MP visits Selston Arts and Community College · Fri, 18th Jan · 

On Friday 18 January 2008 Selston Arts and Community College played host to local MP Geoff Hoon for the afternoon.

Arriving at 12.15pm, Mr Hoon MP was invited for a buffet lunch with the Colleges' Senior Leadership Team, School Governor, Brian Jackson and the Humanities Teaching Team.

The aim of Mr Hoon's visit was to observe a Year 7 form group who were exploring their brand new maps provided courtesy of The Ordnance Survey. Mr Hoon and the students enjoyed a lesson about map symbols and four figure grid references delivered by the Head of Humanities Mr C White. The students enjoyed the opportunity to show off their skills and all the good work they have been producing at Selston Arts and Community College since they joined the college in September.

We look forward to welcoming Mr Hoon to the college in the near future.

Mr Hoon said, 'I am interested in the progress of this scheme and the practical ways in which these maps have been used. It's great to see resources like these used in this way, giving the children a more practical way of increasing their understanding of the local environment.'

Residents of the Homesteads on Hartley Road and Forster Street in Kirkby-in-Ashfield are to have their old single glazed windows replaced with double glazed windows and also have high security doors fitted to all the bungalows.

The current single-glazed windows mean that living conditions in the Homesteads are far from satisfactory. The residents suffer from damp caused by large amounts of condensation which has meant that they use their heating more than normal, resulting in higher bills.

There are also security concerns about the old windows with a number of attempted break-ins recently. This has left the residents concerned for their safety.

The work was originally due to be completed by 2011 but following pressure from residents and Geoff Hoon, Ashfield Homes have announced that the work is due to start in April and be finished by July 2008.

Mr Hoon was delighted with the news saying, 'This is what the residents have been asking for for many months now. It is about time that something was done about it. I am pleased to have done my part and hope that the residents of the Homesteads enjoy safer and more comfortable living from now on.'

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon has welcomed news that humpback whales, including his adopted whale 'Ashfield' have received a temporary reprieve as the government of Japan has removed 50 humpbacks from this year's whale hunt.

However, he has expressed concern that Japan is pressing ahead with plans to take almost 1,000 other whales over the next three months. According to reports, Japan has agreed not to kill humpback whales this season. Today's announcement follows months of public and diplomatic pressure on Japan, which launched its whaling fleet on November 18.

Geoff Hoon MP said: 'While I am very pleased to hear that my adopted whale 'Ashfield' is safe for the time being, we must not forget that Japan is still targeting many other whales, including endangered species. We must keep up the diplomatic pressure for an end to this cruel practice. This is an issue about which people in Ashfield – especially young people feel very strongly'

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), recently adopted humpback whales for all UK MPs to encourage greater protection for whales.

Robbie Marsland, Director of IFAW UK, said: 'While this is good news for humpbacks it doesn’t change the fact that Japan's whaling programme continues to expand. Japan is whaling unlawfully under the guise of science. The removal of humpbacks from the kill list this season amounts to an admission of wrongdoing by the government of Japan.

'IFAW opposes all commercial or so-called ‘scientific’ whaling because it is inhumane and unnecessary. Withdrawing wild threats isn't enough, Japan needs to stop whaling once and for all and join the emerging global consensus for whale conservation.'

The government of Japan is currently undertaking the largest "scientific" hunt since the global moratorium on commercial whaling came into effect in 1986. Over the next three months Japan plans to kill 935 minke whales and 50 endangered fin whales in an internationally recognised sanctuary in Antarctica.

Mr Marsland added: 'We are grateful to Geoff Hoon MP for his continued support of our campaign to protect whales. We urge the UK Government and other anti-whaling nations to keep up the pressure on Japan to end whaling.'

Since the 1986 ban, Japan has killed more than 10,000 whales, claiming its whaling is conducted for scientific research purposes. Little science has been produced, while the meat from these whales is put on sale in supermarkets and restaurants.

For more information on whaling and how to help protect whales visit www.stopwhaling.co.uk