Government minister pleased with Gloucester
A Government minister responsible for Gloucester’s £7m regeneration yesterday said she was impressed with how far the city had come.
Rosie Winterton, Minister of State for Regional Economic Development, met fellow politicians and business leaders in Gloucester yesterday (fri) to see first-hand the plans for a linkages scheme between the Quays and the city centre.
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Greg Smith, Rosie Winterton and Parmjit Dhanda
Mrs Winterton, who is the MP For Doncaster North, said tales of Gloucester’s regeneration from MP Parmjit Dhanda had prompted her to pop in for a visit on her way to a meeting in Exeter.
She said: “Parmjit had a number of debates about this in the House of Commons, and I responded.
“He painted a very good picture of why the investment was needed. I’m so pleased that this money has been able to be used to invest in this area.
“I’ve been incredibly impressed.”
The minister was shown around the Gloucester Quays Designer Outlet Centre by Mr Dhanda, along with Gloucestershire Heritage Urban Regeneration Company chairman Chris Oldershaw.
Gloucestershire County councillor Mark Hawthorne, Ian Knight from the South West Regional Development Agency and Greg Smith, principal of Gloucestershire College, also joined the tour.
Mrs Winterton rejected the Conservative’s view that the South West Regional Development Agency should be scrapped.
She said: “Sometimes when you’re having to make decisions in Parliament it’s all quite technical, so seeing it for yourself is fantastic.
“Instead of it being a derelict and gloomy area, it’s a beautiful place to walk around and a great shopping centre. You can see how it has regenerated the whole area.”
Mr Dhanda said: “I’m always delighted to bring high-profile ministers to Gloucester to show them the value of the Government’s investment.”
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by John Doherty, Gloucester
Monday, February 08 2010, 9:45AM
“Shaun Shute ¿ Tell us why every time a Labour Politician walks out of a toilet everyone nearby holds their nose? Shaun is it also true you sell red PD close pegs in Gloucester?”
by shaun is sooo funny !, Gloucester
Monday, February 08 2010, 9:03AM
“Shaun, Pot and Kettle spring to mind !!”
by Shaun Shute, Gloucester
Monday, February 08 2010, 12:33AM
“The Regeneration of Gloucester would not have happened under the Tories. We now have the worst opposition in history. Mr Cameron has turned into Mr Wobble.”
by John Doherty, Gloucester
Sunday, February 07 2010, 11:15PM
“TRY SOME LABOUR SPIN - Remarkable the techniques Labour Government Ministers use to give electors the brush off when electors question important bills passing through Parliament. A number of Ladies wrote to their MP¿s as they were perplexed on actually reading Clause 16 of the Equalities Bill, as opposed to the ¿Spin¿ around it.
The MPs sent the letters for clarification, to Harriet Harman at the Equalities Office, and they were replied to by Vera Baird, Solicitor General, QC, MP, C.R.V.W. (Can't Read Very Well). Vera sent a form letter back to everyone, thanking them for their ¿Support¿ for the Bill and saying how great it was they ¿agreed¿ with the Government.
So... the ladies then got very annoyed, replied back to their MPs about the MP not noticing the sleight of hand, and how they wanted An Answer...Not Spin.
Vera Baird, Solicitor General, QC, MP... again sends the "Thank you very much for supporting the Equalities Bill" letter. She even rearranges the opening paragraph slightly, to show she's done something a wee bit different.
This is Enormously Representative of ¿Evasive¿ Labour Politicians who believe the electorate is but dirt under their feet to be trodden on while they follow their own Labour creed. Yes it is the same Vera Baird who had to pay back expenses and indeed she IS the Solicitor General - I would say Really Nice people to place your trust in. Yes Sir”
by CIJ Advocate Member, Glos
Sunday, February 07 2010, 8:19AM
“If we are to love and trust our elected representatives again - and how we long to do so - then it is necessary for us to know whether they have assets parked offshore, regardless of their provenance. Reasonable people can disagree as to whether the use of offshore facilities is consistent with working as a representative of the British people, but we must be able to go about our business secure in the knowledge that our MPs are not being bribed by shadowy business interests.”