WHY I WILL BE VOTING TO LEAVE THE EUROPEAN UNION IN THE EU REFERENDUM!

Speaking for myself, I know who my local councillors are for the Denton South Ward of the Borough of Tameside. I occasionally receive leaflets from them.

I also know who my local MP is for the Parliamentary constituency of Denton and Reddish. I occasionally receive leaflets from him and read what he has to say in the press and on social media.

But I can honestly say that I know very little about any of the following individuals:

Theresa Griffin; Afzal Khan; Julie Ward; Jacquline Foster; Sajjad Karim; Louise Bours; Paul Nuttall & Steven Wolfe?

Yet they are all Members of the European Parliament for the North West Region - MY MEP's. I think the last time I received a leaflet from any of them was during the elections to the European Parliament in 2014?

Then there are the Political groupings in the European Parliamentary Chamber. The EPP (European People's Party) led by the "high profile" Manfred Weber is the largest group with 215 MEP's. However, it is rivalled by the "equally well-known" Gianni Pittella's 190 MEP's of the S & D (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats). Then there is the 74 MEP's of the ECR (European Conservatives & Reformists) led by Syed Kamall and the ALDE - no, not the shopping chain - that's ALDI - which is the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and comprises 70 MEP's under the leadership of Guy Verhofstadt.

However, a third of our laws come from the European Union via these and other political groups - totalling 751 MEPs who I do not know and I have never even heard of.

It is therefore very difficult to hold them to account.

Despite its numerous faults, I have always believed in Britain's Democracy and in the Supremacy of Parliament; where constituents are - and should be - able to hold individual MPs to account for the decisions they make.

THEREFORE, I WILL BE VOTING TO LEAVE THE EU IN THE UPCOMING REFERENDUM ON THURSDAY 23 JUNE!

Carl Simmons

A PUBLIC MEETING

A PUBLIC MEETING HAS BEEN ARRANGED REGARDING THE FUTURE OF THE TWO TREES SCHOOL PLAYING FIELDS.

DATE & TIME: TUESDAY 24TH MAY AT 7PM.

VENUE: THE JOLLY HATTERS PUB, HAUGHTON GREEN ROAD.

ALL WELCOME.

My latest leaflet - CARL SIMMONS INDEPENDENT

My latest leaflet - CARL SIMMONS INDEPENDENT

If you would like more information on these and any other issues, then please view: 

www.carlsimmons-independent.blogspot.com

 or https://www.facebook.com/carlsimmons.independent or Email: carl.simmons.ind@gmail.com or Tel:07799730708

Interview by That's Manchester - Campaigning to save Tameside's leisure centres

Interview by That's Manchester - Campaigning to save Tameside's leisure centres - Manchester Headline News. To watch click on link here...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKzVUA5oA3o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKzVUA5oA3o

LEAVE THE GREEN FIELDS OF TWO TREES SCHOOL ALONE!

Please give your support and help to preserve the Green Fields of Two Trees School by signing Margaret Smethurst's petition, which can be found on this link:

https://www.change.org/p/secretary-of-state-for-communities-and-local-government-greg-clark-leave-green-fields-of-two-trees-school-alone?recruiter=261987056&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

Having already in recent years lost both Two Trees High School and then the Haughton Green Library; we are facing the prospect of losing our local swimming pool and now these beautiful fields too. My eldest daughter, Tara, is three years old and my youngest, Keira, is now five months; and I worry that before they are much older, the only way that they will know of these places will be by seeing them pictured on the Haughton Green History Facebook Page!


Carl Simmons
Friday 5th February 2016

I cannot stress enough the importance of retaining local pools in all three locations!

Maybe current councillors and candidates - who are facing election in May - are worried about the huge public backlash now taking place regarding the proposed closures of the Ashton, Denton and Dukinfield Swimming Pools.

This would explain why Labour in Dukinfield are now campaigning for a Swimming Pool in Dukinfield and Labour in Ashton are campaigning for a Swimming Pool in Ashton; whilst Labour in Denton are campaigning for a Swimming Pool in Denton. Yet, at the same time, it is Tameside Labour Council proposing to shut all 3 pools!

However, this must not be allowed to become a local political version of the X-Factor - and certainly should not be turned into what is fast becoming a very ugly political beauty contest between the various Labour councillors.

I cannot stress enough the importance of retaining local pools in all three locations. Each of them are pools easy to access for the local communities they serve and closing any of them would impact upon the elderly and families with young children who would then have to travel greater distances.

This WILL deter many local people from taking up this form of exercise in the future; whilst discouraging people to maintain healthy exercise will eventually lead to greater strains on the NHS and putting that right will end up costing much more money in the longer term.

Currently, these pools provide Aqua fit classes, pre-ducks, little ducks and ducklings - not to mention Lane and General swimming sessions and other swimming clubs; whilst the national curriculum also requires swimming lessons for all children at Key Stages 1 & 2.

Over 2500 people have now signed the petition NO SWIMMING POOL CLOSURES IN TAMESIDE and there have been over 500 comments written via Facebook and on the petition site. Please see link:

https://www.change.org/p/executive-cabinet-tameside-metropo…

If Tameside Council does have £10 million to spend and are also looking into "partnership arrangements" to bring in extra cash; then perhaps using it to subsidise public health initiatives, such as providing free swimming for all young people under 17 during school holidays - as Manchester Council did during the last summer break - or similar activities for the elderly and for people with disabilities throughout the year would actually yield much more positive results!

Carl Simmons

21st January 2016

A LETTER OPPOSING SWIMMING POOL CLOSURES - WRITTEN BY OUR MP IN DECEMBER 2013!

Regarding the proposed Swimming Pools closures currently being considered by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council - Here is a letter from Andrew Gwynne MP from 19th December 2013.

The first 7 points he raises states why NONE of the swimming pools should close! PLEASE ALSO SEE AND READ ATTACHED JPEG IMAGE!! http://andrewgwynne.co.uk/2014/05/02/tameside-aquatics-centre-mp-pleased-at-council-rethink-following-campaign/