Aug 17 2010
August days
Whatever happened to the idea that August was a time of quiet reflection and relaxation for politicians? I am trying to have a few days here and there, and am looking forward to a longer break around the Bank Holiday, but this month has kept me busy in and around Swindon. I have used the opportunity to meet local interest groups and organisations and to visit a host of charities and individuals. The Swindon Osteoporosis Group opened my eyes to the silent condition that can strike without any warning whatsoever. I have had meetings with local police Chief Superintendent Paul Howlett, members of Swindon Borough Council’s Anti Social Behaviour team and with Thames Water to name but a few. I have been able to raise individual cases and to discuss policy more generally, which has been very useful.
Last week, I visited the Broadgreen Breakfast Club, which is a charity that runs a daily breakfast facility for those who are homeless or otherwise vulnerable. It is held at St Luke’s Church Hall in Broadgreen and is run by a team of dedicated volunteers. The Club sees about30 to 40 people per day, and is a useful focal point, not only for users, but for local organisations such as Threshold that work with homeless people. Of similar value is the twice weekly Filling Station, which is run by a group of twelve local churches and which sets up in the Queenstown Car Park each Tuesday and Thursday. My thanks to Angus McPherson for allowing me to see things at first hand; I was very glad to meet workers from Threshold and a local drugs rehabilitation project with whom I shall work in the future.
Despite the poor weather, Saturday’s Broad Green Cohesion Fun Day , organised by the Broad Green Area Community Council and held at the Community Centre was a chance for me to come together with friends from Broad Green to celebrate the progress being made locally. Local Fire Chief Andy Popowicz and I were pressganged into action with regard to a stubborn and wayward piece of furniture, namely the erection of a table football game!
The flow of emails keeps coming; please bear with me. Although I like to respond quickly, this is not always going to be possible if I am to keep any semblance of sanity.
The Attorney-General is pondering whether or not to allow a Coroners’ Inquest into the death of David Kelly. Last week’s letter to the Times from a group of qualified persons puts the matter beyond doubt for me. It should be done, and done soon.