Nick Perry, the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Hastings & Rye, has taken his campaign for fairer parking charges at the Conquest Hospital online. Nick, who has welcomed the hospital trust's move to introduce limited pay-as-you-leave parking at the Conquest from the end of February said, "I have been stunned at how effective campaigning using websites like ...
I mentioned a few days ago that I had visited a quite amazing exhibition of Icons at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. Ludmila Pawlowska has combined traditional Russian Icons with her modern interpretation. You can see more about the exhibition on the Cathedral's website.
[IMG: Featured on Liberal Democrat Voice] Birkdale FOCUS has from time to time been included in Lin Dem Voice's Golden Dozen chosen from blog post during the previous week. They feature the seven most popular stories according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (31st January - 6th February 2010), together with a hand-picked quintet, usually courtesy of LibDig This week Birkdale blog get three mentions-so thanks to all who contributed. The first posting owes much to David Bartlett of Dale Street Blues for his article about Vince's visit. The second posting is again from Vince's visit when he reminded us about ...
Okay, she is tweeting in a personal capacity and I would say it's not her fault who her husband is but that's not entirely true, I guess. What's more important is that Sally Bercow is a public figure in her own right, she is a prospective candidate for Westminster City Council and on Labour's approved list for potential parliamentary candidates. So I watched in amazement as her twitter feed became full off quite ugly snippets mocking not only the Tories Green policies but digging in to her slice of the class war cake. For example: And other such gems... So ...
Sir John (Johnny) Dankworth the jazz saxophonist and clarinetist who was the husband of Dame Cleo Lane has died yesterday aged 82. She announced his death at a concert she was giving last night with their children in a classic case of the show must go on. Here are some theme tunes of shows or films you may remember and have loved which had the Dankworth touch in their titles down the years. Tomorrow's World The Avengers original theme from 1961-4, not the later more commonly recognised one. Modesty Blaise He also collaborated with some of the current stars here ...
First it was Hillary, then our very own Gordon and finally today Alastair Campbell. They have now all shed a tear in an interview. Now I am not saying it was all done as a publicity stunt, to help the electorate to forgive them, empathise with them; but when more and more of our politicians feel the need for a tear, it becomes very suspicious. So come on... get a hold on it... let's have some
Camden and Islington Councils organised a conference to highlight the massive reductions in energy use in homes that can be gained by using Passivhaus technology developed in Germany over 20 years ago. The saving can be 85% and this will go a long way to achieving the Government Code Level 6 target of zero carbon homes. Simon Hughes the keynote speaker at teh Conference strongly supported the technology and urged Councils to included the passivhaus standard in their planning documents. Over 160 architects, planners, builders and Councillors attended the Conference which was supported by the Building Research Establishment, Inbuilt Ltd, ...
There has been plenty of comment recently deriding Gordon Brown for suddenly discovering electoral reform. The naive part of me allows me to believe that the expenses 'scandal' may have influenced his opinion slightly, but the alleged comments by Blair to Ashdown about Brown's veto of electoral reform does make one wonder... I have deliberately kept posts light of late because there are plenty of people commenting on these topics, and my lone voice would not normally add too much. In this case, though, I think it's important to comment because the stakes are so high. I am delighted that ...
Following on from Mondeo Man and Worcester Woman, the Observer today reported on the new group identified by YouGov as the key group that will swing the General Election – Motorway Man. Essentially this group is youngish, childless singles or couples living in modern homes with small kitchens that suffer from negative equity, don't feel tied ...
Weekends tend to fall into two categories. The first is those where I'm at home, in the cottage, pottering around, drinking the occasional beer, catching up on my e-mail, eating hearty meals, that sort of thing. The second is those where I'm on the road with Ros, riding on trains, drinking the occasional beer, catching up on my e-mails, eating hearty meals, that sort of thing. This weekend has had railways in it. Leaving Newbury, we were off to Swansea for the Spring Conference of the Welsh Liberal Democrats or, as I discover, the Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru. It's a pretty ...
