Charlotte MacKenzie

Posts Tagged ‘Truro’

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Welcome to our news website

In news on November 9, 2009 at 8:04 pm

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Charlotte MacKenzie says:

“Welcome to Truro and Falmouth Labour Party’s news website. We hope you will like it, and find it easy to find what you are looking for. We will be updating this site regularly with local news.”

We will publish our press releases and other news stories on this website. You can also visit Charlotte MacKenzie’s website to find out more about what we are doing to help people, and to change things for the better in Falmouth and Truro. You can read more of Charlotte’s views and opinions on a wide range of issues here.

For more information contact Charlotte MacKenzie:

T 01872 261675, M 07932 501293.

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Prospective MP welcomes £3.85M for Chiverton Cross improvement

In Uncategorized on August 4, 2009 at 12:51 pm

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Charlotte MacKenzie welcomes transport funding boost for Cornwall

Today’s Labour Government’s funding of £3.85 Million for a transport scheme to support the building of much needed local housing has been welcomed by Charlotte MacKenzie.

Housing Minister John Healey’s green light for Chiverton Cross means that much-needed improvements can go ahead.

Charlotte MacKenzie, Labour’s prospective MP for Truro and Falmouth said:

“This is good news from the Labour Government. It’s putting money into a scheme to invest in our local economy and support much needed new homes.”

Housing Minister John Healey MP said:

“This will create construction jobs, help build the new homes we need and make sure we have the transport in place to support development.

“We are investing to help the country through recession. We are not simply stepping aside to let the recession run its course as the Conservative Governments did in the past.”

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Truro Liberal Democrats say no to more affordable homes

In Uncategorized on March 25, 2009 at 10:31 am

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On Monday evening – with the exception of one Councillor who abstained and one was absent (who rarely attends meetings)  - Liberal Democrat councillors for Truro, and the only Tory councillor who is also on Carrick District Council, voted against increasing the local social housing target to 50 per cent.

This confirmed that the draft Truro and Threemilestone Action Plan – which currently has lower targets for affordable homes – is the product of cosy joint working by Liberal Democrat and Tory councillors in Truro.

Common sense and concern prevailed on Monday evening by 11 votes to 10, and the views of Truro residents who are not in support of the plan as it stands will now be heard.

The new draft plan is an improvement on the previous one and does reflect some of the views expressed at community workshops.

But there are real issues that need to be addressed including:

(1) Local transport – the objective is to improve accessible convenient public transport, but the plan would deliver increased car use.

(2) Housing need – there are no projections for local housing need and the 35 per cent affordable homes target is recognised by many as too low.

(3) Climate change - Truro City Council agreed to promote microgeneration but the draft plan is woolly in it’s commitment to renewable energy, meeting high sustainability standards for new homes (Code 6), and has no plan to reduce Truro’s carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions from current levels.

We have already responded to the consultation to voice peoples concerns.

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Report criticises Liberal Democrat council leadership

In Uncategorized on January 13, 2009 at 1:02 pm

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Charlotte Mackenzie, the Labour candidate for Falmouth and Truro, commented this morning on the published corporate assessment report from the Audit Commission on Cornwall’s fire services. She said:

“Sadly, this report confirms what local people fear. Fire services in Cornwall have deteriorated under Liberal Democrat leadership of council services since 2005. Fire services are now rated as ‘poor’ rather than ‘fair’.

“Among other issues, the report highlights weak political leadership by the County Council and recommends that ‘councillors need to take a stronger role in leading and challenging performance’ of Cornwall’s fire service.

“This is not the only service to receive less good ratings since the Liberal Democrats were elected in 2005 – the same is true of adult social care. At unitary authority elections later this year, people in Cornwall will have an opportunity to tell the Liberal Democrats what the Audit Commission can’t – it is time for you to go, Cornwall deserves better local political leadership.”

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Meet the need for local affordable homes

In Uncategorized on January 11, 2009 at 8:00 pm

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Hundreds of shoppers at a busy Penryn supermarket on Saturday signed Labour’s petition to meet the need for affordable local housing. Those signing ranged from students to pensioners, and included people losing work locally because of the slowdown in the construction industry. 

