Ipswich Labour delivers on its promise

Over the last few years local Ipswich Tories have attempted to scare local residents by claiming that the Labour run council was planning to build houses on the Ransomes Sports Ground.

Myself and fellow  Labour councillor Sandra Gage campaigned hard to get a new sports pavilion built on the site and the Labour council promised that they would build the new facility. Now we have a superb community pavilion, and our local football club have started to use the facility.

Cllr Sandra Gage outside the new pavilion 

Next summer it will also be used by the local cricket club – we also have a new bowls club up and running and work is about to start on a new car park. Ipswich Labour has delivered on its promise.

Ransomes  Sports FC commented

 “The new facilities at Ransomes provide us with some of the most up-to-date in the county and our grateful thanks go to all concerned – Alasdair Ross has been instrumental in getting the new pavilion built and a special mention of gratitude to him from all at Ransomes Sports FC”.

Back to real campaigning

At first it felt great to be out on the doorstep, knocking on doors, talking to residents rather than fighting each other in the Labour leadership battle, which at times had quite a toxic feel to it.

But once I started talking to residents it became quite obvious we have a big battle in front of us, the polls are not wrong - Jeremy Corbyn is still not seen as a future Prime Minister to many voters, in particular to those who did not vote Labour in 2015 who we have to attract to win seats like Ipswich.

Constant 'own goals' such as the Corbyn aides comments on Syria/Russia and then examples of what could be seen as an orchestrated establishment/;press campaign against Corbyn such as how the MPs report on anti-semitism has been spun to make it seem the report was just solely an attack on Corbyn and the Labour Party.

What also became obvious is that Ipswich residents are not happy with this Tory Government, it is becoming obvious every day that Brexit will now bring problems for most of us, and then in addition to that in May we are holing County Council elections and Tory run Suffolk have made a mess of highways, 'Travel Ipswich' , care homes and education. Even Tory supporters can see that Labour run Ipswich Borough Council are doing a good job even with the cuts to our funding from this Tory Government. so it is galling to Labour activists that we can't make the most of these Tory deficiencies locally as the public are yet to get behind Corbyn and the antional party.

But all is not lost, I still have doubts about many of the Corbyn front bench but we now do have some excellent and capable MPs in some of the very important junior posts - the likes of Keir Starmer and  John Healey plus some of the Labour heavyweights will also be taking key roles as Chairs of Select committees.

Jeremy Corbyn has won a second leadership battle and has earned the right for all of us to campaign hard behind him to try and win in 2020 but that does not mean we should be silent when groups like Momentum and some of his closest supporters act in a way that will make the cahnces of winning in 2020 almost impossible.

It was good to hear the new Shadow Defence Minister (our third one already) say that we will continue to support the Trident renewal - but it is important at some time that Corbyn also commits to this as we can't have the majority of the PLP and the Shadow Cabinet sticking to Labour Policy whilst the leader sends out mixed messages on this important issue.

So the future? We campaign hard for a Labour Government led by Jeremy and whilst doing taht trying and gain more Labour County Councilors and in 2018 and 2019 retain our control of Ipswich Borough Council - it is obvious from talking to Ipswich residents that the local Labour Party is trusted by them.

Examples of that trust were on public display on Saturday afternoon as first of all Labour councilors were at the local tennis club where improvements have been made to their courts with support of funding from the local Area Committee (same committee the Tories wanted scrapped - not that it stopped Tory MP Ben Gummer from attending the event ).

But later in the afternoon was a real example of why Ipswich Labour are trusted over the local Tories, a number of us attended the Senior Cup Football match at Ransomes - and were fortunate enough to be shown round the new million pound pavilion and changing rooms - a complex built by Labour run Ipswich, unfortunately the visitors from North Suffolk to win but it was a comment from one of the Ransomes players that was the highlight of my day, the player commented to one of councilors - " You delivered, what you promised, thank you"  this player like most of the club and local residents have been told at every election that we only took over control of Ransomes so we could build council houses on the site. Saturday was the final nail in the coffin of that Tory lie!

The Tories can't be trusted in Ipswich and Suffolk and residents know they can trust the local Labour Party, residents also are losing faith in the Tory Government and it is now up to us (with an improvement in performance from Corbyn and all our MPs in Westmisnter) to get the message over that we can be trusted to run this great country again.

End to Tory lies in Rushmere?

Over the last few years, Ipswich Tories have attempted to tell the electorate in Rushmere Ward, Ipswich that the Labour run council evicted the local sports club from the Ransomes site in order to build (Council) houses.