Today's "The World This Weekend" included a long item on the MP expense scandal and looked in particular at voter reaction in Stevenage (Barbara Follett) and St Albans. Both Anne Main and I were interviewed for the programme while we were at St Albans City Station on Friday evening – the piece starts about 16 minutes in. The web address is
Last Tuesday night I was the Quiz Master for the second time at the Mayor of Waltham Forest's Quiz Night. Over 70 people turned up to help raise over £600 towards the mayor's charities, Whipps Cross Hospital's Special Care Baby Unit and the 'Big Push' project.The Mayor of Waltham Forest was joined by the Mayor of Haringey, Mayor of Islington and the Mayor of Medway who ensured that no one felt
...will be the subject of an interesting looking panel discussion tomorrow hosted by Westminster Skeptics tomorrow and moderated by House of Comments podcast participant Jack of Kent. Here's the blurb: Leading political bloggers on the impact and lack of impact of blogging When?Monday, February 8 at 7:30PM Where?The Monk Exchange Strutton Ground London SW1H 0HW Who?Panel Discussion What's the talk about? Four accomplished political bloggers:- Guido Fawkes: http://order-order.com/ Jonathan Isaby of Conservative Home: http://conservativehome.blogs.com/ Sunny Hundal of Liberal Conspiracy: http://liberalconspiracy.org/ Mick Fealty of Slugger O'Toole: http://www.sluggerotoole.com/ will join mainstream media journalist Nick Cohen http://nickcohen.net/ to discuss whether political blogging is ...
Welcome to the 155th of our weekly round-ups from the Lib Dem blogosphere, featuring the seven most popular stories according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (31st January – 6th February 2010), together with a hand-picked quintet, usually courtesy of LibDig, you might otherwise have missed. Don't forget, by the way, you can now sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox – just click here – ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging. As ever, let's start with the most popular post, and work our way down: 1. Election Results 4th ...
Dan Snow's Empire of the Seas came to an end this Friday. Like his father, Peter, Dan is an enthusiast and a great storyteller. The programme spanned four centuries as it looked at the impact the British Navy had on this country and the world. Snow's thesis is that the navy was the spur to so much of what has made modern Britain. There is a myth that Britain in the nineteenth century was a free market liberal economy. Snow makes it clear that government, because it needed to fund the navy, did much to manage and regulate. All of ...
The pavement in this area has been badly broken up, we have reported to the council for repair
I attend more Party Conferences than most, Regional, State and Federal, and it's that time of year when the use of the phrase, "I'd like to move/thank/condemn..." is most uttered. And so it should have come as no surprise when I turned up in Newbury yesterday morning for a brief visit to the South Central Regional Conference, my first such event of the spring (one down, five to go). Every Conference is slightly different, with a slightly different atmosphere, but South Central's is one I've seen more of than most, having been the Region's European Returning Officer on three occasions. ...
Commenting on Government figures published on Friday showing that the cost of running quangos has risen by almost £10bn since Gordon Brown became Prime Minister, to £46.5bn, Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet Office Minister, Jenny Willott said: "Gordon Brown has taken Labour's obsession with unelected and unaccountable quangos to a new extreme. "This is an obscene amount of money to spend on bodies that lack transparency and effective democratic control. "The Liberal Democrats are the only party truly committed to bringing in a better politics for less. "As a start, we would scrap 90 quangos and cap the salaries of senior ...
Commenting on British Gas' decision to cut gas bills by an average of 7%, Liberal Democrat Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Simon Hughes said: "A price cut from one supplier in February is no substitute for fair fuel bills all the year round. "It is unfair that customers were forced to shiver through the recent cold snap. "Energy companies have been taking advantage of their customers for too long. What we really need are fair fuel bills that are easy to understand."
On Freedom Central:
Here's how the Financial Times reports it: A hung parliament might frighten the markets, but according to Vince Cable, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman, the concerns are "completely and totally irrational". The Lib Dems point out that many of the world's leading economies, including Germany and Italy, hold elections that almost always produce results where the leading party has to do deals with smaller parties. They add that some countries with single party governments, such as Greece, have some of the worst records in dealing with fiscal crises, while multiparty coalitions, such as the one in Sweden in the 1990s, conducted ...
Earlier this week it was announced that on 11 March Livingston Jim Devine will have to appear in Westminster Magistrates Court to make his initial appearance over his alleged expenses theft. However, from the Daily Record 8-10 March he will be in Court in Edinburgh for a review of the unfair dismissal case against him from his former office manager Marion Kinley. The initial finding over unfair dismissal found that Devine had failed to file forms correctly. There does appear to be a trend there for his week in court. Ms Kinley who was the MPs between June 2006 and ...
