Bristol City Council Elections – Ward Profile 2 – Bedminster

See the original story on the EP website

On May 5 voters will choose 24 councillors to represent them on Bristol City Council. Over the next month we will look at all of the wards that are being contested, and all the candidates that are chasing your votes. Today is Bedminster.

BEDMINSTER is one of two wards where the election could be dominated by the ongoing row about Bristol City Football Club‘s new stadium.

Although the existing Ashton Gate site does not fall within the ward – it’s in neighbouring Southville – the proposed site of the new £92-million stadium at Ashton Vale does.

The battle lines have clearly been drawn – there are those who want the Ashton Vale fields to be used for the stadium and there are those who want it protected from any kind of development.

If you were just to look at the numbers, it’s clear what most people want.

More than 30,000 have signed an online petition in favour of the stadium, compared to around 1,200 who want the ground registered as a town green.

What’s not so clear is how many of the signatures on both sides come from the ward that Ashton Vale is actually in.

A brief look at both petitions shows plenty of people who live nowhere near the site – including Clifton and South Gloucestershire.

Any frustration on this issue could potentially favour the Greens more than any other party, as they are the only group to openly support the town green application and they have one seat in Southville already.

The effect the new Sainsbury‘s supermarket approved for the club’s current site at Ashton Gate could have on local trade is another ongoing issue for Bedminster and neighbouring Southville.

Although East Street and the busiest part of North Street aren’t actually in the ward, many of the people who use those shops are.

There are still concerns from traders that the new supermarket will damage local business although the council and the store say they will make efforts to avoid this happening.

Labour has held the seat for more than 15 years, though in 2007 it looked like their grip was slipping.

The Conservatives closed the gap but still came in second place by several hundred votes.

The Green Party took third, pushing the Lib Dems into a distant fourth.

The ward is bordered by the lower end of North Street to the north, Ashton Vale and the fields next to it to the west, South Liberty Lane to the south and stops just short of the Malago Greenway in the east.

According to the statistics, residents are not particularly impressed with the quality of the green spaces in their area.

The council has promised to improve parks in the ward as part of the £87 million improvement plan, and unlike other parts of the city Bedminster has none that will be sold off.

Next: Bishopsworth

Candidates for Bedminster ward

Party: Labour

Name: Colin Smith

Age: 62

Lives: Whitchurch

Experience: Councillor for Whitchurch Park 2002-06 and for Bedminster since 2007

Occupation: Has taken a sabbatical for a year to be Lord Mayor.

What difference will you make: I want to make Bedminster a better place to live by improving the few green spaces we have and help the local economy grow to create jobs for local people.

Party: Conservative

Name: Doug Newton

Age: Not given

Lives: Bedminster

Experience: Third time standing

Occupation: Chartered engineer

What difference will you make: I stand to guarantee Bedminster has a voice in the council – where any member see it as a place to drop unpopular building development and the planning department does not properly scrutinise developers.

Party: Liberal Democrat 

Name: Ian Cooper

Age: 45

Lives: Not given

Experience: Not given

Occupation: Bus driver

What difference will you make: Bedminster needs a councillor who is visible in the community and will work hard to help heal the rifts over the stadium application.

Party: Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts

Name: Robin Clapp

Age: 55

Lives: Bedminster

Experience: Third time standing in the ward

Occupation: Journalist

What difference will you make: A socialist and committed community activist, I will oppose all cuts to jobs and services as I did successfully in leading the 2008 campaign  to keep Marksbury Road library open.

Other candidates – no details provided

GreenParty – Cath Slade

English Democrats – Jon Baker

Previous Results – 2007

Colin Smith – Labour – 1,299 (38.5%)

Doug Newton – Conservative – 1,037 (30.7%)

Cath Slade – Green Party – 685 (20.3%)

Matthew Greenwood – Liberal Democrat – 353 (10.4%)

Polling Stations

Ashton Vale Community Centre, Risdale Road

Luckwell Primary School, Luckwell Road

Compass Point South Street School

Marksbury Road Library

South Bristol Methodist Church Hall, British Road

For a detailed map, see http://www.bristol.gov.uk/WardFinder/pdfs/bedminstermap-high.pdf

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Bristol City Council Elections – Ward Profile 1 – Ashley

 

 

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/CULTURAL-QUARTER/article-3425807-detail/article.html

 

On May 5 voters will choose 24 councillors to represent them on Bristol City Council. Over the next month we will look at all of the wards that are being contested, and all the candidates that are chasing your votes. Today is Ashley.

