Mione Goldspink's article for the Flyer, April 2017
April 2017
Local Matters with Mione Goldspink
In a few weeks' time you will have the opportunity to vote for a New County Councillor.
78 Councillors will be elected across Hertfordshire, and 3 of these will come from Bishop's Stortford.
At present, there are 46 Conservatives, 16 Liberal Democrats, and 15 Labour Councillors. The 3 from Bishop's Stortford are all Conservatives. The Conservatives have been in control since 1999, and Liberal Democrats say that a change is long overdue.
Liberal Democrats are highly critical of the way in which the Tories are maintaining our roads - the surfaces are poor and there are potholes all over the place. The Tories have failed to oversee the work of the Contractors properly. Liberal Democrats would keep much closer control over the Contractors, and would invest in a proper, long term, maintenance programme, which would reduce the need for expensive, emergency pot hole repairs - saving money in the long term. We would also have a much better programme for cleaning out all the silted-up drains (it is these blocked drains that contribute to flooding every time it rains).
Liberal Democrats have a very positive Manifesto for the forthcoming elections, which is known as "Six to Fix" in Hertfordshire. The Lib Dems would:
- Look after the old and vulnerable, and reverse, as far as possible, the proposed cuts to the Day Centres for the older people and the homeless.
- Create a healthy Hertfordshire by endeavouring to reduce the serious level of air pollution at some of our busiest road junctions. We would continue to promote healthier life styles.
- Provide more school places, and campaign most vigorously against any Tory attempt to set up new grammar schools. We believe that re-introducing the 11-plus exam and labelling thousands of children failures is cruel and inhumane. All children deserve a first class education.
- Deliver a better deal on Highways and Pavements, and allow greater flexibility in the Street Light Switch off at night.
- Sort out public transport by asking central Government to allow Councils to have greater control of local bus services.
- Make the money go further by reducing the Council's expenditure on self-publicity, and by more efficient awarding and monitoring of contracts.
With this positive Manifesto in mind, I do hope that you will cast your vote for the Liberal Democrats on May 4th.
Mione Goldspink. (Chairman Bishop's Stortford Liberal Democrats).
email: mionegoldspink@hotmail.com