Last Friday I was privileged to be shown round the new sports pavilion at  Ransomes - a very impressive building with changing rooms built to a higher standard than many other facilities at Football League clubs.

That is not the end of the work - we will soon see a new car park and the return of the renovated Ransomes Memorial gates. We also hope to see the bowls green back in use (the bowls club were evicted before the council took over the running of the club)

Over the next few weeks we will see St Margaret's Cricket club using the new pavilion and then (newly promoted) Ransomes FC will start to share the facilities.

So maybe an end to the Tory lies but do not expect an apology from them for misleading local residents. 

My week ahead, 17 - 22 August 2015

Monday 17 August, 3pm – NE Agenda setting meting
4pm – Culture portfolio meeting
6pm – Labour campaigning in South West Ipswich

Tuesday 18 August, Tour of Britain, Media launch, and cycle ride – Thetford

Thursday 20 August, Campaigning all day in Rushmere ward, Ipswich

Saturday 22 August, 8am – Crafted Classique Cycle ride – Waterfront

Ipswich – the ‘new’ home of sport

This week I am at the media launch of the Tour of Britain which returns to Ipswich next month, good timing because this Saturday I am (stupidly??) entered into the Crafted Classique 100km cycle ride. The Sportive is yet another example of how Ipswich is defining itself as a sports capital.

Of course we have a head start on becoming the ‘home’ of sport as we are home to the famous Ipswich Town FC! But that is just a start and it is not just the elite sport we attract alongside the Tour of Britain we have the sportive and the Sky ride. On Friday we had our first twilight running race through the town and last week we welcomed the Rugby World Cup to Ipswich.

Much of this is due to the brilliant work of our council officers, who have forged great working partnerships with British Cycling, the FA, SCC and many others. The Labour run council has also given its full support to the drive to make this a real ‘home’ of sport and the building of a new pavilion at Ransomes is another example of the work we are involved in.

We are also lucky to have an internationally acclaimed gymnastics centre plus basketball and handball clubs which are both thriving.

Not that we get any recognition of this work from our local Tories or in particular our Tory MP, Ben Gummer – but then again the Olympic legacy that was promised is only been delivered by local authorities like Ipswich and voluntary bodies, the Tory Government have are removing much of the PE provision in schools and even the Olympic Stadium seems to have been handed over to West Ham at a very low price.

My week ahead, 10 - 16 August 2015

Monday 10 August, 4pm – Meeting with Suffolk FA at Ransomes

Tuesday 11 August, 11am – Welcoming the World Rugby Cup to Ipswich, Cromwell Square 5pm – meeting with Deputy Leader candidate, Ben Bradshaw, Station Hotel

Thursday 13 August, 6pm – Area Committee Chairs meeting, Grafton House

Saturday 15 August, 10am – Labour Campaigning, North East Ipswich

A good week ahead for me a mix of politics and sport – with two big cycling events coming up over the next few weeks this week it is football and rugby taking centre stage.

On Monday I am attending a meeting with the Suffolk FA looking at our plans for Ransomes, work on the pavilion should start next month.

Some might have expected an apology from certain Ipswich Tories as they were always quick to go to print and tell anyone who would listen that we planned to build council houses on the site, but I never expected the ;likes of Judy Terry, Kevin Algar or Eddie Phillips to apologise.

We also have the Rugby World Cup coming to Ipswich on Tuesday, slightly more low profile than the Olympic Torch relay and the Commonwealth Baton event but I am sure Ipswich residents will make Tuesday a great day for all.

Also on Tuesday, we have another Deputy Labour Leader candidate coming to Ipswich to speak to members and supporters, it will give at least one Ipswich Tory activist another opportunity to put numerous lies in his blog. Last week for the visit of Angela Eagle he informed his readers how many Labour councillors attended the event and even used a photograph as evidence, trouble was there were more councillors in the photo that he counted!

Ipswich Tories were out in Rushmere Ward on Saturday, not that I or my neighbours received a leaflet but rumour has it Mr Gummer was asking for residents views on the town centre, thought it may be a bit late to ask as he has nailed his support to the Ipswich Central Plan – and rubbished the plans of the Borough Council - what now if residents do not agree with that Ipswich Central Plan?

Ransomes the truth not Tory lies!

For some reason the Tories continue to peddle lies about the future of Ransomes Sports Ground – you would think by now they would admit that they were barking up the wrong tree and support the council in the future plans for the site. But instead we continue to get lies and deliberate misinformation promoted via leaflets, blog posts and comments from prominent Ipswich Tories about the future of Ransomes.

