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Labour MEPs push
for major reform of Europe's agriculture policy
"LABOUR will keep fighting
for ambitious reform of Europe's Common Agricultural Policy.
Farming is a vital
industry in the UK and EU as a whole, and by reforming the CAP we
can ensure that our agricultural production is modern, green and fit
for the future.
Unfortunately, MEP's in the Agriculture Committee have opted to stick
with the status quo, by voting against much needed reforms."
said local Euro MP and Labour's spokesperson on agriculture in
Europe Brian Simpson, after a vote on the CAP in the European
Parliament's Agriculture Committee.
The CAP currently accounts for nearly 40% of the EU budget and
Labour is arguing that agriculture support funds could be more
effectively spent.
Brian Simpson said:- "We are pushing for ambitious reform in a
number of areas. For example, we want the CAP to be more
environmentally friendly, so we support 'greening payments' for
farming that protects the climate and environment.
We also want to see a greater focus on rural development, to improve
the competitiveness of rural areas and preserve rural heritage.
By reforming the CAP we can continue to meet the needs of farmers
and rural communities, and ensure that the CAP benefits society at
large."
Labour is also calling for an end to unfair and inefficient spending
of the CAP budget.
Brian Simpson said:- "I am very concerned that the current
proposals will lead to some farmers being paid twice for
implementing environmental protection measures.
Double funding is a clear step backwards, and Labour will be
fighting against this completely unacceptable use of taxpayers'
money."
Despite strong opposition, an increasing number of MEPs are joining
Labour's calls for ambitious changes to the CAP. "The whole Parliament will be voting on the CAP in March, so
in the coming weeks Labour will be working to get support for our
reforms from as many MEPs as possible."
Book in for a
Healthy Event
THERE is a chance to get
some beauty treatment and check up on your health at a local library
next week.
West Derby Library is staging a community health event on Wednesday,
30 January 2013, from 2pm to 6pm.
Free beauty treatments and therapies will be available and there
will be an opportunity to have a health MOT.
There will also be information and advice on a range of health
issues, including cancer awareness, and the Healthy Communities Team
will be on hand to deal with queries.
Councillor Wendy Simon, cabinet member for culture and tourism,
said:- "This event is part of the Decade of Health and
Wellbeing and I hope local residents take the opportunity to call in
at the library to get information and advice on health matters." People attending are being asked to support the North Liverpool
Foodbank by bringing along an item of non-perishable food.
Further information is available from community health ambassador
Cathy Edwards on:- 0151 330 5574 or via
email.
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£14m empty homes
plans set out
LIVERPOOL City Council has
laid out plans for how it will spend more than £14 million in
Government funding, to bring hundreds of empty properties, across
the city, back into use.
A report was presented to the Council's Cabinet on Friday 25
January 20113, setting out how the city will use the funding; from the
Government's 'Clusters of Empty Homes Fund'; to revitalise
306 homes.
Liverpool has identified the following areas as priorities, with the
£14 million investment broken down as follows:
► Anfield Village – £10m; 156 empty homes brought back into use
► Tuebrook and Stoneycroft - £979,310; 45 empty homes brought back
into use
► South Liverpool - £1.04m; 73 empty homes brought back into use
► Kelvin Grove/Welsh Streets - £2m; 32 empty homes brought back into
use
Liverpool City Council's Cabinet Member for Housing and Community
Safety, Councillor Ann O'Byrne, said:- "These plans will
accelerate housing renewal in the city, providing modern, affordable
homes which people want to live in. They will help revitalise our
neighbourhoods and support our plans to bring 1,000 vacant homes
back into use over the next 3 years.
Housing plans for Anfield Village, the Welsh Streets and other areas
of the city are progressing well and the allocation of this funding
means we can continue to drive forward with the plans, delivering
long overdue housing improvements in the areas which need it most.
We are consulting with residents at every step of the way and we
will continue to work closely with them as these plans become
reality."
Work is now underway on the £36 million 'Anfield Village'
and
Rockfield housing schemes. The work is set to breathe new life into
housing in the area, with a total of 562 properties previously
earmarked for demolition - 156 of which are vacant – to be retained
and refurbished.
£10 million from the Clusters of Empty Homes Fund has been allocated
to the scheme, with the remainder coming from the city council and
Registered Providers owning properties in the area - predominantly
Your Housing Group.
Liverpool is also driving forward with plans to bring 45 empty
properties back into use in Tuebrook and Stoneycroft. Liverpool
Mutual Homes will purchase and refurbish the vacant properties and
offer them for affordable rent. Just over £979,000 has been
allocated to this scheme. And in South Liverpool, the city
council will work with Plus Dane to refurbish 105 houses, to create
a combined mix of affordable and market rent properties. As part of
this, 37 terraced houses in the Welsh Streets which had previously
been earmarked for demolition will be retained and refurbished -
including 9 Madryn Street, the childhood home of Ringo Starr. A
total over just over £3 million has been allocated to south
Liverpool.
Liverpool's funding forms the lion's share of £16.5m awarded to the
City Region in Clusters of Empty Homes Funding. The money was
allocated following negotiations between the region's
'Restore'
Consortium.
The remainder of the funding will be used for housing regeneration
schemes in other parts of the city region, with over £2.5 million
allocated for projects in Sefton, Wirral and Knowsley. |
