David May

(Click picture to play video)

It is shameful that, despite all the promise on a four or five year old’s first day at school, or the passion of their teachers, you can all too often plot that child’s path just by asking how much their parents earn.

The £2.5billion Pupil Premium was one of the four pledges on the front page of our manifesto.  And now, with Liberal Democrats in government, schools are using the money for things like breakfast clubs; homework clubs; or to provide one-to-one-tuition. These are the sort of experiences many middle class children take for granted but a poorer child might rarely enjoy.

Yesterday I visited a fantastic primary school to see how they are spending their Pupil Premium, highlight our new Summer Schools to ease the transition from primary to secondary, and to set out our plans to reward teachers and hold schools to account.

The Pupil Premium shows that, in tough times, we are implementing Liberal Democrat values and prioritising help for those pupils who need it most.

Best wishes,

Nick Clegg MP

Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister

PS Click here to find out how much money your local school will receive from the Liberal Democrats’ Pupil Premium.

Another good meeting tonight of the c.c. and I have a few issues to deal with – Forfar road junction, pavements, re-surfacing a road and Glamis Gathering event.

This week, Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat minister at the Department of Health) has launched a national £4 million lung cancer awareness campaign. The campaign, the first of its kind, will use TV, radio and press adverts, and advertising on pharmacist bags and inside GP surgeries, to raise awareness of the disease.

One of its aims is to persuade anyone who has had a cough for more than three weeks to see their doctor.

You can find more information about coughing and lung cancer at the Department of Health website, here: http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/05/coughing-could-be-a-sign-of-lung-cancer-2/

With 33,000 new cases diagnosed each year, lung cancer is a blight on the lives of far too many of our families and an early diagnosis can make all the difference. Please take the opportunity of the Be Clear on Cancer campaign to find out more about prevention and diagnosis, and to visit your local doctor if you’ve had a persistent cough – it is always better to be safe than sorry!

http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/tag/be-clear-on-cancer/

Concerns have been expressed to me about the recently altered mini-roundabout and lane changes at the junction of Newhame Road with Northesk Road. The issues raised have included the extra lane that has been built, north-bound, which though possibly adequate for cars may lead to difficulties for north bound commercial vehicles. These issues were raised at the latest Montrose Community Council meeting and though I agreed that the new lay out had been successful in slowing traffic down traffic travelling north, I pointed out that vehicles going south were now travelling faster than before.

I, following agreement of the meeting, have contacted appropriate roads department officials for a site meeting to discuss these issues.

Attended the May meeting of the Tenants and Residents of Condor and Charleton where several good ideas and many local issues were raised. I will follow these up with officers in the next few days. We discussed and agreed on future events and newsletters.

The recent delivery of my latest leaflet has resulted in several issues being raised with me and I have followed up with council officers and the police. The issues have included pot holes, litter, drainage, speeding, road resurfacing and planning.

Willie Rennie, Scottish Lib Dem Leader along with me , visited Montrose Rope and Sail and was shown round the business which is over 200 years old by Managing Director Neil Paton. Willie commented ” This is an excellent example of an expanding, thriving and highly successful manufacturing business which has bespoke solutions and produces very high quality products for numerous industries and uses. Angus and Scotland needs more companies like Montrose Rope and Sail which shows real entrepreneurial spirit and seeks new markets and products with the emphasis on handmade quality goods.”
I was also very impressed with the work that was taking place not only the quality but also the productivity and the way work was organised. We need more entrepreneurs like Neil and Lynda in the manufacturing sector of our economy as this is an area we in Scotland were once leading the way internationally.

Working with other councillors we agreed on the removal of the shelter and cut back of the reeds. I have subsequently been working on trying to get more seats at the Curly especially near the children’s play area.

I was in touch with Sainsbury’s last week as they had not started building their supermarket at the time we had been told. They told me there has been delay but they are still very much committed to Montrose though there are still some details that have too be sorted out.
I contacted them again today as the site is needing cleaned up as it is becoming messier with litter.

I have been in contact with the officer in charge of the trial of a new ethically-sound seagull deterrent. which is testing an anti-gull gel which has been produced to deter birds from landing on buildings in seaside towns. I have been told that the gel does not kill, harm or trap birds but deters them from landing by emitting ultra violet light which the seagulls perceive as fire. Apparently some natural oils have been added to the gel which are abhorrent to the gull’s sense of taste and smell. Furthermore,this is supposed to persist for two years, even in exposed areas like Angus’ coastal towns and could see gulls desert traditional habitats. Not surprisingly I am following the progress in the pilot to see if it would help us in Montrose as we have real problems with the seagulls.