UNTIL two months ago the fight for this seat would likely have been dominated by one word – coconut.

Rightly or wrongly the race row involving the Liberal Democrat councillor for Ashley Shirley Brown dominated much of the last two years of her political career.

But as the Evening Post revealed in February, Mrs Brown decided to stand down after eight years as ward member. That means there will be a fresh face representing residents on May 6.

When Mrs Brown – at the time Mrs Marshall – was first elected to the seat in 2003, the Lib Dems had a majority of 18 per cent ahead of Labour. This was drastically cut when the Lib Dems held the seat in 2007, as the Green Party came within 110 votes of taking it – around three per cent.

It would not take a large swing for them to win this time round, so this seat is one of the Greens’ best chances to gain a second seat.

Ashley is a diverse ward but the one thing you can almost guarantee is no one who lives there will say they live in “Ashley”. Instead they would talk about St Paul’s, St Andrew’s, Stokes Croft, Montpelier or St Werburgh’s.

The ward has one of the highest proportions of ethnic minorities in the city, with one in four people non-white.

St Paul’s and St Agnes are also within the ten per cent most deprived areas in England. Half of the people living in St Paul’s are “income deprived” and income deprivation after children is the worst in Bristol.

Crime is an ongoing concern for people in the ward and although rates have declined in the last ten years they are still above average for the city.

A series of high-profile violent incidents in the last year have kept St Paul’s in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

It is also home to many of Bristol’s more “bohemian” residents.

Residents living in and around Stokes Croft have branded the area “Bristol’s Cultural Quarter”. One of the most high profile issues here has been the battle against a Tesco in Cheltenham Road.

Thousands protested against the supermarket giant moving into the former Jesters comedy club but it is still due to open sometime this month and the frustration against the council could benefit the Greens.

Traffic is a problem too. Residents in the Hurlingham Road rat run have been fighting for a road closure for years, but people in neighbouring roads are opposing it as they fear they will simply inherit the problems.

One of the most obvious symbols of the run down nature of parts of the ward is Westmoreland House. It has stood derelict for decades despite repeated attempts to redevelop the site. The Lib Dem cabinet has given itself Compulsory Purchase Order powers to buy the site if progress with the owner cannot be made. Whether that’s too little, too late is up to the voters.

Tomorrow: Brislington East and West

 

Candidates for Ashley ward

Party: Liberal Democrat

Name: Waliur Rahman

Age: 26

Lives: Eastville

Experience: First time standing

Occupation: Development director for AISCO social enterprise

What difference will you make: I’m a really pro-active person and I would make things happen in Ashley. I want to listen to residents so issues are dealt with swiftly.

 

 

 

 

Party: Green

Name: Gus Hoyt

Age: 35

Lives: Montpelier

Experience: First time standing

Occupation: Part time builder

What difference will you make: I will combine my professional history with my academic knowledge to ask the questions concerning Bristol and sustainability that no-one else wants to ask.

 

 

 

Party: Labour

Name: Thangam Debbonaire

Age: 44

Lives: St Werburghs

Experience: First time standing

Occupation: Researcher, practitioner and trainer on domestic violence and gender equality

What difference will you make: I stand for justice and fairness for everyone in Ashley, quality education, protection for older people, good transport, Green Bristol, jobs and public services.

 

 

 

 

Party: Conservative

Name: Graham Godwin-Pearson

Age: 31

Lives: Westbury Park

Experience: Has stood previously

Occupation: Marketing consultant

What difference will you make: I’m campaigning for better access to education, public transport and to finally give Ashley a strong voice on the council.

