Archive for June 20th, 2013
Thursday, June 20th, 2013
Christopher Pincher during a previous meeting with the Secretary of State for Transport
On Tuesday 25th June Tamworth’s MP, Christopher Pincher, will lead a delegation of local people to meet the Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick Mcloughlin MP, to discuss their concerns about the impact of Hs2 on their communities.
Representatives from Hints, Drayton Bassett and Weeford, together with County Councillor Alan White, who chairs the local HS2 Community Forum, will present Mr McLoughlin with a list of mitigations they want to see for their villages and communities. Proposals will include the rebuilding of the Knox Grave Lane community’s homes in another area away from the line and a tunnel at Hints.
Mr. Pincher said, “I am pleased that the Secretary of State has found time to meet us so we can raise with him directly our concerns about HS2 and ask him to take action. I will also raise my concern that there is no Property Bond compensation mechanism explicitly linked to the proposed Paving Bill on HS2, which will be tabled in the House of Commons next week. I will be discussing this Bill, which is partly about compensation funding, directly with the responsible minister, Simon Burns MP, this week.”
Mr Pincher also visited the HS2 Environmental Statement “road show” at Hints village hall on 18th June. A steady stream of concerned residents arrived at the hall to quiz a bevy of HS2 experts on everything from the impact on ancient woodland to noise mitigation.
Thursday, June 20th, 2013
Cllr Robert Pritchard, Deputy Leader of Conservative controlled Tamworth Borough Council, is calling on councillors to support his proposal to honour LCpl Watchman V (and his successors) by presenting him with the “Freedom of the Borough of Tamworth.”
Cllr Robert Pritchard believes this is a very important proposal that will honour our historic links with the Staffordshire Regiment (now 3 Mercian).
LCpl Watchman V is the former regimental mascot of the Staffordshire Regiment and still carries out numerous duties. He is loved by former Staffords, current 3 Mercian soldiers and most of all – the public. LCpl Watchman V is the fifth mascot to carry the name Watchman, and it has been handed from one mascot to the next.
The Staffordshire Regiment was merged with other regiments in 2007 leading to the formation of the Mercian Regiment here in Tamworth. The Staffordshire Regiment became their third battalion and like the rest of the regiment adopted LCpl Derby (a ram), who was the mascot of the Worcester Foresters.
The Mercian Regiment no longer officially recognise LCpl Watchman V as a mascot and this has ended a very long and treasured tradition of the Staffordshire Regiment. Although LCpl Watchman V no longer has any official position in the Mercian Regiment, he is still serving and working to promote the actions being carried out by all soldiers in the Mercian Regiment. Furthermore, he still actively engages in local events including the Olympic Torch relay celebration here in Tamworth last year.
This lack of official recognition LCpl Watchman V no longer has the Freedom of the Borough and would be present with the Regiment when it marches through Tamworth. This honour was enjoyed by previous Watchman when the Staffordshire Regiment held Freedom of the Borough.
Cllr Robert Pritchard’s proposal would further cement Tamworth’s special links with the Mercian Regiment, while remembering the local significance of the Staffordshire Regiment.
Cllr Pritchard said, “I think it is important that we have such a powerful and significant symbol of Staffordshire regaining the honour and joining the Mercian Regiment when they return home to Tamworth. I am very confident that most other Staffordshire towns will follow our example.”
He added, “As you can imagine there is a lot of passion over LCpl Watchman V’s importance, especially as many regular army veterans in Tamworth are former Staffords. Like them, I would very much like to see LCpl Watchman V again in Tamworth, carrying out his duties with unique the Staffordshire links he provides, while backed up with restoration of the important “Freedom of the Borough of Tamworth” status.”
