Recent News From Alan Dean

Thu 25th Feb 2010:

Can you trust the Conservatives on Stansted Airport?

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.

Thu 11th Feb 2010:

Conservative Council Hoarding Your Taxes

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/

Sun 17th Jan 2010:

Uttlesford Conservatives Snub Environmental Campaign

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.

Mon 7th Sep 2009:

Uttlesford Lib Dems Say Come Clean on Planning Delay

Uttlesford council's Conservative leader, Cllr Jim Ketteridge, has again been urged to come clean over slow progress with the district's Local Development Framework (LDF) after Lib Dems discovered a letter from Westminster encouraging Tory councils to adopt a 'go slow' on housing plans.

Mon 8th Jun 2009:

Labour is finished in Essex - Lib Dems are now the official opposition

The Liberal Democrats are celebrating a significant increase in councillors at County Hall and the re-election of this area's Lib Dem MEP Andrew Duff.

Thu 7th May 2009:

GROVE HILL RESIDENTS WANT ACTION TO STOP TRAFFIC CHAOS AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS

Residents of Grove Hill in Stansted are calling for urgent action to stop chaotic traffic jams at the traffic lights in Grove Hill, Stansted. Queues of up to half a mile have built up in recent weeks. It took district councillor Alan Dean 17 minutes to travel through the lights last Wednesday evening (April 29th) on his way home from Elsenham.

Fri 17th Apr 2009:

Sale Of Wicken House Is A Bad Deal For Everyone

Stansted County Councillor Ray Gooding claims that the sale of Wicken House was a good deal for the taxpayer, but I fear the facts will tell a different story. From 2007 - at the very start of its plan to close this most popular and successful young people's activity centre at Wicken Bonhunt - Essex County Council deceived the public, local schools and the centre's users over its intentions. It carried out a so-called consultation about how much people used and liked the facilities. It said nothing about possible closure and sale. It said it would replicate the facilities and educational activities at other centres in Essex. It has failed to honour that promise.

Wed 18th Mar 2009:

Robust Rebuttal of Elsenham Eco-town to be Made

Uttlesford's environment committee last night (Tuesday 17 March) started to live up to the council's public commitment made in April last year to oppose totally and to campaign against an eco-town between Elsenham and Henham. This turn of events was the result of a proposal from Liberal Democrat councillors Catherine and Alan Dean. Until two weeks ago, and before the Liberal Democrats and the Save our Village campaigners started to put on pressure, the council's only response to the latest consultation on Eco towns was to be a short two paragraphs saying virtually nothing about why North East Elsenham was the wrong location for a large, new settlement.

Sat 14th Mar 2009:

Uttlesford District Council To Discuss Eco-Town On 17 March

Uttlesford District Council's environment committee is to address the government's present consultation on eco-towns at its meeting at 7.30 p.m. next Tuesday, March 17th. You can find the agenda and paper for item 7 at:

Sat 7th Mar 2009:

LIBRARIES COME OUT TOP, SAY LOCAL RESIDENTS

Libraries in west Uttlesford came 'top of the pops' in a recent survey of public services. Ninety-six percent of people who use local libraries said the service was adequate or better, with 87% judging the service good or very good.

Sat 28th Feb 2009:

'Please Grit Our Pavements', Say Angry Residents

Exactly 100 frustrated residents of Stansted signed a petition last Saturday morning calling for village centre pavements to be gritted to make them safe when it snows.

Fri 20th Feb 2009:

Uttlesford Roads in 'Third World Condition'

Residents in Uttlesford have given a thumbs-down to Essex County Council on the state of local roads. One resident of Clavering described some rural roads as no better than in the Third World.

Fri 6th Feb 2009:

Are The Conservatives Really Opposed To Stansted Expansion?

In a January House of Commons debate on a third runway at Heathrow Airport, Tory Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers MP said that the Conservative Party is not necessarily against airport expansion in the south-east. In a letter to local newspapers, Stansted South Lib Dem District Councillor Alan Dean asked "Does the Conservative Party hold to any firm principles over aviation emission and climate change? If it is mindful to consider airport expansion that is not at Heathrow, where will it be? "

Fri 30th Jan 2009:

'Save us from new towns!', say local residents

In a recent residents' survey people in Uttlesford have given another 'thumbs down' to plans for new towns in the district.

Wed 28th Jan 2009:

Bishop's Stortford Citizens' Advice Bureau

Liberal Democrat councillors concerns about the effect of cutbacks in funding by East Herts District Council for the work of Bishop's Stortford Citizens' Advice Bureau were endorsed at last week's meeting of Uttlesford Council's Community & Housing Committee. The Committee resolved unanimously to write to East Herts Council to make representations about the effect on residents living in the south of Uttlesford. Stansted Liberal Democrat councillors Alan Dean and Geoffrey Sell had brought this issue to the attention of the council at a recent meeting of the south area forum at Mountfitchet Mathematics & Computing College.

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