New Street lights

You may have noticed the new street lights are much brighter than the old, but concerns about the beam spread being much smaller and therefore leaving large dark areas that could be dangerous to pedestrians have been raised.

Outside Guildhall 6th Dec 07

Conservative councillors and concerned residents demonstrate outside Guildhall

Out and About

Collecting names against Health Cuts.
A Petition was handed in on the 6th December.
we await a response from the KPCT.

Mental Health Care Cuts

We will be holding a demonstration against Mental Health Care Cuts

(Springboard and Fuchsias Ward)

outside the Guildhall on Thursday 6^th December at 7:00pm

The demonstration is prior to the Health & Overview Panel meeting at 7:30pm, where David Smith (Chief Exec of KCPT) will be in attendance.

We will also be presenting a 2,000 signature petition in support of these vital services.

Strasburg EU fact finding visit

A self financing visit to Strasburg to see how the EU debates on matters that comes before them, it was most interesting, and to see our own John Bowis MEP (a St James resident) lead the debate on shipping matters and oil pollution, backed up by an Italian MEP,it was fascinating, He was strong in debate and won the day getting the EU to investigate shipping laws and pollution.

So well done John

Visit to Luxemburg Court of Human Rights.

I had the opportunity to visit Luxemburg with some colleges in the year on a self financing fact finding trip, I sat in on a few cases to get the feel of the place, and I must say it was most impressive

We come away with a much better understanding of how it all works, and had the opportunity to speak to and question one of the Judges from the British contingent, who give us much valuable information on procedures within the system

Govenment under Fire

Gordon Brown and the government came under attack from former military top brass over the treatment of UK armed forces.

Five former chiefs of the defence staff warned of "blood on the floor" at the MoD because of inadequate funding.

Admiral Lord Boyce said the prime minister had treated the armed services with "contempt" and "disinterest".

'Lack of judgement'

The former defence chiefs spoke during a Lords debate, in which there were calls to improve levels of military funding.

Admiral Lord Boyce criticised a decision to give Des Browne the jobs of both defence secretary and Scottish secretary.

Lord Boyce said: "It is seen as an insult by our sailors, our soldiers and our airmen on the front line.

"And I know because I have reason to speak to them a lot. And it is certainly a demonstration of the disinterest and some might say contempt that the prime minister and his government has for our armed forces.

"And it shows an appalling lack of judgement at a time when our people are being killed and they are being maimed."

General Lord Guthrie blamed the prime minister for "the very serious situation we find the services in today".

Marshal of the RAF Lord Craig of Radley asked whether it was "immoral to commit forces that are underprepared and ill-equipped for their task?"

Further criticisms were levelled by Field Marshals Lord Bramall and Lord Inge.

They were later joined by Labour former defence minister Lord Gilbert, who said "injudicious actions" by the prime minister had brought criticism on himself.

Lord Gilbert called Mr Brown's failure to thank troops in the Queen's Speech "quite extraordinary".

"I think it showed a great insensitivity not only to the morale of the troops but to their families as well," he told BBC Two's Newsnight programme.

The Lords' concerted action follows months of concern from organisations such as the Royal British Legion that the UK's armed forces are over-stretched and under-funded for the missions they are being asked to carry out in Iraq and Afghanistan.

They point out that during the early 1980s the government spent almost 5% of GDP on defence but today the figure is closer to 2.5%.