Page 39 - Phonebox Magazine May 2013

Out and About with Mark Lancaster
Our local MP
The past thirty years has seen a dramatic change in how politicians and politics is conducted. The more presidential “polished” style of politician which arrived in ’97 is very different from what went before.
The death of Margaret Thatcher has given us all an opportunity to review the time she spent in office as Prime Minister. Whilst opinions are divided on her success few argue that she was a rare and special breed, which we would benefit from having more of around now. She was a conviction politician.
Love her or loathe her it is hard not to admire someone who sticks by what they believe, couple that with being the first woman Prime Minister in the western world, Maggie was remarkable.
She was always a supporter of Milton Keynes and the surrounding area, opening the Centre MK in 1979 and stepping in and backing the locally based Open University both in her time as Education Secretary and as Prime Minister.
I take particular pride in the area we live and the organisations that are active in our local community. MP’s are sometimes accused of being “disconnected” from the real world so I have embarked on a series of work experience placements across the city.
Most recently I volunteered to join one of our waste collection teams in Bletchley and give them a hand collecting the city’s rubbish. After a thorough safety briefing at the recycling centre in Wolverton, I joined Paul, Mez and Darren on their round in their new ‘single pass’ vehicle. Designed with separate sections for pink sacks, black sacks and glass, the vehicle reflects the move away from just throwing everything into black sacks destined for landfill and the growing popularity of recycling. With a modern vehicle like this, the need for multiple collections, in theory at least, is much reduced.
To say I hit the ground running is an understatement, these guys don’t mess about! The young crew literally run everywhere and within 30 minutes my outer layers have been stripped off and the chilly morning
soon felt more like summer. I’d joined the crew on one of the busiest days of the year, as they struggled to catch up after a long bank holiday weekend. Black sacks in the main hopper and pink in the smaller, with the lorry almost in perpetual motion, no need to go to the gym for these boys and I can see why there didn’t seem to be an ounce of fat on any of them.
It was a fascinating morning, hard work but thoroughly satisfying. We all get frustrated when sometimes our blue recycling box isn’t exactly where we left it (they really do all look the same after a while) but I left full of admiration for a crew doing a job many of us wouldn’t fancy. With more work experience planned with the local ambulance service and the environmental health service to name just a few, I am looking forward to learning more about the people who keep our local area moving. This month has also seen visits to Advantage Africa based in Olney Market Square, a fantastic local Charity doing excellent work with Communities in Africa. I’ve known Andrew Betts and the team for some time and the enthusiasm is there for all to see. I was pleased to be able to demonstrate the Government’s commitment to meeting the 0.7% target on Aid this year and hear more about their work. Anybody who would like to support a local charity should look at their website www.advantageafrica.org .
Equally encouraging was my visit to ‘Home Instead’ based in Olney who provide care visitors for our more senior residents. Care workers really are our unsung heroes and I’ve agreed to go back and spend a day with a care worker in future weeks to try a get a real feel for the challenges that they face in their role.
As ever, if you have anything you would like to speak to me about or if you would like me to come and visit your organisation please do get in touch on 01908 686830.
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Phonebox Magazine 39