 

 

Previous Results – 2007

Shirley Marshall (now Brown) – Liberal Democrat – 1,237 (37.3%)

Daniella Radice – Green – 1,127 (34%)

Ricky Nelson – Labour – 765 (23.1%)

Nyla Qureshi – Conservative – 182 (5.5%)

 

 

Council profile for Ashley ward

http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Council-Democracy/Statistics-Census-Information/ward-finder.en?XSL=warddetail&WardId=1

 

 

Polling Stations

St Bartholomew’s Church Lower Hall, Walsingham Road

St Barnabas Primary School, Albany Road

St Werburgh’s Community Centre, Horley Road

Malcolm X Centre, City Road

St Pauls Community Sports Academy, Newfoundland Road

Detailed map – http://www.bristol.gov.uk/WardFinder/pdfs/ashleymap-high.pdf

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Bristol City Council local election predictions

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-City-Council-election-predictions/article-3422597-detail/article.html

On May 5, voters across the Greater Bristol area will go to the polls to elect representatives who will be making tough decisions about which services to cut and which to preserve in the coming years. Local government reporter Sam Rkaina looks at what might happen in Bristol.

BRISTOLIANS could be forgiven for having election fatigue.

Like waiting for a bus – though perhaps not in this city – it seems that barely has one gone past that another comes along shortly after.

The system of electing Bristol City Council by thirds means there’s a local election every year for three years then a year off.

Throw in a General Election every five years or so and a referendum on the Alternative Vote and people may well be sick of putting Xs in boxes.

It doesn’t help that Bristol councillors do not have the best reputation in the world.

Residents who brave the lengthy full council meetings every month frequently walk away in despair and exasperation at what they’ve seen.

Debates frequently descend into the kind of tedious political point scoring that Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg promised to do away with.

Councillors on all sides doggedly stick to party lines on almost every topic and that’s when the insults start flying.

In the last two years alone, two councillors have faced suspension for making either alleged racist or homophobic comments.

The Tories have been accused of being Nazis, there have been three party walkouts in the last six months and they’ve all accused each other of being hypocrites over the green spaces sell-off plan.

The “coconut” comment that started it all

While there are many who won’t welcome a hung council, it’s likely that’s exactly where we’re headed on May 5.

There’s even the chance it might actually force them to work together better.

The current makeup of the council is 38 Liberal Democrats, 17 Labour, 14 Conservatives and one Green.

The Lib Dems only have to lose a few seats to drop below the 35 threshold that gives them an overall majority. Frankly, it’s not looking good.

On paper there are plenty of traditionally “safe” Lib Dem seats like Clifton, Cotham and Cabot.

For the first time though, they’re having to fight a war on two fronts. Labour and the Conservatives may be used to answering for their national party’s policies in government, but the Lib Dems aren’t.

These elections are the first since they did a “deal with the devil” and brought the Tories back into government after 13 years.

The amount of anger among Lib Dem’s more left wing supporters on this cannot be underestimated.

You only have to look at the absolute drubbing the party received at the Barnsley by election last month – the Lib Dems didn’t even get their deposit back.

Then there’s the row over tuition fees. Increasing the maximum universities can charge is exactly the kind of policy that appalls your average Lib Dem voter.

Bristol West MP Stephen Williams has already taken a huge amount of flak for his stance on this.

There’s every chance Lib Dem supporters either won’t turn out to support their party or they’ll vote for a minority party like the Greens in protest.

The Green Party have a real chance to make gains in May – don’t be surprised if they walk away with two more seats to add to the one they already have in Southville.

Locally the Lib Dems have enjoyed the benefits of a majority to push through their policies but that has come at a price.

There’s no better example than the ongoing controversy over the £87 million parks improvement plan.

The Lib Dems say selling parts of more than 40 open spaces  is the only way to raise enough money for upgrades to more than 150 others. Thousands of members of the public disagreed but feel their concerns are not being listened to.

