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 2010-02-09T07:29+00:00 United Kingdom 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/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/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/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/000362/cllr_dakers_calls_for_urgent_recruitment_of_town_centre_manager_for_brentford_and_hounslow_town_centres.html Councillor Dakers, Councillor for Brentford Ward and Chair of Brentford High Street Steering Group, tonight moved approval of a motion calling on the Leader of the Council, Cllr Peter Thompson, to press ahead with recruiting a Town Centre Manager for Brentford High Street and Hounslow The motion was seconded by Councillor Paul Fisher of the Independent Community Group. 2009-10-22T00:00+01:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000360/tories_offer_no_fix_for_gunnersbury__dakers.html Cllr Dakers tonight moved a motion at Isleworth and Brentford Area Committee welcoming progress to date and calling for urgent action to address continued problems at Gunnersbury Park. He highlighted that real urgency is now needed to find other sources of funding for the restoration to proceed before we lose the stables or there is more damage to the local history collection. 2009-10-22T00:00+01:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000352/lib_dems_call_for_public_meeting_and_action_to_improve_safety_in_brentford_towers.html Following a BBC investigation into the safety of the Brentford tower blocks on Green Dragon Lane Lib Dem councillor and prospective MP Andrew Dakers has today called upon the Chief Executive of Hounslow Homes to organise a public meeting urgently to set out to residents the results of a newly commissioned fire risk assessment and measures that will be taken to improve safety. Cllr Dakers first raised his concerns with Hounslow Homes in July 2009 following the incident in Southwark. UPDATE (7 Oct 09): Cllr Dakers has been advised that late on Tuesday afternoon it was confirmed that, following the BBC report, the Assistant Commissioner from the London Fire Brigade (LFB) asked for the local fire service to do an inspection at Cornish House, this was carried out by Martin Green. The LFB have reported to Hounslow Homes on Wednesday morning that their officer has identified some 'odds and sods, minor issues' and that the recommendation to the Assistant Commissioner will be that there is no case for looking at other Hounslow blocks. The LFB report will come to Hounslow Homes next week. 2009-10-05T16:48+01:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000351/thames_water_must_move_faster_to_cover_six_open_mogden_storm_tanks__dakers.html In a statement released today Cllr Andrew Dakers, Leader of Hounslow Liberal Democrats, said: "Mogden Sewage Works in Isleworth has for too long blighted the lives of many in our local community. In July 2001, after numerous complaints from local residents, the Council took the first steps to tackle this problem and served an odour abatement notice on Thames Water. However it was only seven years later, and after a long legal challenge, that Thames Water finally agreed to comply. Despite recent improvements to the plant facilities (e.g. covering many tanks), unpredictable weather patterns and six storm tanks that remain uncovered mean that local residents still regularly suffer from the odour. This is why I am now calling for further action by Thames Water to address the impact of Mogden odour on local residents' lives." 2009-09-16T12:49+01:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000357/new_brentford_high_street_car_park_provides_relief_to_businesses_and_shoppers.html Cllrs Andrew Dakers, Paul Fisher, Jon Hardy and Matt Harmer who collaborated closely with local traders to deliver car park for Brentford High Street are pleased that after three years of campaigning work has finally been completed on a new shoppers car park on Brentford High Street - free for the first hour (30p for 2hrs, 60p for 3hrs). The successful campaign for the car park led since 2006 by the chair of the Brentford High Street Steering Group, Cllr Dakers, secured cross-party support that enabled it to be opened on a temporary basis in 2007. Since then, the low-cost and well located car park has received much positive feedback from local businesses and local shoppers. The car park was first suggested in the early 1990s by the Brentford Regeneration Partnership but was never implemented. 2009-07-14T00:00+01:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000343/letter_cllr_dakers__boston_manor_house_restoration_should_involve_the_local_community.html Dear Editor, as local ward councillor I share Linda Massey's and the Friends of Boston Manor Park's concerns around the lack of community involvement in developing plans for restoring Boston Manor House. These proposals should not have come out in a report to the Council's Executive without a prior discussion around the ideas with local residents and the Friends of Boston Manor Park. 2009-02-23T00:00+00:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000339/lib_dems_welcome_support_for_locata_reform_proposals.html Lib Dem campaigners Cllr Andrew Dakers, Dinti Batstone and Mona Naqvi welcome support from Hounslow Council's Executive for proposals first advanced by the Liberal Democrats in 2007 for auto-bidding on the Locata housing allocation system. If a pilot for the system proposed by a cross-party Scrutiny group is successful, as auto-bidding has been elsewhere, it will help vulnerable applicant groups such as the elderly, individuals with language difficulties, or those with limited internet access, ensure they do not miss out on housing bids on Locata. The Lib Dem campaigners are now calling on the Council to set a date for the pilot to go live to reduce further stress for applicants. 2009-02-22T00:00+00:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000338/lib_dems_demand_urgent_action_to_save_boston_manor_house.html Lib Dem campaigners Cllr Andrew Dakers, Dinti Batstone and Mona Naqvi today called for Hounslow Council to take urgent action to save Boston Manor House from continued decay. Boston Manor House is the Borough's only Grade I listed building on English Heritage's buildings at risk register. A study in early 2008 funded by GlaxoSmithKline highlighted the need for over £1m to be invested to restore the property. English Heritage good practice would also suggest a business plan for the property's future management should be put in place. Almost a year on from the report's publication and the local community is still waiting for action. 2009-02-08T00:00+00:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000341/welcome_for_small_businesses_action_plan__hounslow_liberal_democrats.html Liberal Democrats in Hounslow have backed plans to help small businesses survive the looming recession. The plan by the party to boost businesses was launched by leader Nick Clegg and the party's Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable. The plan includes: a substantial cut in interest rates to lower the cost of loans and investment; immediately overhauling the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme to improve government support for business loans; banks which receive government financial assistance adopting a new code of conduct on rearranging business credit and overdrafts; and developing with energy companies an assistance package for small businesses struggling with high energy bills 2008-10-23T00:00+01:00 http://www.hounslowlibdems.org.uk/news/000330/brentford_regeneration_must_realise_community_vision__knight.html The Liberal Democrat London Assembly candidate for Hounslow, Cllr Stephen Knight, has lent his support to the community vision for the regeneration of Brentford. 2008-04-10T00:00+01:00