ladywell ward october 2010 focus
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8/8/2019 Ladywell Ward October 2010 Focus
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Ladywell ward
LEWISHAM
LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
October 2010
Make yourvote count!
Lewisham's Labour Mayor is consultingon the closure of five of the
boroughs twelve libraries as part of a60m package of cuts. Preparationfor the cuts started last yearfollowing the financial crisis, and inApril council officers began draftingplans to target Library spending.
Lib Dem Cllr Chris Maines said at thelast council meeting "Most peopleunderstand the need to deal with thehuge national deficit but why startthe cuts by closing Libraries?
There are many areas where theCouncil spends vast sums of moneythat can be saved, Lewisham Councilspent over 12 million last year onexternal consultants - one singleconsultant earned a staggering263,000.
Liberal Democrats believe librariesplay a vital role in our community.They help introduce young people to
books, unemployed people canget Internet access and many olderresidents find libraries a lifeline. Thelibraries targeted for closure includeCrofton Park and New Cross. Onereason some libraries have been
singled out for closure is their poorstate of repair. It appears that theCouncil has failed to repair leakingroofs and subsidence and now say itwould be cheaper to close them.
Libraries under threat 5 of 12 libraries to close 60m cut in services planned
by Labour-run Council beforeelections
Crofton Park library could remain open if
the cuts are spread more fairly: if 70 ofLewisham Council's employees with the highest
salaries took a 10% pay cut, enough moneywould be saved to keep the five libraries open.Current proposals will see library staff,generally on lower salaries, losing their jobs.
Too many MPs have a job for life...... this has led to complacency, as we saw withthe expenses scandal last year.
We will finally be given our say in thereferendum on 5th May 2011. The proposedAlternative Vote ("AV") method of electing MPsbuilds on the strengths of the current systemwhile eliminating many of its weaknesses.
Politicians will be forced to work harder to earnand keep our support. People will at last be able
to vote for what they really want.
We'll be fighting to secure a 'Yes' vote and youcan be part of it.
Yes! To Fairer Votes is a non-party political umbrella
organisation which will lead the referendum campaign in
support of the Alternative Vote.
All political groups represented on Lewisham Council have
expressed their commitment to electoral reform, as have many
non-political campaigning groups. If youd like to help the
campaign, use the contact details overleaf or join in on-line.
www.yestofairervotes.org
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The Liberal Democrats have beenhighlighting some of the progress
achieved through their participation inthe Coalition government, and beenopen about the difficult times ahead.
Saddled with a huge national debtfrom Labours economic mess,equivalent to 22,400 for every man,woman and child, the government hasalso had to take some tough decisionsabout public services in order tobalance the books.
As well as seeking to make thespending cuts as fair as possible, in
just five months a huge number ofprogressive policies have been enacted thanks to the Liberal Democrats:
Ending imprisonment of children inimmigration cases
Outlawing finger printing of childrenat school without parental permission
Restoring the pensions-earning link
Taking 900,000 low paid workers outof Income Tax altogether
Making top earners pay 10% more
capital gains tax
Increasing tax credits for the poorest
Putting 2.5 billion into child taxcredits so that children of allbackgrounds get a good start in life
Introducing a banking levy and anindependent commission to look atbreaking up the fat cat mega banks
Scrapping ID cards
Introducing a Referendum Bill for the
Alternative Vote fulfilling a Labourmanifesto commitment
Long awaited reform of the House ofLords.
Pledging to meet the goal of 0.7% ofGNI on overseas aid
Get in touch!
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Could you help us?The Liberal Democrats are the real alternative in Ladywell
ward Were not supported by big business or the unions
and rely on local people like you to help and support our
campaigning. Can you help us improve our area?
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Ladywell LiberalDemocratsFREEPOSTRSAJ-GRSR-JUAG8 Woodham RoadLondonSE6 2SD
Printed T & B Pr inting Services, Unit 12, Charmwood Farm, Charmwood Lane, Prat ts Bottom, BR6 7SA. Published by and on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, all
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Lewisham Lib Dem
councillor, DuwayneBrooks, has slatedLewisham councilsfailure to respond tothe spate of knifecrime in recentmonths.
Cllr Brooks called foremergency action atthe beginning of thesummer to deal with
the frighteningincidence of knifecrime, but theLabour Mayor andcouncillors decided to defer anyaction until the autumn. Betweenthe end of June and beginning ofSeptember there were 59 knifeattacks locally.
Cllr Brooks commented Thesummer can be a time of increased
tension among some young people:we needed an action plan to takeknives off our streets. Labour didnothing and there were 60incidents. These crimes varied in
seriousness but a knife attack canhave destroy a young person's life.
A detailed plan to deal with thisproblem is needed but Labour areignoring it. Crime is the main
concern among local residents,particularly young people, and wemust work with everybody involvedto ensure reducing knife crimes is apriority.
Call for action onknife crime ignored
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If you have a comment or if there is any
issue you would like us to help you with,
let us know...
other_______
Cllr Brooks ( ), has called on Lewishamcouncil and the local police force to getto grips with knife crime in the borough.
Progress fromLib Dems ingovernment
Lib Dem Deputy PM Nick Clegg atthe UN General Assembly confirmingour commitment to overseas aid.