Friday 28 November 2008

Sudbury and Play equipment for all.

The other night at the Town Council we were discussing how to use the money from Section 106 payments from small developments in town. The idea of equipment that is for exercise as well as fun was looked at, the idea coming from the Town Clerk. this is equipment that any age can use whether young or retired and would be great fun.
We have enough money for 3 sites so I suggested that we look at Tudor Green, Pinecroft Rise, First/Second Avenue. A site in each ward. It is investigate. Its not definate. There nmay be issues with the sites. But its a tremendous idea.

Hadleigh's new leisure facility

Hadleigh so deserves a new leisure facility. The new plans are before Development Committee.
It was a real disappointment that Babergh could not truely afford a new Pool but in its £2 million investment for a complex next door to the existing Pool, Hadleigh will get something that a market town of its size deserves.
In the dark days, when everyone was talking of closure of the Pool, our Lib Dem Group kept fighting that leisure should be a priority in a town like Hadleigh. It did not make us popular with the Tories and even others at the Council.
Once 2012 is out of the way let us hope that lottery money becomes available again for new Pools and Hadleigh can get what it truely wants.

Go slow on Sudbury's western bypass

When the Government turned down the bypass they instructed Suffolk County Council to try traffic management. If this failed to reduce congestion and traffic problems then a bypass could be revisited.
You have to ask what have Suffolk done in the last 3 to 4 years? The Cross St scheme still isn't finished, the improved Belle Vue junction is scrapped, they have scaled down any work on Melford Rd. They have limited money for minor traffic management in Sudbury and so the bypass will remain long term.
YET, the Conservative Transport Portfolio holder keeps saying they are doing their best, it wont fall off the agenda. They promise they are telling government about Sudbury's case but dont do anything on the ground to help it. If they were genuine they would be truely showing that traffic management won't work because the geography of Sudbury makes it a traffic nightmare to resolve. Our Conservative MP needs to take his fellow Suffolk Conservatives to task. They would also admit, it was their Conservative colleagues in Essex CC and Braintree DC who opposed it last time too.

Tuesday 25 November 2008

Budget thoughts

After that Budget, I know what its going to cost me but I'm unsure what I'll gain.

What worried me?
1. that the finances will not be back to normal till after 2015. 2 elections later
2. the optimistic view that growth will return in a year.
3. if this view is wrong then....
4. will VAT cuts get passed on to customers in all sectors?
5. the cut in public spending, so only 1.2% increases instead of 1.8%. If wage deals are 3year then there are going to be some real redundancies in schools, health and councils.
6. the cuts in public spending don't account for the National Insurance increases schools, hospitals will face in the future.Budgets are going to be very difficult.
7. the size of the borrowing, up to 57% of GDP.
8. the denial that Gordon and Alistair had any role in this "American caused recession!"
9. the budget admits there are significant uncertainities in the figures. More tax increases may be needed. Lets hope not.
10. if the Banks dont start lending then this stimulus is wiped out.

Finally, why wasnt it a tax cut for the low paid. The people who need it most. Some have no more to spend, some have borrowed to their limit, so how does cutting VAT help?

As for the Tories, exactly what would they have done? For a party of deregulation they have few answers.

Monday 24 November 2008

Sudbury bus station regeneration. Hope for a cinema?




So what should happen to this area on the edge of the town centre? Is the future, a new shopping area with possibly a much wanted cinema and some housing or is an upgraded bus station more needed? Can the 2 be put together.
What is needed is some vision. I hope that new landowners, Babergh and the County will urgently talk to each other and consult with the public on what they think.
We had a good possibility shown by the Civic Trust study. Whatever this area is vital to Sudbury's future as a Market Town. It has to be got right.