By sticking with the land sales policy despite the public backlash, the Lib Dems have effectively given the opposition parties an open goal, electorally speaking.

But there have also been successes for the Lib Dems that will no doubt fill their campaign leaflets in the coming months.

Arguably the biggest ace the party has to play locally is that their handling of the budget.

There’s no doubt people will be affected by £28 million of cuts being made this year, it would be impossible for them not to be.

But unlike cities like Manchester or counties like Somerset, Bristol is not looking at thousands of job losses, or libraries closing.

Public anger at Bristol City Council cuts

The introduction of 20mph zones in east and south Bristol has proved popular, and Bristol has been named as one of the best placed cities in the country to recover from the economy. Recycling rates continue to among the best in the country and the council is promising landfill will be a thing of the past within three years.

But there can be little doubt the May elections are the biggest challenge the Bristol Lib Dems have faced since they came to power in 2009.

It’s not just the Lib Dems who will be tested though – the city council itself will also come under the microscope in May.

The handling of last year’s Bristol elections – both national and local – was widely perceived as a farce.

From votes being mixed up because the wards sounded similar to names out of a hat being used to choose the councillor for Avonmouth, there were a lot of red faces at Council House that night.

All eyes will be on the officers to see if this time round they actually can organise a certain kind of an event in a brewery.

BRISTOL PREDICTIONS

A hung council: 1/100

The Liberal Democrats increasing their majority: 500/1

The Green Party gaining at least one more seat: 5/4

Council leader Barbara Janke holding onto her Clifton seat: 1/1

All of the election counts running smoothly on the night: 1,000/1

The Tories and the Lib Dems forming their own Cameron and Clegg style local coalition: 5,000/1

For the full list of candidates go to:

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-City-Council-local-election-candidates-revealed/article-3418164-detail/article.html

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Full list of Bristol City Council election candidates

 

 

 

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-City-Council-local-election-candidates-revealed/article-3418164-detail/article.html

Below is the full list of candidates standing in the Bristol City Council local elections next month.

There are 24 of the 70 seats on the authority up for grabs on May 5.

In total there are 123 candidates for voters to choose from, representing eight different political groups.

The Liberal Democrats, Labour, the Conservatives and Green Party are each fielding a full complement of 24 candidates.

The Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts party have 16 candidates standing; the English Democrats – “Putting England First!” party have seven and the UK Independence Party (UKIP) have two.

There is also one Independent candidate. The far right British National Party is contesting one seat.

The candidates for each ward are listed below in alphabetical order.

For more go to the council website – http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/council-and-democracy/councillors–democracy-and-elections/

ASHLEY

Thangam Debbonaire – Labour

Graham Godwin-Pearson – Conservative

Gus Hoyt – Green

Waliur Rahman – Liberal Democrat

 

BEDMINSTER

Jon Baker – English Democrats

Robin Clapp – Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts

Ian Cooper – Liberal Democrat

Doug Newton – Conservative

Pip Sheard – Green

Colin Smith – Labour

 

BISHOPSWORTH

Ian Campion-Smith – Liberal Democrat

Richard Eddy – Conservative

Barrie Lewis – Green

Darren Lewis – Labour

 

BRISLINGTON EAST

Martyn Ahmet – Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts

Pauline Allen – Liberal Democrat

Lara Cozens – Conservative

Mike Langley – Labour

Mark Smith – UK Independence Party

Robin Whitlock – Green

 

BRISLINGTON WEST

Colin Bretherton – Conservative

Philip Collins – UK Independence Party

Liam McDonough – Labour

Lucy Mackilligin – Green

Jackie Norman – Liberal Democrat

John Yeandle – Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts

 

CABOT

Ben Appleby – Green

Iain Dennis – Conservative

Chris Farrell – Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts

Ben Mosley – Labour

Alex Woodman – Liberal Democrat

 

CLIFTON

Georgina Bavetta – Green

Rosemary Chamberlain – Labour

Barbara Janke – Liberal Democrat

Jack Jeffery – Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts

Charles Lucas – Conservative

 

