LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

South East Cornwall Constituency Party

info@secornwalllibdems.org.uk
Contact us

 

Please Come and Join Us

Our Friendly Site Has A Wealth Of Information


Subject: SATASH TRADERS FASHION SHOW

Saltash Traders Spring Fashion Show

SE Cornwall Liberal Democrat have teamed up with Saltash traders to showcase the towns fashion retailers with a Spring Fashion Show on Thursday 10th May at Saltash Wesley Church from 7pm.
Saltash Cornwall Councillor for Essa division Bob Austin said, "Saltash has such a fantastic range of quality fashion shops that we thought it would be great to bring them together for a cat walk show." "We feel its very important to support our town centres."
As well as a cat walk show, other traders will have stalls with entertainment provided by Saltash Youngstagers and the compere will be former MP for SE Cornwall Colin Breed.

As well as providing a showcase for Saltash businesses, the evening hopes to raise funds for SE Cornwall Democrats but also The Chernobyl Children's Lifeline with aims to help children suffering from the after effects of the Chernobyl disaster and economic situation. Saltash businesses woman Vanessa Donoghue of Van Essa Menswear, Keast Mews, Saltash said, "I would like to thank Cllrs Bob Austin and Edwina Hannaford from Looe for coordinating the show, its a chance for Saltash town centre businesses to demonstrate the quality, range and value for money we can offer in SE Cornwall, right on peoples doorstep." "I am of course delighted that SE Cornwall Lib Dems have chosen to support my nominated charity Chernobyl Children's Life Line - Plymouth & District Link."

Shops participating in the cat walk show include; Little Black Dress, Van Essa Men's Wear, Intrigue Ladies Wear, Darling Boutique, Heaven Sent Bridal Boutique, Saltash Young Stagers and Cut Above Hairdressers. The first half of the show will feature more casual wear with the second half focusing on evening, cruise wear and prom dresses, culminating in a bridal pageant.

There will also be a selection of stalls showcasing the range of good Saltash can offer including; The Book Shelf, Steps Ahead, Saltash Sports, The Little Party Shop, Olivia's Lingerie, Driftwood Gifts and Art and Acorns Florist.

Tickets are £5 and available from the cat walk shop shops plus The Book Shop, Saltash Wesley Church or from Cllr Bob Austin 01753 844666 There will be refreshments available on the night and a raffle with prizes kindly donated by Saltash traders.

There are just 10 days to go before the local elections. We're getting a much better reaction on the doorstep here in Kirklees than we were twelve months ago.
I'm proud of what we've done locally. Our biggest achievement is that, like every other Liberal Democrat-run council in England, we have frozen Council Tax yet again. We want our council to cut out waste and concentrate on providing really good services that are needed by local people.
I'm proud of what we've done in Government nationally as well:
" The biggest pensions increase ever this year along with a guarantee of large increases in the future.
" 25 million ordinary people have been given a tax cut, paid for by increasing taxes for the rich.
" An extra £1.25 billion for our schools to help the most disadvantaged youngsters.

While we're concentrating on our local record in Kirklees, I'll happily answer any questions people have on the doorstep about what we are doing in Government.
There's a helpful crib sheet that you can use. We've added our local record to the version we're using, and your local party might have done so too, but download the national version now to get more information on what we've done to help the most vulnerable in Britain.
So with 10 days of campaigning left before the local elections, it's so important that every Lib Dem member and activist does what they can to help our our local candidates in these last few days - it could make all the difference.
Best wishes,
Kath Pinnock
Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Kirklees Council

 

NEWS RELEASE
11th April 2012

Lib Dems demand Cornwall Council action over rubbish shambles

Opposition leaders at County Hall are holding urgent meetings with the chief officers to get action to deal with the increasing problems over the new waste and recycling contract. Since the new contract started ten days ago, many parts of Cornwall have suffered missed or partial collections, there is confusion over the new arrangements and both public and councillors have found it impossible to get through on Cornwall Council's various phone hotlines.

"Any major new contract is inevitably going to have a few teething problems," said Cllr Jeremy Rowe, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Cornwall Council. "The measure of the administration is how they respond to problems."

