Lib Dem lifeboat for a lost generation

Dear Resident,

We cannot afford to let millions of young people get trapped on the dole.
That’s why today I’ve launched a new plan to tackle youth unemployment:
www.NickClegg.com/LostGeneration

Did you know that nearly a fifth of 18 to 24-year-olds are currently unemployed? Without action now, more than 1.2 million young people could be unemployed by the end of 2011.

The Conservatives failed a whole generation in the wake of the last recession.
A whole generation became trapped in a culture of dependency. Labour look set to repeat the same mistakes now. We can’t let that happen.

Today I’m launching new policy that would take almost 900,000 unemployed young people off the streets.

Under our plans more than 800,000 young people will be given a leg-up into industry via paid internships. An extra 60,000 places will be funding in universities and colleges, opening up further and higher education.

We will slash the time Labour forces young people to wait for support, fully fund apprenticeships to put British industry back on track and give more youngsters places on essential back-to-work schemes.

Our proposals would cost £1.1 billion and would be paid for by scrapping the VAT cut immediately.

For more details see my website: www.NickClegg.com/LostGeneration

Only the Liberal Democrats will nurture the talent of young people and ensure no one is left behind.

Best regards,

Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats

Saving pennies by spending pounds…

A trial funded by Bath & North East Somerset Council will see whether portable toilets stationed in Bath city centre during the early hours are the answer to stopping revellers using doorways, walls, and dark alleys to foul the streets.

Bath & North East Somerset Council is working with Avon and Somerset Police and Future Bath Plus to improve the night-time economy in Bath by making it even safer and more enjoyable for people to live, work, and visit. The portable toilets will operate from October 1st on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10pm until 3am. They will be positioned near Orange Grove Taxi Stand where Taxi Marshals will supervise the facilities.

Councillor Vic Pritchard (Conservative, Chew Valley North), Cabinet Member with responsibility for community safety, said:

“Mitigating the impact of the evening economy on Bath city centre is something that local residents, businesses, Bath & North East Somerset Council and Police all want to achieve. The Council is solely funding the twelve week trial to learn whether this initiative can make a positive difference to the urban environment at night. At the end of the twelve weeks, the Council wants local organisations and businesses to consider the results and, if successful, how the facilities might be funded in the future.”

The trial will take a break during the Christmas Market when portable toilets will be available and then return during Christmas and New Year for a further four weeks. The toilets will be delivered every evening and picked up in the early hours the following morning. The Council is also increasing the number of Taxi Marshals to supervise taxi queues at Kingsmead Square. They will direct people to the 24 hour public conveniences at Seven Dials, Monmouth Street.

Inspector Steve Mildren, Avon and Somerset Police, added:

“Few people realise that urinating in the street is an offence and we can issue offenders with on the spot fines of up to £80. Add to this people having a few drinks and people often feel a call of nature is more important than property or the thoughts of other people around them. Having these toilets will provide an easy option for those on a night out in Bath and will help us having to deal with people committing an offence. We want people to enjoy their night out in our city.”

Henry Brown, chairman of the Federation of Bath Residents Associations, commented:

“Urination in the streets is an unpleasant sight, and there aren’t enough public conveniences in Bath, so we welcome this trial of portable toilets. It needs to be accompanied by publicity about the nuisance of public urination. If the trial is successful, we hope that the improvements can be made permanent.”

Threat of more rises to car parking charges

Following the summer’s car parking rises in Bath, including a 50% rise on evening charges, charges could be rising again in the near future as the Council is set to announce its three year strategy.

Liberal Democrats have discovered that rises (set to come in from 6th September) announced this summer were merely a stop gap and a short-term measure. New plans will be brought to Overview & Scrutiny later this year.

Bath MP Don Foster has twice campaigned to prevent rises in evening car parking charges and has written to Council Chief Executive John Everitt outlining his opposition to any further rises.

Don said,

“Just as prices go up in September it looks like the Council are planning to announce even more hikes.

“While public transport is available in the day, it is lacking in the evening and many people have to drive to get into the city. Raising evening car parking charges again will have a negative effect on our evening economy, as businesses suffer.