The latest tirade of untruths come (no surprise) from the former Tory councillor for the ward, Judy Terry. Now I am sure that a number of Ipswich Tories know that Mrs Terry is being very economical with the truth but their leader informs me that she can’t stop former Cllr Terry from giving her ‘opinion’ but you would think she would possibly ask her candidates for the council next year not to repeat the accusations as she is well aware that a new pavilion is being built on the site and that we have (and never did) have any intention of building a council estate on Ransomes Sports field.. But she seems to think it is OK for Tory activists to give Mrs Terry a platform to continue her campaign of misinformation as by posting her version of events it does not mean they agree with her!

Last month, Mrs Terry used her ‘Flyer’ column to be very critical of politicians – so you may understand my anger when she continues to be very economical herself with the truth in her latest rant about Ransomes.

Let us look at some of her comments;

First of you may wonder how much Mrs Terry knows about Ransomes as she sates it is in Sidegate lane – in fact it is in Sidegate Avenue.

She then states IBC had a fierce legal battle with the clubs management – fact is we had a legal dispute with one person – the site manager.

She is right in stating the clubhouse has been condemned and is now being demolished but forgets to mention that the various sports clubs are very happy with the new changing rooms – temporary but far better that what they had before.

She also mentions we will not talk to local football club Ipswich Valley Rangers, who were interested in the site – wrong again, we have and still are talking to Ipswich Valley Rangers, and helped facilitate their move back to the town from their former ground in Melton and they now play on IBC owned pitch at Gainsborough. As Ransomes FC play in the same league not as easy as Mrs Terry would think – moving one club in and asking another club to leave.

She also states there has been no consultation with residents – the residents of the three closest roads have had regular newsletter delivered to them to keep them informed of what is actually happening rather than them having to listen to Tory canvassers inform them we were planning to build a council estate on the site!

Then we have yet further proof to show that she has little knowledge of what actually happens at Ransomes or the local sports scene ( disappointing as that used to be her portfolio!)

Judy Terry comments (Ransomes) has thrived, with hundreds of youngsters, as well as adults, coaching and playing sport every evening and at weekends – and all day in the school holidays. Now, this level of activity is just a distant memory; a great loss to the community

Distant memory? I called in today, a packed car park and youth and adult football matches being played side by side. School holidays – football courses were run by ex ITFC player Jason Dozzell before we took the club back over and guess what? Every holiday since Jason has continued to run his football courses at Ransomes .

Ransomes this morning - still thriving

I attended Ransomes on a Sunday at the end of last season, and there were hundreds of children playing football with their parents and families watching – As Ransomes successfully hosted the end of season local youth football league finals.

She mentions a Labour leaflet where we accuse the Tories of wanting to build houses on the sports ground – as I have delivered 90% of the leaflets in that area, I can’t remember one! Best bit is she then states she did want to build houses on the site! (The Tory candidate who blogged this misinformation is not sure if that is still Tory policy)

What Tory Judy Terry forgets to tell readers is as telling as the information she does give out.

One sports club has left the site, the Bowls Club, who were forced out by the old club management, they were soon followed by the sequence dancing club – even though they had raised much of the money needed to keep the hall up to standard. IBC has since found a new home for the dancing club at Gainsborough.

The cricket ground had already stopped being used by the County after the old groundsman was forced out by the club management.

She gives IBC no credit for planning to build a new pavilion or restoring the memorial gates. She talks about making the club a community social enterprise – does she not read local papers? St Clement’s, John Player (Bourne Vale) all local sports clubs having problems. Multi sports clubs are hard to run, football and cricket seasons now overlap, very few players play both sports their is always friction between sections and that friction is where probably Ransomes went wrong with the bowls club being the first victims of that inability to work together.

As both a local councillor and a sports fans I will continue to campaign hard for the future of Ransomes, I look forward to the new pavilion opening, the newly restored Memorial Gates being placed back on Sidegate Avenue and the continued success of Ransomes Football Club, Ransomes Youth FC, St Margaret’s Cricket Club.

But none of that will be made easier by the local Tories continuing to spread rumours and scare residents with talk of housing estates being built on the site.

Cllr Cenci the Tory leader seems happy for one of candidates to continue to help spread lies about the future of Ransomes - he seems to do it every year. A post he did last year upset a member of the cricket club so much that he wrote to Mr Algar who maybe not surprisingly did not post this sportsman's view of what is really happening at Ransomes, and the writer is not only a member of Ransomes but also lives in a house that backs onto the site!