"Unfortunately, the handling of this problem is rapidly descending into an utter shambles and the Tory-led administration has proved itself incompetent in handling the issue. There is widespread confusion about the new arrangements with many households not receiving the promised new recycling containers or the information on new collection days. Many postcodes aren't even listed on the Council's database."

"In addition, many collections have been missed across Cornwall and in at least one area the new contractor has simply piled rubbish bags on the corner of the street and then abandoned them."

"Local councillors of all parties have been doing their best to pass on information, but the administration is sending out conflicting messages and it is proving almost impossible to get through to talk to anyone at the Council's call centre. It doesn't help when top officers and councillors responsible for this area have decided to go away on holiday rather than try to sort this mess out."

"I'm holding urgent meetings today with Council chief Executive Kevin Lavery and Environment Director Michael Crich. Cornwall Council needs to get on top of this problem as a matter of top priority. Sadly, the elected members of the administration have proved that they are simply not up to the task."

ENDS

For more information contact Cllr Jeremy Rowe on 07894 329860 or Cllr Alex Folkes on 07984 644138

------ End of Forwarded Message
No virus found in this message.

The "Right to Buy" is arguably the most disgraceful, selfishly political piece of legislation to enter the statute books in the past half century. Introduced by a failing Tory Government as a crude bit of vote buying, perpetuated by "New" Labour in a move to strengthen their right wing credentials and perpetuated by the present coalition, to the shame of the Lib Dems, no significant political party can claim the high ground.

It cannot be denied that "it brought home ownership to many thousands". However, it did so at the expense of many more thousands who, for various reasons, could never have aspired to home ownership and who have been driven into the arms of private landlords, often letting sub-standard properties, at extortionate rentals.

The rents demanded by the "private sector are often well beyond the means of the tenants. As a result, national and local government has had to subsidise these rents, pouring hundreds of millions of pounds of tax/rate-payers' money into the pockets of private landlords which could have been used to improve and extend social housing stock. Meanwhile we encourage private developers to speculatively build cramped, poorly designed "affordable" houses, totally lacking in basic infrastructure, physical and social, which fail even to approach the "Parker Morris" standards which were considered to be the basic minimum acceptable in the 1950s!

As councillors and politicians we have failed the people whom we claim to represent.

This is, in my opinion, arguably the most serious topic which Cornwall Council has had to respond to in its existence and cannot be "dealt with" by exchanges of e-mails and informal "chats". We must have a serious and informed debate leading to a democratically agreed policy before you or "the Council" make any response. Given the urgency of the matter, I suggest that the matter be discussed as an "exceptional item" at next week's Council.

Regards,

David Hughes CC


To the editor
I felt I must write to you with regard to the current governments ideas on right to buy in the newly enacted Localism bill.
Here in Cornwall we have 23,000 people on the Homechoice register looking for properties to rent. Our current Cornwall Housing stock is approximately 10,700 homes.
These figures highlight the scale of the problem, which can only be exacerbated by the large discounts being offered to encourage people to buy their homes.
The government promises that for each house sold one will be built, however they don't promise that it will be built in the same area or even the same county. The whole policy is ill-conceived and can only make matters much worse in Cornwall and areas with similar economic problems.
The Housing Investment Plan which was included in Cornwall Council's budget and covers the next four years, hopes to enable the provision of 4000 houses, of which 1000 should be 'affordable' and some of those will be for rent.
With the best will in the world if our current stocks are depleted by this right to buy then there is little prospect of us ever solving our housing problems.
I feel that anyone who welcomes this part of the bill has not thought through the effects locally and its impacts on the chances of our young people desperate to set up homes
Yours faithfully


Derris Watson CC
Chair Housing Task Group
Cornwall Housing Board member

LIB DEM TEAM FOR CORNWALL

PRESS RELEASE

Lib Dem MPs welcome record numbers of apprentices in Cornwall

New figures reveal that in Cornwall, 5,050 people benefitted from an apprenticeship last year, an increase of 36% from 2010.

The figures have been released by the Coalition Government during National Apprenticeships Week. The promotion is seeking to build on last year's success with events in schools and businesses.