CLIFTON EAST

Simon Bennett – Green

Marcus Bruton – Conservative

Patrick Burland – Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts

Charlotte Martin – Labour

Christian Martin – Liberal Democrat

 

COTHAM

Gareth Alan-Williams – Conservative

Neil Harrison – Liberal Democrat

Amy Hillgrove – Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts

Estella Tincknell – Labour

Graham Woodruff – Green

 

EASTON

Katie Buse – Green

Faruk Choudhury – Labour

David Lewis – Conservative

Zahir Malik – Liberal Democrat

 

EASTVILLE

Muriel Cole – Liberal Democrat

Mahmadur Khan – Labour

Josephine McLellan – Green

Nazir Muhammad – Conservative

Roger Thomas – Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts

 

FILWOOD

Wayne Coombes – Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts

Michael Hamblin – British National Party

Jeff Lovell – Labour

Roger Norman – Liberal Democrat

Stephen Petter – Green

Paul Smith – Conservative

Barbara Wright – English Democrats

 

FROME VALE

Lesley Alexander – Conservative

Mark Baker – Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts

Jason Budd – Liberal Democrat

Nick Foster – Green

Bill Payne – Labour

Greg Shaw – English Democrats

 

HARTCLIFFE

Mark Brain – Labour

Shirley Hodges – Conservative

Patrick Slade – Green

Anne White – Liberal Democrats

Stephen Wright – English Democrats

 

HENGROVE

Mike Blundell – English Democrats

Barry Clark – Labour

Jos Clark – Liberal Democrats

Graham Davey – Green

George Maggs – Conservative

 

HILLFIELDS

Helene Gibson – Liberal Democrats

Matt Gordon – Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts

Phil Hanby – Labour

Barbara Lewis – Conservative

Rob Telford – Green

 

KNOWLE

Gwyneth Brain – Labour

Christopher Davies – Liberal Democrat

Domenico Hill – Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts

Graham Morris – Conservative

Glenn Vowles – Green

 

LAWRENCE HILL

Liiban Abdi – Independent

Charles Alexander – Conservative

Matthew Carey – Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts

Margaret Hickman – Labour

Abdul Malik – Liberal Democrat

Christine Prior – Green

 

SOUTHVILLE

Sean Beynon – Labour

Charles Bolton – Green

Adam Tayler – Conservative

Lena Wright – Liberal Democrat

 

ST GEORGE EAST

Fabian Breckels – Labour

Paul Elvin – Liberal Democrats

Philip Hutton – Conservative

Mike Luff – Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts

Chloe Somers – Green

 

ST GEORGE WEST

Peter Hammond – Labour

Genevieve Lively – Green

Bernie Lyons – Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts

Tony Potter – Liberal Democrats

Eddie Tranter – English Democrats

Sylvia Windows – Conservative

 

STOCKWOOD

Yvonne Clapp – Labour

Peter Goodwin – Green

Michael Goulden – Liberal Democrat

Jay Jethwa – Conservative

 

WHITCHURCH PARK

Ray Carr – English Democrats

Helen Holland – Labour

Lorraine Horgan – Liberal Democrats

Jenny Rogers – Conservative

Barney Smith – Green

 

WINDMILL HILL

Mark Bailey – Liberal Democrat

Tom Baldwin – Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts

Lex Cumber – Green

Narraser Gordon – Labour

Tony Lee – Conservative

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Green Party launch local elections campaign

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Green-Party-launch-Bristol-City-Council-election-campaign/article-3415796-detail/article.html

Green Party launch Bristol City Council election campaign

BRISTOL’S Green Party has launched its campaign for the May 5 city council elections.

Currently the Greens only have one out of 70 councillors on the authority but they are hopeful of gaining more after coming second in three 2007 fights.

Party candidates were runners up in Cotham, Ashley and Cabot the last time the seats were contested.

Councillor Tess Green took one of the two seats in Southville for the Greens last year.

This time round they’re after the other one with the return of their previous councillor Charlie Bolton.

