Creating jobs will change lives in city
WHILST Tory austerity continues unabated with the use of foodbanks inexorably rising, life in Coventry must go on. Policies I’m involved in are all designed to try to improve the quality of life for our citizens. This can be in the form of new jobs, creating income streams to spend on hard-pressed services or securing investments in new developments or infrastructure to both encourage commerce and shoppers whilst creating jobs for local people. Not just for today but for many years to come. Here’s a run-down of some projects and their progress as of today: City Centre South – agreed the money to be released in January with the first contract to buy and knock down Coventry Point due in the new year. Very Light Rail – £12 million negotiated from the combined authority in November to create a prototype by 2019. Coombe Abbey brought back into public ownership, which will bring in seven-digit profits to reinvest in services. Agreed new electric power to be pumped into Whitley to help JLR expand and won the national competition to secure and locate the new Electric Battery Development Centre in Coventry, making it the national centre of excellence and manufacture of battery technology in the country. Land being prepared. Created a new company with the council as 50 per cent shareholder to construct further buildings at Friargate. Building Two starting in 2018. Secured the Financial Ombudsman Service to locate to Coventry in October.
Agreed to enter into agreement with the Historic Coventry Trust to bring old neglected buildings back into use. ■■The Co-op building – negotiated a sale to redevelop the Corporation Street building into luxury flats, offices and restaurants bringing in council tax, business rates and jobs. Work begun. ■■Agreed changes to Coventry Station to enable redevelopment and modernisation. Work ongoing.
Made sure the employment support service for adults with enduring mental health and learning difficulties had funding and a sustainable future .
Made Coventry the test bed for driverless cars, putting us at the cutting edge of new automotive technology. Trials taking place in November, further tests in 2018.
Made an investment in north Coventry, bringing an £80,000 return per annum for taxpayers.
Set up a fund to help support business to the tune of £20 million over ten years, creating 1,400 jobs and helping 360 small businesses grow.
None of this is done in isolation. I am a Labour councillor and I never forget that. All of this is done with an end goal in mind with a clear political philosophy. Simply put – jobs change lives and good jobs with good pay and conditions change lives completely.
It’s what Labour is all about. That’s what drives me and will continue to do so. Councillor Jim O’Boyle St Michael’s Ward (Lab) Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration
Moved by Oprah, shocked by H&M
OPRAH Winfrey and her speech at the Golden Globes has truly restored my faith in humanity.
She used her speech to spread a message of hope for all against prejudice, bigotry and for a fairer and equal society.
Ironically, the day after, I heard that high street brand H&M had been embroiled in a race scandal.
My granddaughter found the story on her phone and I could not believe my eyes.
I truly thought we were making bold steps forward opposing racism in advertising and racial slurs were now a thing of the past.
What on earth were they thinking promoting clothing in this fashion?
My heart went out to the poor young black lad who was made to wear this offensive garment.
I know I’ll not shop there again and I hope many others will also follow suit. Phyllis N Bembridge Ball Hill
Life in fantasy land
NICK Clegg knighted, yet another royal wedding on the way.
No need to visit Disneyland, we live in it. Name and address supplied
After School
Sitting in school, next to my friend, Waiting for the day to end. Out of them gates we will dash, Past the teachers in flash. Mum is waiting in her car, Don’t know why, we don’t live that
far. Up the street she will drive, How amazing, I’ve come alive. In the door and off with the shoes, Changing clothes, no time to lose. In a hurry to get out and play, Not much time on a winter’s day. It might be cold but we don’t care, Our faces glowing in the cool night
air. Darkness falling, time to go in, At the table we sit and grin. Dinner served, soon eaten up, Drinking hot chocolate from my
favourite cup. Do your homework then Mum will
shout, Do it now or you won’t go out, Another completed task then done, No way is Mum going to ruin our
fun. A bit of telly, bath then bed, Time to rest my weary head, Being so young isn’t that bad, Good night everybody, I’ve just
heard Dad. Terry Eva Earlsdon