Commenting, Stephen Gilbert, MP for St Austell & Newquay, said:

"The increase in apprenticeship numbers is good for people looking for work, good for employers and good for Cornwall. I hope that as we see more and more businesses choose to make Cornwall their home, we will also see a further increase in these vital opportunities for local people to learn a trade and find long-term work."

MP for West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Andrew George added:

"We still need to give this a further push in Cornwall. The Coalition Government is doing the right thing by giving employers further encouragement to train young people and create opportunities for apprentices.

"The growth in apprenticeships is essential in our efforts to rebalance the economy away from financial speculators in the City of London, as we clear up Labour's economic mess."

North Cornwall's MP Dan Rogerson said:

"This encouraging growth in apprentices is welcome news for young people in Cornwall. Apprenticeships equip our young people with the skills needed to get jobs and build prosperous careers. Our apprentices are putting businesses on stronger ground to be successful and create jobs and growth in our area.

"It is great to see the Coalition Government recognising the need to value and invest in young people and give them the very best in training and employment opportunities."

Commenting further, Liberal Democrat Business Secretary, Vince Cable said:

"National Apprenticeships Week is the time to celebrate the countless achievements of learners and employers, and to call on more firms to hire an apprentice and enjoy the competitive advantage they can bring to a business.

"I am very proud of the fact that at a time of financial constraint this Coalition Government has prioritised investment in apprenticeships. This has led to the creation of record numbers of apprenticeships combined with tough new standards to drive up quality.

"Apprenticeships are at the centre of the Coalition's skills policy because we know that they work. Not only do they provide individuals with the skills they need for prosperous and rewarding careers, they also boost businesses' profits and drive growth in the wider economy.

"We are providing extra help to enable small employers to hire their first apprentices. We will also continue to develop new advanced and higher-level apprenticeships to deliver the world-class skills individuals and firms need to get ahead."


Newquay Airport Fire Sale

Cornwall Councilor Edwina Hannaford, shadow for the Economy has responded to the Tory administration's announcement that the sale of Newquay Airport is being considered, by warning that trying to sell this asset during the deepest recession this Country has seen since the 30's is highly unlikely to give best return for the Cornish tax payer.

Cllr Hannaford, member for West Looe and Lansallos said. "Sometimes you just have to have the courage to weather the storm for a better long term return." "Although I agree the long term aim may well be to sell on, but I don't believe this is the time to even consider this, it will be seen as a fire sale." "Short term-ism and uncertainty could undermine confidence at a time when the we are seeking investors to take advantage of the recently approved Enterprise Zone."

Leader of the Lib Dem group Cllr Jeremy Rowe said, "For the Tory administration to admit now may be the wrong time to go to market due to the present economic situation only highlights their incompetence." "They also seem to have overlooked consulting with the chair of the Local Enterprise Partnership."

Cllr Geoff Brown member for Newquay Central said. "I thought we had a clear plan on the direction of the airport, with the recent shot in the arm of the Enterprise Zone." "To seek now in a depressed economic climate to "sell off" the facility seems about as sensible as Gordon Brown selling our gold reserves when the gold price was on the floor!"

Cllr Hannaford concluded. "Although we must always keep the situation under review, these are panic reactions from an administration that doesn't know what it is doing."


Notes

The Council commissioned consultants Capita to carry out a detailed study on the economic impact of the airport. The results of the study, which looked at all matters relating to air travel, to and from the airport, how Cornish businesses use the airport for both business travel and promoting inward investment and finally, projected trends from now until 2030, will be formally presented to members of the Environment and Economy Overview and Scrutiny committee on 19 October.


Edwina Hannaford 07717203725 edwinahannaford@btconnect.com
Geoff Brown 01637 875660 07866334681 geoff-brown@talktalk.net
Jeremy Rowe 01208 814350 07894 329860 jeremy.rowe27@gmail.com


Published by South East Cornwall Liberal Democrats,The Liberal Building, Barras Street, Liskeard Cornwall PL14 6AD

The views expressed are those of the publisher, not of the server provider. Website explorecornwall.com