I've just had an e-mail asking why I was calling the US conservatives dim? Well if you look closely at the woman in the picture's jacket she has the web address of their campaign. All well and good you say, but the poor sap has misspelt it. If you can't get something so minor right, how can folk have any faith on anything else you claim to stand for? My opposition to our own Tories, as well as being fundamental and philosophical, is evidence based. On every major decision, the economy, the war on Iraq, the family, taxation, students and ...
I couldn't honestly say that Arsenal's defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge today came as a terrific surprise – it hasn't been a good week or two for Arsene Wenger's team. What was billed as the defining period of the season (Premier League matches against Aston Villa, Manchester United and Chelsea, and a Fourth Round FA ...
It's been a while since we last reminded readers about this, so now seems a good time to publish the information again. You may have noticed that next to some people's comments is a small picture of themselves, such as: If you want a picture to appear next to your comments you need to do two things. Visit Gravatar.com, create an account and upload a picture. Post a comment, ensuring that your email address that you've used on Gravatar is the same one that you've put in the comment field. Feel free to post test comments below.
Jim Devine, the Labour MP for Livingston, who is currently trying to prove that Parliamentary privilege means the Theft Act 1968 does not apply to him, faces another problem. The Scottish Sunday Mail reports that the day before Divine is due to appear in court he will face an unfair dismissal claim from his former constituency office manager Marion Kinley. She worked for him between June 2006 and October 2008 and is taking him to an employment tribunal claiming bullying, harassment and unfair dismissal. Mr Devine denies all the charges. She originally won a claim of unfair dismissal in August ...
The Dundee West Liberal Democrat campaign continued in earnest today - here's parliamentary candidate John Barnett together with son Rory campaigning in St Mary's this afternoon! The "shame" on the LibDem newspaper refers to Labour's shame over the illegal war in Iraq.
There's an outbreak of crying amongst New Labour. It almost seems to be a co-ordinated strategy. Yesterday, advised by Alastair Campbell, Gordon Brown recorded an interview with Piers Morgan which will be shown next Sunday. Apparently he (Brown) is tearful as he talks about the death of his baby daughter and his son's cystic fibrosis.He hasn't talked about his children before. Cameron has done it a lot. I admire Brown for finally doing this. It's not an easy decision to take, but I suspect it will tell the British public a great deal about their Prime Minister, as a person. ...
Final "Journey" upload
Courtesy of Catherine Bearder... David Cameron has ordered Tory councilors to abandon their political allies in Europe. Just months after the Tories abandoned their allies in the European Parliament to side with extremists, racists and homophobes on Europe's political fringe, David Cameron has damaged his party's last remaining influence in Europe by ordering Tory councillors to leave their grouping on the Committee of the Regions*. Thanks to David Cameron, South East Tory councillors Gordon Keymer and David Shakespeare, who sit on the Committee of the Regions, will now be forced to sit alone and isolated. The Conservatives' ability to work ...
I found a , um , provoking little article on the internet from May 2009. The title was Will the Antichrist be a homosexual?.The author, the pastor for an independent Baptist Church in a small US town, reckons it's likely:...In effect, there is no greater sin against God than to reject how he made you, and no greater sin against women than to reject how God made them.Having seen what the Bible
Welcome to this latest LDVideo instalment, highlighting three political video clips from the past week. Nick Clegg answers the top 10 questions posed by Reddit.com users as voted by users of the site. (You can see all of the questions posed to him here). (Also available on YouTube here). BBC reports Tory shadow home secretary Chris Grayling gets into trouble for using misleading crime statistics. Sara Bedford covered the story for LDV here). And, finally, Boris Johnson does the hokey-cokey ... seems he always wants to go one better than his party leader, who preferred to stick to the cokey: ...
A couple of weeks ago the castaway on Desert Island Discs was the boxing promoter Frank Warren. Far from offering the wall-to-wall "My Way" you might have feared, his choices displayed impeccable taste in music. One of his eight records was this: the first Motown hit and a song better known in Britain from the cover version by the Beatles. It was Strong's only major hit as a vocalist, but he later became one of Motown's most important songwriters. I love this version, which I can't recall having heard before; certainly, it makes the Beatles sound a bit tame. I ...
Was on the Tay Talk In this morning on Radio Tay AM about the Scottish Budget and cuts in the Fairer Scotland Fund.
