Adrian Sanders

Campaign Leads to Extra Cash for Disabled

Bay MP Adrian Sanders hailed the Government for providing £20,000 more than last year for disabled people in Torbay but has criticised the Council for telling the Government it needed less, not more, money.

Each Council puts in a bid for what it thinks it needs for the disabled facilities grant scheme, which adapts homes to allow wheelchair users or those with limited mobility to live in them.

Torbay Council put its requirements at £330,000 and despite massive budget shortfalls this estimate was far below the 2009/10 grant of £465,000 and even further behind the 2010/11 grant of £485,000.  Fortunately the Government did not accept the Council’s ridiculously low bid and gave 147% of the bid figure in the grant-the highest increase on the bid for any council in the whole of England.

Council officers have frequently complained of budgetary pressures when vulnerable residents are faced with delays and Adrian has criticised the lack of joined up thinking that has resulted in the Council asking for less, not more, funding.

Adrian said: “We’ve made a small gain here but it could have been so much more had it not been for the mismanagement of the council.  It is not as if they are unaware of the problem.  Dozens of disabled residents have contacted me in recent months, suffering from budget shortfalls and delays in getting their homes adapted; each one of these I have referred to the Chief Executive of the Council.”

“The Council has seriously let down disabled people in the Bay and this will cause very serious problems.”

Bay MP Urges Re-Think on Babbacombe Proposals

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has written to elected mayor Nick Bye today, urging him to listen to the concerns of local people surrounding the proposed development on Babbacombe Downs.

Local residents have raised concerns that the development will severely impact upon the natural beauty of the area and that the council is disposing of open spaces for quick financial gain.

Adrian said: “Torbay desperately needs investment and development but there is no point in pursuing projects that severely damage our best selling point-the stunning natural beauty of the Bay.”

“Add to this that the proposals for the Downs have been subject to a questionable level of public consultation-as so often seems to happen with Mayoral projects-and it seems essential that the Mayor puts his plans on hold.”

Please click below to view Adrian's letter to Nick Bye. 

Download Letter to Nick Bye 30-03-10

Adrian Sanders MP Urges Torbay Students to Apply in Time for Loans

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders is encouraging all continuing and prospective students to apply in good time to ensure they receive student loans for the 2010/11 academic year.

The  National Audit Office today published a damning report into last year’s student loan fiasco, where thousands of students did not receive necessary loans to cover rent and other living costs.  The report also stated that it was doubtful whether all of the 2009 problems would be resolved for 2010.

The following dates apply as final deadlines:

23^rd April 2010-for prospective and returning students who are applying for the basic loan only.

21^st May 2010-for continuing students who received loans in 2009/10 and are applying for means tested loans for 2010/11

25^th June 2010-for new students applying for means tested loans for 2010/11

Adrian said: “The problems last year smacked of Ministerial incompetence and lazy bureaucracy.  That these problems are likely to recur is a serious indictment on the Government.”

“It is therefore very important that students hoping to attend university in the autumn, even if they do not have a place or offer at the moment, must apply as soon as possible for their loans.  Anyone with questions on their specific case can contact my office for advice on 01803 200036.”

Bay MP pledges support for nursing

Adrian Sanders, MP for Torbay met nursing leaders and students from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in Westminster on Wednesday (17^th March). The event, on a specially customised double decker bus, was part of the RCN Nursing counts campaign which highlights the key issues for the nursing community ahead of the general election.

Adrian said, after visiting the bus –

“The students and nurses I met today were keen and highly committed to delivering an excellent health service for the twenty-first century. A number of Torbay nurses have highlighted the importance of this campaign to me and I am very pleased to support the RCN’s Nursing counts campaign as we approach the general election. It is essential that nursing and nurses are given the support and recognition that they deserve.”

On the bus were student nurses from across the UK along with Janet Davies, Executive Director of Nursing and Service Delivery for the RCN. Adrian chatted to nursing students about why the shift to nursing as an all graduate profession is so important. He was given a copy of the RCN’s manifesto for the forthcoming general election and pledged their support to the Nursing counts campaign.

To find out more about the Nursing counts campaign and the key issues for nurses at the general election, please visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/generalelection

Adrian Sanders MP gets on board with Guide Dogs’ Talking Buses campaign

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has pledged their support for Guide Dogs’ ‘Talking Buses’ campaign, at an event held by the charity to raise awareness of how Talking Buses – which clearly announce the next stop and final destination – make bus travel easier and safer for passengers. 

Guide Dogs has found that many disabled and elderly people cannot use buses independently and with confidence for fear of being stranded at the wrong stop. They are often left feeling anxious and unsafe, and some give up using the bus altogether.

The charity is calling for all buses in the UK to have audible as well as visible announcements on-board, similar to those on trains. It is urging the government to make it compulsory for audio-visual (AV) information systems to be installed on all new buses and coaches. It is also encouraging councils and bus operators to look at providing systems on existing vehicles to improve the accessibility and quality of services for local people.

In a recent YouGov survey, 66 per cent of respondents said they thought it would make bus travel easier if there were on-board announcements about where the bus is going and what stop is coming up.

David Cowdrey, Guide Dogs’ campaign manager, says: “A lack of information undermines the independence and safety of vulnerable people who rely on buses to get around. Blind and partially-sighted people, for example, cannot see where they are, while wheelchair users often end up placed facing backwards. These people risk ending up at the wrong stop.