“We must also think of clubs and societies, such as some of our fabulous choirs. Members will be put off coming into town every week because they will be spending so much more over the year.”

Kingsmead ward Councillor Andy Furse (Lib Dem) also agrees enough is enough. He said,

“The Conservatives had to back down last year over their evening parking plans, but now they are trying to force them up bit by bit, presumably hoping no-one will notice.

“A recession is not the time to be using car parking as a Council cash cow.

“Increases in parking charges will just make people think twice about coming to Bath in the evening. Our restaurants, cinemas and even the Theatre Royal could suffer by increasing evening parking charges.”

Future of the Recreation Ground, Bath

BetterBath Forum meeting, 21 October 2009
Future of the Recreation Ground, Bath

Dear Supporter,

The next meeting of the Forum will discuss the future of the Recreation Ground in Bath. It will be in St Michael’s Church, Broad Street, Bath BA1 5LJ at 18.00 for 18.30 on Wednesday, 21 October.

Important discussions are taking place about the future of the Rec. Most people in Bath take an interest in what happens there, but few really understand the implications for the different uses of this land. The aim of this meeting is to shed some light on what is happening, and give people a chance to have their say. The issue is much wider than the future of rugby on the Rec, though that is obviously one of the subjects that people will want to discuss. Key people will introduce the main issues, but the bulk of the time will be taken up by general discussion between attendees.

The discussion will take place under three main headings. The first section will focus on the opportunities and constraints for future use of the Rec. Cllr Chris Watt, chairman of the Recreation Ground Trust, will explain the legal objects of the Trust, and make clear how the Trust sees the future, and what can and cannot be done on this land.

The second section will consider whether a masterplan is needed for future uses, so that the maximum benefits can be delivered for the people of Bath. Peter Downey, chairman of the Real Friends of the Rec, will introduce this section.

The third section will consider the contribution Bath Rugby can make to the future of the Rec. Bob Calleja, chief operating officer at Bath Rugby, will give a brief introduction.

The meeting will be chaired by Gerald Chown, chairman of the Macaulay/Prospect Residents Association, and former chairman of the RUH NHS Trust.

The aim of the BetterBath Forum is to promote public discussion of important local subjects in Bath. It is a non-political initiative which does not lobby for any particular point of view. Full details of the Forum and its previous meetings are available on the website: www.betterbath.org.uk

Doors will open at 18.00, when supporters can buy coffee and tea or a soft drink. The meeting will start promptly at 18.30, and should run till about 20.15. There will then be a chance to buy a glass of wine and continue the discussion informally.

Please let us know if there are any specific points you wish to raise, so that we can ensure that the agenda covers them.

Best wishes,

Jane and Henry Brown

Action on Sainsbury’s traffic chaos

Delivery vehicle blocking Moorland Road

Construction work for the new Sainsbury’s on Moorland Road has created traffic chaos in the street. At 9:00 on Thursday morning, construction workers vans had completely used up parking on one side of the street and some on the other. When a delivery vehicle for the construction site arrived it blocked the street, causing disruption to shoppers and local residents.

Cllr Will Sandry has tackled the problem by speaking with Sainsbury’s site team and getting their agreement that the vans will not be parked up all day on Moorland Road, but will be put in to adjoining streets. Additionally, Cllr Sandry has alerted the Council’s parking enforcement team and has had assurances that the enforcement team will now monitor the situation.

Will Sandry said,

I recognise that the Sainsbury’s site team have a job to do, but they do not need to park all their vans on Moorland Road for the whole day and block the street. This stops shoppers parking and getting to the other shops on Moorland Road, in a recession that’s something we don’t want to happen to the small businesses there.

Kay Duce from Park Pets on Moorland Road said: ‘As a business that involves a lot of heavy items it is very important that our customers are able to pull in to pick up their shopping, the alternative is that they shop elsewhere.

Kay went on to say,

I’ve been worried about Sainsbury’s moving in and what that might do to my trade; but I wasn’t expecting this before they even opened. We and the other shops and businesses on Moorland Road are definitely open for business as usual.

