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

    PrintedbyT&BPrinting,Unit2,8aChelsfieldRd,St.MaryCray,Kent.PublishedandPromotedbytheLiberalDemocratsa

    t8WoodhamRoad,Catford,SE62SD

    Your local

    Lib Dem team

    Is there something you want to tell us?

    Return to Freepost RSAJ-GRSR-JUAG, Liberal Democrats, 8 Woodham Road, London SE6 2SD

    Name & Address:

    Telephone number or email:

    If youd like to contact the Lewisham Central Lib Dem team, you can use this form...

    Support the Lib Dems?

    Ill be voting Lib Demin the future

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    I can display a posterat election time

    Tam Langley - Lib DemProspective MP forLewisham Deptford

    [email protected]

    Chris Maines - Lib Demcandidate for Mayor ofLewisham

    [email protected]

    Max Calo8690 4242

    [email protected]

    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.

    If you return this slip the Liberal Democrats and their elected representatives may use the information you have provided to contact you from time to timeabout issues we think you may find of interest. Some of the contacts may be automated. You can opt out of some or all contacts at any time by contacting us.

    (continue on another sheet if necessary)

    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

  • 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.