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[shapps]

Yet more Government Hatfield cuts...
http://www.welwynhatfieldconservatives.com/index.php?sectionid=3&pagenumber=404

[MikeHobday]

Yet the Conservatives in Welwyn Hatfield say nothing when a Conservative County Council promises to close the Central Resources Library at New Barnfield.
http://www.shapps.com/forum/index.php/topic,2070.msg36014.html#msg36014
Why is Grant never so concerned about cuts to services in Hatfield that his own party makes?

[shapps]

Yet the Conservatives in Welwyn Hatfield say nothing when a Conservative County Council promises to close the Central Resources Library at New Barnfield.
http://www.shapps.com/forum/index.php/topic,2070.msg36014.html#msg36014
Why is Grant never so concerned about cuts to services in Hatfield that his own party makes?

Hi Mike, No you're wrong. I'm concerned about whatever closes anywhere in Welwyn Hatfield, if it's going to impact on my constituents then I'm relentless in campaigning against the closures.

That's the same whether it's a school, our Hospital or our Post Offices.

The point here is that the Gracemead House closure is happening right here and now.

[shapps]

AL10, far be it from me to try to convince you that someone like me might care patiently about the town centre, but I do.  I've worked tirelessly since the problems hit, at a level which I hope might make a difference.

The basic fact about the town centre is a story about a recession which has been made much worse by the way this government failed to prepare Britain during the good times.  There are three partners in the redevelopment; council, developer and government and the government had been taking an inactive part until recently, putting in the smallest amount of money and generally staying out of the picture.

I therefore met with the man who was soon to be responsible for that government funding and invited him to Hatfield during that first meeting, I then met again with him and have helped facilitate more high level Homes and Communities Agency / Council meetings for the New Year.  I also discussed the issues with residents, shop keepers on walkabouts, the council and the developer on several occasions. Finally, I communicated with every resident in Hatfield via a newsletter through every single door and provided a platform right here for a lively discussion to take place -- something which has given you quite a voice in all this AL10.

I think on reflection you'll agree that I've been far from inactive.

On the actual point of this thread, Gracemead House is set to close and I think it would be strange for me not to be concerned about it as the local MP. It's just across from my Hatfield Office and I frequently refer constituents to them on emergency hardship cases. The move to Watford will directly impact my constituents and that bothers me.

If a school closes anywhere in Welwyn Hatfield I will always be at the front of the line to fight that closure or get the school moved somewhere else that works for my constituents. Frankly, I don't give a damn who runs which authority, the key is to fight for the best services regardless.

Grant.

[MikeHobday]

Yet more Government Hatfield cuts...
][url=http://www.welwynhatfieldconservatives.com/index.php?sectionid=3&pagenumber=404]http://www.welwynhatfieldconservatives.com/index.php?sectionid=3&pagenumber=404[/url]

From Grant's press release: "I'm seriously concerned not only for the loss of these services, but also for the extra people who may lose their jobs as a result."

Yet, in fact, it seems (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/better-regulation/hatfield.pdf) that:
1. "Enquiry centre services will continue to be provided from Gracemead House or from an alternative location nearby"
2. No jobs will be lost - 7 staff will stay in Hatfield, 13 will move to Watford and 1 to Bishops Stortford
3. Welwyn Hatfield Council were consulted and did not object
4. The overall office scheme will save £26 million of public money by 2012

Perhaps a slight exaggeration in the initial warning, then?

[Mighty Hatfield]

Are you concerned about the closure of the central resources library Grant? and its replacement, which will be a waste incinerator? because try as i might, i cant seem to recall you ever damming the conservative county council for this decision.
 
A bit like your myopia when it comes to the town centre, blame the credit crunch all you like, yet you fail to grasp that any council worth its salt wouldve ensured that the repeated delays to the works wouldnt have happened, leading to the works already being underway - not at a point where St Modwens can walk away.
 
No outrage either from you, about the felling of all those trees at Stanborough, despite massive public opposition to the very undemocratic manner in which the council decided to do it.
 
You mentioned Schools, i also dont remember you speaking out against the Tory Councils decision to close the New Briars school, despite it being immensely succesful.
 
I also dont remember you sticking up for the residents of Old Hatfield when the council pushed through the bizzarre plans to allow HGV and Coach access, impacting on local residents of Church Lane. Another example of conservative council 'standing up' for conservative supporters.
 
Grant Shapps, the caring hardworking MP who stands up for his constituents, UNLESS its against his own party in which case he is no-where to be seen.
 
What a shame, what a pity. Rather than stand up for the people who voted you in, you'd rather stand by the fools who make these peoples lives a misery.
 
Just try to keep this in mind Grant, Welwyn Hatfield residents FIRST, Tory party Second.

[aracnid]

Since when has the decision to close the resorces library been made and agreed.
I use the library quite often and have not seen any signs of pending closure.
tho I have not been there during the past month.

[MikeHobday]

Since when has the decision to close the resorces library been made and agreed.
I use the library quite often and have not seen any signs of pending closure.
tho I have not been there during the past month.

Aracnid,
See http://www.shapps.com/forum/index.php/topic,2070.msg36014.html#msg36014
Sadly a quarter of the County Council cabinet are Welwyn Hatfield Tories.
Mike

[shapps]

From Grant's press release: "I'm seriously concerned not only for the loss of these services, but also for the extra people who may lose their jobs as a result."

Yet, in fact, it seems (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/better-regulation/hatfield.pdf) that:
No jobs will be lost - 7 staff will stay in Hatfield, 13 will move to Watford and 1 to Bishops Stortford

Perhaps a slight exaggeration in the initial warning, then?

Sadly no exaggeration after all.

I've received this letter from Treasury Minister Stephen Timms MP below and sadly workers at Gracemead House have this week been informed that their office is closing and there will be redundancies. Times are hard and difficult decisions are being made, but the original steer about no job loses has in fact turned out to be untrue.

Here is the detail:

[Contrarian]

A  big shame. A lot of people I know found this place invaluable. Where will the closest face to face advice centre be now?

[shapps]

A  big shame. A lot of people I know found this place invaluable. Where will the closest face to face advice centre be now?

The letter from the Minister doesn't make this clear - so I'm making further enquiries and will keep you posted via this forum thread.

[John Wood]

When this was first reported some time ago,they said it was going to move to Watford and there would be no redundancies.

[GhostTown68]

Blimey, you'd think there was a recession on with all these redundancies?

Nice of our MP to drop in on his own site though, its been a while Grant!