Sharon Ball

Did you know that the consultation has already started as I did not know until very recently.

I for one am not happy with any more Nuclear power stations in our area but what I am even more concerned about is that unless you are in the know you would not know about this consultation.

Bath MP Don Foster is continuing his call for 20mph zones to be implemented in the city’s most residential streets. Lib Dems across Bath have been pushing for safer speeds on these roads to provide safer communities.

Commenting, Don said, “Residents across Bath know that their streets are unsafe at current speeds and are joining our ‘Twenty is Plenty’ campaign. I was delighted that Lib Dem Councillors visited Portsmouth, where this scheme has been implemented. They have found out valuable information, and perhaps most importantly, that the scheme is so popular – people want it.

“Parents no longer feel safe letting their children out to play, and residents are increasingly sick of ‘rat run’ drivers. The Council needs to understand that these zones aren’t just needed next to schools; they need to be across the majority of our residential roads.

Currently it seems as though there needs be a serious accident before the Conservative Council is prepared to even look at the issue. We deserve better than that.”

Councillor Sharon Ball Said: “ here in Westmoreland we have had problems with cars driving much to fast in our residential roads”.

“We have supported residents in getting mobile speed monitors at Ringwood Road and Lansdown View. It is now time that we had a lower speed limit across most of the residential roads in our area”

Commenting Councillor Lynda Hedges Said: “ lower speed limits save lives Doctors at the British Medical Association conference earlier this year voted through a motion calling for 20mph limits to be brought into force on all residential streets”.

You can join the Lib Dems calling for 20mph limits by visiting the campaign website at

http://ourcampaign.org.uk/twentyisplenty ”

Conservative Councillors in B&NES have come under fire tonight for refusing to consider an independent review of the Bath Transportation Package.

The Liberal Democrat motion which was tabled to tonight’s B&NES Council meeting was intended to permit a proper debate on the Package, which has caused so much controversy. However the Conservative Group forced through an amendment, which was also backed by Labour and Independent Councillors, to maintain nothing more than the status quo.

The Conservatives seem only to be concerned with quibbling about who voted for what and when in the past. But residents care more about what is on the table right now. It is clear that the other parties do not care about residents’ concerns.”

I have received the following from St James Developments that I would like to bring to residents attention.

You may be aware that St James’s Investments purchased the Bath Press site on the Lower Bristol Road earlier this year.

St James’s Investments is currently exploring possible options for the future of the site and is keen to know your views. In order to do this, a number of consultation events will be taking place over the coming months, including exhibitions and workshops.

Have your say

The first stage of the consultation includes a series of exhibitions for members of the local community to find out more about the issues and opportunities presented by the site, and tell us what they’d like to see on the site in the future.

Public Exhibition

The exhibition will take place at the following times and venues:

Thursday 27th November 2008:       4.30pm – 8.30pm
Oldfield Park Infant School  Dorset Close  Bath  BA2 3RF

Friday 28th November 2008:      12 noon – 6pm
Hedley Hall  Denmark Road  Bath  BA2 3RE

Saturday 29th November 2008:       10am – 4pm
Oldfield Park Infant School  Dorset Close  Bath  BA2 3RF

Please feel free to drop in to one or more of these sessions. Members of the development team will be on hand to explain our current thinking and answer any questions you may have.

If you have any queries, or are unable to attend the exhibitions and would like further information about the proposals, please call Amy Lambert or Andy Martin at Trimedia on 0845 683 2544.

Massive price hikes have led to a drop-off in demand for Council services according to opposition Councillors on Bath and North East Somerset Council.

Liberal Democrats on the Council committee scrutinising Health and Older People’s issues have strongly and consistently opposed the Cabinet member’s decision, made earlier this year, to put up prices of community meals, transport and home care.

Now a report to the Healthier Communities and Older People Overview and Scrutiny Panel of the Council shows that many people have stopped having home help since Conservative Council chiefs increased the charges and a number of residents have cancelled meals due to the price increases.

As Liberal Democrats we said that this would be the wrong decision and theConservative Cabinet member ignored us.

When we organised a challenge to these price hikes, back in April, we warned the Cabinet member that our vulnerable residents would probably reduce their care and we tried to persuade him to change his mind.

I dread to think of the difficult circumstances these people and their relatives have to face as a result of the Cabinet member’s decision.

Commenting on today's Postcomm report which calls on Royal Mail Group and the Post Office to be run as separate businesses, Liberal Democrat Shadow Business Secretary, John Thurso said: "What both these businesses need is clarity. The recommendation that they should be split into separate businesses is something the Liberal Democrats have long called for and makes good sense. "

"Now that the Post Office has the contract for the card account, it needs to be supported so it can adapt to being a modern 21st century business.

"The critical issue is how it is done, and more importantly, how they are both properly funded."

A deputation from Unesco visited Bath during the first week of November.

They received presentations from, and listened to, many organisations who have an interest in the status of Bath as a World Heritage City, and visited many relevant locations.

They were particularly interested in new city developments such as Southgate, Bath Western Riverside and the South Quays riverside development.

We now await their conclusions but initial feedback suggested they were impressed with the city as a whole.

