Southcourt Studios

I do get more than a little fed up with incessant stories in the media about young people getting into trouble.  Yes of course this goes on but I just wish that we saw people coverage of all those charitable and other voluntary initiatives in which young men and women are playing a vital and constructive role.

So I was really pleased to be in Southcourt on Friday night for me official opening of the Southcourt Studios.  This is all grown out of an initiative by Aylesbury Vale Youth for Christ to find out what was lacking in terms of leisure and recreational facilities for young people in our area. It what is so great about the AVYFC project is that they are not just for young people; young people are active partners in making things happen.  First came the youth cafes in various parts of Aylesbury and now the Southcourt Studios which provide a chance to young people to compose and perform music in a dedicated facility.  There was a tremendous buzz on Friday evening and Dave Rollins, Gary Mullins and their team have every right to feel very proud of what they have achieved.

If you want to see more, including me wearing a hoodie(!!) have a look at the report filmed by Bucks TV here.

David helps residents pressure Housing Minister over pre-paid meter charges

On 26^th October, David met Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust Chief Executive, Matthew Applegate to collect a petition signed by 1,300 Trust residents. The petition is aimed at new Housing Minister, John Healey MP and urges him to abolish the extra premiums on pre-pay meters. This meeting follows an eighteen month long campaign, putting pressure on energy companies to reduce their high profit making charges on pre-paid energy meters

David said:

“The purpose of Pre-paid meters is to help tenants manage their budget. They are not meant to be a money making opportunity for energy companies.

“Energy companies should offer the lowest possible rates to vulnerable households. Recent reports from Ofgem and The National Housing Federation have shown that those on pre-paid meters are paying too much.

“This is a serious issue that the Government should look to put right.  A Conservative Government would make it illegal for energy companies to continue these unfair charges.”

“I support the work Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust is doing to raise awareness of this issue and believe that a better informed public can help move us towards a low carbon economy.”

David will now meet with the Housing Minister to hand over the petition and discuss measures that can be taken to help Trust residents.

David Lidington and John Bercow MP meet with affected Trust Residents

Local internet channel Bucks TV covered the meeting. The footage can be viewed at the link below:

Bucks TV – Pre-paid meters (VIDEO)

A day in Westminster with David Lidington

Local internet channel Bucks TV came to Westminster recently to discover what a typical day is like for MP David Lidington. This short video covers events, votes, meeting and gives constituents the opportunity to meet David’s staff.

By clicking the link below you too can discover what David gets up to when he is not in the constituency.

Bucks TV – Day in the life of an MP (VIDEO)