East Sheen Liberal Democrats
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- May 2010 Election %s: C 55.4; LD 33.9; L 6.5; G 4.3; I 0. C hold.
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2010 news:
- MP CALLS for bus countdown timer at Hammersmith: Transport for London is still refusing to give passengers travelling by bus from Hammersmith a fair deal. Local MP Susan Kramer asked them to install a bus countdown timer in the corridor between the shopping centre and the outdoor bus shelter, so that passengers can wait in the warm for their bus. Transport for London says powering the timer could be a problem and that it won't pay for a new countdown timer there. Katie Gent said, "I fail to see how there could be a problem powering this sign, with shops and lights just a few metres away in the passageway." "This is such a simple way for TfL to make life easier for passengers using this outdoor bus station - I will continue to battle on this issue."
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- TfL REFUSE to take action on Shene School bus Susan Kramer MP is renewing her call for Transport for London to trial a plan to tackle overcrowding on buses at the end of the Shene school day. The MP suggested that at the end of the school day two 33 buses terminate at Waitrose, travel to Shene to collect school children and take them to Hammersmith. TfL last week wrote to Susan Kramer refusing to trial the idea. "TfL says that the plan won't work because it will result in passengers waiting for two minutes longer for a bus at the end of the school day," said Martin Pierce. Please complete and return the slip to let me know if you would be willing to wait an extra two minutes for a more comfortable journey. We will then keep up the pressure on TfL." said Martin.
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- SHENE Academy: The plan to open the Shene Academy is on track for this September, with major building to start in September 2011. The consultation has been completed and showed strong support for the academy. Susan Kramer MP wants to see parents really involved in the future of the school The timetable means that changes in governance will have to be addressed after the Government signs off the project, in order to safeguard the funding for improvements to the school. The sponsor and the council have shown interest in post-16 provision at Shene once the new academy has established its viability.
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- LOCAL people let down: Conservatives refuse to back bid to kill off parking charges in Richmond Park for good. Conservatives in the House of Lords refused to support a Lib Dem 'fatal motion' that was theonly way to stop the Government's legislation. Local MP Susan Kramer said, "It was great to see so many people come to Westminster to make their voices heard. "But I am saddened that the Conservatives refused to join us to stop these charges once and for all. "I want local people to know that I'll keep on fighting tooth and nail to stop these plans.
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- COMMUNITY toilet scheme: One of the popular initiatives started by the Liberal Democrats on Richmond Council has been the Community Toilet Scheme. 90 toilets in pubs, cafés, and offices around the borough are now open to the public. The Council pays the venue £600 a year to allow unrestricted access to the toilets. This is very much cheaper, and offers many more toilets, than the traditional public toilets, which are very expensive to maintain. Just look for the Community Toilet sign outside.
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- 16 places in EAST SHEEN, MORTLAKE and BARNES have joined the scheme: Barnes Sorting Office Centre, Bull's Head, Caffe' al Fresco, East Sheen Cemetery, Hare and Hounds, Jolly Gardeners, L'Amandine, Leonardo Caffe, Leonardo Wine Bar, Palewell Common and Fields, Rocks Lane Tennis Pavilion, Sheen Common Pavilion, Sheen Lane Centre, Victoria Sheen, Vine Road Recreation Ground, and Ye White Hart .
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2009 news:
- [From Comments Winter 2009-10]: Shene School Academy plans: LAST summer Shene School achieved its best ever GCSE results for many years. Plans for millions of pounds of investment in the new academy are progressing with the appointment of Academies Enterprise Trust as sponsor. The Trust has a strong record of transforming educational standards in schools. Cllr Anna Davies who is a governor at Shene said, "I am delighted that we have found such a high quality partner to sponsor the school." "We will also work with a local university and independent school to strengthen the team." The next step is for the council to approve the "Expression of Interest" document, which contains the vision for the new Academy; it is hoped that it would open in September 2010.
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- Shene School bus update: SUSAN Kramer renewed the call for a school bus for Shene School at a cross-party meeting with Transport for London. But the Mayor of London is still refusing to give Shene School a proper dedicated bus service. New option to solve problems at end of school day In the meantime, Susan Kramer has got TfL to agree to investigate a new option for transport from the school. TfL will look at terminating two 33 buses from the normal route at Waitrose at the end of the school day. The buses would then collect children from inside the school grounds at Shene and continue the route to Hammersmith. It is hoped that this will help alleviate some of the overcrowding at the end of the school day.
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- Hammersmith bus station: THANKS to action by Susan Kramer and protests by local residents, an improved handrail has been fitted at Hammersmith bus station. Many local residents have expressed concerns about the walkway from the shopping centre to the outside 'temporary' bus station, and some had slipped over. After the issues was raised with Transport for London and the company that owns the shopping centre, a new handrail has been fitted where the slope is at its worst, and the existing handrail has been extended. Susan Kramer MP is continuing to push TfL to provide protection from the elements and to group buses travelling over the bridge together.
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- 33 bus to go 24 hour? TRANSPORT for London is consulting on converting the 33 bus to a 24 hour service, running every half an hour through the night. The current N10 service would be withdrawn, with the 10 bus route converted to a 24 hour service from Kings Cross to Hammersmith. The 33 would run its usual daytime route from Hammersmith down Castelnau, via the Upper Richmond Road West to Richmond, then Fulwell. This would make it much easier for residents to get home late at night. Please do let the Lib Dem team know if you support these plans.
