Bob Blackman backs plans to help protect local post offices, pubs, libraries and parks
Under new Conservative plans, far-reaching new powers could be given to people in Harrow to protect community assets from closure and take over the running of public buildings and community assets. Bob Blackman, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Harrow East has given hisbacking to the new ‘Community Right to Buy’ which would allow not-for-profit community groups across Harow to take over the running of struggling local facilities, from post offices to pubs to parks.
New research has revealed that under Labour, 5,400 post offices, 200 libraries and 3,500 pubs have been lost across England. In Harrow East, new figures show that the number of post offices has fallen by 7 in the last decade.
Under the Conservative proposals:
• Community groups, such as schools, churches or voluntary groups, will be able to bid to take over the running of publicly owned community assets, if they can manage them more efficiently and effectively than the state.
• When a state-owned community asset faces closure or being sold, voluntary groups will have a right of first refusal to buy that asset for a fair price and maintain it for community use. The new rights to community ownership will cover assets owned by central government and quangos, not just town halls.
• The radical ‘Community Right to Buy’ will also allow community groups a first refusal to take over and run vital commercially-owned community assets when they shut down – for example, those post offices, pubs and shops whose continued survival is of genuine importance to the local community.
Bob Blackman said:
“Under Labour, local neighbourhoods in Harrow and across the country have lost too many essential local services and facilities. Gordon Brown’s Government has closed post offices and driven local pubs into the ground. People feel powerless to stop their communities losing access to vital services and facilities. So the Conservatives will give bold new powers to people in Harrowto protect and improve vital community assets and preserve the social fabric of our neighbourhoods.”
Conservatives Pledge to Improve Northwick Park Hospital Bob Blackman, Conservative Candidate for Harrow East, and Mike Penning, the Conservative
40 children expelled and 650 suspended in local schoolsBob Blackman, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Harrow East, expressed concern as offici
CONSERVATIVES PLEDGE TO REBUILD ROYAL NATIONAL ORTHAPAEDIC HOSPITALAndrew Lansley, Shadow Secretary for Health, and Bob Blackman, Conservative Parliam
Bold new policies to make planning system more responsive and accountableBob Blackman, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Harrow East, welcomed
New plans for employee-owned co-operatives to help improve local servicesPublic sector workers across Harrow could become their own boss and deliver b
Gordon Brown to make local taxpayers pay the price for personal care changesBob Blackman, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Harrow East, warned
Government to hit local voluntary groups across Harrow with new music chargesChurches, village halls, charity shops and sports clubs across Harrow fac