Worth posting his reply to Mr Algar again , maybe Cllr Cenci and Mrs Terry should read it!

Dear Mr Alger

I have recently read your blog dated 25th April 2014, concerning Ransomes Social Club and the apparent labour agenda under the leadership of David Ellesmere as the parliamentary candidates to eventual use the land as a building site.

I feel compelled to email you to express at first hand the inaccuracies of your article and politely request you retract elements of your blog. As a member of St Margaret's Cricket club for over 10 years we had witnessed at first hand the unfortunate decline of standards and facilities over recent years. In the 2013 season, we did not have hot water at times, electrics were in a dangerous state of repair and asbestos was rife throughout the building (to name but a few). Financially, one could argue, the club was being mismanaged and no longer financially viable.

When the Ipswich Borough Council took over the grounds with a labour run local government we (along with the other sports teams) had some real reservations about political interference initially. As a resident, with my property backing onto the land, I was concerned. However, we had consultation meetings, our committee members met with the council and labour representatives regularly and we have continued with these dialogues. Slowly my worries have somewhat eased.

Let's examine how things look in late April 2014. The Ipswich Borough Council under the labour leadership of David Ellesmere with councillor Mr Ross, Ms Rudkin &Mr Grant have done the following within the past few months.

1. Rightly condemned the building due to safety reasons to protect the public
2. Hired the correct equipment for maintaining the ground
3. Improved facilities by adding quality temporary facilities with showers and toilets
4. Improved the electricity and water supplies
5. Improved our meeting room with new kitchen equipment
6. Cutting the ground regularly
7. Ensured that cleaning is done regularly of the changing rooms and to a high standard

I could not be happier with the progress and could not have asked for more from the council. I have had letters reassuring me the council have no plans to build on this land. The money being spent on this and the time and effort seems to overwhelmingly support these statements. The futures, is looking brighter with the community rightly taking a more active role within collaborative with all parities.

Your comments in my opinion are unsubstantiated with a lack of primary evidence and personal experience. I urge you to readdress the blog at your earliest opportunity. In my opinion, Ransomes Sports & Social Club as a community sports area should not be used as a political football, particularly as in my opinion on this occasion Mr Alger you have scored an own goal!

Yours sincerely

Carl Fitch

If the Tory leader is happy for lies to be spread about Ransomes by one of her council candiadtescan we trust what her councilors and candidates say about the Northern Fringe of any other issue that involves the residents of Ipswich?

Then again Tory candidate Mr Algar also once posted about his own Tory Group " Then you have the Tory ‘opposition’ - utterly shambolic and pathetically weak. One of the reasons Ipswich Conservatives abstain in votes so often is the fact that they have no policies and don’t believe there is a need for any" - so maybe he gets his facts right some time!

Strange Tory leaflet!

After waiting over a year the local Rushmere Tories have sent me a leaflet - but strange in that leaflet they have chosen to remind Rushmere residents of two of their most embarrassing moments.

Ransomes and Inverness Road, the two issues where Cllr Terry has managed to confuse herself as well as residents. Trouble is the local Tories are still trying to tell residents that we intend to build house on the Ransomes site. Nothing could be further from the truth; then again in the past, Mrs Terry did forget she had invited a fellow Suffolk Tory to look at the prefabs on Inverness Rd so they could discuss her plan to knock them down!

Ransomes - Tories still trying to fool residents

During the last two election campaigns in Rushmere the Tories have attempted to cause alarm amongst local residents and sports teams about future plans for Ransomes Sports club.

It is disappointing that even this year, local Tories are still telling residents on the doorstep that the (Labour run) council intend to build houses on the site. A number of blogs have also found themselves fed the same inaccurate story by certain leading Ipswich Tories. Ipswich Spy has published a number of one sided posts in the past but it seems even they would not print the latest story being pushed out by the Tories.

But Tory activist Kevin Algar was happy enough to post an article about Ransomes without checking the facts. As both the local councillor and a sports fan it has been difficult not to speak out earlier but as it at one time thought that the Ransomes issue may end up in court it was not possible to go public with the true facts.

It has taken a lot of hard work by councillors, council officers and members of the various sports clubs to get to the position where we are now and there I still much to do but we are moving in the right direction. The latest inaccurate Tory post has upset many of those involved in the local sports clubs and they have decided to go public to show their disgust in the way the future of Rnasomes has been used by the Tories to try and gain votes.

A member of the cricket club did write to Ipswich Tory, Mr Algar asking him to remove his inaccurate post but he has refused to do so.