There are 24 of 70 seats up for grabs at the council, which elects a third of councillors every year with a fourth “fallow year”.

Currently Labour holds nine of the 24, the Conservatives have three and the Lib Dems the remaining 12.

The Greens are fielding a full compliment of 24 candidates, and the representatives for Bristol West gathered for their launch outside the Council House, on College Green.

Green Party candidates for Bristol

The party has produced a 10 point plan for their candidates to campaign on.Among their ideas are providing a transport authority for Bristol, scrapping land sales in the council’s £87 million sell-off plan and 20mph zones for the most dangerous roads in the city.

Easton Green Party candidate Katie Buse said: “At least the other parties on Bristol City Council seem finally to have taken up the Green Party’s idea of creating an integrated transport hub at Plot 6 next to Temple Meads station, even though they are trying to claim credit for this, but they are still not investing in creating a local rail and tram network and proper safe cycle paths for central and suburban Bristol, which is what the Green Party wants.”

The Greens would set up special committees to help preserve local schools and support local food supplies.

Ashley candidate Gus Hoyt said: “It is totally wrong for the council to put good independent local shops and traders out of business by continually giving planning permission to ever more supermarkets, such as a Tesco on Stokes Croft, or a Sainsbury‘s at Ashton Gate.”

The pledges also include a number of national party policies, including opposition to private schools and the increase in university tuition fees.

Bristol University student and Green Party candidate for Clifton, Georgina Bavetta said: “It’s simply not acceptable for the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives to betray our children and young people by increasing university tuition fees to £9000, and thereby saddling students with large debts before they’ve even started working.”

For more on the Green Party go to http://www.bristolgreenparty.org.uk/

The Green Party’s 10 Point Plan for Bristol
1.Create a transport authority for Bristol and revoke councillor parking privileges.
2.Set up a select committee on improving local high streets in a recession and another to promote local food.
3.Invest more in green energy schemes.
4.20mph zones across all of the most dangerous roads in the city.
5.Stick with the green spaces strategy but stop selling off land.
6.Improve street cleaning, recycling collections and increase the number of street trees.
7.Stop social services going into the private sector.
8.End inequalities in education by assimilating private schools into the state sector and opposing academy status for state schools.
9.Adopt a target of cutting Bristol’s carbon emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020.
10.More Green votes would provide an alternative voice to the political mainstream.

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Conservatives launch local elections campaign

 

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Tories-launch-bullish-manifesto-election/article-3407082-detail/article.html

 

BRISTOL‘S Conservatives have launched their local election campaign with a 10-point plan to make the city a better place.

Scrapping the green spaces sell-off, new traveller sites and investment in cycling schemes are among the party’s main pledges.

The Tories held their official launch on College Green, ahead of the elections on May 5.

Group leader Geoff Gollop claimed that “Lib Dem rule in Bristol has generally been riddled with controversy, division and indecision”.

He said: “We are bullish over our election prospects this year.

“We have consistently won the political arguments on the big issues – like the need to put a stop to the forced sale of the city’s green spaces – and are confident of winning back wards.

“It is only because of the actions of the Conservative-led government that Bristol households now have the benefit of a council tax freeze this year.

“The May elections are important because they will shape decision-making in the city for the next two years.

“This really is Bristolians’ last chance to change direction, reject the failed politics of the past and use their vote to make a difference.”

There are 24 of 70 seats up for grabs at Bristol City Council, which elects a third of councillors every year with a fourth “fallow year”.

Conservative leader Geoff Gollop

Currently the party holds nine of the 24 seats, the Conservatives have three and the Lib Dems the remaining 12.

Deputy group leader Peter Abraham described their “blueprint” for the city was based on listening to what people want and “common sense”.

He said: “We would scrap all new travellers camps planned for the city.

“We don’t believe the urban setting is appropriate for that.

“We embrace the free schools policy, and St Ursula’s is the first one to come around.

“This weekend we have been bombarded with parents who are concerned about their children’s education.

“Bristol’s education has been at the bottom of the pile for so long, we need to do something different.”