Friday 21 November 2008

Lib Dems and Vince Cable got the economy right

I'm always shocked that the Lib Dems never get the economic credit they deserve.
Firstly, it was Lib Dem policy for Bank of England to be independent which Gordon Brown immediately stole in 1997 eventhough it wasn't in their manifesto. An important part of low inflation. But to the present day.
Vince Cable Lib Dem Shadow Chancellor has been warning for years about a personal debt crisis and irresponsible lending. Every time, the Brown would ignore. Then Northern Rock went wrong, Vince Cable suggests nationalisation, Brown dithers, the Tories can't accept it, nothing is done till much later and the situation is worse.
It is the Lib Dems that warned about regulation failure of the financial sector but the Tories wanted less and Labour were on watch, overseeing it all.
It is the Lib Dems that call for house prices to be in the measure of inflation to stop such spirals. It is the Lib Dems that call for repossessions to be a last resort, for Councils and RSL's to be allowed to purchase new empty stock for affordable homes.
The Lib Dems call for a 4p tax cut for for the low paid and middle earners months ago now Labour think a financial stimulus is needed so tax cuts are predicted. It is the Lib Dems that call for a funded tax cut by increasing taxes on the highest earners to pay for the tax cuts to the lower paid for it is they who need it most.

People need to remember Brown and Labour presided over the UK economy ignoring warnings, failing on who was overseeing the Banks and delaying on solutions which made it worse.
Tory and Labour lead to boom and bust.

Wednesday 19 November 2008

Sudbury's Belle Vue House.

West Suffolk college have applied to turn the video store on Cornard Road into a new education facility hopefully linked to the new Suffolk University in Ipswich. If this means an access point to more further and higher education in South Suffolk, then brilliant!
Some may think what does that do to Belle Vue House, I think they would have moved anyway as Belle Vue House is not very disabled access friendly or potentially suitable for a modern ICT based education facility. There is a serious question about what Sudbury wants Belle Vue House to be used for? if the Citizens Advice Bureau also want new facilities and leave?

Tuesday 18 November 2008

Belle Vue park update

The land swap is off between Babergh District Council and McCarthy & Stone as they have sold the site by the bus station to a local company. This means that Belle Vue House cannot be sold, demolished or redeveloped unless the issue returns to the Strategy committee at the Council.

The site by the bus station could potentially give Sudbury new shops, cinema or other community facilities in the future. If this site had been lost to a McCarthy & Stone retirement flats development any new retail would have had to go to the edge of town in competition with the town centre. So lets hope the new purchaser has good ideas for the area which is vital to our town's economic vitality in the future.

As for the BMX site, apparently talks are still ongoing but I hear that Suffolk Highways may not want the second entrance onto Cornard Rd. This road would take some of the Park by the toilets(see previous post) and would really change the nature of the Park.

Friday 14 November 2008

Post office threat averted?

This Labour government had embarked on an attempt to get a private contractor to run the Card Account that delivers benefits and pensions. This is delivered at present by the Post Office. The threat of losing this contract to Paypoint or a major bank threatened another 3,000 post office closures. It was only a short time ago we lost 2,500 post offices and for every 1 saved another was closed.
Mant post offices support also a village shop. They rely on people coming to collect a benefit or pension and then spending money there. The social function is enormous and can be vital for a village's sustainability in planning terms. The Labour government see a several million £ loss per week as need for further privatisation. Mrs Thatcher would have been proud of New Labour in many ways. Often there is a need for innovation but some services are basic and part of the fabric of village life. Many elderly people suffer from isolation in rural areas and therefore the social function and contact is hard to value.
Thank goodness a change of mind has ocurred yesterday. The excuse the credit crunch, reality is probably not wanting more bad press and a successful lobby to halt this privatisation too far.

Thursday 13 November 2008

Poll: How should the area around the bus staion be developed?

Here is my first attempt at a Poll. Hope people will have a go. See the right side of the page to complete it.

Fight fuel poverty and climate change

Energy is expensive with many single elderly people (est 80%) struggling with fuel poverty. The window for fighting climate change is small. The 2 are linked. There is an urgent need for Councils and Social landlords to improve their energy efficiency whether it is insulation, boilers or new design. Government needs to help homeowners who cannot afford these works. It will help employment, it will aid the environment, it will reduce poverty. yet inertia reigns, there is no urgency.
Energy companies charge a higher rate for the first fuel you use yet it is the most essential. Why? Surely this should be the lowest rate? Low users are penalised eg your single elderly resident. It actually suggests use more and pay less.