After Mr Algar refused to remove the post the cricket club have given me permission to publish the letter on my blog.

The letter clearly shows readers of this blog that the Tories have been attempting to alarm local residents in the hope to win the Rushmere seat. It has failed at the last two elections and will fail again this time.

Dear Mr Alger

I have recently read your blog dated 25th April 2014, concerning Ransomes Social Club and the apparent labour agenda under the leadership of David Ellesmere as the parliamentary candidates to eventual use the land as a building site.

I feel compelled to email you to express at first hand the inaccuracies of your article and politely request you retract elements of your blog. As a member of St Margaret's Cricket club for over 10 years we had witnessed at first hand the unfortunate decline of standards and facilities over recent years. In the 2013 season, we did not have hot water at times, electrics were in a dangerous state of repair and asbestos was rife throughout the building (to name but a few). Financially, one could argue, the club was being mismanaged and no longer financially viable.

When the Ipswich Borough Council took over the grounds with a labour run local government we (along with the other sports teams) had some real reservations about political interference initially. As a resident, with my property backing onto the land, I was concerned. However, we had consultation meetings, our committee members met with the council and labour representatives regularly and we have continued with these dialogues. Slowly my worries have somewhat eased.

Let's examine how things look in late April 2014. The Ipswich Borough Council under the labour leadership of David Ellesmere with councillor Mr Ross, Ms Rudkin &Mr Grant have done the following within the past few months.

1. Rightly condemned the building due to safety reasons to protect the public
2. Hired the correct equipment for maintaining the ground
3. Improved facilities by adding quality temporary facilities with showers and toilets
4. Improved the electricity and water supplies
5. Improved our meeting room with new kitchen equipment
6. Cutting the ground regularly
7. Ensured that cleaning is done regularly of the changing rooms and to a high standard

I could not be happier with the progress and could not have asked for more from the council. I have had letters reassuring me the council have no plans to build on this land. The money being spent on this and the time and effort seems to overwhelmingly support these statements. The futures, is looking brighter with the community rightly taking a more active role within collaborative with all parities.

Your comments in my opinion are unsubstantiated with a lack of primary evidence and personal experience. I urge you to readdress the blog at your earliest opportunity. In my opinion, Ransomes Sports & Social Club as a community sports area should not be used as a political football, particularly as in my opinion on this occasion Mr Alger you have scored an own goal!

Yours sincerely

Carl Fitch

Ransomes will thrive and we hope to give the site a further boost in the Summer with some more good news.

Top tip - never trust what a Tory tells you on a Rushmere doorstep

Get the facts right - Allotments and Ransomes

On Tuesday we held our latest North East Area Committee, and though a smaller audience than we have had recently, there was still a good debate between residents and councillors about local issues. We also heard good news about the printing and distribution of the 'Woodbridge Road' traders map and we were informed of the competition date of the improvements to one of our local parks.

We also had in the audience, a couple of local Tory activists but if you read the report on the meeting written by one of them, you would not have been made aware of the issues mentioned above.

Instead in his report here, he concentrates on the draft allotment strategy with a significant inaccuracy!

Allotments in Ipswich are a story of success with 98% of plots being cultivated and a very high level of satisfaction, the new strategy seeks ti improve on the good work that was started with the 2005 strategy. When talking about the document I indicated that North East Tory, Judy Terry had been heavily involved in the 2005 piece of work (I was complimenting her) but Tory activist Kevin, decided to write his own inaccurate version of events .He wrote:

What the allotment strategy is, is the work done by conservative Councillor for Rushmere, Judy Terry in 2003 with a new date on it to make it look like this current administration are actually doing something. At the North East Area Committee, Rushmere Councillor for Labour, Alasdair Ross acknowledged that the strategy was the work of Councillor Terry.

The Tory activist must have enjoyed the meeting so much that he wrote a second report here, and then went to the South West Area Committee the following day and wrote a report on their meeting! In his second report he makes the mistake of listening to Judy Terry, When I informed residents that Ransomes was now back under the control, Cllr Terry muttered loudly that there was no budget to improve Ransomes.

Kevin decided to write:

The subject of Ransomes Sports Club came up where certain councillors attempted to score political points from the issue with little success. Councillor Terry’s statement about there not being a budget for Labour’s plans being the only good point.

Both Cllr Terry and Kevin Algar must feel stupid after reading the press release issued by Ipswich Borough Council today. It shows we are spending money on the site and that we also have the support of the sports teams using the club, as one footballer commented on another blog, the place had been unsafe for at least 10 years!
As I have always stated, we are determined to make Ransomes a success and it is only the Tories who have ever mentioned building houses on the site, the same Tories who also wanted to knock down the pre-fabs and build a care home!

