North Wiltshire MP James Gray commended Mary Portas for her excellent report, The Portas Review, set out his vision for protecting Wiltshire's high streets, and spoke out against inappropriate and unwanted housing development and out-of-town shopping in the House of Commons last night.
During a debate on the Future of Town Centres and High Streets, Mr Gray praised the outstanding community of Royal Wootton Bassett along with its high street - one of the most famous ones in Britain and around the world as a result of the way in which the townsfolk remembered our fallen soldiers.
He argued that the success of not only Royal Wootton Bassett's high street, but also that of Calne is chiefly due to the fact that the two towns have no out-of-town shopping centres and any supermarkets are closely integrated with the rest of the high street, and warned against plans to build out-of-town shopping centres outside Malmesbury.
Mr Gray said that either of the two proposed supermarkets will be "of no benefit whatever to the town of Malmesbury," and expressed his hope that "the local authority, when it considers this matter, will turn down both applications—from Waitrose and Sainsbury's."
"Malmesbury has a vibrant and superb high street with a great community, which is not dissimilar from that in neighbouring Royal Wootton Bassett. If we allow the building of two new supermarkets on the outskirts of the town or of housing, which has also been threatened around the outskirts of Malmesbury, we will land up with urban sprawl of the worst possible kind and with a reduction in the vibrancy of the high street, which would become similar to those in one or two other towns in our area," he argued.
In his concluding remarks, Mr Gray appealed to the planning officers not to allow development on greenfield sites, such as Birds March, Brynards Hill or around the Lydiards, and instead force the developers to reuse brownfield and derelict land to add vibrancy to Wiltshire's town centres.
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MP welcomes a tax cut of £220 for 33,030 people in North Wiltshire
North Wiltshire MP James Gray has welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement in the Budget that hardworking people across North Wiltshire will be up to £220 better off next year thanks to the largest ever increase in the personal allowance. In his 2012 Budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne announced that the income tax personal allowance will be increased from April 2013 by an additional £1,100 to £9,205. This increase will giv... [Read more]
2012-04-16 15:21:43
Wiltshire MP welcomes new planning guidelines
North Wiltshire MP James Gray has welcomed the most radical shakeup of the planning system in a generation. Speaking in the House of Commons following a statement by the Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government, Greg Clark, James Gray MP said: “I very much welcome the thrust of the Minister’s statement and the changes that he has made to the consultation paper. In particular, I welcome the fact that he has protecte... [Read more]
2012-03-30 10:23:39
MP calls for improvements in service accommodation
North Wiltshire MP James Gray has called on the Coalition Government to do more to enhance the provision of accommodation for service personnel and their families. Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Gray praised the Government for what is has done since coming into office to upgrade housing for our servicemen and women, but warned that further improvements were necessary. James Gray MP said: “The provision of decent accommodation... [Read more]
2012-03-27 12:00:02
"I am delighted that at a meeting which I called at Lyneham on Saturday a general agreement was achieved amongst the RAF, the Army in the form of IX (Supply) Regiment from Hullavington, Wiltshire Council and the Parents Group that Little Albert’s Pre-School in Lyneham would remain open for the foreseeable future," said North Wiltshire MP James Gray. "There had been a concern that with the withdrawal of the RAF and the interregnu... [Read more]
2012-03-27 11:10:52
James Gray MP welcomes investment by Sport England into Springfields Academy in Calne
The Springfields Academy in Calne has secured £75,000 of Olympic legacy funding from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities Fund. The Inspired Facilities fund is part of the £135 million Places People Play legacy programme that is bringing the magic of a home Olympic and Paralympic Games into communities across the country. Every sports facility that receives funding will carry the London 2012 Inspire mark – celebrating the link to the Games.... [Read more]
2012-03-15 11:54:41
Local MP welcomes capped benefits for families who don’t work
The Government's victory in passing the Welfare Reform Bill, ensuring that no family can get more in benefits than the average working family earns, has been welcomed by North Wiltshire MP James Gray. Under the reforms, the benefit payments that a household on out of work benefits will be capped at £26,000 per year, so that work always pays. Under the previous Labour Government, households were able to receive up to £104,000 per year in Housin... [Read more]
2012-03-05 11:03:25
MP congratulates local hotelier on a prestigious award
North Wiltshire MP James Gray has congratulated Colerne's Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa on winning the prestigious TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Award. The prize, awarded by millions of real travellers, puts Lucknam Park among a small group of hotels worldwide recognised for consistent excellence. Fewer than four thousand hotels worldwide have received a Travellers' Choice Award this year. James Gray MP said: "I'm delighted that Luckn... [Read more]
2012-02-23 12:31:41
Local MP speaks out against prejudice by signing Holocaust Memorial Day Book of Commitment
North Wiltshire MP James Gray signed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons last week, in doing so pledging his commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who died during the Holocaust. Friday January 27th will mark the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration and extermination camp which is the site of the largest mass murder in history – and in the weeks running up to the day, the H... [Read more]
2012-02-03 08:32:51
