Councillor Paul Varnsverry

Paul Varnsverry has voiced his support for fire-fighters by supporting their call for automated sprinkler systems to be fitted into all new industrial buildings.

In the UK, fire crews respond to 120 fire alarms in commercial buildings every hour. In 2002, the cost to the economy of commercial fires was £7 billion. Sprinkler systems stop 99.7% of all fires before they do any more than minimal damage. No fire has ever spread beyond the coverage provided by two sprinkler heads, before it has been contained and extinguished by fire crews.

At the meeting of full Council on Monday evening, Paul asked Northampton Borough Council to add its unequivocal support to a motion which would see planning policy for West Northamptonshire incorporating reference to sprinkler systems for appropriate new buildings.

Speaking to the motion, which was seconded by Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Councillor Brendan Glynane, Paul said: “We all owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women of Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service for performing a difficult and often dangerous job on behalf of the residents of this town and county. We are in a position to provide a clear and unequivocal display of support to our fire-fighters. We are also in a position to safeguard local businesses, Northampton’s economy and the environment.”

The motion was passed unanimously and will now go before the Cabinet.

Read Paul Varnsverry’s Motion and speech at:

http://paulvarnsverry.mycouncillor.org.uk/paul-varnsverrys-motion-and-speech-to-full-council-27th-october-2008/

Liberal Democrat Party President candidate, Lembit Öpik MP, paid a flying visit to Northampton earlier today to express his support for Paul Varnsverry as Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Northampton South.

The first of the Liberal Democrat key players to show their support for Paul’s campaign, Lembit spent over two hours talking over issues including the Northampton South campaign and the successes and challenges the first 18 months of a Liberal Democrat administration at the Guildhall have seen.

Thanking Lembit for his visit and support, Paul said “I was delighted when Lembit’s office got in contact to say he wanted to take a detour from his busy campaign itinerary to meet with me. He is truly down-to-earth and clearly a favourite with the people, judging by the amount of passers-by who stopped him in the street to speak.”

Northampton Borough Council’s Cabinet has agreed to back a request from residents of Upton Grange and Upton Phase 1 to realign the parish boundary .

Development at Upton Phase 1 has seen the original parish boundary disappear under buildings and roads. This resulted in 109 homes being served with incorrect Council Tax demands in 2007. Residents across both developments have tried on previous occasions to change the parish boundary, but their efforts were thwarted by technical and legal difficulties. A change in legislation in April 2008  passed more decision-making powers to local authorities so, supported by Paul Varnsverry, residents raised a petition which was handed to the Mayor at a Council meeting on September 8th.

Upton Grange resident, Michael Clarke, addressed the Cabinet meeting, held on Friday September 26th and asked them to endorse a recommendation to move the boundary to align its eastern edge with Upton Way. He was backed by Councillor Paul Varnsverry, who pointed out to the Cabinet that some 265 residents had made clear their wish to see the change implemented, adding that “this shows the extent of community spirit that exists in Upton”.

Cabinet endorsed the report, with two minor modifications, and the recommendations will go to a future meeting of the full Council for approval.

Update: The review was approved by a meeting of full Council on 27th October 2008.

Members of Northampton Liberal Democrats living in the Northampton South Parliamentary Constituency have selected Paul Varnsverry as their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate.

In a process contested by four applicants - Kevin Barron (previous Parliamentary Candidate), Jenny Conroy, Portia Wilson and Paul Varnsverry - Paul took an early clear lead and his place was confirmed after secondary preference votes were collated. 

Speaking immediately after the result was confirmed, Paul said “I am grateful to the Liberal Democrat members in Northampton South for selecting me as their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate. They had four extremely good candidates to choose from and I extend my commiserations to Kevin, Jenny and Portia, and thank them for the congenial manner in which they conducted their individual campaigns throughout the selection process.

“Another campaign starts now - to show residents in Northampton South that they have a clear choice at the next General Election: a Liberal Democrat candidate who will put Northampton first and represent the electorate in a manner the other two main parties have shown they cannot match.”

Two new groups have been formed to represent the interests of residents in West Hunsbury during the past week.

 On Tuesday, September 23rd, a public meeting was held at Parsons Meade Community Centre to discuss whether residents in the Camp Hill, Mallard Close, Harksome Hill and Summerfields areas of West Hunsbury wished to set up a residents association.

An initiative of the management board of Neighbourhood Managed Area 5, the meeting attracted a number of enthusiastic residents who, after a healthy debate on local issues, decided they would form a new association.

 The inaugural meeting of the new group - which at the time of writing has yet to decide what it will be called - will be held at 7 pm on Monday 20th October 2008 at St. Benedict’s church rooms. Contact Paul Varnsverry for further details.

 The second meeting took place on Thursday, September 25th - again, at Parsons Meade Community Centre - and asked the public if they wished to re-form the Friends of Hunsbury Country Park.

Arranged and hosted by Paul Varnsverry and Richard Matthews, this meeting also attracted a healthy attendance, with the result that it was agreed to re-form the friends group. The inaugural meeting will be held on Tuesday 28th October at 7 pm and the venue will be Parsons Meade Community Centre. Paul Varnsverry will again be pleased to assist with further information.

A fractured ankle (with apologies for the pun in the title) , sustained on 17th July, has limited my activities, as I cannot drive and it is not always convenient for others to provide me with transport to and from ward meetings.

I have managed to stay in contact with residents by email, however, and have been writing to the council providing them with details of new issues in the West Hunsbury and Upton area, as well as progress-chasing existing cases.

A very welcome development was the selection of my good friend and colleague, Scott Collins, as the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for South Northamptonshire. Scott has lived in the area for 34 years and is a former town councillor and Deputy Mayor for Towcester. Scott is also the Borough Councillor for Eastfield Ward, in Northampton, and the Council’s “Faith Champion” - the first such appointment anywhere in the country.

Scott joins the West Hunsbury and Upton Focus Team and will be assisting Richard Matthews and I to further improve the area for all concerned.

Welcome to my web site, where I will be keeping residents and anyone else who has an interest in West Hunsbury and Upton informed on the events and happenings in the Ward.

I was delighted to earn the support and trust of the residents of West Hunsbury and Upton, and to be elected in May 2007 to represent them.

Please contact me by telephone or email to discuss any issues which are affecting you or your part of West Hunsbury. There is a form you can complete on this website, or you can email me direct. I promise to respond promptly and to deal with your enquiry efficiently. I will always do my utmost to ensure residents’ issues are resolved.

 Paul Varnsverry