Charlotte MacKenzie said:
“Many people’s dream of finding a place of their own will be put on hold if developers do not proceed as planned with major developments like that of the former Richard Lander school site in Truro.

“Labour in Government is taking action to help people keep their homes despite the credit crunch. Carrick Housing has funding to build new social housing; and some local housing associations in Cornwall are also purchasing unsold homes, in developments affected by the downturn in the housing market, with the help of Government funds.

“It is really important that local authorities also work with developers in a way that maximises the opportunities that are available. This petition will go to the new Cornwall Council, which will be responsible for housing and homelessness in future, as well as for sustainable economic development.

“We want to move the debate forward. The people supporting our petition are not saying every controversial development proposal in Falmouth and Truro must be allowed to go ahead. But they recognise that if more affordable homes are needed, new housing does need to be built.”

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Minister visits Malabar Centre

In Uncategorized on August 18, 2008 at 11:03 am

On Thursday 31 July local government Minister John Healey MP visited Malabar Children’s and Community Centre in Truro.

Malabar is one of three new community centres opening in Truro thanks to the hard work of local residents and Labour’s investment in family and children’s services.

The Malabar Community Centre is run by New Beginnings residents’ association.

During the visit John Healey MP was shown round the Children’s Centre by manager Lisa Sherlock, and met children and parents enjoying the centre’s activities.

He met representatives of New Beginnings residents’ association, and Community Development worker Trudy Swann who works with residents’ groups on Trelander, Malpas, and Malabar. Truro City Council employs Trudy Swann and John Healey MP also met Deputy Mayor Ros Cox.

He was accompanied by Charlotte Mackenzie, Labour’s prospective MP for Truro, who is a local councillor for Trehaverne ward which includes Malabar.

Charlotte MacKenzie said: “It is fantastic to have three new community centres in Truro at Malpas Road, Malabar, and Trelander. These Centres show the difference that local residents can make for their communities.

“The Malabar Centre is coming into its own during the school holidays with play and other activities. Refurbishing the old school certainly wasn’t straightforward and this is a great achievement for New Beginnings and all the partner organisations working with them.

“I know that John Healey MP found the visit interesting and enjoyed meeting everybody. These centres would not exist without Labour’s investment – Tory plans show that they would cut spending on much-needed services like this by £200 million.”

There are eleven children’s centres  in the new constituency area of Truro and Falmouth, which includes almost all of Carrick.

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Truro Railway Club gets a helping hand

In Uncategorized on July 20, 2008 at 7:22 pm

Despite efforts to save the Railway Club next to Truro station, development plans for the site mean that if the club is to survive it needs new premises.

Truro Labour Party have come to the aid of the club and its members by pledging to make a donation if the Railway Club raises the other funds needed for a new building.

The longstanding mutual support between local Labour Party members and the railwayworkers’ club is part of Truro’s history. Over many years, Truro Labour Party has held its meetings at the Railway Club, and had close connections with local railwayworkers and their unions. In pledging the donation, Veronica Kelly, the chairman of Truro Labour Party, said “In making this pledge we want to recognise our past links and support the Railway Club in its efforts to relocate to new premises and in doing so preserve the club and its uniqueness for all its members and the wider community.”

Accepting the pledge with thanks on behalf of the Railway Club, Alan Martyn said that, if the new building goes ahead, Truro Labour Party will always be welcome to meet there. Unfortunately so far the Railway Club is still a long way away from having the funds needed for a new building, “if there were more organisations like the local Labour Party that might be different”, Alan Martyn said.

Pictured at the presentation to Truro Railway Club on Wednesday 9 July are (from left) Sheila MacKenzie, Barbara Olds, Colin Dennis, Guy Davies, retired Truro railwayworker Stanley Allen, Norman Roach, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Truro and Falmouth Charlotte MacKenzie, Stuart Roden, Alan Martyn and Veronica Kelly.

Can you help us to identify people in this photograph from the 1950s?
After the second world war, Truro was part of the Falmouth Penryn seat represented by Cornwall’s first Labour MP Evelyn King. In the 1950s, Truro Labour Party women’s section worked hard to raise funds in the hope that Truro Labour Party could buy a building of its own. It is some of the funds raised by these hard-working volunteers that have now been pledged to the Railway Club. We wonder whether readers can help us to identify people in this photograph of the women’s section?

