St Albans Liberal Democrats

Conservative-run St Albans District Council has again been criticised for its lack of concern about cleaning up Verulamium Lake and protecting St Albans residents. The Conservatives have failed to comment or act on their own report into the Lake, commissioned at taxpayers' expense, which raises several concerns about the condition of Lake and, by it own admission, is incomplete. In response to the continuing lack of action from the Conservatives, St Albans Liberal Democrats have launched a petition to show public support for a cleaner Lake together with local campaigner Jon Humphrey.

2012 District Council Elections - Thursday 3rd May

The Liberal Democrats are contesting the following elections for St Albans City & District Council in 2012:

Local Lib Dem achievements - with plans for more

St Albans Lib Dems ran the District Council for a number of years until 2011. While in office, we:

• Protected the Green Belt, opposing plans for a freight terminal and an incinerator in Park Street
• Started work on the new Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre
• Initiated the largest improvement programme for over 30 years to provide accommodation and care facilities for the elderly fit for the 21st century
• Delivered a highly popular splash park for children and the Adizone outdoor gym for young people in Verulamium Park
• Re-developed the old Town Hall to provide a fit-for-purpose community & heritage arts venue for visitors and residents in our city
• Kept Council tax increases at 0% for 3 years while making the required savings in Council costs.
• Increased the household recycling rate to 53% in 5 years, introducing twin-bin kerbside collection.

Conservative-controlled Herts Highways, responsible for managing and maintaining Hertfordshire's road network, has today been forced to admit to a major blunder that is likely to cost the county council about £1.26 million.

The ill-starred bus lane in Moor End Road, Hemel Hempstead, is a key element in the town's traffic management intended to reduce congestion and keep buses running on time to destinations such as Chesham, Berkhamsted and Tring. After a false start with rising bollards that had to be removed, the council settled on a more conventional bus lane which went live on 25th July 2011. It was enforced with an automatic camera. Penalties were issued from the 8th August 2011 onwards.

It was immediately clear there was a problem with the clarity and visibility of the signage and an exceptionally high number of penalties were being generated. Between 19th and 23rd August 2011 local Liberal Democrat county councillor, Nick Hollinghurst, alerted fellow councillors, council officers and the Conservative Executive Member for the Highways and Transport, Cllr Stuart Pile, to the growing problem.

No action to correct these problems was ever taken and the county council decided early on to reject all criticism of the technical shortcomings of the scheme. Nevertheless today's Herts County Council Cabinet meeting sounded the retreat and agreed to repay the wrongly collected fines.

Nick Hollinghurst, who has been campaigning on the issue since the middle of last year, said today: 'As ever, the Tories at Herts County Council fail to listen when they don't like the message.

'They were clearly wrong on the issue, remained wrong, denied they were wrong and even said they were surprised people were saying they were wrong at the point when they finally got into serious trouble with a legal tribunal.

'Money does not grow on trees. Had they listened to me and the countless members of the public who protested, they could have saved their reputation - and more importantly over a million pounds of precious public money.

'There must be some political responsibility here. This lies with Cllr Stuart Pile who must consider his position: he has let down Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire and Hertfordshire's taxpayers and should now resign.'

To those who came to the one in January - here's the next in the 2012 series! - to first-timers now is your chance to catch up with the trailblazers!

A delicious curry supper was served last time and went down a treat - the karaoke man Steve (an erstwhile Elvis Impersonator!) - spun all the latest tunes to get our audience in the mood - and to be frank he was turning people away right at the end, the desire to perform having been so great among our January attendees.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Geoff Churchard has slammed local Conservatives for their continuing refusal to face up to the environmental health risks posed by the poor state of Verulamium Lake in St Albans.

Cllr Churchard, the Lib Dem District Council Group's Environment spokesperson, said:

"Verulamium Park is a vital recreational resource for St Albans families and is an important tourist attraction in its own right. The Conservative administration has had three opportunities to respond to this issue. They have let down St Albans residents on each occasion.

Over 20 million working people will be better off next year after Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government delivered the biggest ever increase in the income tax personal allowance in the Budget.

The massive £3.5bn tax cut for working people delivers:

• The biggest ever single uplift in the tax threshold
• A personal allowance of £9,205 in April 2013
• 21 million working people getting an extra £220 tax cut
• Brings the total tax cut for basic rate tax payers to £550
• Brings the total number of people lifted out of tax to 2 million.

The Conservative Cabinet of Herts County Council will be meeting on Monday, March 19th, to decide whether to sell off yet another care home. In a close echo of the sell-off of Jane Campbell House in St Albans, the Hyde Valley Residential Care Home in Welwyn Garden City also has an occupation rate approaching 100%, and in addition the Council's own report clearly states that 'it is a very popular day service'.