“The Falklands must stay free”, says James Gray MP
"It is only right that our nation should send the clearest possible messages to the Argentine Government that under no circumstances will we countenance any sort of military action towards the Falklands," said James Gray MP speaking in a Westminster Debate on Tuesday. "If there were to be an encroachment on the Falklands today we would not be able to produce a taskforce as we did thirty years ago as we do not have the resources. H... [Read more]
2012-02-01 16:50:14
James Gray MP speaks up for the Armed Forces
"As Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Armed Forces, I feel very strongly that our service people are being badly let down by the sadly very necessary defence cuts and redundancies they are presently facing. "The Government had to do it because of the appalling financial situation inherited from the previous government. But that does not stop me, as a backbench MP and champion of the Armed Forces in Parliament, from ... [Read more]
2012-01-28 10:38:07
James Gray MP speaks out on securing the future of Wiltshire’s Post Offices
North Wiltshire MP James Gray has welcomed the news of a 10-year deal between Royal Mail and the Post Office, securing the future of services without resorting to the failed closures programme which dominated Labour’s time in government. The deal follows the Government’s other measures to protect Post Office services including additional funding, new local and national contracts, a successful piloting scheme to transform many local post offi... [Read more]
2012-01-26 11:48:58
James Gray MP Supports Stillbirth Charity
North Wiltshire MP, James Gray attended a parliamentary reception in the House of Commons, organised by Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, for the launch of their new report, Preventing Babies' Deaths: what needs to be done. 6,500 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth every year in the UK. The charity's report proposes that 1,200 babies' lives could be saved every year through a combination of more research, better care ... [Read more]
2012-01-24 20:54:08
MP speaks out against unwanted development in Wiltshire
North Wiltshire MP James Gray commended Mary Portas for her excellent report, The Portas Review, set out his vision for protecting Wiltshire's high streets, and spoke out against inappropriate and unwanted housing development and out-of-town shopping in the House of Commons last night. During a debate on the Future of Town Centres and High Streets, Mr Gray praised the outstanding community of Royal Wootton Bassett along with its high street - on... [Read more]
2012-01-18 13:00:45
James Gray MP praises Springfields Academy
On Monday in the House of Commons James Gray, MP for North Wiltshire said, "The Secretary of State is absolutely right to praise Springfields Academy in Calne, one of the first special schools to achieve academy status. "However, in Wiltshire we have a very helpful and supportive local authority and elsewhere it might be much more difficult for special schools to achieve academy status. What will the Secretary of State do to remove th... [Read more]
2012-01-17 12:27:05
Local MP calls for infrastructure savings to be passed to rail commuters
During today's questions to the Secretary of State for Transport, James Gray MP for North Wiltshire pointed out that the McNulty report identified potential savings in rail infrastructure, and asked that money saved from such closures be passed onto rail users. Mr Gray said: "The McNulty report identified some thirty per cent savings in rail costs across the piece. Will the Minister tell us what she will do to make sure that if that is to b... [Read more]
2012-01-12 13:49:40
Local MP welcomes mobility benefit announcement
North Wiltshire MP James Gray has welcomed the Government’s announcement that the mobility component of disability living allowance will not be removed from people living in residential care homes. “I’m delighted that the Government plans to retain the mobility component for people living in residential care. Over the last few months, I’ve heard from dozens of concerned constituents and met with more than 40 residents and their family me... [Read more]
2011-12-05 14:51:45
Calne based firm 1st Choice Stairlifts have celebrated their recent expansion with the opening of their new premises in Harris Road on Porte Marsh Industrial Estate, officially opened by North Wiltshire MP, James Gray. The company have been trading for almost 8 years and won the “New Business Award” for Calne and North Wiltshire which was presented by James to directors Coral Affleck and Colin Major back in 2004. In his speech at t... [Read more]
2011-11-29 13:38:42
James Gray calls for War Memorials to be recorded
“I am very concerned that disgraceful metal thefts from War memorials across North Wiltshire will lead to those who are commemorated on them being lost for all time,” said North Wiltshire MP James Gray after raising the matter in the House of Commons yesterday. Mr Gray asked Tony Baldry, who is the MP responsible for the Church Commissioners: “[Are you] aware that one of the greatest tragedies about the loss of metal from war memorials, wh... [Read more]
2011-11-25 12:10:12
James Gray MP welcomes extra seats for Wiltshire rail passengers
North Wiltshire MP James Gray today welcomed the Government’s announcement that passengers in the Thames Valley will benefit from nearly 4,500 additional seats each day into and out of London Paddington. The extra seats are being added thanks to government funding for additional 48 carriages on First Great Western services which run through Reading and the Thames Valley and into London Paddington as well asa in Bristol and the far south west of... [Read more]
2011-11-22 17:22:37
Boosting apprenticeships for young people and small businesses
North Wiltshire MP James Gray has welcomed new measures from the Government to ensure young people and small businesses feel the full benefits of the successful expansion of apprenticeships. Data released last month showed that here in North Wiltshire 370 people started an apprenticeship in 2009/10, while 500 people started an apprenticeship in 2010/11. This means the number of people starting an apprenticeship increased by 130 last year. On 16... [Read more]
2011-11-17 23:26:22
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