lewisham and hither green focus october 2009
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8/14/2019 Lewisham and Hither Green Focus October 2009
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FocusLewisham Central & Hither Green
[email protected] October 2009
Focus is paid for and delivered by Lib Dem volunteers at no cost to local taxpayers
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Tam Langley - Lib DemProspective MP forLewisham Deptford
Chris Maines - Lib Demcandidate for Mayor ofLewisham
Max Calo8690 4242
Cllr. Dave Edgerton8691 3052
cllr_david.edgerton@lewisham.gov.ukwww.davidedgerton.mycouncillor.org.uk
James Jennings07957 [email protected]
www.thiswaytolewisham.blogspot.com
Cllr. Andrew Milton8698 5119
[email protected]://20six.co.uk/andrewmilton
Anger over Lewishamtown centre plans
Labour ignore residents opposition to flawed town centre development
Plans to build a high risedevelopment on LoampitVale have been pushedthrough by Labour,despite strong oppositionfrom local residents andthe Lib Dems. Local LibDems have opposed thedevelopment for a numberof reasons, including the
reduction in swimmingprovision and the risk ofan empty wasteland infront of Lewisham Station.
Lib Dem councillor DaveEdgerton voted against the
development at a planningcommittee. Objectionswere heard from theLadywell Society and localresidents including LibDems, Max Calo and Cllr.Andrew Milton. The planswere only passed whenthe Labour Chair used hiscasting vote to push them
through.Cllr. Milton says, "I am notagainst the redevelopmentof the town centre, butmany local people do notwant to live in the shadow
of skyscrapers. We need aplan that is both greenerand more human-scale."
The Central LewishamAction Group is holding ameeting on the evening of12th November for localresidents to suggest analternative view on thetown centre regeneration.
Cllr. Milton will be speaking- to give him your views orfor meeting details pleaseemail [email protected]
Local Lib Dem campaigners, James Jennings, Max Calo and DaveEdgerton want to see regenerationplans for Lewisham town centrethat local residents can support.
Local figures show Labour are failing on crimePolice crime statistics show that in August there were 93 violent crimes in
central Lewisham, yet Labour say they are proud of their record on crimelocally! While local Lib Dem councillors take an active part in LewishamCentrals Safer Neighbourhood panels, Labour has not even bothered toattend the meetings.
Tam Langley, Lib Dem prospective MP for central Lewisham,has launched a campaign to cut crime. Working with localresidents and the police, the Lib Dems are aiming to makeour streets safer by identifying crime and anti socialbehaviour hotspots and helping to organising moreNeighbourhood Watch schemes. The Lib Dems would also liketo see more uniformed police on the beat, especially after dark.
Tam says, While it is important we don't give in to fear of crime, there is a real problem here that needsattention. Tough words from Labour wont tackle crime, we need real action.
If you know of a local crime hotspot, or would like to set up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, then [email protected].
Lib Dem prospective MP, Tam Langley,says tough words from Labour wonttackle crime - we need more action.
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Your Lib Dem councillors holdopen advice surgeries twice amonth...
First Saturday of each monthfrom 11am to 12noon at St.Swithins Church on HitherGreen Lane.
Third Saturday of each monthfrom 11am to 12noon atLewisham Library.
Advice SurgeriesClimate change action for LewishamLewisham Lib Dems havesucceeded in getting thecouncil to agree to cut theircarbon emissions by 10% by2010.
Lib Dem Mayoral candidateChris Maines says I amdelighted that the otherparties followed our proposalthat Lewisham should sign upto the 10:10 campaign. While
the Labour-run council has anextremely poor recyclingrecord, I'm pleased that theyhave come onside to work withus on climate change.
Neighbouring Lib Dem MPSimon Hughes has also leant hissupport to the campaign andcongratulated Lewisham LibDems on their success.
www.1010uk.org
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8/14/2019 Lewisham and Hither Green Focus October 2009
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Maines4MayorBy Chris MainesLib Dem candidate forMayor of Lewisham
Chris Maines, Liberal Democratcandidate for Mayor of Lewisham
Top Tories oppose the NHS
Lewisham Lib Dems
marching in support of
the NHS.
People who run things run out of steam.And sadly, when things start going wrong -there is nobody to say enough is enough,nobody with the fresh ideas to turn thingsaround. That's what happened withLabour in Britain and in Lewisham. Afternearly 40 years in charge of the TownHall, Labour in Lewisham have lost theirway - no vision, no understanding of whatlocal people want and no solutions to theproblems.