The party claims the Lib Dems have not been listening to the public since they came to power two years ago.

One of their policy ideas is to set up a group that would include three councillors and three members of the public, who would review all strategic decisions made by the council.

Although the group would have no decision making powers themselves, Mr Abraham said he wanted at least one of them to be under 18, so that the council can hear what young people want.

He said: “The Lib Dems have really failed.

“There has been controversy, division in their ranks and indecision.

“It’s no good Labour popping up now – they’re not the solution.

“The truth is we can’t stick with the Lib Dems and we can’t go back to Labour. With more Conservative councillors, we could do a better job.”

For more on Bristol Conservatives, go to www.bsgconservatives.com.
Conservative manifesto for Bristol

1.Scrap the sell off of green spaces and give final decisions to Neighbourhood Partnerships.

2.Scrap all new traveller camps planned for the city.

3.A review of all council jobs with a salary of £70,000-a-year or more.

4.An all through free school on the former St Ursula’s site.

5.A “value for money” test on all big council decisions, which would be reviewed by a cross party panel of councillors and residents.

6.Genuine consultations to make sure the public are listened to.

7.Support for the new Enterprise Zone proposed for the city.

8.Support the government’s New Homes Bonus scheme, giving money to councils for all new housing developments approved.

9.Scrap Cycling City and cut back on expensive traffic management schemes, with the money put back into public transport.

10.Tackle the city council’s debt problem, estimated to rise to £537 million this year.

 

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Liberal Democrats launch local elections campaign

 

 

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-Liberal-Democrats-launch-local-election-campaign/article-3405867-detail/article.html

 

“A RECORD of action, a promise of more” – that’s the Liberal Democrats message ahead of the local elections next month.

The ruling party on Bristol City Council officially launched its campaign, ahead of the local elections on May 5.

The Lib Dems will be promoting their record of achievements since gaining control of the authority two years ago when they hit the campaign trail this month.

The party says a vote for them is a “surefire way of backing Bristol’s continuing prosperity”.

Among the achievements they list are freezing council tax for the next 12 months, improving exam results and giving more power to residents through Neighbourhood Partnerships.

They also cite the addition of free WiFi internet spots across the city, the introduction of 20mph zones in the south and the east and high recycling rates as other reasons to keep the status quo.

Lib Dem leader Barbara Janke

Council leader Barbara Janke denied allegations from opposition parties that they have “not listened” to the public, particularly in the row over the potential sale of more than 40 green spaces to fund other parks improvements.She particularly targeted their Labour rivals, arguing they have “nothing to say” and an “abysmal record” while in power.

The manifesto launch was held at Netham Park Pavilion in Avonvale Road.

Mrs Janke said: “Voters get a chance on May 5 to back the Lib Dems’ powerful record of competence and achievement – and reject Labour’s empty promises.”

There are 24 of 70 seats up for grabs at Bristol City Council, which elects a third of councillors every year with a fourth “fallow year”.

Currently the party holds half of the 24 seats, Labour have nine and the Conservatives have three.

Overall the Lib Dems have a majority but they would only have to lose four seats for there to be a hung council.

Although they would still have the largest number of seats they would not have overall control, and could lose in voting matters if the opposition parties teamed up against them.

Council leader Barbara Janke – whose own Clifton seat is up for grabs – also criticised Labour’s manifesto, launched last week.

She said: “We aim to maintain our majority on Bristol City Council and give this city – its businesses and its people – the stability and the confidence to plan for a prosperous future.

“Where are Labour’s big ideas? Their latest manifesto for Bristol shows the cupboard is bare.

“They want to put commuter bus fares up – damaging the city’s economy.

“Labour wants free swimming brought back for pensioners but doesn’t explain how this would be paid for long term.

“It’s just another gimmick from a party that has nothing practical to say about the cuts of Bristol’s future.”

Mrs Janke also warned about the possibility of a hung council, a position that has dogged the authority in the past.

She said: “There is little so important to the business community as stability.

“A hung council here – such as we used to have – would mean uncertainty just when business and the people of Bristol desperately need leadership.”

