MP Celebrates Community Lottery Award · Fri, 21st Sept · 

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon made a visit to New Cross Community Church, Sutton-in-Ashfield, on Friday to celebrate a recent lottery grant of £221,000. The grant will be used in order to fund the New Cross Community Initiative over the next five years.

The Community Initiative oversees various local activities and events, centred on the Community Hall at New Cross. These include meetings staged by organisations such as Age Concern, Weight Watchers and the Pheonix Coral Society as well as dancing, first aid, painting and yoga classes. The centre is also host to important local events such as Saturday night concerts, and the Spring and Autumn show, where local residents are invited to exhibit their efforts ranging from garden produce to computer outfits.

The Community Hall is vitally important to local residents as it is one of the few facilities in the area that caters for public assembly.

Geoff Hoon said: 'I am really pleased for local residents and everyone involved in the New Cross Community Initiative that this very important facility now has guaranteed funding for another five years. One cannot underestimate the role that community centres play in areas such as New Cross. The Community Initiative brings people together through the celebration of local culture and life long learning and provides a much needed focal point for local residents. My sincere thanks go to those who have worked with real dedication in running the scheme over the last few years. I firmly believe this grant is a reflection of their hard work.'

Geoff Hoon Continues Rail Services Campaign · Fri, 21st Sept · 

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon lent his support to a stall in Kirkby town centre on Friday, as part of the campaign for a Sunday rail service for Ashfield.

The campaign which has been building momentum for some months now, has already received over 7,000 responses from local people. In addition campaigners have already achieved partial success in persuading the government to provide a later evening weekday service.

Mr Hoon wrote to the Department of Transport last year in support of the campaign for evening and weekend services. Now local MPs will take the case for a Sunday service to the Minister for Transport, Tom Harris, at a meeting in Westminster next month.

Geoff Hoon said: 'Ashfield and Mansfield are the largest areas by population in the UK without a Sunday service. A Sunday service would be a positive step for the local economy and in promoting greater use of public transport. It is vital that people make known their support. I will be doing my best to ensure local people’s views are given thorough consideration by the government.’

The County Council’s Rail officer, Jim Bamford said: 'The Robin Hood Line is used by over a million people per year, and the council is in no doubt that the Sunday service would be extremely well patronised. We have been overwhelmed with public support, but more would be extremely useful to show the Department of Transport that paying for a Sunday service would be an excellent use of their resources.'

Those wishing to add their support to the campaign should write to: Robin Hood Sunday Service, FREEPOST MID 20768, Communities Department, Trent Bridge House, Fox Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 1BR.

Residents See Post Box Reinstalled · Fri, 21st Sept · 

Residents of The Twitchell and Henry Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield, have now had a new post box installed, following assistance from Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon. Geoff Hoon wrote to Royal Mail on resident’s behalf following the post box’s removal, expressing their concerns and highlighting their dependency on the service. Royal Mail have addressed the issue by installing a new post box and collections have now been resumed.

Geoff Hoon said: ‘I am very pleased to see that the post box at the Twitchell has been reinstalled. Residents, especially the elderly, do depend on their local post box and it was important that Royal Mail were aware of local concern.’

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon, councillors and officials at Eastwood Town Council paid tribute to the work of former Councillor Don Rowley on Friday. Mr Rowley retired as a Town Councillor following the Local Council elections in May, after sixteen years of distinguished service to the local community.

Mr Rowley was Mayor of Eastwood in 1995 and 2002, and served as Leader of the Council from 2002 to 2006. In his time as Leader he oversaw a considerable amount of progress in the development of the council’s resources and facilities, and was instrumental in developing the council’s administration. One of his most notable achievements was his work in ensuring Eastwood Town Council was the first authority in Nottinghamshire to obtain Quality Council status.

Geoff Hoon said: ‘Don has consistently sought improvement throughout his political life. When we held surgeries together in Eastwood I was able to see first hand his commitment to working hard and standing up for the local community. His achievements are numerous and are a reflection of his dedication to public service. I would like to thank Don on behalf of the people of Eastwood, who will benefit from his work for many years to come.’

Ashfield MP Visits Reservoir’s Adventure Centre · Fri, 7th Sept · 

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon visited the Mill Adventure Centre at Kings Mill Reservoir on Friday. Mr. Hoon took the opportunity to take to the water in order to experience first hand the facilities from which thousands of local youngsters are benefiting. The Centre provides opportunity for youth groups, schools, scouts and voluntary organisations to take part in activities such as climbing, kayaking and sailing. These are organised by Nottinghamshire County Council’s "Youth Service" at Kings Mill as part of its Children and Young People’s Services provision.

The facility also offers an alternative education course for youngsters, from schools across the County. The offering a variety of vocational training opportunities including: First Aid, anger management and substance awareness, as well as National qualifications in the “Adventurous Activities."

Geoff Hoon said: 'I am really impressed by the combination of outdoor pursuits and life skills training at the Mill Adventure Centre, which is a vital resource for the young people of Ashfield and beyond. The scheme will help guide young people through some of the challenges of adolescence in the context of sport and healthy activity.'

Funding for the project has come from Nottinghamshire County Council, Lottery funding and the European Regional Development Fund.

Located within the Mill is also the newly-opened visitor centre overlooking the reservoir offering refreshments, exhibitions and toilet facilities in an idyllic location.