growing, evergreen shrub with very little maintenance, a new variety of Euonymus with pure white tips of new growth. The new growth almost looks like flowers and because it's the new growth you have repeated flushes of colour throughout the year until late Autumn – its height is 1 to 2ft. It requires multi-purpose compost, likes a sunny or semi shade position.
My choice of plant for a wall:
This is a bit general but winter flowering, evergreen Clematis. This climbing plant has been around for years but has seemed to be off most people's radar – if you speak to most gardeners they will say that Montana Clematis are the earliest flowering – but actually these little beauties are.
There are many varieties but very limited in flower colour choice as they come in either white or pale yellow – most varieties are scented, flower prolifically, are easy to grow and do not need pruning. Great on a sunny or shaded wall or pick carefully (under 6ft high) and these are suitable for containers.
Two new varieties are Clematis cartmanii "Ovation" or Clematis cartmanii "Emerald Dream" which only grow to 1ft high and can be used as neat groundcover or for containers. Make sure when planting to have well-drained soil and not clay, or in a pot just a good quality multi-purpose compost is required.
Need a plant for a shady spot? My choice is a bit usual but the herb Woodruff is great in a shady position, very hardy and evergreen which creates a carpet of pure white flowers that last a long time and can clearly be used as a herb – or to smoke fish, meat or cheese.
My choice for a plant for a present: Camellias are looking amazing this week. Ignore gardening shows telling you they are hard to grow, that's rubbish they are hardy and given the correct compost as easy as any other shrub. Choose a variety almost in flower then choose a pot ideally 1ft by 1ft then choose Ericaceous compost.
My top tip of the week: Visit plant nurseries/ garden centres several times a year, buy a couple of plants that look fantastic at that moment then visit again in a month or so and then buy a couple more. This means you will eventually have all-year-round colour plus this will spread the cost – remember the best skill you need as a gardener is patience.
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Derby County midfielder Craig Bryson bemoans 'lethargic' display at Middlesbrough
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VIDEO: Watch highlights of Derby County's Championship clash at Middlesbrough
VIDEO: Derby 10k results: Find your name, time and where you came!
Firefighters tackle out of control garden fire in Normanton, Derby
Mobile speed camera locations in Derby and Derbyshire this week
Car fire shuts A38 south of Derby
Dangerous driver jailed for roaring round Derby on Christmas Day
Who's been in the courts?
ALAN Azad Adham, 27, of Stanton Street, Derby, was conditionally discharged for six months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and disqualified from holding a driving licence for a year for driving without a correct licence and valid insurance on September 5.
HELEN Louise Bishop, 43, of Chellaston Road, Derby, was fined £45, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £35 and had her licence endorsed with three points for driving along Warwick Avenue over the speed limit on August 20.
JARAD James Broddell, 23, or Vernon Street, Derby, was fined £90, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £35 and had his licence endorsed with three points for driving a car without a correct licence on September 20.
SHAMUS Uddin, 24, of Cambridge Street, Derby, was given a two-year conditional discharge for harassment between December 4 and January 10. He must pay £15 victim surcharge and £85 costs.