For more on the Lib Dems go to www.bristol-libdems.org.uk

Lib Dem Manifesto for Bristol

1.Freezing council tax and sorting out council finances

– £28 million worth of efficiency savings and frontline services protected

2.Better recycling and a greener Bristol for everyone

– Doorstep plastic collections and an end to use of landfill within three years

3.Tackling crime and building strong communities

– Effective partnership with the police and community to cut crime

4.Protecting our libraries, sport and culture

– New libraries, sports facilities, parkland and museums coming soon

5.Tackling Bristol’s transport woes

– Rail investment, smart cards and lower bus fares through competition

6.Improving Bristol’s schools

– Primary and secondary schools improving and new schools being built

7.Rebuilding Bristol’s economy

– Bringing in new investment to create quality manufacturing jobs

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Bristol Labour launch local election manifesto

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Labour-launch-attack-Lib-Dem-manifesto/article-3375585-detail/article.html

“WE’RE going to make them pay in May” – that’s Labour’s message for Bristol‘s Liberal Democrats ahead of the city council elections in May.

Labour officially launched its manifesto at St Paul’s Community Sports Academy in Newfoundland Road yesterday.

Labour say the Lib Dems are not listening to what the public wants, and they will be punished at the ballot box because of it.

The party has seven main pledges it will be hitting the campaign trail with in the run-up to the elections on May 5.

These include scrapping the sell-off of parks and green spaces, and reversing council cuts to the number of police community support officers.

They would bring back free swimming for the over 60s and scrap the 30 per cent increase in Meals on Wheels charges.

The party would set up a scholarship fund for bright but low income young people from Bristol who want to study at Bristol universities, and work on a new place allocation system for schoolchildren.

Recycling and waste collection would be “simplified” under a Labour administration and a new universal travel card introduced.

There are 24 of 70 seats up for grabs at Bristol City Council, which elects a third of councillors every year with a fourth “fallow year”.

The party stood down from power two years ago after a row over plans to build an incinerator.

But after a year of the coalition government and a number of controversial local Lib Dem policies, Labour has an opportunity to gain seats on the authority.

Currently the party holds nine of the 24 seats, the Conservatives have three and the Lib Dems the remaining 12.

Bristol Labour leader Helen Holland

Group leader Helen Holland – whose Whitchurch Park seat is up for grabs – introduced the manifesto at the launch event.

She said: “Every election is important but we feel this is a really important one.

“It’s the first widespread test of public opinion since the General Election.

“What we’re hearing from people who voted Lib Dem is ‘we didn’t vote for this’.

“If you want to see how much the Lib Dems aren’t listening, you have to look no further than the green spaces debate this week.

“People don’t want a letter, they want to know their green spaces are in the hands of local communities.

“We’re going to make them pay in May. Let’s go out and change the face of Bristol.”

The party has launched a new website to promote its campaign – www.labourbristol.org – featuring video footage of its candidates.

Deputy party leader Mark Bradshaw said: “The council should be the servant of the city, not the other way round.

“We’ve got a great field of candidates that are committed to working hard.”

Labour’s seven election pledges

1.Stop the sell off of Bristol’s parks

– Immediately halt the city council’s plans to sell more than 40 green spaces and allow residents to make final decisions.

2.Create fairer school places

– Replace the existing school place allocation system and develop a new one by working with parents, schools and residents.

3.Improve public transport

– Introduce a universal travel card and campaign for an Integrated Transport Authority.

4.Keep neighbourhoods safe

– Reverse council funding cut to Police Community Support Officers and reinstate ‘Bobby vans’.

5.Make Bristol greener

– Simplify rubbish and recycling collections schemes and phase out plastic bags with local traders.

6.Funding for higher education

– Provide scholarships to young people from modest backgrounds to attend local universities.

7.Support for pensioners

– Bring back free swimming for over 60s and reverse the 30 per cent increase in Meals on Wheels.

For the full manifesto, click here

http://www.labourbristol.org/Manifesto2011.pdf

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