For seven years Lewisham's Mayor hasbeen trying to build a new school. Hischosen sites were found to be unsuitable.Plans keep being scrapped, and afterthousands of pounds on fees andconsultants its back to the drawing boardagain. But the pupils are still waiting for amuch needed school places.
Promises to ensure all Lewishams councilhomes are modernised keep being broken.Five more years of delay, money lost andpeople desperate for decent homes have
been left waiting.From low recycling rates to rising violentcrimes, Labour have failed to come upwith solutions we need. It is time forchange. The Lib Dems are the only forcein Lewisham with fresh ideas, the energyand the experience to end the decay.With 17 councillors, the LiberalDemocrats are the only party locallystrong enough to take over. Ourcouncillors and campaigners arecommitted to listening to residents, toworking with them to solve problems andcommitted to changing Lewisham forgood. Next year, you can help them makethat change.
Lib Dem councillor, Dave Edgerton, has beenfighting for improvements for elderly residentsliving in sheltered accommodation at St. MauritiusHouse in Lewisham Park.
Residents told Dave how landlord In-Touch,formally Hyde Housing, had failed to carry outessential maintenance work.
Problems include loose hand rails, blocked drainsand guttering and loose entrances to lifts.
Recently a fire broke out in one of the apartments, and did not set off the fire alarm, although In-Touch say the system was recently tested.
Dave said, "Elderly residents deserve safe, well maintained homes. I am glad the landlord has seen tosome of the problems I reported to them."
Elderly residents deserve better
- say Lib Dems
Local Lib Dems are campaigning forthe closed-up ramps at HitherGreen Station to be re-opened toease access to and from thestation.
Re-opening the ramps would allowdirect access to platforms 1, 2/3and 6, avoiding the current need touse the foot bridges.
Campaigning Lib Dems brought
Caroline Pidgeon AM, the LondonAssembly Transport CommitteeChair, to Hither Green to see theproblem for herself. Caroline saidRe-opening the closed rampswould massively improve access tothis station for those with mobilityproblems, pushchairs or luggage.
The campaign mounted by localcouncillors has my full support.
No date has been set by railbosses to make Hither Green fullyaccessible, even though work isalready underway at Lewishamstation and is time-tabled forGrove Park and Blackheathsstations. If passengers end upwaiting years before the station isfully accessible its even morereason for the closed ramps to bere-opened in the mean time.commented Lib Dem councillor,Andrew Milton. Hither Green is avery busy station - with over twomillion journeys each year - andthat number is set to grow.
Access for all call at Hither Green
A senior Torypolitician has causedoutrage by calling theNHS a mistake.Speaking on a rightwing American TVchannel, DanielHannan said the NHShad made peopleiller and that Britainwould be better off
without the NHS.
Unfortunately hesnot the onlyConservative whofeels this way about
the NHS. A number ofTory MPs expressedsimilar views aboutthe NHS in a bookpublished in 2005.
Tam Langley, Lib Demprospective MP forLewisham Deptford,said, Cameron hastried to create a moreacceptable image forhis party, but manyConservatives arebeginning to showtheir true colours.
Lib Dems have exposed how Lewisham Council profits from
controlled parking zones.Last year, income from controlled parking zones across theborough exceeded expenditure by almost 1.3million. Thats notsurprising, say Lib Dems, given that the charge for a yearlyresidents permit has DOUBLED in just one year from 30 to 60.
If the council is making such a big profit from controlledparking zones, why did they need to charge residents double fortheir parking permits? says Lib Dem campaigner, JamesJennings. Lib Dem councillors have requested a breakdown foreach parking zone, but the Council says it doesnt hold thisinformation.
James says, This explains why the council refuses to introduceshorter hours of operation for CPZs - the whole thing is a profitmaking exercise.
Lewisham Council makes 1.3million
profit from controlled parking zones
Dave, James and Max with one of
Lewishams parking meters.
Cut taxes for low incomefamilies - say Lib Dems
Lib Dems call for the personal tax threshold to be raised to 10,000
The Liberal Democrats
have launched newproposals for fairertaxes.
The proposals wouldraise the personal taxthreshold to 10,000,so that anythingearned below thatamount would not betaxable.
Lib Dem Leader, NickClegg, says theproposed tax policywould take four million
people out of
income taxaltogether,especially thoseworking part-time.
Lib Demtreasuryspokesperson,Vince Cable,says the proposalswould cut taxesfor millions of others,including lower paidemployees who are
currently paying toomuch in tax andstruggling with basicliving costs.
Lib Dem MPs, NickClegg, and Vince Cablecalling for fairer taxes.