On Thursday, 11 February 2010, the Planning Committee of Manchester City Council, will consider the planning application from Goals Soocer Centres UK for a commercial 5-a-side soccer centre at the At Margaret's side of Heaton Park. Remember that these revised plans include a massive 2.4m perimeter fence around the site, as well as further fenced off car-park, going up towards the reservoir. You can view all the plans at Manchester Council's Website. This could well be our LAST CHANCE to save Heaton Park - this is the third time that Goals have submitted their plan, but the first that its ...
The title of this song caught my eye and I was expecting some fun lyrics mentioning places I know. As it turns out, it's an instrumental piece - but the music is fab:
View Larger Map Update on Festival Place Road Changes We mentioned plans the Council had to make permanent the Christmas access/exit arrangements. I have now been told residents have until the 11th March to pass any comments on to the Council. This can be done by writing quoting reference A809/CM, and writing to The Castle, Winchester, SO23 8UD or emailing public.notices@hants.gov.uk. I was hoping to find a link with the details, but Hampshire County Council are not that efficient. I will look out for one and update. But basically, cars leaving Festival place will be taken under Festival Way to ...
Really, really, REALLY tired of every time a Lib Dem has any airtime, the only thing the interviewer keeps asking is what the party would do in the event of a hung parliament. Get. this. through. your. heads. IF one was generally supportive of the Conservative party, they would join the Conservative party. IF one was generally supportive of the Labour party, they would join the Labour party. (Though why anyone would want to do either is beyond me). The Liberal Democrats do not exist as some organisation who just wait to see who they can lend their influence and ...
Here's the plan. We take a bunch of teenage lads. We pay them tens of thousands of pounds a week, tell them how wonderful they are and have 40,000 fans chant their names at football matches each week. We eagerly follow their testosterone and cash-fuelled antics as they do the sorts of things lads in their late teens and twenties across the country do: get drunk, cop off and all the rest of it. We happily encourage young women to see them as a meal ticket that'll at the very least show the ladies a good time and perhaps launch ...
The campaign continues - my interviews were published in the local press and I am busy wrestling with new software to help produce some literature. I was also able to recruit an old university friend to the candidate ranks, have received more offers of help - most gratefully received - and have been invited to an environmental debate and to visit and address a school group. So lots to do. The local news is that the BNP have, at last, put cards on the table, and will contest four seats in Kent - Dover, Folkestone, Ashford .. and Sittingbourne and ...
We have been contacted by the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation concerning Community Development and Leisure grants. The CCF administer grants on behalf of the City Council to organisations who provide services and activities to people who live in the North Area of Cambridge. In particular they aim to support organisations who work with "people whose opportunities arerestricted by disability, low income or discrimination". Previous grants have supported youth organisations through set up costs, the Arbury Carnival, Chesterton Carnival and Ambaby's. If you think you know of an organisation or project who might benefit get in touch with the Foundation or with ...
A small update for today as I am rather busy finally helping democracy happen in the social media sphere for the Woking Liberal Democrats. Today saw the launch of their twitter feed at @WokingLibDems along with the launch of Rosie Sharpley's blog which will be being updated every week with news from the campaign trail ...
Yesterday, Pollwatch looked at the state of the parties in January; today it's the turn of the party leaders. As with all polls, what follows comes with caveats. Only three polling companies – YouGov, Mori and Angus RS – regularly ask questions specifically to find out the public's views of the three main party leaders. And each asks variants on the basic question – do you think Clegg/Brown/Cameron are doing a good job – to come up with their figures, so comparison ain't easy. But, still, we don't indulge in polls often, so here goes ... Here, in chronological order, ...
On Friday, Paddy Ashdown came to Newquay to meet up with the Lib Dem candidates and MPs. One place they visited was St Columb Minor School where the pupils were holding a charity fundraising day. There were a wide range of stalls and things to do and the team all had a great time. Paddy, it would appear, really enjoyed the biscuit decorating stall. A few more pics follow including Julia Goldsworthy getting her nails done:
Developers Chelverton Deeley Freed are holding a public exhibition of their latest plans in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall this week: Wednesday 10 February, 3.30 pm - 7 pmThursday 11 February, 12 noon - 7 pm The developers say "We are now in a position to present an overall masterplan for the site and indicative design details. The key components of the development have not changed, namely a Waitrose foodstore, new pedestrian link to the High Street with new shop units, and housing" Please drop in at any time during these sessions and let them know what you think of their ...
