Lets have one…

I’m interested in the proposals to restrict traffic flow in George Street and opening up London Road and Russell Street to 2 way… Let see how the experts think that one works. 

I don’t like the idea of opening up the top of the High street but could be convinced.  Moving on-street parking is another interesting idea.  What I think is essential is linking the Town Centre to the Canal Corridor. 

One thing that struck me is that Stroud has a tradition of ‘Public Consultations’ and then the ‘Powers that be’ go and do what ever they like anyway!… So The Liberal Democrats will (or I shall reign fire and brimstone down on them) campaign for accountabilty in this Public Realm strategy process.

But why not tell us directly what you think?

Maybe.

A win in North Carolina and a narrow defeat in Indiana more or less seal it for Barack Obama.

Hilary is running out of support, money and time…

So if the Democrats have any sense they would urge her to drop out gracefully. 

We may have to wait a bit longer to see the first woman President of America, but there is a real chance now to end the Conservative grip on the White House, with the first Black President.  We need a world leader who can lead the fight against climate change, help to end world poverty and the war on terror…

Obama is that man

I am looking forward to beginning another ‘political year’ with tempered enthusiasm.

I will try and learn from the recent past but not dwell upon it… It is time to move on.  Got to sort out a ‘Post Box’ in my ward…yep that’s the issue of the day!… but not quite sure of the details and I would not broadcast them if I did know. 

Bit of change from dog smellies!

Back to work Tuesday.. boo!… well I do like my job.  I seem to be good at it…?!… But politics and perhaps writing are my first and second ‘loves’… Earning money is a essential part of life though. 

I enjoyed a quiet evening worship at my local church and then a not so quiet beer festival at the Prince Albert tonight!.. well I only drink non-alcoholic drinks but I was concerned about the CO2 emissions from my lemonade… nuff said!

Tomorrow I want to take my parents out to the Hawkwood College Open Day.  I am interested in large vegetables…(don’t ask!) but should be fun.  ‘Very Stroud’…

 Politically where do I stand?  Still mulling it all over really. I am a Town Councillor and I will continue to do that job to the best of my ability.  I need to think carefully (and prayfully) about my next move.  Fortunately I’m only 33 years old and it that sense, time is on my side… So as they say in the movies, ‘The world shall see me again… ha ha ha!…’ (Oh dear what did they put in that lemonade?!)

Yes I know… Every opposition politician since time began has, at some point, used the above line…

So now its my turn!

Seriously, I think that Stroud Politics has become to entrenched in old dogmas, ideologies and tribalism.  I get things done. And I’ll work with people of sincerity and goodwill from other parties if it means the community benefits…

Lets change things in Stroud.  The failure of the past does not have to limit our ambition for our home.  Climate Change or dog mess and cracked pavements… I’ve heard your priorities over the past few months and I believe only a fresh approach, an energetic approach can make that difference!

I have the energy and I want to make it happen…

Do you want change to happen?

If you read my newletters you will know that a draw a lot of my motivation from my faith.

Sometimes it is good to take stock of ‘The work life balance’… Why do we do what we do!

 I work hard as a Town Councillor and I will do the same if elected in May on the District Council. I balance this with my day job as a Software Test Analyst.  It not an easy thing to do but I manage it, and manage it very effectively.

Why? 

Our soceity is deeply flawed.  We do not have to look far to find evidence of this.  Homelessness, drug addiction and related activities are on our doorsteps.  These are just a few examples.  As a Christian I will not just sit in Church and pray about these problems, I have got to do something!

But to those of different faiths or none I just want to add that I respect your beliefs totally… I’m a ‘liberal’ as well as a ‘Liberal‘… what I am saying is that you deserve to know where I am coming form…

Nuff said.

I’ve had a tough week with a major software ‘release’ and plenty of campaigning on top!

But tonight I look back at quite a successful period.  I’m not complacent.  Things are not completely ’sorted.’  Even with ringing endorsements in the local pub (I wasn’t partaking of the alcohol either!) won’t seal it for me… Every bit of support counts and ‘its not over until it’s over’.