This is what Ipswich Borough Council said:

New facilities for clubs at Ransomes sports ground are on their way, Ipswich Borough Council pledged today.

The announcement came as safety experts discovered that the electrics in the old club house were unsafe.

The discovery means that temporary changing rooms will be put in place before Christmas and alternative changing facilities found before then. The site will remain available for matches throughout the period of changes to the changing facilities and other repair work.

The Council remains committed to improving Ransomes for a variety of sports and stressed that since it had taken over the running of the facility on 1st November improvements to the site can start. The Council has now completed safety and structural surveys which showed the dangerous state of the electrics.

Councillor Bryony Rudkin, portfolio-holder, said: "We now know the extent of the problems with the building and can take immediate action. Safety remains our top priority but I want to repeat our determination to improve the site and widen its attraction for a number of sports "

Ransomes Sports Football Club Chairman Alan McDougall agreed. He said: "This is disappointing news but the issues with the building have to be addressed and the safety of the club's users has to be paramount. We are committed to working with the Council to secure the future of the Sports & Social Club and its facilities as the home of the Football Club. It is a challenging time but I am confident we can come out the other side in good shape and with improved and sustainable facilities."

My week ahead 29 July - 4 August 2013

Monday 29 July - 6pm, Labour campaigning, East Ipswich

Tuesday 30 July – 9am, Campaign Day in Oulton Broad for by-election

Wednesday 31 July – 10am – Visit to Christchurch and Holywells Park

Saturday 3 August - 10am, Labour campaigning, South West Ipswich

This week had an enjoyable evening with the Ransomes sequence dancing club, the Council have helped them find a temporary location at Gainsborough sports Centre whilst they wait for IBC to take over the running of the Ransomes Sports Club.

The members of the club made myself and the Mayor very welcome and told us how they were looking forward to going back to Ransomes once the legal situation is sorted out. The club are also happy about our proposals on how the site will be run and the improvements we have planned for what has become a very ‘tired’ pavilion.

The local Tories seem to be in disarray, local splits in the Ipswich group over the selection/de-selection of candidates for the Borough elections next year and more worrying for the residents of Ipswich seems to be the breakdown of trust between the Suffolk Tories and Ipswich Tories. This has caused a major fall out over the Tory run Suffolk plans to introduce lights on Bishops Hill and the removal of the mini roundabouts on Norwich Road.

I am not sure if the lights will benefit residents, but what is certainly true the lights were not in the original plans and there has been no consultation with local residents over the issue. This has now led to a public spat between the Tory County Portfolio for Transport, Graham Newman and leading local Tory, Liz Harsant.

There also seems to be no attempt by the local Tory MP’s Ben Gummer and Dan Poulter to bring the two groups together – trouble is it is only Ipswich residents who will lose out over this.

My week ahead 15 - 21 July 2013

Monday 15 July – 4pm, Culture Portfolio meeting
6pm, Labour campaigning

Thursday 18 July – 6pm, Scrutiny meeting

Back from a week away training potential Army Officers but now back in Ipswich to start Summer campaigning.
A planning application has been placed to turn the John Bull pub into a number of fast food take away restaurants. We are asking local residents for their views on this planning application.. The new application may cause more traffic issues on a road that is likely to see increased congestion once the Golden Key re-opens as Sainsburys after the summer. When Greene King applied to turn the Golden Key into supermarket they never mentioned that they were also going to off load the John Bull pub. Greene King have certainly not behaved like good neighbours.

Since I have been away, Ipswich Spy have posted about the on-going legal dispute with Ransomes Sports Club. As the issue may end up in court, unlike Ipswich Spy we have to be careful in what we say about the current management of the club. I am sure Sally Wainman means well but I am not sure she has been given the full story by certain members of the Ransomes management.

So maybe Sally should ask these questions:

Why was the Ransomes Bowls Club forced out by members of Ransomes management?

Why have the sequence dancing club also had to leave?

Why are many of the sports teams keen that IBC do take over the running of the club?

My week ahead 14 - 20 January 2013

Monday 14 January, 6pm - Labour campaigning

Tuesday 15 January, 5pm – Sidegate Primary School, Full Governing Body
7.30pm – Meeting with Ransomes Sports Club

Wednesday 16 January, 9am – Visit to Sidegate Primary School

Thursday 17 January, 6pm – Scrutiny Meeting, Ipswich Borough Council
7.30pm - Southern Taskforce Conference with John Denham MP

Saturday 19 January, 9.30am – Labour campaigning in South West Ipswich

In the week ahead, I will be visiting Sidegate Primary School plus attending a number of meetings with a Rushmere slant including meeting the members of Ransomes Sports Club.

