http://robin-hughes.org.uk/articlearchive.php Recent Press Articles from Cllr Robin Hughes en-GB Cllr Robin Hughes http://robin-hughes.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2009 Cllr Robin Hughes 2009-01-07T13:02+00:00 United Kingdom http://robin-hughes.org.uk/articles/000008/hampshire_conservatives_preelection_contrick_lib_dem_response.html Hampshire Conservatives over-charged council tax payers this year so they could bribe the voters with a lower increase next year - County election year. They denied it at the time, but now the truth is out. They have also announced some modest improvements to services to try to distract people from the major service cuts they are making. 2008-06-12T00:00+00:00 http://robin-hughes.org.uk/articles/000002/liberal_democrats_proposed_a_500000_boost_for_hampshires_book_fund.html I am surprised that Hampshire County Council's Executive Member for Recreation & Heritage, Councillor Margaret Snaith, should deliberately misrepresent how I and my fellow Liberal Democrat councillors voted at Hampshire's recent budget meeting. 2008-03-16T12:00+00:00 http://robin-hughes.org.uk/articles/000004/incapacity_for_listening_and_learning.html I was very surprised by Cllr Kirk's response to my letter you kindly printed in the 16/11/07 issue of the Andover Advertiser. Quoting from that letter as printed, "Hampshire County Council, Test Valley Borough Council and Testway Housing all have maps of land in their ownership". So I do not understand how he has managed to conclude from that letter that I was "not aware" of the existence of the colour maps held by the three organisations. Indeed I hold on file my own copy of the Testway maps for much of the area I represent. That is why it is so frustrating that even with the existence of these maps; residents have to call one call centre, then another to find out who is responsible. 2007-12-08T00:00+00:00 http://robin-hughes.org.uk/articles/000005/school_fury_at_more_upheaval_for_pupils.html I would like to add my comments on the article in Friday's paper concerning the school fury at more upheaval for pupils. In September there where rumours that the Shepherds Spring Junior school buildings would be closed and both the Shepherds Spring Junior and Infant schools would operate from the infant school buildings from January 2008. At the end of September 2007 I was given the following assurances from the county council officers; 2007-11-26T00:00+00:00 http://robin-hughes.org.uk/articles/000003/its_not_our_responsibility.html Is it not about time that Testway Housing, Test Valley Borough Council and Hampshire County Council could agree which footpaths, roads, light columns, trees or areas of open space in Andover, particularly on the estates they are individually responsible for? A common frustration for local residents in reporting local problems to these organisations is the response of "It's not our responsibility". Well it's usually one of the above if it's to do with footpaths, roads, abandoned cars, light columns, trees, litter or areas of open space. Hampshire County Council, Test Valley Borough Council and Testway Housing all have maps of land in their ownership and one would not think it totally impossible for them to be able to get together and agree a definitive map. When Mrs A or Mr B report a problem they want that one phone call to get the problem resolved quickly and efficiently. They are not to bothered who gets the job done as long as it's done! 2007-11-16T00:00+00:00 http://robin-hughes.org.uk/articles/000006/andover_councillors_forum_not_a_substitute_for_a_andover_town_council.html I was most interested to the letter from Phil North who I doubt has been to as many Andover Forum meetings as myself. If he had as much knowledge on these matters as he would like us to believe he has then he would understand how absurd his comparison is. The fifteen TVBC Borough councillors for the town wards have in allowances for 2006/07 received in excess of £75000. Fifteen or even twenty-five parish councillors for Andover would cost nothing as parish councillors do not receive allowances. It is therefore incorrect to suggest that parish councillors will cost more. I believe that Andover would benefit from a town / parish council. Certainly the existing 56 parishes councils in Test Valley appear to benefit from having one. Two new parish councils are being created In Test Valley in April 2007. I think that indicates that those local communities believe they will benefit from one. So why not Andover? 2007-03-12T00:00+00:00 http://robin-hughes.org.uk/articles/000001/enham_alamein_parish_council.html I enthusiastically welcome the creation of the Enham Alamein parish council on the 1st April 2007. It is a small step in improving the local governance and community representation in Andover and in the borough of Test Valley. I shall look forward to working with the parish councillors of Enham Alamein following their election / appointment in May 2007. From May 2007 there will be 58 local government parishes in Test Valley, one Town Council (Romsey), 50 Parish Councils and 7 Parish Meetings. 2007-02-24T00:00+00:00 http://robin-hughes.org.uk/articles/000007/andover_to_winchester_service_bus_cut.html The woefully inadequate public transport between Andover and Winchester is set to worsen if the proposal to withdraw the Sunday Andover-Winchester-Basingstoke service goes ahead. Cllr. Hughes believes that some of the 14500 users of this service will no doubt have used this service to visit relatives or friends in the Royal Hampshire County Hospital Winchester. 2005-09-23T00:00+00:00