Posts Tagged ‘Lib Dems fail to deliver’
Cornwall – meet the need for affordable local homes.
In Uncategorized on July 15, 2009 at 8:40 pmTruro Liberal Democrats say no to more affordable homes
In Uncategorized on March 25, 2009 at 10:31 am
On Monday evening – with the exception of one Councillor who abstained and one was absent (who rarely attends meetings) - Liberal Democrat councillors for Truro, and the only Tory councillor who is also on Carrick District Council, voted against increasing the local social housing target to 50 per cent.
This confirmed that the draft Truro and Threemilestone Action Plan – which currently has lower targets for affordable homes – is the product of cosy joint working by Liberal Democrat and Tory councillors in Truro.
Common sense and concern prevailed on Monday evening by 11 votes to 10, and the views of Truro residents who are not in support of the plan as it stands will now be heard.
The new draft plan is an improvement on the previous one and does reflect some of the views expressed at community workshops.
But there are real issues that need to be addressed including:
(1) Local transport – the objective is to improve accessible convenient public transport, but the plan would deliver increased car use.
(2) Housing need – there are no projections for local housing need and the 35 per cent affordable homes target is recognised by many as too low.
(3) Climate change - Truro City Council agreed to promote microgeneration but the draft plan is woolly in it’s commitment to renewable energy, meeting high sustainability standards for new homes (Code 6), and has no plan to reduce Truro’s carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions from current levels.
We have already responded to the consultation to voice peoples concerns.
Leader denies responsibility for Council’s problems
In Uncategorized on January 28, 2009 at 3:57 pmThe new chief executive of Cornwall County Council has outlined the problems the Council faces after three and a half years of Liberal Democrat leadership. At least the new CEO seems to recognise the findings of independent audit and other reports include serious concerns that mean changes need to be made. With the Liberal Democrats leading the Council since 2005 adult social care, fire, and other essential services for local people have deteriorated.
Council leader David Whalley was quick to try to duck any suggestion his - or Liberal Democrats’ - leadership has anything to do with that.
Like former President George Bush dodging the glancing blows from those flying shoes, Councillor Whalley said the only blame he accepts is that he did not say publicly what he has known “privately” as a result of being Council Leader. But this is not a private matter – he is an elected holder of a public office, whose Council has been criticised in public accountability reports because council services for people in Cornwall are deteriorating on his watch. And as surely as former President Bush is finally out of office, it is time Cornwall had a new Council leader – and elections in June, not October.
Council must act to keep post offices open
In Uncategorized on September 23, 2008 at 11:55 amThose campaigning to save local post offices responded with dismay to the news that Post Office Ltd is going ahead with all of the proposed closures in the Carrick area.
Charlotte MacKenzie, who is Labour’s candidate for MP in Falmouth and Truro said: “This is a blow for everybody who worked hard to make the case to keep local post offices open. It is very disappointing that Post Office Ltd is not making changes to the proposals in the light of comments received.
“Two out of three communities in this constituency are among the top 15 per cent most deprived UK communities for access to services and housing. We will continue to make the case for better local access to post office services. I hope local councils will step in to prevent some closures, as has already happened in some other areas.”
“I am also writing today to Postwatch and Consumer Focus to get Post Office Ltd’s decisions looked at again.”
Call to double Lib Dem commitment to affordable homes
In Uncategorized on April 23, 2007 at 4:06 pmResponding to news today from the Halifax Bank that the average price of a house in Truro now tops £300,000, Truro and Falmouth Labour Party called for the local commitment to affordable housing to be doubled.
The latest figures show that Truro is now the most expensive city for housing in the South West. Carrick District Council currently has 3000 local families on its housing register.
In areas of greatest housing need, regional plans recommend that local authorities specify up to two out of three new homes or more are affordable. But local plans drafted by the Liberal Democrat led Carrick District Council make a commitment to just one in three new homes being affordable.
Speaking on behalf of Truro and Falmouth Labour Party, Charlotte MacKenzie said: ”Carrick District Council covers an area of very great need for housing that local families can afford. We are concerned that Carrick District Council is not planning realistically to meet the need for affordable homes in Truro and Falmouth. At the Liberal Democrats’ pace, it would take 20 years to house the current register for the Carrick District Council area. We think that the Council should double their commitment and enable more housing for rent to be built.”
“In 2006/7, only 20 new affordable homes to rent were completed in Truro, and none at all in Falmouth. Carrick has been identified as a growth point. There is every opportunity to tackle the shortage of affordable homes, but local Liberal Democrats and Tories talk instead about just providing ‘pockets’ of affordable housing.”
Lib Dems fail to tackle local housing needs
In Uncategorized on March 19, 2007 at 10:28 amThe Labour Party in Truro and Falmouth hit out today at local housing plans drawn up by the Liberal Democrat led Carrick District Council.
The Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West recommends local authorities specify up to two out of three new homes or more are affordable in areas of greatest housing need. Despite being identified as an area for growth, local development plans only make a commitment to one in three new homes being affordable.
Speaking on behalf of Truro and Falmouth Labour Party, local campaigner Charlotte MacKenzie said: “We welcome the fact that Truro has been identified as a growth point. But we are very concerned that this will not tackle shortages of affordable housing in Falmouth. In 2006/7, 20 new affordable homes to rent were completed in Truro, and none at all in Falmouth.”
“Carrick District Council covers an area of very great need for housing that local families can afford. We are concerned that Carrick District Council is not planning realistically to meet the need for affordable homes in Falmouth and Truro. At the Lib Dems’ pace, it would take 20 years to house the current housing register for the Carrick District Council area. They need to do more.”
Truro and Falmouth Labour Party has made a written submission about local housing needs to the RSS examination in public, which will take place shortly.
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