It was cold and wet today on Rodborough Hill.  Oh yes! I’ve been out in rain, wind, snow, hail and even the occasional sunny day.   I have been ‘banging on doors’ for years now. I am committed to the community I grew up in.  Absolutely… 

So a Mori poll has asked over a 1000 people whether they want a referendum on Britains membership of the European Union or just on the Lisbon Treaty itself.

18% want a vote only on the Lisbon Treaty but 38% supported a referendum on the ‘In or out‘ question… Pretty conclusive and yes it’s good to know that the party is the only one in touch with the public mood…

Well its about time the council tax was ‘done in’

Nicol Stephens is calling on the SNP (Scottish Nationalists) to work together with the Liberal Democrats and dump the unfair council tax once and for all.

 Don’t get too excited though.  If this agreement (which hasn’t yet been agreed!) goes ahead only Scotland will get the benefits. 

I’m not going to moan because I believe in devolution and the transfer of decision making downwards to the lowest practical level. 

 On that point I should say that some Tories and Labourites (well I can’t call them socialists anymore can I?) and indeed UKIP believe that develuton means giving more powers to the centre (’Brussells!)  Utter rubbish!…double speak and newthink!

I want Westminster to do less than it does now but I want powers drawn down to Regional, Local and Neighbourhood levels… Indeed some powers that the EU currently have should come back but not to those C**ks in The house of Commons!

What does that mean for Stroud? local tax raised locally and on the ability to pay.  More Planning decisions taken locally.  (stop those Nuke Plants) more powers for the parish councils… and maybe sub-parish bodies set up for concerned residents … The Liberal Democrats in Stroud have argued for local devolved solutions for many years. 

So Let the Scots have their fairer taxes, and let us learn from their example and build a new kind of partnership across the spectrum of politics and get the right things done…

Just caught this bit of news from the BBC, The European Parliament has voted to allocate £110 million from the ‘European Union Solidarity Fund’ for part of England hit by the summer floods.

This is for infrastructure repairs.  Roads and Bridges etc…..

Which could be good news for the Canal? 

Watch this space…..

I made a slight error in my last post.

if a perfectly proportional system of voting had applied at the last UK General Election the Greens would have 1.2 MPs…

Hopefully you get my point that if you want to tackle climate change vote ‘Liberal’ not ‘Green’… and something might actually happen (I’m being sarcastic… sorry!)

The economy is on a downer and half the world is starving…

Well sometimes it seems that it can’t get any worse.  Darfur, Kenya, Serbia…. just a few places that are not on my holiday list. 

What strikes me about how the world is today is the fact that although our country has its problems they are trivial compared with the places mentioned above (And plenty of others)

Just picked this up from CNN

An estimated 8000 refugees have been stranded on the Chad border by a fresh Sudanese offensive against the rebels.  The Chadian Government is refusing entry to the refugees….

If there is such a thing as ‘A just war’ then surely we should intervene in Sudan?  With 200,000 people dead and hundreds of thousands driven across the border or trapped in camps surely the west can apply all manner of pressure on the Government of Sudan?

It may be that political and economic sanctions could be used to much greater effect (with the active support of China…) but failing that…. the UN should consider all options, including military.

I remember Kosovo and the plight of refugees there.  Nato went into action to force the rogue state of Serbia to the table.  This had a ’cast iron’ UN mandate, and I would like to see the UN being much more assertive in the Darfur region in the same way.

This is my private view and I don’t pretend to represent the Lib Dems on this one.

Yep the polls don’t look good for the Tories.
The January Guardian poll puts them at 37% (down 2) with Labour at 35% and 20% for the Lib Dems (up 2).
They are not going to win a general election on those figures… The Liberal Democrats remain the main obsticle to a conservative governmnent. I think 2008 will see the wheels coming off the Tory band wagon. Nick Clegg has only be in place for 50 days or so. A Lib Dem surge could prove rather annoying for Mr Cameron. (Public Health Warning… I’m not too great at Political predictions!)
So will the Right Wing tire of their leader? Is William Hague ready for a second go? Just how much damage will be done to the Tories by ‘Nick’s Mob?’
But on the other hand its is Labour’s turn for a leadership Challange!… David Miliband for PM?….

