http://www.saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from Peter Wilcock and Saffron Walden Liberal Democrats en-GB Peter Wilcock and Saffron Walden Liberal Democrats http://www.saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 Peter Wilcock and Saffron Walden Liberal Democrats 2010-03-11T14:16+00:00 United Kingdom http://www.saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk/news/000345/conservative_party_deputy_chairman_lord_ashcroft_estimated_to_have_saved_127million_in_tax_says_huhne.html Conservative Party deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft is estimated to have saved more than £127m in British tax since he became a member of the House of Lords, according to Liberal Democrat research. 2010-03-06T22:43+00:00 http://www.saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk/news/000344/conservatives_reject_12_council_tax_increase.html Uttlesford District Council's ruling Conservative councillors have rejected an amendment from the opposition Liberal Democrat group to reduce council spending and lower the council tax rise from 2.9% to 1.2%. 2010-02-27T19:47+00:00 http://www.saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk/news/000343/can_you_trust_the_conservatives_on_stansted_airport.html In a letter to the local newspapers Stansted Councillor Alan Dean draws attention to the Conservatives' sudden lack of enthusiasm for high speed rail links and questions whether their opposition to Stansted expansion is equally changeable. 2010-02-25T22:38+00:00 http://www.saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk/news/000342/liberal_democrats_launch_plans_to_revitalise_town_centres.html Liberal Democrats in Saffron Walden Constituency have set out plans to revitalise Britain's town centres, protect the future of the Post Office, and help small businesses thrive in a fairer marketplace. The plans include a change in planning law to curb the expansion of supermarkets. 2010-02-20T11:24+00:00 http://www.saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk/news/000341/lib_dems_plan_cash_boost_for_essex_schools.html The Liberal Democrats have announced a major funding commitment to boost education in this area. 2010-02-16T23:51+00:00 http://www.saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk/news/000340/liberal_democrats_launch_general_election_plans_for_policing.html Liberal Democrats in Saffron Walden constituency have set out their General Election plans to put more police on the beat. The extra officers for Saffron Walden, Dunmow and Stansted will be funded by the savings from scrapping ID cards, and are part of the Liberal Democrats' Safer Streets - More and Better Police manifesto commitment. The plan is for 65 more officers in Essex. 2010-02-13T19:02+00:00 http://www.saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk/news/000339/conservative_council_hoarding_your_taxes.html At a council meeting on Tuesday night, the Lib Dems proposed cutting the council tax increase so that the extra cash collected from April would be no more than the latest inflation rate above this year's tax level. Lib Dem councillor Alan Dean writes "The Tories voted that down; they want more money, confirming their policy of taking what they think they are entitled to rather than what they need." Read more at: http://alandean.mycouncillor.org.uk/ 2010-02-11T21:22+00:00 http://www.saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk/news/000338/county_council_should_concentrate_on_basic_services__not_spin.html Addressing the serious failings and shortcomings in basic services, such as safeguarding vulnerable children, must be the Council's top priority, and less money should be spent on promoting the Council's corporate image, and on publicity and spin. This was the message from the Liberal Democrat Group from the Budget Meeting of Essex County Council at County Hall, Chelmsford today [9 February]. 2010-02-09T22:57+00:00 http://www.saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk/news/000337/uttlesford_council_backs_away_from_inflationbusting_tax_increase.html Following pressure from the opposition Liberal Democrat group, Conservative-led Uttlesford District Council has backed away from its plan for an inflation-busting 4.4% council tax increase. A 4.4% increase would have been one of the highest in Essex and a stark contrast to the 0% council tax increase pledged by Conservative leader David Cameron. 2010-02-05T22:35+00:00 http://www.saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk/news/000336/liberal_democrats_launch_plan_to_bring_a_quarter_of_a_million_empty_homes_back_into_use.html Cllr Peter Wilcock, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Saffron Walden Constituency, has welcomed the Liberal Democrat plan to bring a quarter of a million empty homes back into use - making homes available for people who need them and creating 65,000 jobs. 2010-02-01T21:35+00:00 http://www.saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk/news/000335/over_100000_innocent_people_added_to_dna_database_since_european_court_ruling.html More than 100,000 innocent people have been added to the national DNA Database since the European Court of Human Rights ruled in December 2008 that the practice was illegal, research by the Liberal Democrats has revealed. 2010-01-28T22:30+00:00 http://www.saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk/news/000333/peter_wilcock_puts_fairness_at_the_heart_of_the_liberal_democrat_campaign.html The Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Saffron Walden, Peter Wilcock, has set out his campaign priorities for the General Election: fair taxes; a fair start for every child; fair, clean and local politics and a fair, green economy with jobs that last. Peter Wilcock said: "People have been let down by politicians and are rightly frustrated. I am going into the election with a manifesto that is short, direct and to the point. The Lib Dems want to give you the right to sack your MP if they are suspended for misconduct. The Liberal Democrats are the only party committed to real change of our political system - flushing out big money and corrupt donors, and reducing the number of MPs by 150". 2010-01-23T22:17+00:00 http://www.saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk/news/000332/lib_dems_back_street_light_campaigners.html Residents of Winstanley Road attended last week's meeting of Saffron Walden Town Council to present a petition against the continued policy, introduced by Conservative-controlled Essex County Council, of switching off the street lights in residential areas at night. They drew attention to an apparent increase in crime during the period of darkness. The Council agreed to consider the residents' concerns at a future meeting, since it could, in principle, pay out of its own funds to keep the lights on throughout the night. Cllr Richard Freeman, concerned that the Council had no budget for these matters, proposed that £5,000 be set aside to keep more of the Town's street lights on throughout the night. 2010-01-20T22:00+00:00 http://www.saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk/news/000331/lib_dem_councillors_oppose_huge_increase_in_council_tax.html Liberal Democrats on Saffron Walden Town Council voiced their concerns last night about the decision to increase the Council Tax by a whopping £80,000. Cllr Richard Freeman said 'We appreciate that the Council is in a difficult position, having been required by their colleagues on Uttlesford District Council to take on responsibility for the Town's open spaces including the Cemetery and Bridge End Gardens. The cost to the ratepayers of Saffron Walden can only increase in future years.' 2010-01-20T21:56+00:00 http://www.saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk/news/000330/uttlesford_conservatives_snub_environmental_campaign.html In a letter to the local press, Stansted Liberal Democrat councillor Alan Dean has condemned Conservative-led Uttlesford District Council's refusal to sign up to the 10:10 campaign, which aims to persuade individuals, businesses and organisations to reduce their CO2 emissions by 10% in 2010 (www.1010uk.org). The Conservatives who lead Essex County Council also voted down a Liberal Democrat proposal to join the 10:10 campaign. Many other Conservative-led councils are also in denial about climate change. 2010-01-17T21:56+00:00