FROM ANNETTE BROOKE, MP FOR MID DORSET AND NORTH POOLE CONSTITUENCY

[(Annette, Mike and daughter Caroline, celebrating her election victory (Eleanor is currently in Sri Lanka doing voluntary work). Courtesy of Community Magazine.]

I feel very proud and honoured to have been re-elected as your Member of Parliament and look forward to continuing my support for all the local communities within the constituency.

Mike and I have always felt that Broadstone is a really good place to live and bring up a family because of its strong sense of community and associated supporting networks. It is interesting that the Prime Minister has established a new Cabinet position, Secretary of State for Community and Local Government.

Broadstone is a relatively affluent area with exceptionally low unemployment amongst our residents, we have excellent local schools, large 'well maintained' open spaces and much more, so we might well wonder why we are feeling that there are tensions threatening our quality of life. Changes in our society as a whole mean that that our work life balance is very different from 30 years ago. For example, overall there is less time available for strengthening family relationships and for family activities and less time for helping others. There are children who have very complex needs. I know from my casework that much more help is required from learning support to respite care.

Many years ago I was involved with a group in Broadstone, including local head teachers, representatives from the doctors' practices, youth workers, local churches, education welfare and a probation officer. We looked at issues relating to young people in Broadstone and from our discussions produced a document ahead of our times, called Positive Parenting. Today, lack of respect for others and other people's property is creating an additional dimension amongst a very, very small minority in Broadstone. I am pleased that new discussions are beginning to take place within the community.

At national level politicians have difficult challenges ahead in tackling anti social behaviour but here in Broadstone we do have the strength of our community to help address the emerging problems. However, do we need to be more proactive locally in identifying our answers to these problems?

Archive Summer 2005 | next

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