This thread is for Liberal Democrat candidates or their representatives to put their case and answer questions.
Questions should be polite and non-argumentative. If you wish to argue the point please open a new thread on the subject.
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The Liberal Democrat Case
The Liberal Democrat Case
Last edited by admin on 14 May 2010 14:14, edited 1 time in total.
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Alex Feakes
- Posts: 27
- Joined: 3 Apr 2005 15:59
- Location: Forest Hill
Many thanks to the Sydenham Town Forum for hosting these on-line hustings.
As the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Lewisham West & Penge, I'm sure Sydenham residents will have a lot of questions about national issues as well as what is important locally. To start off, though, I'll set out a little about the Lib Dem local plans, and let posters ask questions as they wish.
At the local elections this year, the Liberal Democrats are focusing on 'six-to-fix' for Lewisham:
- freeze council tax for at least two years
- strengthen local police teams to tackle crime
- double the rate of recycling
- build the first new council housing in the borough for over a decade
- improve the leisure and work opportunities for young people
- work toward scrapping the directly elected mayoral system in the borough
In addition, we are developing an urgent response to address the crisis in primary school places.
Feel free to ask questions on these or any other subjects.
Alex Feakes
As the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Lewisham West & Penge, I'm sure Sydenham residents will have a lot of questions about national issues as well as what is important locally. To start off, though, I'll set out a little about the Lib Dem local plans, and let posters ask questions as they wish.
At the local elections this year, the Liberal Democrats are focusing on 'six-to-fix' for Lewisham:
- freeze council tax for at least two years
- strengthen local police teams to tackle crime
- double the rate of recycling
- build the first new council housing in the borough for over a decade
- improve the leisure and work opportunities for young people
- work toward scrapping the directly elected mayoral system in the borough
In addition, we are developing an urgent response to address the crisis in primary school places.
Feel free to ask questions on these or any other subjects.
Alex Feakes
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Alex Feakes
- Posts: 27
- Joined: 3 Apr 2005 15:59
- Location: Forest Hill
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Alex Feakes
- Posts: 27
- Joined: 3 Apr 2005 15:59
- Location: Forest Hill
Good point, Tim. Here you go
Perry Vale ward:
Mark Bennett
Will Howells
Cherese Lang
Forest Hill ward:
Alex Feakes
Philip Peake
John Russell
Bellingham ward (quite a bit of which is in SE26):
Richard Adams
Danny Dignan
Jenni Steele
Mayor of Lewisham:
Chris Maines
Perry Vale ward:
Mark Bennett
Will Howells
Cherese Lang
Forest Hill ward:
Alex Feakes
Philip Peake
John Russell
Bellingham ward (quite a bit of which is in SE26):
Richard Adams
Danny Dignan
Jenni Steele
Mayor of Lewisham:
Chris Maines
Last edited by Alex Feakes on 14 Apr 2010 14:03, edited 1 time in total.
Chris,
Welcome to the forums and thankyou for taking our questions. I didn't expect local candidates to get so involved but I'm glad thats the case. I'm not sure if all my questions will be relevant but I'd like to ask: -
1 - Is there any view on helping first time buyers that live locally to actually buy locally? I'm a decent hardworking type but by the time I would have saved enough for a sizable deposit, the Olympics will be upon us and local/new premesis will probably have been snapped up as investment properties.
2 - On recycling, since I'm having absolutely no success on getting a GreenBin for my house (despite many people on my street having more than one) is there any intention to restore old recycling bins or add new ones. I have bags of plastic, paper and cardboard but I don't want to carry bags of these up Westow Hill everyday and I suspect London Buses wouldn't be agreeable either.
3 - On housing, where would these proposed new estates be? I don't support cementing over rural or communal space in the slightest and would be mortified if any open or green area is going to be cemented.
Many thanks,
Steve
Welcome to the forums and thankyou for taking our questions. I didn't expect local candidates to get so involved but I'm glad thats the case. I'm not sure if all my questions will be relevant but I'd like to ask: -
1 - Is there any view on helping first time buyers that live locally to actually buy locally? I'm a decent hardworking type but by the time I would have saved enough for a sizable deposit, the Olympics will be upon us and local/new premesis will probably have been snapped up as investment properties.
2 - On recycling, since I'm having absolutely no success on getting a GreenBin for my house (despite many people on my street having more than one) is there any intention to restore old recycling bins or add new ones. I have bags of plastic, paper and cardboard but I don't want to carry bags of these up Westow Hill everyday and I suspect London Buses wouldn't be agreeable either.
3 - On housing, where would these proposed new estates be? I don't support cementing over rural or communal space in the slightest and would be mortified if any open or green area is going to be cemented.
Many thanks,
Steve
Last edited by Seifer on 14 Apr 2010 19:26, edited 1 time in total.