The Conservative-run Cabinet of Bath and North East Somerset Council is determined to railroad the Bus Rapid Transit through against the wishes of residents, according to Lib Dem Councillors who have tabled a last ditch motion to next week's full Council meeting hoping to ensure a proper debate takes place.

It is understood that many residents who will be affected by the BRT and other aspects of the Bath Transportation Package intend to protest at the Council meeting on 20^th November.

It seems that the Conservative-run Cabinet is determined to railroad through the BRT and not to listen to any opposition. At the last two meetings of the Council Cabinet the Leader has changed the rules on public speaking each time to prevent Councillors and residents from having their say on an issue that was and is of great importance to many local people across city.

The way that this Conservative administration is running roughshod over local people is a disgrace. They feel it is perfectly acceptable to make changes to the proposed Park and Ride site to the East of Bath but refuse to countenance changes to the BRT route - despite the lack of proof of the benefits of the chosen route. Furthermore, they have changed the area of the Newbridge Park and Ride expansion since the adoption of the Local Plan and the Joint Local Transport Plan."

The debate we will have at full Council next week is a vital opportunity for representations to be made direct to the Cabinet members - especially given that they refused a debate at the previous Council meeting and have sought to suppress discussion on this issue.

However from their attacks on the Liberal Democrat Group at last week's Cabinet meeting it would appear the Conservatives are more interested in talking about who voted for what and when in the past, rather than looking at what is happening now. Cabinet members should accept that the Local Plan and Local Transport Plan upon which the Council has previously voted do not reflect the current schemes for the Bath Transportation Package.

Commenting on today's Bank of England prediction that inflation could fall below 1% next year, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "It's clear from the today's figures that we're heading for very high levels of unemployment with falling inflation. This could soon become negative inflation, with prices actually falling."

Vince Cable went on to say:

"The Governor of the Bank of England is right to say that interest rates will fall a lot further. We may find ourselves in a world of zero interest rates before too long.

"The actions we have urged, including drastic interest rate and tax cuts, now attract wide political support. However, the key problem is that despite the Government's recapitalisation of the banks, the financial system is still completely gummed up.

"Ministers must consider more drastic action to ensure that credit flows on reasonable terms to solvent borrowers."

I agree with Sarah Teather who when commenting on reports that the Government is considering removing the right for council tenants to have a home for life, Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister, Sarah Teather said: "This proposal is an admission of failure by the Government."

Sarah Teather went on to say:

"Ministers are considering threatening council tenants with higher rents if they improve their circumstances. Instead of supporting struggling families, this is a disincentive to work.

"Rather than backing rent hikes, the Government must tackle the chronic shortage of social homes."

I am fully supporting Bath MP Don Foster who has joined calls for local authorities to use the powers given to them be the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 to address fly-tipping and punish those responsible for it.  A major campaign has been launched by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and its President Bill Bryson.

Don said, "Fly-tipping blights the whole country from towns and cities, to our countryside, and Bath is no exception.   There are practical measures that the Government should be taking, such as encouraging consumers to return and recycle drinks containers, rather than seeing them thrown away as litter.

"Local authorities need to be making better use of the powers that they already have, and begin punishing those responsible for fly-tipping. 

"This is why I have signed EDM 1634, backing the CPRE campaign "Stop the Drop" to see these issues dealt with more seriously."

Commenting on today's announcement that workers at two UK airports are to be given ID cards, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said: "Ministers are choosing a limited number of guinea pigs at two smaller airports because they are aware of how unpopular ID cards are."

Chris Huhne continued, saying:

"The Government is too scared to force ID cards on voters before an election because they know it would be a laminated poll tax.

"Jacqui Smith does not have the courage to make announcements on ID cards in Parliament, where she can be cross-questioned, but instead prefers supine think-tank audiences.

"The problem is not the ease with which we can give up sensitive personal data, but the ease with which the Home Office loses it. The Government cannot be trusted to keep personal information safe.

"Costs are already spiralling out of control without a single card being issued.

"We are ordering a meal without knowing the prices on the menu, because no-one has yet estimated how much this grotesque intrusion into our hard-won liberties will ultimately cost."

Liberal Democrats in Bath have called for a cut in income tax for people on low and middle incomes to help them beat the recession.

"Inflation is at its highest for years," said Bath MP Don Foster. "Residents across the city are struggling with rising fuel and housing costs. They need money in their pockets now.

"Liberal Democrats are calling for a cut in income tax of 4p in the pound. It will be paid for by closing the loopholes used by the most wealthy to avoid paying tax. And we will increase the level of tax on the most polluting activities.

"Too many people are faced with the prospect of either eating properly or heating their homes, and as the cold weather has set in this week more people will be turning on their heating early in the evening. Action is needed now to help residents of Bath who are struggling with rising prices.

"Many residents on low incomes are paying more in tax following the government's decision to double the starting rate of income tax to 20p in the pound. Though the government was eventually forced to come forward with a package to compensate people for the tax increase, many are still worse off.

"Cutting income tax will therefore give residents and our local economy a boost at a time when it is desperately needed."