Ed Davey Writes: A Clean Energy Revolution
Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012 by aldcadmin

At the launch of the new Draft Bill on energy, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey, writes:

Over the next decade, around a fifth of existing power plants are due to close, against a background of increased energy demand and increasing prices. We need new investment simply to keep the lights on.

But more than that, we need a clean energy revolution to meet our ambitious climate change goals and make this the greenest government ever.

That’s why I am bringing forward a new Energy Bill today.

You can read more about our clean energy revolution here.

We also need to transform our energy market to reduce the risk and cost of low carbon technologies.

That’s what our Bill does.

The UK is fast becoming a world leader in renewable energy, especially in off shore wind. I want us to lead the world in Carbon Capture and Storage too.

And we are also tackling rising energy bills. Without reforming the energy market bills will rise by around £200 in the coming years. Our reforms will mean bills are around 4% lower than they otherwise would have been.

Going green is good for the economy, good for Britain and good for you.

Yours,


Ed Davey MP

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

(Image licensed under Creative Commons from DECC)
Mixed support for care village plan
Posted May 20, 2012 * Comments(0)

From an article in Yateley News

PUBLIC opinion is divided over whether a new care village should be built in Yateley.

An application to site a new care village for the elderly at a currently unused nine-acre area of land off the Sandhurst Road has produced mixed views from those living in the town.

The bid, which has been submitted to Hart District Council, is for a £34 million project to be built at the site.

It would see the construction of a 36-bed care home along with 19 close care and 97 assisted living apartments.

Although the plans have gained the support of many in the community, who see the care village as a better proposal to most other alternative developments at the site, voices of concern have been expressed over some aspects of the development.

Located close to the Blackwater River, Cricket Hill and Tudor streams, many people feel that any large scale development will potentially increase the risk of flooding along homes in the Sandhurst Road. The area has been blighted by this problem in the past.

Recent heavy rainfall had put parts of the Blackwater Valley, including Yateley, on a flood alert, and the prospect of what impact a large scale development would have on the area’s sewer system has alarmed many. Commenting on Wednesday, one Sandhurst Road resident said: “The flood assessment indicates that having taken advice from Thames Water, the foul drain can cope with this development.

“How can they quote this when the drains block and back-up on a regular basis?

“Over the last few weeks there have been numerous occasions when Thames Water have been out on ‘emergency projects’ working on the drainage during the night.”

Objections have also been raised to the application’s proposals to remove a number of trees which are bordering the site.

This is despite a planning statement saying that as many trees as possible would be kept to help with screening.

One Kings Glade resident said that removal of the trees would result in a significant loss of privacy for residents there.

Another objector labelled the felling plans as unnecessary.

They said: “Why the request to cut down so many trees on the border? It makes no sense.

“These trees are under TPOs [tree protection orders] and form a natural border to the site. The sheer number of trees proposed for removal is disgusting.”

The Anchor Trust, the developer behind the plan, said it was well aware of concerns over flooding and that measures to offset the risk of this had been factored into the plans.

These include increasing an existing culvert running through the site and putting in a ‘balancing pond’ to store excess water near the entrance to the site. The trust has also stated that trees of ecological value would be kept and that additional planting would be made to replace the lost trees.

Hart DC is yet to decide on the application.

Chance for all party cooperation shuned
Posted May 20, 2012 * Comments(0)

At the recent district elections the Conservatives lost 3 seats and control of the council. The new make up of the council is:

Conservatives                                        16

Liberal Democrat                                  10

Community Campaign Hart [CCH]   7

Independents                                            2

Over the last two weeks since the election Lib Dem councillors have been looking to establish a council where the cabinet [that makes most of the decisions] reflected the views of the council as a whole and not just one particular group. Unfortunately at the annual council meeting on Thursday the Conservatives decided to turn down the opportunity and the cabinet is made up only from councillors from the Conservative group. We will work as a constructive opposistion aware that if policies are brought forward that are not in the wider interest of residents we can, with the support from other groups vote the policy down.

Election Result
Posted May 18, 2012 * Comments(0)

Many thanks to everyone who supported me in the recent District election. Our share of the vote and actual vote both increased and at Hart Council the Conservatives lost 3 seats and control of the council which is now in no overall control. Results for Yateley East ward were:

Stuart Bailey [Liberal Democrat]  789,    Conservatives  271,   Labour 101,

Lib Dem Pupil Premium – A Message from Nick Clegg
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 by aldcadmin
For me, nothing better illustrates the Liberal Democrat mission to make Britain a fairer place than our Pupil Premium: extra money for the most disadvantaged children in our schools.