Thursday will also see John Denham MP, visit Ipswich we now are officially a key target seat for Labour at the next General election, this may mean more support from Labour HQ but we have been determined since Ben Gummer won that we campaign hard to make sure that Labour regain Ipswich. I also believe that we should stand in every council seat in the south and the Southern taskforce has been assisting in this. The benefits of this campaign are already there to see with Labour winning seats in places that have hardly ever seen a Labour councillor elected and in places like Ipswich and Oxford we have seen us increase our majorities on councils that we run.

In Ipswich we have always believed we should help our friends in rural Suffolk, a noticeable difference between us and the Ipswich Tories who cannot seem even to work together in Ipswich. The ability to work together was one of the reasons we did so well in the Police and Crime Commissioners election (plus having the far better candidate)

So expect to see Ipswich Labour activists not only campaigning all over Ipswich but in every corner of Suffolk- but just hope it does not get any colder and we have to wear hats every time we are door knocking.

What Tory Sporting Legacy?

What Tory sporting legacy

After a fantastic Olympics, Mr Cameron was quick to tell the public that the government will continue to fund (elite) sport – even if the promise is only to 2016.
Closer to home, Ipswich Tories (and I guess that means Cllr Terry) have also jumped on the bandwagon and told the public what a sporting legacy they have left the Ipswich public.

Not sure much of a legacy has been left – a further years of the Tories in power in Ipswich would have seen the council pull out of Maidenhall Sports Centre and seen the Whitton Sports Centre given away to an outside agency.

Ransomes Sports Centre is mentioned again, but no credit given to Ipswich labour from saving the club and sports ground from developers in the first place! But surprisingly after all the scare stories put out by the Tories they now seem keen to build some houses on the site, possible on the site of the now disused bowls green!

But Cameron and the Ipswich Tories will not persuade the public they are serious about any sporting legacy whilst Mr Gove has any sort of power.

The Primary Schools Sporting Partnership was one of the first casualties of Mr Gove becoming Education Minister but his next target is selling off school playing fields. Now I will admit Labour should have done more to protect school playing fields whilst in power and the Tories have used statistics to show that they have not closed as many as Labour – trouble is it now has come to light that those figures were wrong and to top it Mr Gove has agreed to the sale of a number of sports fields even though he was advised not to sell them. He has gone against independent advice more times in 15 months that Labour Minister’s did in 9 years.

"Quickly kids, before that nasty Mr Gove sells the field off"

Now there is plenty of money to be made out of selling off playing fields and with Mr Gove and his Free Schools experiment there will be far more fields under threat. In Ipswich we have had much written about the failure of IBC, SCC and The Ipswich Academy to come to an agreement about the building of the sports centre. Wonder if Tory run Suffolk County Council will be asking Mr Gove if they can sell off the sports fields at the Holywells site?

So Mr Cameron has now gone on holiday (Mr Gove must have taken a longer holiday, as we have not heard a peep from him – (about playing fields, teaching sport in schools or even exam results!)

Will Mr Gove now resurface? Will he reverse the decision to axe the 2 hours compulsory PE lessons in schools? If he does will he also ensure that Free Schools and academies also have to make sure their pupils also continue to be taught PE?

As Ed Miliband and Andy Burnham have stated – sporting legacy has to be all party – it has to be a long term plan – the Olympics were a success because of that – Blair, Brown, Livingstone and in particular Tessa Jowell started the whole policy and Cameron and John son carried it on – not sure what Hunt did?

In Ipswich we will continue to promote sport but as many councils find (not just Labour ones) it is hard as this Tory/Lib Dem Government continue to cut funding to local authorities )but at the same time telling the public that the sporting legacy is safe)

My final question – what is the Lib Dem views on Sporting Legacy? I ask as they seem to have had little input into the Cameron and Johnson declarations on sporting Legacy or been critical of the plans to sell off sports fields by Mr Gove. Probably concentrating on reform of the House of Lords!

Ipswich - A sporting legacy

Ipswich – Sporting Legacy

Not many blog posts recently as I have become an Olympic addict – visiting live events in Glasgow and London and any other spare time spent in front of the TV with remote control at hand.

