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DR. ASHOK KUMAR MP. (PRONOUNCED KOOMAR) WAS RE-ELECTED IN JUNE for his SECOND TERM OF OFFICE as MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR MIDDLESBROUGH SOUTH and EAST CLEVELAND 'FROM EASTERSIDE to EASINGTON'

We met him in Langdon Square Community Centre to hear about his last few years in Westminster and ask about his hopes and wishes for the next term.

There we were, the Coulby News team, waiting to chat to our re-elected Member of Parliament. We had with us a few titbits to have with a cup of tea while we were chatting. (Could this be the reason that Dr Kumar has put on 2 stones since he was first elected!)

How did you feel on June the 7th, when the polling booths were closed, and the votes were being counted? we asked. "A little apprehensive" Dr Kumar replied, "but I knew I had done my very best during my term of office, and I was delighted when my majority was over 9,000 with a small swing from Conservative to Labour". When he went back to the House, we asked him did he sit in the same seat, and he said that he always goes the third row back.

We knew he had been on various committees during his last term of office and asked what is on his agenda this time? Dr Kumar is a member of the Trade and Industry Committee, he is Chairman of the all-party group for Energy Studies and Chairman of the all-party Chemical Industries group. All of these reflect Dr Kumar's concern and interest in many things which affect his own constituency as well as the country as a whole. We asked how much time these committees take up and Dr Kumar reckons that, added together, they take up about a day a week, plus lots of paperwork.

On a lighter note we asked Dr Kumar if he was involved in any of the social activities in the House (we had heard that Dari Taylor, the Stockton M.P. has a good voice, and was in a choir.). "No" he replied "but Dari once sang to me in the House" He also told us that Margaret Beckett has a very good singing voice, but we don't think she sang to him. Dr Kumar did say that when time allows he intends to join the all party jazz group No doubt about his favourite musician, Charlie Parker gets his vote every time.

Dr Kumar is still in the same flat in London. He says it can be a bit noisy, but it is convenient as he is within walking distance of the House. "I couldn't bear the thought of moving" said Dr Kumar. (Probably the thought of packing all his many books we thought.)
Speaking about books, we asked what book Dr Kumar is reading at the moment. He is re-reading Bertrand Russell's History of Western Philosophy and also a biography of Winston Churchill by Robert Rhodes James
Knowing Dr Kumar's love of music, we asked him if he has got a compact disc player yet, and yes, he has, a present from his brother. Knowing that London is a wonderful city with many concerts and shows, we asked had he managed to see any. "Unfortunately not", he
replied."Finding the time is always the problem"

Dr Kumar always looks smart and well groomed, and we asked where he bought his clothes. Thank goodness he did not reel off designer names(we might have had a problem spelling them), and said that he could usually find what he wanted in Marks and Spencers, and Next...Dr Kumar is not really interested in buying clothes, he would much rather spend any shopping time in his favourite book shops, two of which are Foyles, and Dillons.

We asked Dr Kumar if he had any holiday plans for this year, and he said that he was not flying off anywhere, but would spend time in his constituency, and with his family in the Peak District. Dr Kumar speaks very highly of his father, and said he looks forward to many lengthy debates with him. Usually he follows his fathers good advice, except the time he advised him not to have anything to do with politics.. We wanted to know more about father, and learned that he was a mathematician, and worked in industry. A deeply religious man, we learned that he is one of the founders of a Multi Faith Centre in Derbyshire. Most interesting we thought, and we know our readers will think so too.

Dr Kumar has travelled thousands of miles in the constituency since we last interviewed him, and visited all the schools he had told us he wanted to visit. Indeed, he has been asked back several times to some schools, including our schools at Coulby Newham. He has received many letters from children, mostly about fox- hunting and now children are getting concerned about the whales. They know they have an ally in their MP who loves all animals.
Dr Kumar held 230 surgeries, spread around his extensive constituency during his last term of office and he intends to be available to his constituents again, by holding his surgeries, as before. We mentioned the campaign to stop outside drinking in South Middlesbrough, and Dr Kumar said he was fully supportive of it.

