Liberal Democrats Publish Vision for Borough

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Greener, safer, better schools and consultation and no tram

The Liberal Democrats have launched their Manifesto for the Hammersmith and Fulham Council Elections to be held on 4 May. Their campaign themes are Greening the Borough, Protecting Residents and Listening to Hammersmith & Fulham.

They feel Labour has become complacent and the Conservatives are not offering an effective alternative. The Liberal Democrats want to follow what they say other Lib Dem-run Councils have achieved by:

1) Increasing recycling to over 30% of household waste.
2) Supporting more sustainable development that meets the needs of
residents while preserving our environment. We want fewer huge office and shopping developments like the White City Shopping Centre and more homes, and more affordable homes, for residents and key workers.
3) Backing the police in their efforts to reduce crime BUT providing
more support so that people do not turn (or return) to crime. Over two thirds of prisoners re-offend with in two years of being released. We want to break this cycle.
4) Using Lib Dem developed Anti-social Behaviour Contracts to change
the behaviour of young people. The Contracts stipulate changes in behaviour that are agreed by parents, social workers, police AND the young person involved. Labour-inspired Anti-social Behaviour Orders
(ASBOs) are too costly, complicated, imposed on young people and frequently broken. They are not as effective as Lib Dem Anti-social Behaviour Contracts. ASBOs should only be used as a last resort when all else has failed.
5) Opposing the Uxbridge Road Tram and the extension of the Congestion
Charge. We would continue the investment in buses and support more train stations along the West London Line.
6) Working to reduce class sizes and the paperwork faced by teachers.
Labour’s emphasis on league tables and targets undermines the quality of local schools. The goal should be that parents are proud of their local school, involved in its operation and pleased to send their children to it.
7) Improving local leisure and sport facilities by the Council. We
oppose the undemocratic 50-year Public Private Partnership deals that Labour has used to fund Fulham Pools. The Janet Adegoke Centre has been replaced by a smaller facility. We want residents to be involved in designing and developing the facilities they want to ensure they are fully supported by the community.

The Liberal Democrats have attacked the Conservative Party's 'Act Green, Vote Blue' strategy saying that the voting record of Greg Hands, the local MP, is not consistent with his party's attempts to present itself as environmentally concerned.

Greg Hands joined other Conservative MPs who 'killed' the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill, which contains measures that have
broad cross party support. The Liberal Democrats say that unless measures are taken to reduce carbon emissions there is an increased chance of higher sea levels and the River Thames flooding Fulham.

The Liberal Democrats currently hold no seats on the Council with all current Councillors being either Labour or Conservative.

April 25, 2006