The document provides a summary of local political and community issues in South Werrington and North Gunthorpe. It discusses the recent local election results, police prioritizing speeding issues, changes to the local Liberal Democrat leadership team, and calls for explanations of certain council decisions. It also provides updates on local issues like blocked paths and invites residents to support a charity run by the local Liberal Democrat councillor.

1. FOCUS
Edition: 65
www.peterboroughlibdems.org.uk
“Working All Year Round”
SOUTH WERRINGTON and NORTH GUNTHORPE RESIDENTS’ NEWSLETTER
TEAM CONTACT DETAILS: DAVID SAYS “THANKS”
Councillor: Darren Fower Liberal Democrat FOCUS Editor David Hedges says „thank you‟ to the
FOCUS Editor: David Hedges hundreds of people who voted for him in the recent city council
Tel: 07860 649578 elections.
Text or call Darren’s mobile: “As I am sure you will know by now, I was not elected to the city council in
07581 711 434 May. Voters instead chose to re-elect sitting Tory councillor Paula Thacker,
Email: SWNG_FOCUS although with a share of the vote that fell from 49 per cent when she was first
@peterboroughlibdems.org.uk elected four years ago to 42 per cent this year.
Ward website: www.campaigns. “I would like to thank the nearly 800 people who voted Liberal Democrat in
libdems.org.uk/SWNG that election for the support that they gave both me and the party.
Darren’s website: “We were obviously disappointed with the
www.darrenfower. election result, both here and across the rest of
mycouncillor.org.uk the country where Lib Dems also generally did
Facebook: not do as well as we had hoped. However, the
www.facebook.com/SWNG. South Werrington and North Gunthorpe FOCUS
FOCUS.Team Team and local Liberal Democrat councillor
Post: Cllr Darren Fower, Darren Fower will continue to campaign for local
Town Hall, Bridge Street, residents and the local area.
Peterborough PE1 1HG “Please feel free to contact us at any time – our
details are at the top left of this page.”
POLICE PRIORITY Darren Fower paid tribute to David and his campaign. He said: “David has
all the attributes needed to be a good councillor for this area. People like him,
Police have set tackling speeding he has a track record and proven ability.
issues on Lincoln Road from the “Obviously, we were not helped by the national sway of opinion but what we
Werrington Parkway to the did do was increase our core support in this area. David gained 6 per cent more
junction with Davids Lane as a votes for the Liberal Democrats than we had the last time the seat was fought
priority for the next few months. four years ago.”
FOCUS Editor David Hedges said: Darren added: “You have to feel sorry for the Tory candidate in last year‟s
“Speeding vehicles continue to be an elections here. He got 1416 votes and came second. This year his colleague
issue of concern and I am pleased to (and new mayor!) got 246 less votes and got elected!”
see police turn their attention to this.”
The number of local residents that The election result:
raised speeding as a major issue, both In case you missed it, the full result for the election of a city councillor for this
in the FOCUS Team‟s unique regular area in May was:
surveys and on the doorstep during the
Paula Thacker (Conservative) 1170
election campaign, led David to
David Hedges (Liberal Democrat) 785
volunteer for the Speedwatch scheme.
Bob Burke (Independent) 459
He has now had police training and
Vince Moon (Labour) 371
been „out and about‟ with a speed gun
deterring speeders and collecting Across the city as a whole, the Tories held most of the seats they were
evidence about the need for more defending and are still the ruling party on the city council, holding 38 of the 57
permanent solutions to the problem. seats. The Liberal Democrats have a total of three seats on the council.
PROBLEM MAIL BOX: The FOCUS Team has been contacted by a residents regarding the post
box at Church Street in Werrington Village, next to Barnes Close. On several occasions residents
have tried to post envelopes, some containing cheques, and the post box has been full to the limit. We
wonder if anyone else has experienced this problem? To make a complaint to the Post Office directly
please call: 08457 740 740.