We are letting schools decide the best way to spend this money.  I want to strike a deal with our schools and teachers: we’ll give you the cash, the freedom, and we’ll reward and celebrate your success.  But in return, we want you to redouble your efforts to close the gap between your poorer pupils and everyone else.  We won’t be telling you what to do; but we will be watching what you achieve.

(Click picture to play video)

It is shameful that, despite all the promise on a four or five year old’s first day at school, or the passion of their teachers, you can all too often plot that child’s path just by asking how much their parents earn.

The £2.5billion Pupil Premium was one of the four pledges on the front page of our manifesto.  And now, with Liberal Democrats in government, schools are using the money for things like breakfast clubs; homework clubs; or to provide one-to-one-tuition. These are the sort of experiences many middle class children take for granted but a poorer child might rarely enjoy.

Yesterday I visited a fantastic primary school to see how they are spending their Pupil Premium, highlight our new Summer Schools to ease the transition from primary to secondary, and to set out our plans to reward teachers and hold schools to account.

The Pupil Premium shows that, in tough times, we are implementing Liberal Democrat values and prioritising help for those pupils who need it most.

Best wishes,

Nick Clegg MP

Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister

PS Click here to find out how much money your local school will receive from the Liberal Democrats’ Pupil Premium.

Be Clear on Cancer – National Lung Cancer Awareness Campaign
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 by aldcadmin

This week, Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat minister at the Department of Health) has launched a national £4 million lung cancer awareness campaign. The campaign, the first of its kind, will use TV, radio and press adverts, and advertising on pharmacist bags and inside GP surgeries, to raise awareness of the disease.

One of its aims is to persuade anyone who has had a cough for more than three weeks to see their doctor.

You can find more information about coughing and lung cancer at the Department of Health website, here: http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/05/coughing-could-be-a-sign-of-lung-cancer-2/

With 33,000 new cases diagnosed each year, lung cancer is a blight on the lives of far too many of our families and an early diagnosis can make all the difference. Please take the opportunity of the Be Clear on Cancer campaign to find out more about prevention and diagnosis, and to visit your local doctor if you’ve had a persistent cough – it is always better to be safe than sorry!

http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/tag/be-clear-on-cancer/

Yateley Industries Development
Posted April 27, 2012 * Comments(0)

At the Town Council planning committee today. Decision was made to object to some aspects of the application Yateley Industries has to convert the current bungalows to apartments on two floors. Some concern on the visual impact on the Mill Lane, street scene.

Update on road closures
Posted April 26, 2012 * Comments(0)

Yateley residents are all to familiar at the number of road closures in the area. The problem has been made worse as a lot of work has been held back until the work on the Reading Road has been completed. When South East Water didn’t complete the work on time it meant that we have had multiple road works all going on at the same time! Whilst the Reading Road is now open again there are plans for more road works in the following areas:
Road closure of Vigo Lane – up to 4 weeks
Road closure Sandhurst Road – up to 4 weeks
Local Lib Dem councillors will be doing everything to persuade the County Council that the road works occur at different times and only after the current road works are completed

News on Reading Road
Posted April 17, 2012 * Comments(0)

Received confirmation from South East Water that the Reading Road will be fully reopened on Thursday. This will be a matter of great relief to countless local residents. Having said that, with South East Water’s track record I will wait to see it happen before I believe it.

No Lib Dem Council Has Raised Council Tax – Tim Farron
Tuesday, April 17th, 2012 by aldcadmin

Official reports have confirmed that no Liberal Democrat-run council in England has increased council tax for their residents. This is unlike both other major parties, many of which are increasing council tax by up to 3.5% this year.

Commenting on Labour and Conservative councils’ record on Council Tax, Liberal Democrat Party President, Tim Farron said:

“While Labour and the Tories fight over how many of their councils raised Council Tax, it’s clear that with the Liberal Democrats your money is safest: no Liberal Democrat-run council in England has raised Council Tax.

“Ordinary working families are struggling already with paying bills, without their councils increasing the burden.

“The choice in next month’s elections is clear: vote Liberal Democrat for financially responsible councils that create jobs. Vote Labour and the Tories for waste, mismanagement and tax rises.”

As well as freezing council tax across the country, Liberal Democrat councils are protecting front-line services, fighting to keep libraries and Sure Start centres open. This is in addition to the achievements of the Liberal Democrats in government, which after the Budget include a £130 income tax cut for all working families, the largest-ever rise in the basic state pension, an increase in child tax credits for the poorest families, and an increase in the Lib Dem Pupil Premium to £600 for every pupil receiving Free School Meals.

At every level of government, the Liberal Democrats are cutting taxes for low- and middle-earners and better targeting help to those that need it the most. It is a record of financial responsibility of which we can be proud.


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