Wednesday 12 November 2008

Sudbury Town Council: "not through the tradesman entrance!"

So last night at Full Council, they decided to employ architects to design a new toilet and office block on the land to the rear of the Town Hall. This will re-locate the advice centre,Town Clerk etc.
A town always needs good toilets but surely refurbishing Burkitts Lane would have been a cheaper option.
An interesting new comment came about from Conservative Deputy Mayor Cllr Beer, " we want the main doors open rather than people coming in through the tradesman entrance at the side of the Town Hall."
So thats what its all about! But if you are moving the staff and advice centre into new offices in the car park who is going to want to go into the Town Hall through the front door?? Is this a delusion of grandeur?

Tuesday 11 November 2008

Sudbury Remembers


Today, on the 11th November if you have a spare moment go into the Town Hall via the Tourist Information Centre to view the Living War Memorial which tells the stories of those who fell from Sudbury in both World Wars. There are some moving tributes and miraculous stories. This was my Mayoral project in 2006-07.

Saturday 8 November 2008

Ross Scott new Lib Dem President

Congratulations to Ross Scott on becoming the new Lib Dem President by a mile. Ross is a former Suffolk County Councillor and sits in the House of Lords. She's been a good friend to South Suffolk. I'm sure Lembit Opik will be disappointed though somehow its not a surprise.

Friday 7 November 2008

Sudbury: The need for residents parking

The County Council need to introduce residents parking in and around the Town centre. I have residents in a number of streets (Friars St, Church St, Cross St, Queens Rd/Suffolk Rd, Gaol Lane) who struggle to park anywhere near their home. Obviously no one has a right to park outside their property but in a historic town with many houses having no off street parking and limited on street due to the narrow streets then space is at a premium. In a market town like Sudbury with not the best bus services then most shop & office workers come in by car.

Residents in Gaol Lane want to start a petition and hopefully we'll take it to the Town Council to get their support too.

Suffolk County Council say they are waiting for a report on decriminalisation so till that is ready they wont issue any permits. That seems unnecessary where there is a clear and obvious case.
Babergh is now policing the car parks and PCSO's seem to be policing the streets so why do we have to wait, they ask?

Conservatives cost you. Sudbury Town Council land saga. part 2

This issue is like a yo yo. The Conservative dominated Town council said new offices for the Town Council were the priority with the Mayors Parlour re-established and the front doors to be open, for what when the offices are to the rear, one can only guess?
Now realising they cant use any of the Tesco Section 106 money for this as, not surprisingly, it has to be used for town regeneration. Some are thinking of going to the second priority which was new toilets eventhough they have just closed down the Burkitts Lane toilets which could have been refurbished. Why because they can use the S106 money. The Conservatives are now totally divided some want the offices, others toilets meanwhile Sudbury taxpayers have bought a piece of land just before the credit crunch which has dropped in value, has been used as staff car parking for a year and has no coherent plan for it.
Tuesday 11th council will have to give some direction. Whether the Tory majority is capable is doubtful.
The Lib Dems would want affordable housing, its what the site has permission for! Its what the Tories thought should be the 3rd choice. And we didn't need to buy the land for this to happen.

Wednesday 5 November 2008

Sudbury Car Parks victory

After a couple of months of trying to get a rethink and change, I am delighted that officers of Babergh District Council have re-thought the scheme where the machines would not dispense tickets between 5pm and 8am. Now night shift workers, residents and people with early medical appointments won't face the threat of a fixed penalty notice.
I am just delighted because for a time I felt I was banging my head against a brick wall. Perserverence wins!

Monday 3 November 2008

Sudbury Fireworks


No not a Council meeting but the successful "free" Fireworks,last night,organised by the Town Council at Delphi. A really good family event. Feedback has been really positive and the event was well supported if slightly down on last year.
Car park duty involved alot of arm waving!!