Area a key seat, says Cameron

Tory leader David Cameron is seen with Conservative parliamentary spokesman for Telford Tom Biggins at Sutton Hill.

Conservative leader David Cameron today pinpointed Telford as a key battle ground for the next General Election.

The Tory supremo, who stopped off in the borough as part of a whistle-stop nationwide tour, said Telford was definitely a key marginal seat.

See our photo gallery below

Mr Cameron came to the borough to honour a promise he had made to Telford & Wrekin's Conservatives that if they seized control of the borough council he would pay a visit. He today said he was honouring that pledge.

Council leader Councillor Andrew Eade, cabinet member for regeneration, Councillor Eric Carter and borough Conservative spokesman Tom Biggins took Mr Cameron to Sutton Hill to meet residents at the community centre and see for himself the site of a planned multi-million pound regeneration.

Mr Cameron toured the estate after a meeting with about 20 residents, all members of a local working party set up to look into the regeneration.

After the meeting, Mr Cameron said: "The council leader wants the freedom to get on with the job of investing in the area and providing services for the people of Sutton Hill.

"He wants the Government to back off a little and not insist on so much auditing red tape interference and control.

"There is too much interference from Whitehall and we need more local government."

Mr Cameron, who was last night spotted dining in the Old Orleton Inn in Holyhead Road, Wellington, said there were two absolutely key issues concerning the electorate in Telford and the country as a whole, namely the cost of living and the breakdown of society.

He said people were really struggling at the moment with rising prices and issues such as crime, teenage pregnancies and fall-outs from school impacting on families.

He said: "We want to build a stronger society and stronger families. I think the people of Telford recognise that."

Councillor Eade said: "Mr Cameron's visit was of immense significance to the borough and Sutton Hill in particular.

"This sends a clear message that the council and the Conservative Party are quite prepared with the issues here.

"An immense amount of work is going on with regard to Sutton Hill. We need to put resources in by way of staffing and we already have £2 million earmarked.

"We need to provide accommodation so we can move people out of the worst areas and start dealing with the problem locations."

Sutton Hill residents have been campaigning for years for regeneration in the area, claiming for a long time they had been ignored.

The area is now one of the first to be targeted under the authority's £23 million Borough Towns Initiative to improve areas across Telford and Wrekin.

Footage was posted on video-sharing website YouTube earlier this year highlighting problems in Sutton Hill.

Residents called for a full regeneration of the area, and in April, more than 4,000 questionnaires went out to residents in Sutton Hill asking for their opinions on plans for regeneration.

Conservative leader David Cameron tours the Sutton Hill area with Eric Carter and right, Tom Biggins. They are seen looking at a burnt out house on the estate. See also: David Cameron visits Telford

David Cameron next to the burnt out house.

David Cameron is welcomed to Sutton Hill community centre by Barbara Richardson from Telford Conservative Associoation.

David Cameron with local residents at Sutton Hill community centre. See also: David Cameron visits Telford