Mile Cross – Norwich
Mile Cross is a very diverse and interesting area to represent. Although we have now moved, my wife and I lived and started to raise our young family on one of its principle residential estate- simply call the Mile Cross Estate. There is a strong sense of community and sadly quite a lot of urban deprivation with all the challenges that reside with this. I work closely with the three city councillors two of whom are in my Party and one is a Liberal Democrat. Despite the obvious differences of emphasis and even political leaning there is a strong support for our local community by all. I have taken a particular interest in the wellbeing and education of the younger residents. When first elected to the patch in 2005 I managed to secure £20 000 additional top-up funding for a well supported community project mainly serving the young called the Phoenix. This is now run by the community with strong leadership from one of the Labour City Councillors.
I have also taken a particular interest in the new primary school being built in the heart of the main Mile Cross estate. Whilst the school will undoubtedly benefit younger and future citizens the nearby community has had to live with the difficulty of being resident to a build site and all that implies. They have been very tolerant and endured noise dust and other impingements on their peace. I also have a strong interest as a governor of Sewell Park College which serves many of the young people in my patch.
I have recently taken on the Chairmanship of The Kett 6th Form Management Board. This is a formal partnership between three sister secondary schools who collaborate to provide an excellent post 16 learning experience on a wide range of curriculum areas. There is currently some concern over its continuing because of the strong possibility that the Heartsease High School will become an academy and therefore will be independent of the Norfolk School system. This latter point is one of the most controversial issues currently in my in tray.
