The Hampton North Lib Dem team: Cllrs Ellen Day & Darren Thornton

May 2010 Election %s: C 43.6; LD 44.5; L 10.2; G 0; I 1.7. C1 LD 2.

• YOUR local Lib Dem team: ELLEN DAY [49 Bishop's Grove, Hampton, TW12 1AJ 07879 333 473 Cllr.eday@richmond.gov.uk] · · · • · · · • DARREN THORNTON [56 Fulmer Close, Hampton, TW12 3YL 07545 999 117 Cllr.dthornton@richmond.gov.uk]

2011 News

• PUTTING Pupils First: Improved Buildings for an improving school: Over the last few months there has been construction work at Hampton Academy. Your local Lib Dem Councillor Ellen Day spoke with some of the students to check that the building work was not distracting them from learning and the everyday school experience. She says, 'There was also a clear excitement to see the finished product not only from the students but also from parents. Congratulations are also due as the examination results this summer were the best that the school has ever achieved.'

• CLEAN up our river! Your local Lib Dem Councillors are working with the Royal Parks and local residents to get the Longford River up to a healthy standard. Local Lib Dem Councillors Ellen Day and Darren Thornton are working hard to clear the fly tipping on the bank and in the river, which will improve conditions for the wildlife. They are also working with the Royal Parks to re- enforce the banks of the river to stop the water seeping into neighbouring properties.

The local Lib Dems are also supportive of the idea to create a new space called Dean Road Orchard. In conjunction with Richmond Housing Partnership, the council will plant some fruit and nut trees and colourful bulbs at the rear of Dean Road. Also planned is some native hedge planting along the boundaries to camouflage the concrete walls at the rear of residents' houses, which will also improve security; the grass will be maintained to a park standard as opposed to the rough grass that is there now.

• TOP of the class: Our borough's primary schools have topped the national Key Stage 2 league tables for the tenth year running. Congratulations to all the pupils, teachers, parents and governors across the borough. What a fantastic achievement! In addition, Lib Dem Children & Families Minister Sarah Teather has ensured that our local schools are benefiting from £1,238,000 in Pupil Premium this year. Your Local Lib Dem Councillor, Darren Thornton, says, "This extra funding is helping to tackle inequality and enables schools to provide extra support for pupils to reach their full potential."

• CAMPAIGNING for 20 mph zones: The Government has just made it easier and cheaper for Councils to introduce 20 mph zones. This means that in residential areas, especially where road speeds are already below 24 mph because of traffic calming, narrow roads or heavy parking, roads can be designated 20 mph zones simply with signage at the beginning and end of the road and 20 mph roundels painted on the road surface.

The good news is that the current Conservative administration on Richmond Council supports the changes, but the bad news is that they will not even consider taking action unless more than 51% of the households in a road formally agree to a 20 mph limit. While consultation is vital, response rates from householders are notoriously low, so a threshold of 51% may never be achieved. So, if you want a 20 mph limit in your road, contact your local Lib Dem Councillors to start a petition. Remember, the chances of a pedestrian being killed in a vehicle collision are 90 % at 40 mph, 20 % at 30 mph, and only 3 % at 20 mph.

Reclaim residential areas for the residents and protect your children and the elderly!

• COMMUNITY Spirit: Your local Lib Dem Councillors Ellen Day and Darren Thornton attended the All in One Consultation session at Hampton Academy. Darren says: 'It was great to see many residents were happy with the area in which they live. We all look forward to seeing all aspects of the communities' views actively looked at by the Council.'

The Conservative-run Council closed down purpose built Tangley Hall day centre, to use it as the new Family centre due to open in January 2012. We wait in anticipation to see what will replace the once loved and very successful old White House building. After having the money withdrawn from turning the old White House building into the Hampton Family Centre, the present Conservative administration failed to give funding support to this much needed community facility. So we are left with a derelict building and no dementia facility. Hopefully after the forthcoming "Family and Community Open Day" we will all finally know if the Conservative administration is finally ready to actively put some commitment in our community and give Hampton North what it really needs.

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• [From Comments Spring 2011] TANGLEY Hall Outrage: Conservative Council Closes Tangley Day Centre: Local residents have been left reeling after the Conservative Council announced the closure of the specialist dementia care centre at Tangley Hall, Hampton. Tangley Hall, a day centre which specialises in respite care for sufferers of moderate to severe dementia, also offers very real support to their carers. It is purpose built, over subscribed and open 365 days a year.

Local residents' views ignored: Despite a 2,500 petition and recommendations by an independent task group, which outlined ways to save money and allow Tangley Hall to remain open, the decision to close has gone ahead. £400,000 spent on subsidised parking Cllr Darren Thornton, part of the Lib Dem "Save Tangley Hall" campaign team, said: "The Conservatives are prepared to subsidise parking charges for high CO2 emission vehicles to the tune of £410,000, but not prepared to spend £136,500 a year on an important frontline facility like Tangley Hall. It is nothing short of a disgrace."

