UKIP councillor shocked at how town has been short-changed
Monday, 20th May 2013.
New Haverhill county councillor Tony Brown says he is getting more and more annoyed with the way Haverhill has been short-changed by everyone for the past 40 years.
As he learns more about his new role and the town he now represents at Ipswich, Cllr Brown, one of the town's new UKIP councillors, says he has been shocked at some of what he has heard.
He attended the first assessment held by the new West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group which has taken over control of health needs provision from the discredited NHS Suffolk.
What he heard prompted him to write another letter to the media urging all the town's representatives to fight harder in its interests.
"I was surprised and a bit shocked by some of the stories that were being told there," he writes of the CCG meeting.
"People having problems with loved ones with mental health issues not getting the right support, young teenagers with drug dependency not being able to access the correct services, old people because they do not shout loud enough getting a raw deal, transport issues because most of our services have now been devolved to Bury, buses not running when hospital appointments are given etc.
"Our vulnerable did not cause the recession but are sure paying for it! I know that west Suffolk CCG have only just begun there work but they need to get up to speed very quickly.
"There seems to be a pattern developing on all things revolving around the town. We have a high street that is pretty much the same as it was in 1975 when we had half the population, roads that are not fit for purpose.
"We are just about to get the plans signed off for another 2,500 houses with no real infrastructure upgrades.
"The St Edmundsbury Vision 2031 document offers no real vision, only another dose of what has gone on before for the last 50 years - more houses with a few traffic bollards thrown in for the high street.
"When you look at Cambridgeshire’s vision document that was released this week the comparison could not have been more stark - possible railway, guided bus, upgraded road to Haverhill.
"The ironic thing is we are not even in Cambridgeshire and they seem to cater for our forthcoming needs better than our own county.
"I have been talking to people about this over the weekend. We could build a monorail to Cambridge for half the price of a conventional railway (going on the figures and design work carried out for the proposed Seattle monorail).
"This could link up with Addenbrooke's Hospital, which is going to double the size of its workforce over the next few years, then on to join up with the main railway.
"This would be a greener more sustainable transport system. It would also be a great tourist attraction and really put Haverhill on the map.
"We have a lot of highly-paid people that are supposed to be looking after the interests of Haverhill from our MP down.
"I think it's about time that everyone involved in the running of the town stepped up to the plate, got things moving without any excuses and delivered on our health needs, high street and transport, etc - and that’s just for starters."
As he learns more about his new role and the town he now represents at Ipswich, Cllr Brown, one of the town's new UKIP councillors, says he has been shocked at some of what he has heard.
He attended the first assessment held by the new West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group which has taken over control of health needs provision from the discredited NHS Suffolk.
What he heard prompted him to write another letter to the media urging all the town's representatives to fight harder in its interests.
"I was surprised and a bit shocked by some of the stories that were being told there," he writes of the CCG meeting.
"People having problems with loved ones with mental health issues not getting the right support, young teenagers with drug dependency not being able to access the correct services, old people because they do not shout loud enough getting a raw deal, transport issues because most of our services have now been devolved to Bury, buses not running when hospital appointments are given etc.
"Our vulnerable did not cause the recession but are sure paying for it! I know that west Suffolk CCG have only just begun there work but they need to get up to speed very quickly.
"There seems to be a pattern developing on all things revolving around the town. We have a high street that is pretty much the same as it was in 1975 when we had half the population, roads that are not fit for purpose.
"We are just about to get the plans signed off for another 2,500 houses with no real infrastructure upgrades.
"The St Edmundsbury Vision 2031 document offers no real vision, only another dose of what has gone on before for the last 50 years - more houses with a few traffic bollards thrown in for the high street.
"When you look at Cambridgeshire’s vision document that was released this week the comparison could not have been more stark - possible railway, guided bus, upgraded road to Haverhill.
"The ironic thing is we are not even in Cambridgeshire and they seem to cater for our forthcoming needs better than our own county.
"I have been talking to people about this over the weekend. We could build a monorail to Cambridge for half the price of a conventional railway (going on the figures and design work carried out for the proposed Seattle monorail).
"This could link up with Addenbrooke's Hospital, which is going to double the size of its workforce over the next few years, then on to join up with the main railway.
"This would be a greener more sustainable transport system. It would also be a great tourist attraction and really put Haverhill on the map.
"We have a lot of highly-paid people that are supposed to be looking after the interests of Haverhill from our MP down.
"I think it's about time that everyone involved in the running of the town stepped up to the plate, got things moving without any excuses and delivered on our health needs, high street and transport, etc - and that’s just for starters."
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