But I am drawn to contribute a post after comments about the legacy in sport left by Labour. Ipswich Tories have used the Olympics to again attack Labour and myself over the situation at Ransomes Sports Club.

There have been a number of serious issues raised about the management of the Ransomes Club, but as the club are now seeking legal advice it would be wrong of me to comment on them now.

Cllr Terry has been very critical about the probable eviction and has associated herself with the rumour that we wish to build houses on the site, this rumour has been exaggerated even further by Tory Kevin Algar who is accusing us of having a plan to build a council estate off Sidegate Avenue!

Now the only person who has ever mentioned building houses on the site was Cllr Terry when she was portfolio holder.

Now the mention of sporting legacy in Ipswich, the state of Broomhill is mentioned and the refurbishment of Crown Pools. What should be ,mentioned is that it was Labour who built, Nothgate Sports Centre, Gainsborough and Maidenhall Sports Centre plus Whitton and the Gymnastics Hub.

Only this year, I saw Beth Tweddle test her uneven bars routine at Gainsborough.

The Tories were against the original plan to build Crown Pools and only last year were looking to offload the Whitton and Maidenhall Sports Centres. Ipswich Spy (who seem to have lost any sense of impartiality) point out that it was Cllr Terry who as portfolio holder sport Culture and Leisure was planning to build an Olympic size 50M pool on the Portman Rd Car Park – what happened to that plan?

The Olympics have been a success and I am not surprised that Cameron and Boris have been using every possible opportunity to be seen at Olympic Park. Even Culture Minister. Jeremy Hunt decided to meet his mate Rupert Murdoch there (Rupert was there as a guest of Boris) but lets us not forget it was Tony Blair (and then followed on by Gordon Br own) who gave the Government support and backing to our 2012 Olympic bid.

But please can the Ipswich Tories stop describing themselves as the saviours of sport in Ipswich, because just like Gove if they had their way – there would be little if any money spent on sport and sporting facilities.

Ransomes - Still safe under Labour

This week there have been further developments over the future of Ransomes Sports Ground.

After a number of months of discussions and meetings the council has been left with no other option than to serve notice on the current management.

A Labour run Council bought the property in Sidegate Avenue in 1994, saving the sports ground from being sold off to developers. The sports and Social Club was given a 15 year lease to run the club but since 2009 have been running it on an ad hoc basis. Since the start of 2012 the Council have been seeking major changes to ensure that all sports continue to thrive at the club.

There have been a number of bloggers (Tory) and others stating that this because the council wish to build houses on the site. But the Labour Council wishes to stress that they are going to keep the council-owned facility open. They are not – I repeat not, going to close it. The council are going to save it for a variety of sports.
A number of residents have contacted me about the loss of Suffolk County Cricket, the way St Margarets Cricket Club have had to change venues at short notice, and the loss of the bowls club.

There have also been other comments made to me about how the club is managed but as we are led to believe by a leading Tory councillor that the club are taking legal advice it would not be appropriate to discuss these comments at this time.

Ipswich Spy and certain Tory blogs have attacked both myself and the Labour run council and have even called on myself to resign. I will not be taking their advice but I will continue to campaign and work with the council to ensure that Ransomes remains the premier sports facility in the town.

Ransomes - Must remain as a sports club

It’s been great getting out and speaking to people in Rushmere Ward, Ipswich over the last few weeks. One subject that has been raised by a number of people on the doorstep is: what is the council planning to do with Ransomes Sports Club? There have been a number of incorrect rumours circulating and I can understand why people may be concerned.

Some people seem more interested in making Ransomes part of a political football game than working with the club and the council to keep Ransomes as one of the premier sports clubs in the county.

I can state categorically that we want to see the Sports Club stay on the site; to flourish, with more members, a variety of sports played and to become a hub of local community involvement.

I have watched a number of sports at Ransomes, from seeing a young Liam Trotter play for Ransomes Youth FC before going onto play for Ipswich Town, to being present at the club the last time Suffolk won the County Cricket Minor Championships.

I remember as many of you will that it was a Labour-run council that saved the club when Ransomes sold the land. We still want to see Ransomes exist as a sports club.
We have no intention of closing the club and turning it into a housing estate.

I am committed to working with the council and the Sports Club to make sure Ransomes remains the premier sports club in Ipswich. I would like to see both bowls and Suffolk Minor County Cricket return to Sidegate Avenue. The football club is flourishing but I want to see all sports to be continued to be played at Ransomes and not just football.

As your local councillor, a local resident and a sports fan, I will do all I can to help the club grow and be a home for the whole community.

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