Post office closers and back grarden develoments

We give our support FULLY to saving the post offices, unlike the lib/dems who turned up had a photo shoot then went home, we sat outside the post offices for many hours collecting names for our petition, you would have sen us outside New Malden post offices week after week.

On back Garden, I said the following during the debate in full council.
Mr MAYOR
When asked, the general public would say that Brownfield sites are old gas works or disused factory sites, little realising that it also includes back garden’s,

Conservative MP Greg Clark is leading a campaign both inside the House of Commons and outside,

To draw attention to the Garden Grabbers, and in 2006 put the matter before the house with the backing of 170 MPs from all parties,

The latest information I can find suggests that of the of the 150.000 houses build each year, 30 000 are built in back gardens.

London in 1997 had a figure of 13% proportion of new building on previously residential land,

This had reached 29%. By 2006.

The consequence of this was that an area five times greater than Hyde Park was concreted over,

Gardens that were natural soak always for rainfall, contributed to flooding

Wild life lost their habitats and there was loss of matures trees, many felled without planning permission.

Yes there were objections from local people who saw their sunlight and views taken away
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And had purchased their houses with thoughts have having space to get away from it all.

Now to be confronted by brick walls butting right up to their boundaries.

But because this was not a great block of flats or something that affected a community, objectors were on their own, with not much punch,

Yet street after street road after road have been affected.

If all the objectors could be joined together as a group, instead of having to fight individually then the story could have been different.

We as a council can, and must support our residents in this creeping concrete take over bid,

We can be their voice

I urge the executive of the council, To peruse with urgency a change in the UDP( LDF)In order to address this issue

Cllr Howard Jones

Leader of the Conservative Group, Cllr Howard Jones
Madam Mayor,
I support the recommendation and am pleased to second the motion.
The Conservative Group and I urge this Council to cease all plans or consultations that may result in a closure of any day care centres in this Borough either Hobkirk House or Newent House.
This is not a political game that we are involved in - this action would dramatically affect the lives of old and vulnerable people who need these places to visit during the day to socialise and receive much needed care and companionship and in some cases to give respite to those who care for them..
In the past this Council has always prided itself on the care it provides older and more vulnerable people in the borough, and the Lib Dems – you - have been happy to accept the 4 stars that the audit commission gave this Council in its CPA review you have been happy to trumpet the successes of a very effective service – which you are now piece by piece slowly going to destroy.
Once again we are confronted with a policy of closure and cuts which did not appear in the Lib Dem manifesto and was not voted for by the residents. The way you are approaching this issue there is no doubt you would have lost the election had you been up front and honest with the electorate.
My Group promised that we would give priority to the elderly and the disabled over frivolous spending on mad traffic schemes on supporting the theatre with public money – public money that could have been spent on keeping these day centres and other facilities for the elderly, disadvantaged and disabled open and continuing resource - additionally we would scrap the Lib Dems means testing for this boroughs elderly and disabled.
We have seen the total disregard the Lib Dems show this boroughs old people with the spiteful domiciliary care charges a few years ago and now these cuts - and lets be totally frank - these are cuts. They are not reprovisioning or redistributing these services - they are Lib Dem cuts!
Where is the local MP or should I say where are the local Lib Dem MPs – what is their position on these cuts? What do they say about these issues? – very little – I suspect because they are as embarrassed - I guess – as much as many of you are embarrassed by the decisions made by your Executive on this.
We are told that this consultation is a proper consultation – the people will be listened to – how is it then that in the Budget voted through by you a few weeks ago these cuts are included – some consultation this is – it’s not a consultation it’s a fraud – it’s a sham and it is unworthy of people elected to public office.
The idea that there will be alternatives to the day centres is laughable – there are no alternative facilities identified through the consultation so far which would in any way replace these important day facilities.
We are told that people with a lower level of need will be able to access a range of services provided through local voluntary and private sector organisations – I must say that is extremely woolly and not good enough.
It is not good enough Cllr Shelton to say apologetically to the frightened people who have attended some of the Consultation sessions that they will be alright because their care is guaranteed – there will always be a place for them – what about the future – what about the increasingly aging population what sort of legacy are you leaving them?
I’ll tell you what - its not one to be proud of.
I urge this council to vote with me, and my group to help the people of this borough, and not just for the present population but for future generations who will need these services.

Cllr Ken Smith

We will again be out delivering information on local issues during the next few weeks

Coombe Road

On the 1st August I wrote the Council the following .
Can any claims by local shop keepers be made against these private companys for losses already sustained ? and should not this be led by the council? who after all collects the business rates.

On the 6th August the following press statement was made by the Council.

There are clearly a large number of questions to be answered by Network Rail and Thames Water in relation to what has happened on this project. I am arranging a meeting with Network Rail when I will be seeking assurances about their future plans, about how and when they will be communicating these plans and specifically about the potential for compensation payments to be made to businesses in the immediate area. It is for Network Rail to manage their PR on this but I will leave them in no doubt as to our deep disappointment and dissatisfaction with the way they have managed this. For the longer term we will need substantial reassurance on behalf of our residents about the basis on which they return to site.

Nice to see such quick responce from the council to my request

Councillor Howard Jones says Lib Dem Executive is clearly in panic

The Lib Dem Executive is clearly in panic and avoiding the real issue. THEY WILL STOP WEEKLY COLLECTIONS OF RUBBISH from the majority of households in the Borough.
Everyone knows that and nearly everyone I have spoken to is against it. It would be interesting to know what the Lib Dems call the material that will now be collected fortnightly. We know it is what normal people call RUBBISH. Recyclate is not rubbish – it will be re-used – by definition.
We are happy that recyclate will be collected weekly and that more things will be recycled – bottles, plastics, papers, cardboard etc – we have always advocated that. We fought the last election on a proposal to extend the weekly recycling collections to weekly and have never deviated from that position.
But we have always believed that the remaining rubbish should be collected weekly and so do the people who signed our petition.
Nobody forced people to sign the petition; they did it of their own free will.
This issue is such an embarrassment for the Lib Dem Leadership – they know that 67% on their own MORI poll supported our policy and only 19% supported theirs. They are scared stiff of the possible electoral consequences and are trying to mislead people by saying that ‘weekly rubbish collections will continue.’
Councillor Howard Jones
Leader of the Conservative Opposition

David lays down the rules on MEPs Expenses

David Cameron yesterday set out proposals to "deep clean" the system of MEPs’ expenses.From September, all Conservative MEPs will follow a Code of Conduct similar to the one already in place for Conservative MPs: - Expenses must be published in 'Right to know' forms- The use of service companies will be outlawed- Details of any family members employed must be publishedDavid promised these measures would introduce "more detail, more transparency and more honesty" to the system of expenses, and urged other political parties to follow suit.

You pay more , thanks again Mr Brown

Road tax increase 'will hit 9m'

An estimated nine million motorists will have to pay more road tax under reforms aimed at punishing gas-guzzling vehicles, the government has admitted.
Official estimates say vehicle excise duty will rise for 44% of vehicles made since 2001 - by up to £245 for the most polluting ones - but will fall for 33%.
The AA said the figures "confirm our worst fears", while the Tories said the PM had misled parliament over the plan.