Is there any subject which particularly interests you we asked.? Cancer, and cancer research was his reply. He thinks that people, particularly men should be aware of symptoms and is all for promoting awareness of cancer campaigns. His dream, he told us, would be to have a Centre of Excellence for Cancer Research on Teesside.
Finally we just had to ask Dr Kumar what he thinks of the sculpture on the plinth in Trafalgar Square ?! After all, he did campaign for a statue of Captain Cook, and he has seen the sculpture in person, we have only seen photographs of it .His answer didn't take long to write down. "I think it is AWFUL" he replied.

Hi Folks

Seems like my prayers were answered, weather wise, for a change.
The summer hols, were quite acceptable this time, and more of them, mind, when it rained though, it certainly came down in torrents. And the thunder and lightning, well sorry to anyone who doesn't like these two elements, but, I quite liked sitting in the conservatory watching those bolts of lightning whiplash the earth. Quite picturesque in a way.
Well, what's happening in Coulby Newham at the moment'?....
Work at Sunnyside School is still ongoing. Improvement work and constructions are moving along quickly in an effort to get the school ready for opening for the children to start their new year. When the work is complete it will cater for the new pupils from Beverly School and I'm sure we will wish them all well in their new surroundings.
Sorry to any of those who were regular participants of the Sunnyside Playscheme, but under the circumstances at the school, the playscheme would not have been able to operate. Still, so that some children did not lose out and thanks to Abdul Khan, centre manager, and the management committee at Langdon Square Community Centre for allowing me the use of the centre, some activities were provided to keep some of the children occupied through the summer. Additional thanks also to Abdul for helping out with some of the activities and getting his feet wet on Redcar beach, thanks to Keith Cook for running me around various shops to buy sweets and games, to Sally Danks, Play Officer, for allowing our scheme to participate in the Town Parade, to Maxine for running to the shops for goodies for our last day party, to Lynsey, Rebecca, and Leanne, our playleaders, and not forgetting the children themselves for the support, fun, noise and headaches (ha! ha! ha!) And finally the biggest thanks to my sponsors who provide the funds for the scheme, Abdul Khan, (Community Development) Middlesbrough Council Community Chest, Coulby Newham Community Council, and Middlesbrough Environment City.
On behalf of St. Mark's Church, Rev. David Whiting and all would like to offer their thanks to all who completed and returned the questionnaire. Results will be given later.
The new Safeway Shopping Centre development appears to be ongoing. Not sure when they plan to start the new roadway around Cropton Way, but it is to be developed in 3 phases.
Phase 1 (Weeks 1 - 12) Existing Cropton Way open. Cropton Way will remain open during the 1" phase of the works while part of the new road/service yard is being constructed.
Phase 2. (Weeks 12-40) Part Cropton Way open. Part new road/service yard complete and open giving access to existing service yard. Part Cropton Way open from roundabout to Medical Centre access bell mouth. Minor traffic management to link new to existing. New access road under construction and remainder of service yard under construction.
Phase 3. (Weeks 40-48) Old Cropton Way closed. New access road complete and new service yard complete. Traffic management works required to tie in new access road with existing improved highway access from roundabout. At the end of this phase access will be switched to the new road and Cropton Way will be closed.
Access to the existing service yard and to the new Coulby Medical Centre will be maintained at all times. Traffic management will be required at interface points between old and new access roads, but priority will be given to service vehicles and to public accessing the Medical Centre at all times.
(So there you have it.) So if you own a car and plan to go to the shops but don't understand these 3 phases, the best thing to do is walk.
Within a couple of months we should be having a paper recycling collection. Blue bags will come through your door for you to put your paper in which will, on one day of the week, be collected. But don't give up just yet from going to the paper bank. Also, next year we are due to get our turn of the 'wheely bins.' Sounds wheely exciting doesn't it.
I'm running out of space now, so I better type faster. Finally, some Community Council meeting dates: Forum 5, 1" October at Lingfield Ash Meeting Hall at 7 p.m. Forum 6, 9 October at Langdon Square Community Centre at 7 p.m. Coulby Newham Community Council, full meeting, 29 October, at Langdon Square Community Centre at 7 p.m.

That's it for now folks.

GEOFF WISHART (SEC)