Farron predicts a big stink and urges ministers to think again!
Tim Farron has today put DEFRA Secretary Hilary Benn on the spot over government plans that could lead to a big stink every spring.
18 Dec 2007
Save our green belt
The Government has doubled the housebuilding target for Stockport, weakened the protections on a third of our precious green belt, and is forcing the Council through Ministerial Directives and threats to adopt a Local Plan which will let developers target green belt first.
We oppose this government’s ‘developers charter’ and need your voice. Do you agree with us that the green spaces that make our area special need to be preserved, and new housing should first be built on brownfield sites, after the infrastructure is provided with schools, improved transport, and GP places guaranteed? Help us send a message to Government and make Labour listen to local people.
Find our more about the local plan on our frequently asked questions page.
Save our green belt
Do you agree with us that the green belt needs to be preserved, brownfield sites prioritised, and schools, transport, and GP places guaranteed?
Farron congratulates Nick Clegg on leadership victory
Local MP Tim Farron has given warm congratulations to Nick Clegg on being elected as the new leader of the Liberal Democrats. After an eight week campaign Mr Clegg has emerged victorious, and will now look to form his shadow cabinet in the coming days.
18 Dec 2007
School Admissions
The 'equal preference' system for school admissions was first used for admissions to Surrey schools this year, September 2007. It means that parents don't have to worry that they will lose a place in the second or third of their preferred schools if the first school is full, just because they did not place those schools first.
18 Dec 2007
Emergency Planning Department Fiasco
When the Conservative administration at County Hall took an axe to its Emergency Planning department as part of a major review, the 11 staff were reduced to just 7 - putting the whole county at risk. All the staff bar one left, leaving the county in an extraordinarily vulnerable state for several months, made worse because a freeze in recruitment blocked the advertising for new staff.
18 Dec 2007
Marginal Improvement by Road Contractors is not Good Enough
At the Transport Select Committee on 5th December members were given the latest set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the ill fated Surrey Highways Partnership (SHiP). The SHiP is the arrangement whereby Carillion manages road maintenance in the East of the County and Ringway in the West. Although there has been some improvement things are still not good enough.
18 Dec 2007
Liberal Democrats call for all troops to come home after Basra withdrawal
British troops have transferred control of Basra province to Iraqi authorities, four-and-a-half years after the invasion. The handover marks a significant milestone towards Britain's final withdrawal from southern Iraq. In a ceremony at Basra airport, British and Iraqi representatives signed a memorandum of understanding to formalise the handover. The 4,500 British troops still in Iraq will now take a backseat role, focusing on training Iraqi forces.
18 Dec 2007