Cllr Ellen Day added: "Elderly users will have to endure travel times of over an hour each way from Hampton to Ham. Local residents will be very disappointed to learn that the local Conservative Councillor turned down an invite to see the good work that went on at Tangley for himself and then voted in favour of closing it."

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• WORKING with our local community:

­ - We are also working closely with the local schools, especially Hampton Academy and attended their dance showcase.

­ - We are working in partnership with the Hampton Youth project and are supporting them in their expansion.

­ - We are working with the local police to make our ward a safer place to live. The police are now patrolling problem areas brought to their attention.

­ - We continue to work with local organisations and residents from across the area to hear your views about what we need in our community.

­ - We have formed the Hampton and Hampton North Working Together Group. The group will work together to support the community and its needs and make it an even better place to live. If you are interested in joining our group then please contact Darren.

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• News in Brief

­ - RHP Development: Your local Lib Dem team have paid a visit to the new RHP development at the corner of Rectory Grove. "We were pleased to see the solar panels and the roof garden, which will attract lovely wild insects," said Darren.

­ - THE R70: Action! Many of you have approached us about the poor running of the R70. We contacted Transport for London (TfL), before Christmas, and they have now introduced new buses on the route. TfL are also stationing an inspector in Hampton Hill High Street to monitor running times.

­ - Local Roads: We are currently supporting the residents of Wordsworth Road in their battle against the introduction of pavement parking. Your councillors have also had a meeting with Richmond Council's Highways Department about making improvements to Oak Avenue.

­ - Tangley Square: Conservative Spin? The Conservative Council is set to make improvements to Tangley Square. "We welcome this news, but there seems to be a coincidence in the timing of closing the much-needed Tangley dementia day centre and the announcement of improvements to Tangley Square. Please tell us your views," said Cllr Ellen Day

­ - Surgeries: We will be running drop in surgeries on the third Thursday of every month, so please come along and meet us, as well as letting us know of any issues you may need help with. The surgeries will be held at The White House Community Centre, 6 - 8pm. We are also happy to come out and visit you in your home or street if this is more convenient for you.

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• Page 2: Comments and news from 2010 - 2006

• Hampton COMMENTS

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Cllr Ellen Day 07879 333 473 ellenallenday@hotmail.com

Ellen Day has lived in Bishops Grove, Hampton, for ten years with her family. She has just graduated with a degree in politics. "Our area is the safest in London, and I want to work with the Hampton North Safer Neighbourhood team to make our area even safer by helping to set up more neighbourhood watch coordinators," she says "I am passionate about developing and maintaining the quality of the community in which I live, our community is your community - we feel the best people to represent an area are the people who actually live in the area - which we all do. We will represent everyone in the community as part of our role,".

Cllr Darren Thornton 07545 999 117 dthampton@hotmail.com

Darren Thornton has lived in Hampton all his life. For the last ten years he has lived in Fulmer Close with his wife and five children. In his full time job, in Community Development, he works with lots of issues around community cohesion and inclusion. His commitment to helping support the people of Hampton extends to his spare time. He is involved with several local bodies including, the Community Development group, the Racial Equality Partnership Board, the Domestic Abuse Forum, the Parenting Strategy group, the Community Police Partnership Board, the Integrated Youth Service group, the Hate Crime Harassment and Hostility Partnership and the Community Safety Partnership. "I feel my personal experience as well as my professional position could bring a lot to the Hampton North ward. I enjoy helping people and trying to sort out issues that arise," says Darren.

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Election 2010: Ellen Day LD 2113 elected; Geoffrey Samuel C 2016 elected; Darren Thornton LD 1980 elected; Roger Crouch LD 1973; Martin Seymour C 1973; Kate Howard C 1960; Jane Butters L 531; Pamela Lockley L 444; Brian Firth L 423 .; Edmund Gimzewski G 233.

Election 2006: Electorate 6506 Seats 3 Ballot Papers 3002 % Poll 46.14: Catherine Howard C 1574 Elected; Martin Seymour C 1556 Elected; Geoffrey Samuel C 1493 Elected; Paul Bensilum LD 1319; Matthew Wherry LD 1236; James Cox LD 1228.

Election 2002: Max Hoskinson C 1,498; Geoffrey Samuel C 1,485; Hilary Smith C 1,387; Raymond Ball LD 1,026; Jonathan Cardy LD 992; Elizabeth Doocey LD 977; Sean Beatty Lab 364; Louisa Spawls Lab 344; Idwal Morgan Lab 325

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• Page 2: Comments and news from 2008, 2007 & 200
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