“As well as disabled people, Talking Buses improve travel for all passengers – including visitors to the area – hopefully encouraging more to leave their cars at home. And in an emergency, an AV announcement system enables the driver to warn passengers.”

Adrian added: “Adapting buses to be more user friendly for those with little or no sight is very simple for bus companies but could make so much difference for passengers and improve their experience of public transport.”

Companies including Transport for London, Trent Barton Buses (Nottingham and Leicester) and Thamesdown Transport (Swindon) have successfully rolled out AV systems on their buses.

Guide Dogs’ Talking Buses campaign has the support of 24 national disability organisations.

People can find out more about Guide Dogs’ ‘Talking Buses’ campaign, and lend their own voices, by visiting www.guidedogs.org.uk/talkingbuses.

Bay MP Calls for More Support for Torbay's Jobless

Following another rise in the unemployment level in Torbay, announced today, Bay MP Adrian Sanders has called for extra support for Torbay's jobless as figures released show the area suffering disproportionately from the recession.

With the release of the quarterly jobseeker figures, which Adrian has previously highlighted as showing the most accurate trends as opposed to month on month comparisons, the area has recorded an increase for the third quarter in a row.  At 3,777 unemployed the figure is higher than at any time in the past 10 years.

Adrian said: “As we witnessed during the boom and bust recessions of the 1980's and early 90's Torbay is often first to go into recession and last to recover.  This time our problems have been compounded by failure to diversify our economy away from over reliance on low value employment and seasonal working.

"We know the challenges are to improve our transport links, maintain the highest standards in education and training, provide affordable housing and diversify our economy."

"I have asked the Employment Minister for more support to help people back into work and will continue to argue for better transport links and a local economic strategy that is sustainable and able to deliver the jobs people want.”

Adrian Sanders MP Makes Pledge to Voters on Student Fees

Adrian Sanders today signed a pledge to voters ahead of the forthcoming general election that he will vote against any increase in tuition fees in the next Parliament.

The National Union of Students has launched the Vote for Students campaign to encourage candidates to pledge to protect student interests by opposing attempts to lift the cap on student top-up fees.

There are around 7400 students at South Devon College studying for a range of further and higher education qualifications while several hundred Torbay teenagers leave the area every year to go to university.

Adrian said: “Further and Higher education should be open to everyone with the necessary ability; they should not be deterred by high fees and a mountain of debt.  This is why I will be opposing any increases in the tuition fee cap and the Liberal Democrats will continue to campaign for the abolition of tuition fees.”

Bay MP Supports Electoral Registration Drive

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders is supporting the Electoral Commission in its aim to ensure everyone eligible to vote has the chance to have their say at the forthcoming General Election.

Current estimates show that around 5,000 people in Torbay who are eligible to vote may not be registered, rendering them incapable of voting in the next election, which must take place by June.

The rate of non-registration increases considerably for those aged 18-24 and those in rented accommodation.  In particular many who have moved home in the past 6 months are at risk of not being included in the electoral register.

Anyone eligible to vote can register up to 11 working days before the election by contacting Torbay Council on 01803 207171.

Adrian said, “Whichever way you want to vote at the next election, it is essential for everyone over the age of 18 to at least have the opportunity to have their say in how their local area is represented.  Failing to be registered prevents hundreds of thousands of people nationwide getting involved.”

“When I was first elected to represent my home town just 12 votes separated me from the Conservative Candidate, proving that every vote counts in Torbay.”

Adrian Sanders MP meets blind campaigners to hear about key issues for people with sight loss

Adrian Sanders MP this week met blind and partially sighted campaigners from across the country who are working at local level to secure a better deal for people with sight loss. The event celebrated the work of the cross-party parliamentary group on Eye Health and Visual Impairment (1), which meets to raise parliamentarians' awareness of issues affecting people with sight loss and on prevention of sight loss.

Tara Melton, RNIB's South West Region Campaigns Officer (2) said: "Local campaigners were delighted to be invited to the Westminster reception and meet with MPs to discuss their priorities for change. At the moment campaigners are working hard locally to improve NHS provision of information to people with sight loss, support for people at the time they are diagnosed with sight loss, as well as problems with the pedestrian environment, like pavement parking.”

The reception also featured opportunities for MPs to experience specialist equipment used in the workplace by people with sight loss. However, two thirds of blind and partially sighted people of working age are not in work.

Adrian said: “There are around 3,000 people in Torbay who have some degree of sight loss.  It is essential that local employers are aware of the Government’s Access to Work scheme, which can pay up to 100 per cent of the costs associated with employing a disabled person.”

Stop Mental Health Discrimination

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has called for the next government to reduce mental health stigma and put in a range of measures to protect the rights of people with mental illness.

He is supporting the campaign Rethink which seeks to ensure people with severe mental health illnesses get access to the right treatments and that carers receive adequate information about the person they care for.

Only 14% of people with mental health illnesses such as schizophrenia receive any psychological therapy despite being strongly recommended by health watchdog NICE and 33% of carers do not receive basic information such as the diagnosis of the person they care for.

The recession’s impact is expected to increase demand on mental health services which are often seen as a soft option for cuts in hard times.

Adrian said, “Mental health affects one in four in the UK in their lifetime. Currently there are approximately 7000 people with mental illness in Torbay. These people are less likely to be eligible to vote, and without the right to vote how can they stand up and fight for their rights? It is vital that the next government looks out for these vulnerable people and prevents them being discriminated against.”