STATEMENT FROM GRAHAM NEWMAN, CONSERVATIVE COUNTY COUNCILLOR
| Published: 8th July 2008 11:57 |
Correspondents will be aware of a recent investigation by a local newspaper into the travelling expenses of their Suffolk County Councillors.
I would like to make the following statement:
Upon my 60th birthday back in February this year, I became eligible for Senior Railcard. Since purchasing a card at my own expense (£24), I have been increasingly using my bicycle and the train to travel between my home in Felixstowe and Endeavour House in Ipswich - and indeed for many other local journeys on Council business.
This has reduced my travel expense claim for each journey between home and Endeavour House from £11.60 for the 29 miles return trip by car, to £2.95 or less for the cycle/train combination. Not only that, but I am feeling healthier too!
Indeed, increasingly I am only using my private car
- for journeys which are impractical by public transport, or
- where I have a succession of appointments which I just couldn't get round in time by using public transport or
- where I am carrying one or more passengers on behalf of the Council, thus reducing the overall cost to the taxpayer
I would like to assure residents that I am 100% committed to the "green" travel agenda: I walk and cycle my daughter to school the 1½ miles between my home near Morrisons and Fairfield most days. I am campaigning with the County's Environment & Transport Department to complete the provision of an off-main-road cycle route between Trimley and Felixstowe, and to mark cycle lanes on a number of local roads. Although my car - a 1910cc diesel-engined vehicle - is not the smallest on the road, it does qualify for a lower rate Road Fund Tax, and normally returns at least 45 miles/gallon.
Please be assured that I am very conscious of both unnecessary cost and the undesirable environmental consequences of excessive car use, and that I make a conscientious decision to avoid these whenever I practically can.
Graham L Newman
Conservative Suffolk County Councillor for Felixstowe Coastal Division
Portfolio Holder for Adult & Community Services
T: 01394 670316
F: 01394 213393
M: 07802 397905
E: glnservices@ntlworld.com