Interestingly, the Labour council in Hackney have frozen council tax rises for five years running - just a point, neither here nor there.
on housing - would the council consider buying back houses from those people who are struggling with their mortgage payments, or are in arears, and then housing those same people as council tenants in their own houses, but charging them rent less than the previous mortgage payments were? I don't think many people would be up for this, but some might.
What are your quick wins for doubling recycling?
do they include free wormaries or compost bins?
do you plan to start collecting plastics, and other items that are currently very common, but with very little recycled, or collecting those things which actually end up costing more money to recycle (if you increase the collection, the cost to recycle will come down)
on housing - would the council consider buying back houses from those people who are struggling with their mortgage payments, or are in arears, and then housing those same people as council tenants in their own houses, but charging them rent less than the previous mortgage payments were? I don't think many people would be up for this, but some might.
What are your quick wins for doubling recycling?
do they include free wormaries or compost bins?
do you plan to start collecting plastics, and other items that are currently very common, but with very little recycled, or collecting those things which actually end up costing more money to recycle (if you increase the collection, the cost to recycle will come down)
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Chris Maines
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 4 Apr 2006 23:56
- Location: Blackheath
Can I please echo Alex's thanks for providing this online hustings - it's a great way of people making direct contact with those wanting to represent them.
There are 3 points raised so far.
Council Tax freeze - I am confident that we can do this for at least 2 years. One reason being that after nearly 40 years of one party rule a fresh approach will expose many areas where savings can be made. I was Leader of Bromley Council - where the financial background was very different - I know if Lewisham dealt with issues first time and got them right first time - it will not only make savings but also improve the service provided to residents.
We can recycle much more in Lewisham - we must make it easier for people (particularly those living in flats), increase the materials that can be recycled locally (currently we take about 8 materials out of the 18 normally recycled) and there are many parts in the borough where we can make greater efforts to help those with gardens to compost.
Housing is in a crisis for the minority who suffer from homelessness or overcrowding. I do not want to see green spaces built on and am a great supporter of the green belt. We must therefore acelerate development of several derelict sites in Borough. I would push for larger family units (even if in higher blocks) in Paris a 5 bedroom apartment would not be unusual - here they are very rare. We must stop developers from building tiny one or two bedroom flats - which we have a surplus and get them to start constructing family units. Currently Lewisham's planning is very weak and needs to be strengthen by criteria which directs developers to build what is needed locally.
Regards,
Cll Chris Maines
Lib Dem Mayoral candidate
There are 3 points raised so far.
Council Tax freeze - I am confident that we can do this for at least 2 years. One reason being that after nearly 40 years of one party rule a fresh approach will expose many areas where savings can be made. I was Leader of Bromley Council - where the financial background was very different - I know if Lewisham dealt with issues first time and got them right first time - it will not only make savings but also improve the service provided to residents.
We can recycle much more in Lewisham - we must make it easier for people (particularly those living in flats), increase the materials that can be recycled locally (currently we take about 8 materials out of the 18 normally recycled) and there are many parts in the borough where we can make greater efforts to help those with gardens to compost.
Housing is in a crisis for the minority who suffer from homelessness or overcrowding. I do not want to see green spaces built on and am a great supporter of the green belt. We must therefore acelerate development of several derelict sites in Borough. I would push for larger family units (even if in higher blocks) in Paris a 5 bedroom apartment would not be unusual - here they are very rare. We must stop developers from building tiny one or two bedroom flats - which we have a surplus and get them to start constructing family units. Currently Lewisham's planning is very weak and needs to be strengthen by criteria which directs developers to build what is needed locally.
Regards,
Cll Chris Maines
Lib Dem Mayoral candidate
Chris,
many thanks I've split this out for discussion here: -
http://sydenham.org.uk/forum/viewtopic. ... d779#36453
many thanks I've split this out for discussion here: -
http://sydenham.org.uk/forum/viewtopic. ... d779#36453
I do like the idea of larger housing units.
I know this is a local forum but can we have a little info on parliamentary candidates locally from the Lib Dems and a little overview on national policy?
Cheers,
Ben
p.s. I'm a decided Lib Dem Voter, always have been except when it comes to voting for Ken :p .... I'd just like the STF members made aware of national policies if they havn't been already.
I know this is a local forum but can we have a little info on parliamentary candidates locally from the Lib Dems and a little overview on national policy?
Cheers,
Ben
p.s. I'm a decided Lib Dem Voter, always have been except when it comes to voting for Ken :p .... I'd just like the STF members made aware of national policies if they havn't been already.
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CaptainCarCrash
- Posts: 2852
- Joined: 23 Jun 2009 20:04
- Location: Even further than before
It would appear that the Lib/Dems were brought into the telivised debate because it would appear that both the Laour party and the Conservatives would have been in a weaker position without them and it just goes to show that the political process can at times rely on the media to rally support.
Has politics in the UK changed for the better with the use of American style TV shenanagins?
Has politics in the UK changed for the better with the use of American style TV shenanagins?