Time to stop short-changing our troops

Dear Resident,

Today I am launching new a Liberal Democrat pledge to put service personnel and their welfare at the heart of our defence policy. You can find it here: www.NickClegg.com/armedforcespay

Many soldiers fighting on the front line are on salaries lower than those of trainee police and fire fighters. 13,000 members of the armed forces take home less than £17,000 each year. Under Labour, our lions are being paid peanuts.

Our servicemen are being sent to fight in treacherous conditions in Afghanistan while living close to the poverty line. It is time to stop short-changing our troops.

That is why if elected, the Liberal Democrats would ensure that no service personnel receive less basic pay than someone starting out in the Police or fire brigade.

If you believe our troops should receive better pay, then help us spread the word. Please make sure all your friends know about our new policy, especially those with family members serving in the Armed Forces.

To back the campaign and help spread the word, see my website:
http://www.NickClegg.com/armedforcespay

Nobody can put a price on the sacrifices our troops make on our behalf – but we can start rewarding them properly.

Best regards,

Nick Clegg
Leader of the Liberal Democrats

Don backs calls for improved Soldiers’ pay

Bath Liberal Democrat MP Don Foster has given his support to plans, announced by Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, to up the wage of the lowest paid troops by £6,000 per year.

The proposals, which would mean that no service personnel in the Army, Navy or RAF would receive less basic annual pay than a new-entrant police constable or development-level fire-fighter, would be funded within the MoD’s existing budget.
Lib Dem Don said,

“Although it is impossible to put a price on the sacrifices made by our service men and women, it is painfully clear that pay levels are a national disgrace. Those who are prepared to die for this country deserve to be treated better.
“It is simply unacceptable that we have reached the point where we hear of some forces families having to rely on handouts. Action is needed to restore the military covenant between the Armed Forces and the British people.
“I am delighted to be able to support Nick Clegg in this campaign.”

The Liberal Democrat plans would include:
o The lowest paid personnel would receive an increase of £6000 – placing them on £22,680 and an equal footing with a development-level firefighter or new-entrant police constable
o Privates and lance corporals would receive an average annual pay increase of over £3000, with the average annual basic pay across these two ranks rising to around £25,000
o Higher NCO ranks would receive an average annual pay increase of around £1,000

What else do your councillors in B&NES do?

Until recently anyone wishing to check on B&NES councillors’ membership of organisations, employment, ownership of property or gifts received of over £25, has been faced with a lonely trek to the Keynsham offices. Now anyone with access to a computer can see this sort of detail on the Council’s web site.

Web address:
http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/councilanddemocracy/councillorsdemocracyandelections/declaration/

Cllr Roger Symonds, who made the suggestion over a year ago, said:

“It has become common practice for councils across the country to put their “members’ interests” on to the internet. I am pleased that B&NES has at last made this detail available to more people. It is vital, particularly in these times of suspicion and mistrust of politicians, that information about councillor’s interests is available in the quickest and most accessible format possible.”

Following a statement to council in July 2008 by Cllr Symonds a report to the Standards Committee has given the ‘green light’ for councillors’ interests to be published on the B&NES Website.

20 is Plenty in Bristol

Speed limits of 20mph are set to be piloted in Bristol by the Liberal Democrat run city council.

Two areas of the city – Ashley/Easton/Lawrence Hill/Eastville/St George West and Southville/Bedminster/Windmill Hill – are being proposed for trials. Major roads running through these areas, such as the M32 and Stapleton Road, in Easton, and North Street, in Southville, would be exempt. The 20mph limits will not involve the introduction of any physical traffic-calming measures, such as speed humps or chicanes. Executive member for transport and sustainability Cllr Jon Rogers said:

The primary aim is to make walking and cycling in these communities safer and more attractive to more people.
Reducing the speed limit to 20mph should also help to reduce the number of road accidents. We will be monitoring the success of the two pilot areas and listening to comments before we look at whether they could be extended to other parts of the city. We are not expecting the schemes to cause any significant delays to drivers.

The Council is seeking the public’s comments before September 30.
Please let Will and Shaun know which roads in Oldfield Park you think should have their speed limit reduced…