Councillor Corner by Cllr Paul Alexander Health Minister, Norman Lamb -- visits Milton Keynes -- At the invitation of local Lib Dern councillors Lib Dern Health Minister Norman Lamb MP visited Milton Keynes on the 6th March to see for himself whether health services in Milton Keynes are keeping up with our growing population. Milton Keynes Liberal Democrats explained to the Health Minister about complaints from residents about the difficulty in getting a GP appointment and the shortage of GPs , especially since Willen Surgery closed sending up to 4,000 patients by alphabetical order to Kingfisher Surgery in Newport Pagnell, Broughton Gate Health Centre, Oakridge Park Medical Centre and Purbeck Health Centre. Mr Lamb said "I'm concerned with what happened and the way NHS England dealt with it , allocating people by surnames without any recognition of distance". The Liberal Democrats introduced the Health Minister to Caroline Rollings , Managing Partner at Newport Pagnell Medical Centre, who explained their proposal to use the purpose built medical facility at Willen as an extension of Newport Pagnell Medical Centre. Mr Lamb was very interested to hear about Lib Dern councillors concerns and actively listened to the proposal from the Newport Pagnell Medical Centre and agreed to follow it up with NHS England. - Local Elections on 22nd May - On 22nd May there will be an election where you will have the opportunity to vote for three candidates to represent you in your Ward. At present there are 51 Councillors representing 23 Wards, with eight Wards having three Councillors , 12 with two Councillors (including here in Newport Pagnell) and three Wards with only one Councillor in each. This will mean that there will be an increase of Ward Councillors from the current 51 to 57 under the new system. This is to take into account the increase in population in the Borough of Milton Keynes also to establish a fairer and more balanced distribution of Councillors. You will be given the opportunity to vote on Thursday 22nd May for your choice of three local canditates plus your choice for the European Elections. In Newport Pagnell there will be two Wards, each with three councillors. They will be Newport Pagnell North & Hanslope which will include the Newport Pagnell north of the High Street/Wolverton Road plus the villages of the existing Hanslope Park ward, including Redhouse Park and also Stoke Goldington. Also Newport Pagnell South which will comprise of Newport Pagnell south of the High Street/Wolverton Road plus Giffard Park and Blakelends . Success in Newport Pagne ll due - to effort by loca l Counc illors - During the month of March major work was undertaken in the North of Newport Pagnell to rectify the bad condition of the pavements. The tarmac walkways have become very hazardous and resulted in potholes in the surface . Cllrs Derek Eastman and Paul Alexander continually contacted the Highway Dept at Milton Keynes Council. The areas which are being resurfaced include Little Linford Lane, Shipley Road, Manor Road and some other adjacent roads. Please note that there will not be a Councillor 's Corner in the May edition due to the elections but normal service will be resumed in June. Hair Play Mobile Hair Styling 44 Phonebox Magazine Milto n Keynes Food Bank Night Shelter an d The major part of my small Councillor 's ward budget this year I have chosen to devote to two worthwhile charities namely the Foodbank and Winter Night Shelter, both of which operate locally here in Newport pagnell. The purpose of such budget is to use it to promote worthwhile requirements for local organisations; I feel that the above organisations most deffinately fall into this catagory Despite us living in a relately affluent society , there are many people locally who are either homeless or without suffient food to eat or to feed their families , or in many cases both. I am pleased to be able to offer my support in this way. Top quality PRICE LIST styling in your oUJn home Ring Tracy Home 01234 711932 Mobile 07545 700792 FHBFMembership FullyqualifiedwithCity& Guilds (for more details please ring) Ladies Cut & Blow Dry £25 Men's Cut £12 Colours from: Full Head Tint (with cut) £50 Foil/ Mesh Colours (with cut) £58