The young people of Hebden Bridge have not had the best of press recently. This week, The Times published an article alleging (without statistics) that the town has one of the highest suicide rates in England. This follows a previous article in the Independent on Sunday, and a general perception amongst certain sections of the ...
There is a lot of confusion in the media about the attempt by those being prosecuted for Fraud to claim that the expeneses regime falls within Article IX of the Bill of Rights.It is important that MPs are allowed to speak freely in the Houses of Parliament about issues. What you do not want is people being tied up in legal proceedings and unable to speak the truth about the problems faced by
2010 will be an exciting year for Longford Park after the successful award of £50,000 from the People's Millions. Some of the things planned include:- Groovy Kids Disco 28th Feb Our first event of 2010 is a Groovy Disco for 6 to 11 year olds on the 28th Feb 2pm at Longfords, Tickets £2 from Adrian (374 5542) Or Bob (286 6979). Kids can can enjoy themselves and find out how they can be involved in their local park while there is a fully licensed bar for adults to stay a while and relax. Ceilidh Night on the 23rd April ...
No it is not my audition for So You Think You Can Dance, and how dare you for thinking it would be. Local Bathgate man 76 year-old Patrick Morrison (pictured) went into Astley Ainslie Hospital, Edinburgh after losing his right foot. When he returned home upon removing the protective sock covering it his wife Alexia aged 75 burst out laughing as he had been fitted with a left foot on his right. She called the hospital who cut off the lower part of the replacement limb and replaced the foot with a right footed version. However, false limb expert Malcolm ...
A news release from the party reports: The Liberal Democrats have tabled amendments to the Government's proposals for a referendum on electoral reform that would: Offer voters a real choice between first-past-the-post and a truly proportional system (Single Transferable Vote), rather than AV Bring forward the date of the referendum to next May Close a loophole allowing the next Government to kill the proposals without an Act of Parliament Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Justice Secretary, David Howarth said: "Voters deserve a real choice - between the discredited status quo and a system where every vote matters and there are no ...
Whenever I hear a radio discussion on the ongoing revelations over the John Terry colourful private life the same subject keep's on coming up again and again. John Terry is a role model so he should behave like one. Well I'm not sure anyone who gets into a position of fame using talent should actually be a role model or indeed can be a role model. When John Terry set out to become a professional football player (he joined the Chelsea youth team at 14 years old). He surely joined to live his dream of being a top class football ...
I met with Brechin Cllr Ruth Leslie-Melville and Cllr David May, convener of Infrastructure Services, to discuss the flooding in Brechin and the role the council has played so far to alleviate the problems. It is no surprise that Brechin residents are alarmed by the threat of flooding. It is clear that the council have done what they can from their roads budget, but they do not have the resources to fund what is now a £13 million project. Furthermore, the removal of the dedicated government grants has thrown plans for flood protection schemes into complete disarray. Adding to the ...
Whilst crime in London fell between 1870 and 1910, the story north of the border wasn't quite as rosy. As the Daily Express reported at the turn of the century: "The most notable fact of the statistics for 1899 is the immense increase of the criminal work of the country". Thus opened the report on Scotland's prisons and court for the past year, which was an unenviable record. No fewer than 176,524 persons were apprehended or cited, a figure which has never before been reached by 10,000. Drunks and disorderlies alone totalled 112,033. South Queensferry holds the proud position for ...
I am calling on the Scottish Government to follow through on its fitness manifesto and help to finance a new swimming pool for Forfar. I visited Forfar's current swimming pool with local independent Councillor, Colin Brown and met with the staff at the pool. I was very impressed with Forfar's swimming pool and have heard excellent reports of the service given by staff. The existing pool offers the best facilities it can, given the age and size of the current building. However, it is clear that the pool cannot meet the needs of all Forfar residents going forward, including the ...
Sun 7th
10:20
What happened to the 21 Conservative MPs who voted to block expenses reform in summer 2008?