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- Lib Dem team call on Network Rail to replace railway side walls: RESIDENTS have told the Lib Dem team that the walls around the railway line between Sheen lane and White Hart Lane are starting to deteriorate. Vegetation is coming through in many places creating an eyesore. Susan Kramer MP is calling on Network Rail to replace the walls, preferably using soundproof material to reduce the noise experienced by local residents. Susan has written to Network Rail to raise the issue, and involved engineers from the Council. We will keep you posted on developments.
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- From COMMENTS July 2007: Lib Dems invest in local services : After one year the Liberal Democrats are investing millions of pounds in key services for local people. Money from Council Tax reserves is being invested in improving secondary schools, the environment and facilities for young people. Despite already being the lowest spending council in London, the Liberal Democrats have managed to make additional savings of over £4.5m to keep Council Tax down and pay for key service improvements. The increase in Council Tax was only 0.3% above inflation compared to the Tories who in 2003 increased total Council Tax by 15.6% (12.7% above inflation).
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Here are some of the things which are being invested in: The introduction of improved recycling services from November 2007 including doorstep cardboard and plastics collections (£750,000). Extra youth services. An extra £250,000 per year. A new sustainability team to reduce the Council's energy use (£100,000). £0.5m on youth club refurbishment. The Lib Dems have also found extra money to meet the growing need for care services for older people and those with learning difficulties (£900,000), the needs of children in care (£400,000) and with special educational needs (£300,000). |
The surplus reserves built up by the Conservatives will be invested over the next four years on: £20 million on our secondary school buildings, over and above the £24m already planned for Teddington School. £3.5m on setting up the new recycling service. A new £1 million fund to help tackle climate change A new £1 million fund for new youth facilities. A new £400,000 economic development fund to help local businesses and high streets. In the run up to the local elections last year, the Liberal Democrats promised to invest money in local services. The Liberal Democrats have kept their promises. |
- MP demands council tax fair deal: Ministers have sparked anger amongst local residents by cutting Richmond and Kingston's grant from central government, forcing up council tax and threatening local services. Richmond Park MP has hit back with a new campaign for a fair Council Tax deal for Richmond Park constituency, launching it with a debate in the House of Commons in February. Speaking in Parliament Square to a rally of local residents who travelled to Westminster to back the campaign, Susan Kramer said "Richmond is already the worst funded borough in London. This latest cut is an insult to tax payers. Richmond is one of the best value for money boroughs in the country but because of government cuts it has been forced to increase Council Tax." For 2007/2008 Richmond received £126.08 funding per head of the population compared to £499.75 for the average London borough. While Richmond received just £24 m neighbouring Hounslow and Fulham received £110.06 m and Wandsworth a staggering £136.9 m. Councillor Anna Davies said "Please sign our petition against this unfair tax at www.susankramer.org.uk". Council tax was introduced by the Conservatives and has been supported by Labour. The Lib Dems believe it is an unfair tax and should be scrapped.
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- TORIES slammed over night flight claims: The Conservatives have found themselves in hot water with anti- Heathrow campaigners after making false accusations against local MP Susan Kramer in their literature. They falsely claimed that Susan voted against lifting a night flight ban in the House of Commons. This was completely untrue. Chair of independent anti-aviation group HACAN, John Stewart, set the record straight in a letter to the local papers (See right). The consultation on Heathrow expansion has been delayed yet again until September. To receive updates and to say "No 2More planes" register at www.susankramer.org.uk
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'Both the Richmond MP Susan Kramer, and Vincent Cable, the Twickenham MP, have been accused of voting against a cap on night flights. Not only is this accusation false, but both MPs have been staunch and consistent campaigners against further expansion of Heathrow for many years. HACAN, a non-p arty political organisation, does not get involved in party politics, but is saddened that these accusations have been made. One of the features of the last few years has been the unity that has developed amongst all the political parties in West London, all supporting a ban on night flights, the retention of runway alternation and opposing proposals for a third runway. We need to retain that unity if we are to succeed. Accusations like these do nothing to help our cause. John Stewart Chair HACAN' |
- Richmond tops 'value for money' lists: Lib Dem Richmond Council is among the best in the country for providing value for money services for local residents says the latest Audit Commission Report. The January 2007 findings also state that overall satisfaction with the Council is improving under the Lib Dems.
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- Recycling improvements: Doorstep plastic bottle and cardboard recycling is being introduced in November. The Lib Dems are also currently trialing recycling for small businesses and shops. More than 100 businesses have already signed up to weekly collections of cardboard, paper and mixed glass. Approximately 12% of waste produced nationally comes from commerce compared to 9% for domestic households.
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Election 2010: Nicholas True C 3225 elected; Virginia Morris C 2974 elected; Nicola Urquhart C 2971 elected; Tom Eisner LD 2010; Katie Gent LD 1839; Martin Pierce LD 1758; Simon Hegarty G 713; William Genders L 414; Tina Layfield L 337 .
Election, May 2006: Electorate 6874 Seats 3 Ballot Papers 3612 % Poll 52.5; Nicholas True C 2181 Elected; Virginia Morris C 2126 Elected; Nicola Urquhart C 2096 Elected.; Jane Mather LD 994; Philip Morris LD 973; Jonathan Smalldon LD 938.; Sylvia Wills G 570; Anthony Channell L 212; Maureen Metzger L 193.
2002: Nicholas True C 1,697; Virginia Morris C 1,684; Nicola Urquhart C 1,651; Ida Hennessy LD 792; Philip Morris LD 768; Jennifer Smith LD 726; Sylvia Wills Grn 314; James Page Grn 295; Sylvia Levi Grn 284; Jane McVeigh Lab 245; Ragna Garlake Lab 207; Derek Somers Lab 198.