What is it about Stroud?
We wanted a cimema so we built on our bus station. The temporary solution is now ‘de facto’ permenant. (split by a trunk route… hmm)
We wanted a bypass and knocked ‘Old Stroud’ building down to make way… and then stopped!
We wanted the canal to be openned…. Lets hope we get this one right!
So what is the trend? My personal view is that we are badly served by both National, Regional and local government. Too many layers, too many committees and too many quangos…
As a Liberal Democrat I would like to see power devolved to lower levels. I also would like to get rid of some of these ‘blasted’ groups that accumplish nothing. (Either that or put them under closer control by ‘elected’ representatives)
One thing I would like to see happen is to abolish Gloucestershire County Council and give the powers it holds to the Districts… GCC has failed us too many times. It does not serve Stroud well and I consider it ‘unfit for purpose’
Also it would be good if our MPs didn’t play ‘Party Games’ with our housing. But thats another story!…

Yesterday British Waterways announced that they were withdrawing from the Cotswold Canals Partnership.

While this is a body blow to the hope many people have in Stroud District I would say that we must not jump to conclusions too soon.

British Waterways  Chief Executive Robin  Evans says that “We have thought long and hard over this decision and know  it will disappoint our partners in the project.  Ultimately, however, we have a finite pot of money and the needs of our existing waterways must take priority”

It remains to be seen whether the Canal Project can continue.  I certainly hope that it does and brings all the benefits to the Stroud area we have been promised.  As I said, it’s a little early to jump to conclusions and certainly not the time for recrimination.

An article recently published in the Citizen pointed out that there are 2620 families waiting for accommodation in Stroud District alone.   With the development of the Hunts Grove site at stake How on earth are we going to house all these people if we don’t go ahead and build?

The Democratic process produced a local plan that clearly set down sustainable objectives for affordable housing.  Hunts Grove is the best site and was approved by the locally elected body (Stroud District Council)

I can appreciate that people who already own their own homes can be anxious about property prices but surely the priority is to get the homeless into homes… And to do so without tearing up local planning accountability. 

Dispersal is fine but it doesn’t address the problems of getting enough affordable housing constructed.  Too often executive homes are built instead.   Hunts Grove was preposed because of local transport infrastructure (which the developers would further improve… try telling me that the Slad and Painswick valleys have better tranport accessibility Mr  Drew?)  and it’s nearness to centres of employment.

If Hunts Grove does not go ahead god help the home seekers and the homeless, and the council tax payers.  Maybe our MPs should consider the longer term view and put vulnerable people first rather than going for the ‘quick vote’ option.   

The Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson has now taken the decision to centralise Gloucestershire’s mental health care. Weavers Croft is set to lose its inpatient beds to Charlton Lane in Chelthenham. Weavers Croft will still be used as a centre for providing care to older patients in their own homes.
Stroud Liberal Democrats regret the need for such change. Andrew Fisk said “It is a shame that local facilities ahve to be transfered. How are patients and carers going to cope with a thirty-mile round trip? This plan is seriously misguided. If these proposals do go ahead the NHS must do more to help travel arrangements for carers.”
Cllr Christine Headley added, “Our petition proved that feeling in Rodborough ran high against the proposed cuts. It is good that the Maternity Hospital and beds at Stroud Hospital have been saved for the time being, but the loss of beds at Weavers Croft is a disappointment.”

District Council Planners have now received and outline planning application for 120 houses at Fromehall park.
however, it will be a while before details are made public as it is curently in a very sketchy condition. Council officers want more information before consultation starts.
On hearing the news, local campaigner, Andrew Fisk said “Rodborough lacks green space areas as it is. Fromehall Park is not the place to build a mass of housing, certainly not at the expense of a sports facility.”