2. ‘ADDING SPICE’
After 18 months as Lib Dem leader on
the city council, local councillor Darren
Fower has stepped down and taken on the
role of group secretary.
Nearby Walton ward councillor Nick
Sandford has replaced Darren as group
leader, with fellow Walton councillor Asif
Shaheed now being deputy leader.
Darren said: “It‟s the first time that I have
held a secretarial role and whilst the title
suggests a slightly administrative flavour, I‟m
aiming to add a little bit of spice.
“One of the main responsibilities, for
example, is arranging relevant meetings with
senior figures and council officers. I have
Following disappointing local election results, Liberal Democrat already decided that over the coming year
FOCUS Team members have designed a new teeshirt for their we‟ll arrange question and answer sessions at
summer campaigning! the Town Hall where people can come along
LIB DEMS CALL FOR NAME
and ask questions of individuals who get paid
to serve the people of Peterborough.”
CHANGE EXPLANATION Peterborough Liberal Democrats have
WEBSITE CHANGES
At a meeting of the city council Darren Fower, Liberal Democrat
councillor for this area, challenged council leader Marco Cereste redesigned their local party website at
to come and “explain himself” to local people after he announced www.peterboroughlibdems.org.uk. Please
a name change for local groups without any consultation! take a look and let us know what you
Presently the group representing Paston, Walton, South Werrington, think!
North Gunthorpe and North Werrington has the name the
‘Peterborough North Area Committee’. This was decided after a vote PROBLEM SHRUBS
was held at a previous meeting. Residents have contacted local Lib Dem
The ruling Tory group on the council has decided instead that it should councillor Darren Fower about trees and
be called a „neighbourhood committee‟. shrubs overhanging the footpath along
Darren said: “The Tories do not want to call them area committees as Pippistrelle Court that runs from
this is the name that the Liberal Democrats have been using for these Church Street to Ainsdale Drive.
groups for decades – as we vainly tried to get the Tories to set them up.
“Now that the Tories have agreed to have these groups, they don’t
want to use a name associated with the Liberal Democrats. It is a trivial
issue but one that indicates how the ruling council group thinks.
“The name Peterborough North Area Committee was put forward by a
member of the public. This was then voted on and, if memory serves me
right, there was just one vote against the name and the rest in favour.
“If Mr Cereste thinks it fair to dictate from the Town Hall to people in
our patch, I think he needs to come and explain himself.”
Responding, Cllr Cereste agreed to do just that – we‟ll let you know
if he keeps his word!
At the same meeting, Lib Dem councillor Nick Sandford pointed out
that the decision to change the name to „Neighbourhood Committees‟ Darren has passed these reports on to the
went against the council‟s own committee report into setting up these city council and tells us that people must be
groups and was a “nonsensical gesture”. aware of the needs of some pedestrians.
“For some people it is not just a matter of
DARREN’S CHARITY RUN stepping onto the road to get around these
Local Lib Dem councillor Darren Fower is taking part in the Perkins obstructions. People using mobility scooters
Great Eastern Fun Run - 4k Marathon - on behalf of Peterborough- or pushing buggies etc should not be faced
based charity the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus with impassable foliage,” explained Darren.
(ASBAH). If you have problems with blocked paths in
Daren said: “I can't guarantee I'll run the entire race. It’s the first your area, either give the FOCUS Team a call
time I have done a charity race but you can be sure I will do my best!” (see contact details on the front page) or
You can sponsor Darren online at www.justgiving.com/darrenfower or contact the council on 01733 747474 or email
give him a call on 07851 711 434 to make a pledge. jeff.austin@peterborough.gov.uk.
Printed by P’boro Lib Dem Printing Soc c/o 37 Swift Close, Deeping St James PE6 8QQ. Published and promoted for and on behalf of the Liberal Democrats by Peter Chivall, 88 Elmfield Rd, P’boro PE1 4HB