World Trade Center Tragedy & Heversham Playground

No one could fail to have been touched by the heartrending scenes as those airliners collided with the World Trade Centre - killing innocent people from all over the world in their thousands.

South Cumbria may be a continent away, but we could not have been touched more nearly. That was seen in the minute's silence at the Kendal Torchlight, in the rapidly filling books of condolence in town halls, and in the prayers said for the victims and their families in Heversham's own St.Peter's church. With several hundred Britons feared dead, there is a tragic likelihood that people known and loved here will have perished.

Leading Americans of both parties, the NATO Secretary-General, and both Tony Blair and Iain Duncan-Smith have rightly said we are now at war. The attacks on New York and Washington killed more Americans than died at Pearl Harbour, more Britons than in any other terrorist attack in history. The Prime Minister was right to stand unequivocally with the United States. Mr Blair deserves, and will receive, my firm support for the vigorous prosecution of the war he has declared.

What does this mean for south Cumbria? For our hard-pressed tourist industry, it can only be bleak news. With the Ryder Cup already cancelled because of American fears of flying overseas, and large redundancies announced by British airlines, it's clear that there will be many fewer American tourists coming to the UK.

An already fragile global economy could be tipped into recession. This could further cut visitor and job numbers. It might make the Treasury even more deaf to calls for more money for the foot and mouth crisis.

At a time when international and national crises dominate much of the news agenda, it is important for politicians not to forget the everyday local problems that affect people's lives. One such problem is the closure of the playground at Heversham due to the need to improve the facilities

We all want somewhere for our children to play where we know they will be safe and happy. A member of my own staff who lives in Heversham has told me how the closure of the Heversham playground has prevented his little boy from playing there with his young friends on the way home from school.

I am than happy to offer my support to the effort to raise funds for new playground equipment and have written to both our local councils to see if any funding for Heversham can be made available.

For more information on Heversham's playground project go to http://www.heversham-playground.freeserve.co.uk/

Until next time, God bless you

TIM COLLINS MP

www: Tim Collins Website
email: listening@timcollins.co.uk

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