The Conservative Vision for Britain

I met with George Osborne MP in Manchester today to help launch a new poster campaign for the Conservatives (examples above). These posters set out a no nonsense new approach for Britain under a Conservative Government. I know from the work I do in Rossendale and Darwen that these ideas reflect the concerns of the people in my area.

I want a change for the better and to deliver on the issues that really matter to people. If you like me feel that after years of New Labour things are just not getting better in this country, join us in working for a change for Britain.

Jake Berry speaks out for Shop Local Campaign at Party Conference

Jake Berry, Parliamentary candidate for Rossendale and Darwen got further support for his Shop Local campaign at the North West Conservative Conference held over the weekend at the Bolton Reebok Stadium.

Jake was asked to speak to over 400 delegates about the Shop Local campaign in Darwen and recently launched in Rossendale.

The campaign also received further high profile backing from the Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague MP.

Jake Berry said “This was a fantastic opportunity to show the North West what a difference this campaign has made and many people came up to me afterwards to ask for more details. Shop Local is about supporting our local traders and businesses and reminding people about the benefits of shopping locally and the great offers that are on their doorstep accross Rossendale and Darwen”

Jake Berry joins fight to save Axo Nobel Jobs in Darwen

Jake Berry, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Rossendale and Darwen joined Akzo Nobel workers at a protest outside Darwen Town Hall over the proposed job cuts.

Earlier this month, bosses of the Dutch firm announced that 109 jobs were to go at the Crown House, Hollins Road, site which employees 600 and that production of its industrial paints division was being moved abroad.

Jake Berry commented “I was pleased to be the one of the first names on the petition and to show that although the Conservative Party and Trade Unions may seem unlikely bedfellows, that this is not a time for political arguments. The loss of over a hundred jobs is a serious blow to Darwen and we need to look at ways to support these workers”

“I was shown a copy of a letter sent to workers on the 17th of January 2008, promising that there would be no change in working conditions. So I can fully understand the frustrations of the staff when they heard just weeks later about these job cuts.”

Local Road Safety Success

Residents of Yate and Pickup Bank has been plagued by Heavy Goods Vehicles using Long Hey Lane. This road, leading to Hoddlesden, is frequently being used by HGVs following their satellite navigation systems trying to avoid the weight restriction on the Grane Road.

After a long campaign headed by Yvonne Booth (Chair of Yate and Pick up Bank Parish Council), with the support of Local Conservative Councillor Julie Slater and Conservative Parliamentary Candidate Jake Berry, new warning signs for HGVs have now been erected at the turning off the Grane Road and in Hoddlesden, and road improvements have been started.

Councillor Slater commented “Jake and I have been working on this since last year and arranged the meetings with Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen’s Highways Department. It is too early to say what impact the signs and road improvements will have. We are continuing to monitor the situation and I will ensure that any further measures which may be required to improve the lane are implemented.”

Jake Berry commented “It has taken some time to get the new signs, drain clearance and road works agreed. Yvonne and I even went out with the contractors and marked the pot holes with white paint.”

Cllr Julie Slater further commented “I have had a close relationship with the Parish Council since being elected. This is a real victory and shows what happens when local people work together”

Rossendale Shop Local Campaign

Today, Rossendale and Darwen Conservatives Launched its Shop Local Campaign.

Caroline Spelman MP (Chair of the Conservative Party) joined me and a team of local Councillors to launch the campaign. Bacup has some fantastic local shops but trade has been suffering because of the road works in the Town Centre. There is also an issue with parking; however, the council is committed to getting more short term parking spaces in town. Our Shop Local campaign is not about stopping people from using Super Markets but is to remind people what great local shops are available in Rossendale.

The Conservatives are committed to supporting local businesses and will be following up the campaign across the Valley. The campaign will be run in conjunction with the campaign we supported last year in Darwen.

If you are a local business in Rossendale or Darwen and would like to get involved please contact me through my blog, or by visiting http://www.rdca.co.uk/

Is Rossendale and Darwen the most picturesque constituency in the UK?

On Saturday morning I woke up and lookout of my bedroom window to see several inches of new fresh snow. We had an Action Day planned delivering 2000 local residents surveys. This looked unlikely to happen given that the roads were in some places impassable.

As the Action Day was off, I thought I would use the opportunity to take a few photos of Rossendale and Darwen on my way to my advice surgery in Belmont.

I think you will agree that Rossendale and Darwen is the most picturesque constituency in the UK.