As I wrote previously about the voting down in the summer of 2008 of plans to reform MPs' expenses: The bulk of the blame for blocking the reforms must lie with the Labour Party as 146 of their MPs voted to block the reforms but given David Cameron's strident recent comments, it's striking to see that seven of his frontbenchers, and 21 MPs in total, voted to block reform when they had the chance. This was enough to see the measure defeated. A year and a half on from those 21 voting against changing the expense rules, what do we ...
Last week I was writing about Cllr Maureen Walsh resigning from the Tory group on the Council. I was interested to know why the Conservatives were being less than honest in their leaflets. Syd Lloyd, another Tory councillor, didn't want to answer that and, in time honoured fashion, challenged me on something totally different to distract attention. Syd said that Lib Dem claims of Tory cuts were untrue and challenged me to provide evidence. Well, I can only suggest that Cllr Lloyd reads the material his party is putting out. In their recent newspaper, the Conservatives called for free parking ...
There was a uite astonishing moment on TV earlier. Andrew Marr has Alistair Campbell on his show, with Campbell promoting a fictional book he has written. But under questioning from Marr about the Iraq War, and Andrew Marr making a somewhat flippant but completely understandable comment equating his fictitious book with the dodgy dossier, Alistair Campbell paused, tears welled up in his eyes, and I though he was going to sob. Now I don't want to be seen in any way as criticising him for being emotional, indeed it shows a very human side to Mr Campbell, but for Mr ...
Ludicrous as it may seem, the three Labour MPs who face criminal charges over their expense claims, are entitled to "Golden Payoffs" when standing down from parlimanent this year. These payments which could total £65,000 are paid to MPs, depending on the length of their service, when standing down at an election, but since Elliot Morley, David Chaytor and Jim Devine will not have gone to court, there are no powers to stop them getting the money. It does seem absolultey ridiculous that MPs get so many benefits when so many hard working honest people are losing their jobs with ...
At every General Election the pollsters try to make their mark in more ways than by predicting the result. They seek to define the debate itself. We have had 'Worcester Woman' and 'Mondeo Man' and now we 'Motorway man', a usually childless, youngish voter who lives in modern homes close to the main motorway networks, the less environmentally attractive pockets of England where planning permission for new developments is often easier to obtain. According to pollsters these are the swing voters who will determine the fate of key marginal seats: "Where these sort of people live is increasingly incidental; the ...
Here are four short videos from yesterday's Welsh Liberal Democrat Conference in Swansea's Grand Theatre starting with Swansea West Parliamentary Candidate Peter May opening the event: A thoughtful speech from Welsh Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Brecon and Radnorshire MP, Roger Williams: A barnstormer from Ceredigion MP, Mark Williams: And an outstanding contribution from the future MP for Newport East, Ed Townsend:
Stockport Council has continued to keep the pressure on rogue traders in a bid to safeguard borough residents. The crack-down focused on targeting rogue traders who prey on the elderly and vulnerable members within the community. The Council's Trading Standards, Licensing and Environmental Services teams worked in partnership with Greater Manchester Police, the Bailiffs Department and the Vehicle and Operators Service Agency (VOSA) as part of the operation. As part of the Operation Storm: Around forty vehicles were stopped by the police and four vehicles were seized as the drivers had no insurance. Traders were advised by the Council's Trading ...
News this week that Bounds Green tube station has been designated a Grade II listed building - as a result of a long-running campaign by Liberal Democrats and local residents. That started back in July 2008, with Bounds Green Lib Dem councillor John Oakes writing to English Heritage requesting that Bounds Green Tube Station be put forward for listing, to ensure its future protection. Two other Piccadilly line stations of similar style and date had already been listed - Turnpike Lane and Arnos Grove - and now, thanks to pressure from the Lib Dem team and local resident groups, Bounds ...
Another that will may affect Odd Down(BLOOMFIELD ROAD, BATH) (PROHIBITION OF RIGHT HAND TURN) ORDER 201- NOTICE is hereby given that the Bath and North East Somerset Council proposes to make an order under provisions contained in the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 as amended, the effect of which will prohibit any vehicle from making a right hand turn from Bloomfield Road, Bath into Wellsway.
