First, a big thank you for the incredible support given to me by so many people during (and after) the recent election. Â The level of support was astonishing and humbling – the personal support, along with all the hours spent delivering, canvassing, writing and stuffing envelopes, printing, sticking up posters etc. Â It was something to behold and I am intensely grateful.
Last Sunday, I went up to Milestones in Basingstoke to take part in the BBC South edition of the Politics Show.
If you missed it, it’s still available on the iPlayer.
The relevant section starts here.
It’s not available on the iPlayer anymore, but I have finally managed to upload it here.
[media id=23 width=520 height=317]
News from the University of Glasgow (as passed on to me by their University Rector over dinner this evening):
Preserving the fabric of the nation’s treasures for future generations, a new textile conservation centre is to be established at the University of Glasgow.
The Textile Conservation Centre Foundation (TCCF) and the University of Glasgow have agreed to found the new teaching and research facility – the only resource of its kind in the UK – in the University’s Robertson Building.
Peter Longman, Deputy Chairman of the Textile Conservation Centre Foundation said: “There was such concern over the closure of the Textile Conservation Centre in Winchester that over the last 18 months we have been approached by several institutions anxious to work with us to continue aspects of its work. We have considered a number of options, but the combination of Glasgow with its world class University and History of Art Department and the unrivalled collections in and around the City proved an irresistible location.
A happy ending, although still a loss for Winchester.
You can read Glasgow University’s press release here and read previous posts about the TCC closure here.
Last Wednesday, Martin Tod used a wheelchair to accompany local wheelchair user, Andy Cadle-Mills around town to try and understand what it’s like to use a wheelchair in Winchester.
“I was surprised how tough it was” commented Mr Tod after the session was over. “Winchester has a lot of steep curbs, pavements with sharp cambers and uneven surfaces – and that’s before you even consider how steep it is to get from the bottom to the top of town.”
This was the latest of a series of visits that Mr Tod has done alongside people with with disabilities to try and understand how we can make Winchester more disability friendly.
Mr Tod added “After an hour I was worn out. Winchester is hilly, the surfaces are uneven, and it’s not always possible for blue-badge holders to get to a convenient place to get out of their car. It’s been said that Winchester is the worst place in Hampshire for wheelchair users. I can’t judge whether that’s true, but it’s clear we need to do more.”
Ideas for action that Mr Tod discussed with Mr Cadle-Mills included:
Vince Cable, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, visited Alresford on Monday, March 8, to meet local businesses.
Accompanied by Liberal Democrat Prospective MP for Winchester, Martin Tod, Mr Cable visited the Alresford Gift Shop, both the town’s butchers – C.E. Evans & Son and Sole Butchers, the Alresford Builders Merchants and the Alresford Cobbler before finishing with a cup of coffee in Caracoli.
Mr Cable visited the town after speaking at a conference on the “Hampshire’s Road to Recovery” held at Intech.
Martin Tod commented:
It was great that Vince had the chance to meet local businesses and hear about how the recession has impacted them and also about the treatment they’ve been getting from the banks. Because we’re a relatively prosperous part of the country, some people assume that we’ve been unaffected, but that certainly isn’t the case for everyone. It’s vital that we get economic policy right if we are not to be thrown back into a deeper recession.”