Charlotte MacKenzie, Gerald Chin-Quee, housing
In Uncategorized on July 20, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Truro and Falmouth Charlotte MacKenzie today welcomed the news that more new homes for rent are to be built locally.
Carrick Housing is one of the organisations nominated as eligible to receive funds from the Housing Corporation, under new measures designed to beat the credit crunch which were announced by Housing Minister Caroline Flint. In order to keep up the supply of new homes despite the impact of reduced borrowing on the housing market, the Government is investing additional funds to support new social and affordable housing, including council housing.
Labour Councillor Gerald Chin-Quee, who chairs the Carrick Housing board, said: “The importance of the fact that Carrick Housing will get the opportunity to build homes is that the first new council owned homes in over 25 years are going to be built. During those 25 years we have seen our housing stock reduced by nearly 50% and we know what effect that has had on the homelessness problem. From this small acorn of hope comes the chance to start putting that right.”
Charlotte MacKenzie said “I’m absolutely delighted that this investment will mean more new homes to rent in the Carrick district area. Carrick Housing’s record is second to none; they are the only South West provider planning new council housing who have been confirmed as eligible this time by the Housing Corporation.”
Charlotte MacKenzie, Falmouth, firestation, Gerald Chin-Quee, Lesley Trenchard, petition, victory for campaigners
In Uncategorized on February 20, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Truro and Falmouth Charlotte MacKenzie today welcomed the news that Cornwall County Council is allocating an additional £1.1 Million to local fireservices, ending the recruitment freeze imposed by the Liberal Democrat led Council in 2005.
She said:
“This is a victory for everyone who has campaigned for the Liberal Democrats to move local fireservices up the list of priorities. It will enable full-time firefighters to be recruited so that engines do not go out from local firestations without a full crew. Labour led the campaign to lift the fireservices recruitment freeze and I’m delighted that this proposal has been agreed by the full Council.”
“No guarantees have been given for Falmouth. Labour’s petition to save Falmouth’s 24-hour cover will remain open until the Council takes a final decision on Falmouth firestation and cuts are ruled out; it can also be signed online at www.charlottemackenzie.com .”
Photo: Labour supporters Charlotte MacKenzie, Lesley Trenchard, Diana Lambert and Gerald Chin-Quee collecting petition signatures at a Penryn supermarket.
Charlotte MacKenzie, Falmouth, firestation, Gerald Chin-Quee, lift recruitment freeze
In Uncategorized on January 22, 2008 at 4:49 pm
As the campaign continues to save Falmouth firestation’s full-time cover at night, Labour’s parliamentary candidate Charlotte MacKenzie visited Falmouth firestation with Cornwall County Councillor Gerald Chin-Quee.
Local fireservices and the budget to support them is being discussed at the Community Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday 23 January. A report for that committee by Chief Fire Officer Matt Littmoden says that “Station strengths are now at an absolute minimum”. Falmouth Labour Party wants the County Council to lift the recruitment freeze which has been in place since the Liberal Democrats took control of the County Council in 2005, resulting in 16 unfilled vacancies for full-time firefighters. Independent assessment of the County Council’s performance since 2005 confirm that the fireservice only meets minimum requirements.
Speaking after the visit to Falmouth firestation, Councillor Gerald Chin-Quee said “The greatest risks facing Falmouth are at night: statistically more fires, more risk of death, greater area to cover geographicallly. Our population – thanks to the continuing influx of students – is rising faster than any town in Cornwall, with the widest range of risks (including the Docks) whilst being far from the A30 and having the rural hinterland to contend with on top. All this at a time when the fire service is 10% below strength, increasing pressure on the already failing recruitment of retained firefighters. Now tell me we are LESS in need of 24 hour fire cover by full time manned fire station. Its absolutely ridiculous. What does it take to convince those at County Hall – another Penhallow?”
Charlotte MacKenzie said: “We want the Council to fill the full-time vacancies which are currently leaving some firecrews undermanned in Falmouth and Truro. It isn’t enough to invest in improvements to the retained service. Ken Yeo and his colleagues should remove the threat to Falmouth’s 24-hour cover, which has hung over the firestation for more than a year. It is bad for morale – and the reputation of the service – for firefighters to be forced to respond to calls with less than a full crew. The whole service operates on the basis that full-time firefighters and retained crews are there when needed to back each other up. Cornwall County Council has an 8.5 per cent increase in Government funding next year and it is scandalous that they are not making fireservices a priority.”
Labour’s petition to keep Falmouth’s 24-hour full-time cover can be signed here.
Photos: (above) Councillor Gerald Chin-Quee and Charlotte MacKenzie with Falmouth firecrew and the specialist water rescue equipment based at the station.
(below) Mark Boeck and Charlotte Mackenzie.
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Charlotte MacKenzie, Falmouth, Gerald Chin-Quee, Labour councillors, Stuart Roden, Truro, Veronica Kelly
In Uncategorized on May 9, 2007 at 3:23 pm
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