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Planners must listen to views of local people

In Uncategorized on February 7, 2008 at 1:33 pm

Charlotte MacKenzie’s letter to West Briton:

I welcome the fact that there will now be a rethink of Carrick’s development plans.

For everyone who has looked at the plans, taken part in consultations, or attended the examination in public of the Council’s ‘core strategy’ for development, the Inspector’s finding that Carrick District Council paid insufficient attention to the views expressed through consultation will come as no surprise.

I was one of those who spoke at the hearing in June last year to voice concerns about the environment and housing.

I welcome the fact that tackling climate change will now be given fuller consideration in plans for future development. I hope that the fact that Truro City Council recently accepted a proposal from Cllr Lindsay Southcombe and myself to promote green energy will prompt discussion in 2008 of solutions which will work best for Truro’s community, and step up local commitment to carbon neutral homes.

We also need widespread discussion of how best to provide housing to meet local needs. The Inspector rejected the plans partly because it was unclear that they would deliver housing which is needed, including in Falmouth and Penryn. I will continue to call for two out of three, rather than one in three, new homes to be affordable.

At least now we can expect that, as detailed plans are developed, our Councils will take account of views expressed by local people.

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Truro councillors vote for green energy

In Uncategorized on November 26, 2007 at 12:43 pm

Truro councillors Charlotte MacKenzie and Lindsay Southcombe have gained broad support for their proposal that Truro City Council should promote green energy. The Council supported the proposal in principle, and agreed councillors should have the opportunity to undertake a training course about green energy before finalising details of the new policy.

Labour Councillor Charlotte MacKenzie said “I’m really pleased that this proposal has attracted general support. Local councils have an important role to play in helping Truro’s community take action to mitigate climate change. It’s sensible that councillors want to brief themselves before taking a decision on some of the more detailed proposals.”

“Energy efficiency and community owned microgeneration not only help the fight against climate change, but can also get people out of fuel poverty” added Councillor Lindsay Southcombe. ”We are uniquely placed in Cornwall to take advantage of renewable sources of energy and it could provide sustainable business opportunites”.

It is thought that Truro City Council will be the first parish council in Cornwall to take up new powers under the Climate Change and Microgeneration Act 2006. The successful proposal is a result of councillors from different parties working and voting together.

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Labour selects Charlotte MacKenzie for Truro and Falmouth

In Uncategorized on November 18, 2007 at 4:52 pm

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Charlotte MacKenzie has been selected as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for the new Truro and Falmouth constituency.

Commenting after her selection Charlotte MacKenzie said:

“I’m very happy to be selected as Labour’s parliamentary candidate in my home constituency.”

“Cornwall needs Labour representation. In Truro and Falmouth, the Liberal Democrats drew up plans which only expect one in three new homes to be affordable, despite the fact that regional plans recommend two out of three new homes should be affordable in areas of greatest need.”

“An independent inspection this year confirms that – on the Liberal Democrats’ watch – Cornwall’s adult social care, children’s services, and fireservices only meet minimum requirements, a deterioration since 2005 when the Liberal Democrats came into control of Cornwall County Council. This is despite the fact that the Labour Government has given the County Council above average, above inflation funding increases.”

“The Liberal Democrats once gained ground partly because they advocated a new politics of consensus. In Cornwall, it is the Liberal Democrats who now have Tweedledum and Tweedledee squabbles, with their MPs evidently feeling unable to support their councillors’ decisions on issues such as waste management and councillors’ allowances. No wonder seven of their councillors have left the Liberal Democrats.”

“I will be urging everyone who feels let down by the Liberal Democrats to support Labour because of our track record in Cornwall. Thanks to Labour’s investment in Cornwall’s future we have new schools and a university; we will be getting a new purpose built healthpark, and a dental school in Truro; there will be further investment in Falmouth docks; the A30 has been widened at Goss Moor; and unemployment has fallen by two thirds. Neither opposition Party has effective influence on Government decisions affecting Cornwall.”

“I will continue to serve my local community as a Truro councillor, and I hope to continue as Chair of Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change, a position to which I was re-elected recently by the Board.”

“This is the only constituency where I applied for selection and it is the only place that I would want to represent in Parliament.”

 

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