http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from Hounslow Liberal Democrats en-GB Hounslow Liberal Democrats http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 Hounslow Liberal Democrats 2010-02-09T12:38+00:00 United Kingdom http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000375/cluck_cluck_cluck__lib_dems__independents_secure_switch_of_25000_eggs_to_free_range.html Lib Dems and Independents this week celebrated the local authority agreeing to switch from buying 25,000+ caged eggs per annum to barn or free range eggs. In a joint campaign Cllrs Andrew Dakers and Caroline Andrews researched the issue and then put a motion to full borough council. This aspect of their motion was passed on Tuesday night. Cllrs Dakers and Andrews will be continuing to push for the Council to phase out food products containing unsustainable palm oil and join the Sustainable Restaurants Association to further improve standards. The Conservative councillors responsible have committed to explore both of these issues further. 2010-01-31T00:00+00:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000374/hounslow_council_must_make_gunnersbury_new_year_resolution__lib_dems.html Hounslow and Ealing Liberal Democrats are calling on Hounslow Council to follow Ealing Council's lead and identify the capital to fund their contribution to the regeneration of Gunnersbury Park of Gunnersbury Park, mansions and local history museum. This follows the Lib Dems' success, along with other local campaigners, in persuading Ealing Tories to commit to not building on the corner of the park. Hounslow Liberal Democrats are now tabling a motion at Borough Council on 2 March calling for a capital fund to be built up with a contribution of £1m per annum from Hounslow over the next 7-8 years backed by the local authority. 2010-01-25T15:15+00:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000371/lib_dems_back_urgent_appeal_for_funds_to_support_high_court_appeal_against_moorings_where_grand_union_meets_river_thames.html Brentford Community Council's Waterways sub-committee has today issued an urgent call for support to raise £3000 in the next week to help fund an appeal in the High Court of planning permission granted to moor boats where the River Brent meets the River Thames. The appeal has also been supported by the Environmental Law Foundation and monies raised will fund their continued work on the case. 2010-01-08T00:00+00:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000373/time_for_nhs_hounslow_chief_exec_to_engage_with_isleworth__brentford_councillors.html Cllr Andrew Dakers, Leader of Hounslow Liberal Democrats, today raised his concerns in public at the Chief Exec of NHS Hounslow, Nick Relph's, lack of engagement with councillors in Isleworth & Brentford - one of the fastest growing parts of Hounslow Borough. Mr Relph was invited this Autumn by local area committee chair Cllr Shirley Fisher to speak to local councillors on the trust's current development plans, but has to date not made himself available. Mr Relph was recently revealed by the Taxpayers Alliance as one of the highest earners in the public sector with a salary of £202,500 per annum. UPDATE: The Chair of NHS Hounslow has agreed to speak to the local area committee in March, although the Mr Relph is still unavailable to attend. 2009-12-22T00:00+00:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000372/lib_dems_urge_speedy_conclusion_to_gunnersbury_funding_fiasco.html Hounslow and Ealing Liberal Democrats today reiterated calls for capital funding to be identified urgently for the regeneration of Gunnersbury Park, mansions and local history museum. Over the past two weeks - at both the Joint Advisory Group and Stakeholder Meeting - they urged Hounslow and Ealing Tory administrations to resolve how they will plug the funding gap. At their AGM on Sunday 6th December the Friends of Gunnersbury Park and Museum decided to call on the Secretary of State and English Heritage to put a Repairs Notice on both Councils directing them to immediately repair the stables and other buildings at risk in the park. 2009-12-15T00:00+00:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000370/dakers_welcomes_approval_of_development_plans_for_alfa_laval_great_west_road_site.html After due consideration Cllr Dakers supported proposals for a 'mixed use' development scheme brought to Hounslow's Sustainable Development Committee (25 Nov) for the former Alfa Laval site on the Great West Road. The scheme will include refurbishment of the Alfa Building for use as a 180-bed hotel and redevelopment of the remainder of the site to provide a 151-bed hotel, 4,677 sqm offices, 228 sqm retail/community use, 206 flats, maisonettes and houses, together with associated public and private open spaces, access, service areas, plant, landscaping and 351 car parking spaces. A number of green innovations, such as roof top allotments and beehives, should be included in the scheme. Cllr Dakers has been encouraging more sustainable design for sites across the borough over the past four years. 