We have received this order(A367 WELLSWAY FROM MIDFORD ROAD TO FROME ROAD, BATH) (BUS LANE) ORDER 201- NOTICE is hereby given that the Bath and North East Somerset Council proposes to make an order under provisions contained in the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 as amended, the effect of which will introduce a bus lane on that length of the A367 Wellsway southbound carriageway nearside lane
People in my ward have complained about dog dirt around the village lately. I've talked to Cleansing and the Dog Warden Service about it. They say the whole district has been overrun by it - er, maybe I should rephrase that - there are problems all over the district. It seems to me that some dog walkers have imagined it's OK to leave shit in the street because the snow would cover it up. When the snow has melted all the brown stuff has come to light. Of course the majority of dog owners are responsible people and wouldn't dream ...
It's Sunday. It's 9am on the date when, in 1974, Ted Heath called a snap election and, in 1812, Charles Dickens was born. What better way to celebrate than to watch a YouTube clip about letterboxes? But first the blogs and the news. 2 Must-Read Blog Posts What are other Liberal Democrat bloggers saying? Here's are two posts that have caught the eye from the Liberal Democrat Blogs aggregator: Incomprehensible sign comes to Leicester: read Jonathan Calder E-campaigning comes to Stockton: read Maureen Rigg's report Spotted any other great posts in the last day from blogs that aren't on the ...
It has been a busy Conference in Swansea's Grand Theatre and there is still a full day to go. So far I have spoken to four fringe meetings and made three platform speeches as well as had a number of meetings with campaign groups. I have another fringe today with the BBC on 'New decade, new media: The General Election and the social media landscape' plus a number of other meetings. The Conference itself has been really upbeat. The speeches by Kirsty Williams and Nick Clegg were outstanding and there has been a real buzz about the place. Our other ...
Previously the council was collecting leaves in Odd Down and then taking to into the centre of the city to create compost.We have now managed to get the council to put some at the allotments at Banwell Road, this saves time and effort as well as helping those on the allotments
According to reports today, the Conservatives, if elected to power this year, would stop local councils having the right to make planning decisions about new schools, with this power being taken by central government and a minister in London making decisions instead of locally elected councillors. This harks back to the days of Thatcher when powers were routinely taken from councils and centralised in Westminster. Whilst local councils might not always make the decisions that the government wants, local councillors are much more accountable than a Tory minister in London who may have a safe seat in a different part ...
We have been told by the councilThe consultation documents are now being finalised and the formal consultation period will begin in Mid March and run through to 21st May 2010. During the period 19th April to 21st May open public meetings will be held in each school: Broadlands, Culverhay, Oldfield, St. Mark's and Wellsway and two additional meetings for those people who cannot make any of these
The news that London-based Luciana Berger, girlfriend of Siôn Simon, with her minimal knowledge of Liverpool, was selected as candidate for Liverpool Wavertree didn't go down well with one well known local resident. Ricky Tomlinson, a long time supporter of the Socialist Labour Party, has decided to get off his arse and stand against her. He's accused Labour of overlooking local working class politicians in favour of candidates approved by central office. He said: "I just can't understand why they have picked someone from London. It just does not make sense to me." Not knowing who Bill Shankly is or ...
Richard Shwe, Head of Culture and Community Development at St Albans City and District Council, said: "As part of the new development at Westminster Lodge, the Council has undertaken a geophysical survey of the proposed development site. Twelve trenches, including two pairs which were joined and L-shaped, have been excavated. Approximately five of the evaluation trenches produced stratified archaeological deposits. The main features found in the trenches include a Roman building, possibly a mill, which appears to have been partially demolished in the Roman or medieval period for building materials. It may be associated with part of a building found ...
Brazil's Carnival will take place next weekend – an annual explosion of partying in the street, parades, drinking and brief encounters (for which the government is distributing 55 million free condoms) before, in principle, everyone hunkers down into Lent. Unlike Rio's Carnival, where samba schools perform in closed locations in front of a paying crowd, ...
Today in the Observer Gordon Brown says: "I'm not complacent, but Labour can still win it. I'm absolutely sure of that." This is the same man who declared in September 1999: "And I say to Conference and the country, we will never return to the days of Tory boom - bust." What never? What absolutely sure? I think Gordon doth use superlatives too much and too glibbly.
I had switched off the computer during Question Time thinking that I had finished writing blogs for the day, but I had to switch it back when I heard Melanie Phillips talking about whether we were misled into going to war. Her position is that we were not misled. She still supports the war even knowing what she knows now. We weren't taken to war on a lie. Everyone thought that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction but this was not the cause for war, it was his failure to show that his WMD programmes had stopped. The problem with ...
