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.
Friday, 28 November 2008
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