2009-12-02T00:00+00:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000365/newly_selected_lib_dem_team_for_brentford_launch_website.html The newly selected team of Lib Dem Council candidates for Brentford ward in the May 2010 elections officially launched their Brentford Focus website today after two months of beta testing. The website provides background on the local team, information on local issues and a number of ways to keep in touch with the team. 2009-12-01T00:00+00:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000366/lib_dems_launch_5_minute_survey_for_2010_hounslow_manifesto.html Hounslow Lib Dems today launched the start of their community consultation on their Hounslow manifesto for the 2010 local elections. The survey can be completed in just five minutes and invites local residents to prioritise spending areas and suggest practical ideas across the full range of local government services. 2009-12-01T00:00+00:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000368/a_1400_tax_cut_for_every_working_couple_in_hounslow_borough__dakers.html Liberal Democrat prospective MP for Brentford & Isleworth Constituency, Cllr Andrew Dakers, today welcomed the party's new plans to bring in a fairer tax system. Under the Liberal Democrats no-one will pay a penny's tax on the first £10,000 they earn each year. The proposals give every working person a £700 tax cut - £1,400 less tax a year for every working couple. Pensioners will each receive a £100 tax cut. And 4 million of the poorest people will be taken out of paying income tax completely. 2009-11-30T00:00+00:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000367/lib_dems_attack_extreme_cuts_proposed_by_tories_to_keep_council_tax_increases_at_0.html Lib Dem Group Leader Cllr Dakers this evening attacked a range of cuts proposed by the Tories ahead of the March 2010 budget. He said that whilst the Lib Dems were committed to keeping Council tax low there was a need for common sense to be applied and that removing school uniform grants for the borough's poorest children and subsidies to community organisations using facilities in schools was a step too far. 2009-11-24T00:00+00:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000369/letter_gunning_for_gunnersbury_park_public_need_a_voice.html Dear Editor, Where Kirsty Allison ('Gunning for Gunnersbury Park: Public need a voice', 19 Nov) and I agree is that the public consultation on the future of the park was a mess and there should be no building on the corner of the park. However I disagree with two points in her recent column: First, unlike Kirsty, I believe in the ability of the community to generate alternative ways forward. There are plenty of smart and knowledgeable people living in West London. As a naturally sceptical opposition councillor I have seen first hand decision makers in local government listen to - and take on board - well argued and evidenced alternative approaches to difficult developments. Have more faith Kirsty! 2009-11-21T00:00+00:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000354/lib_dems_support_high_court_action_to_protect_river_brent_navigation_and_freight_potential.html Local Lib Dems have given their backing to a legal challenge in the High Court that has been launched to prevent an important Hounslow waterway from being partially obstructed by moored boats, which will impede safe navigation. The Regents Network and Brentford Waterside Forum's, campaigning to bring London's waterways back to life, has led the objections to the boat mooring proposal that would block more than one third of the mouth of the River Brent where it joins the Thames at Brentford. 2009-11-04T17:37+00:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000356/brentford_high_streets_struggle_continues_as_magpie_and_crown_pub_closes.html Andrew Dakers, Councillor for Brentford Ward and Chair of Brentford High Street Steering Group, has raised serious concerns about the end of the lease on the Magpie and Crown pub on High Street Brentford. 2009-11-02T00:00+00:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000355/final_push_needed_to_deliver_youth_centre_for_brentford__naqvi.html Brentford Liberal Democrats have been calling for a new Youth Centre in Brentford for over four years. The old Youth Centre on Half Acre was closed by the Labour administration in c.1993. The need for a new youth centre has now been confirmed by the Council's own studies. Original plans to raise capital from the sale of St Georges Centre have recently been put at risk by alternative plans for the building. Lib Dem Mona Naqvi is now calling on Council leaders to put in place alternative plans for a Brentford Youth Centre so young people once again have their own space in the area. One option currently being explored is 17 Market Place, which until Fred Yarrow recently passed away, was home of the Broadvale Association. 2009-10-28T00:00+00:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000359/council_claws_back_54k_from_sita_in_poor_contract_performance.html In Hounslow Borough Full Council this evening Cllr Dakers asked Cllr Thompson, Tory Leader of the Council: "What are the figures for performance on non-delivery of punctual door-to-door dustbin and recycling services, and how much has the Council received so far in compensation/ penalty payments for poor performance since the start of the new contract?" In response, Cllr Thompson revealed that the Council has clawed £54k in penalty payments from SITA since the start of the contract. 2009-10-27T00:00+00:00