The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity.
As the Christmas festivities and holidays come to an end and people return to work and school, we all begin to plan for the year ahead. Unemployment, especially youth unemployment, is a cause for concern nationally, and it is also a worry locally. We are fortunate in Bishop's Stortford because we have the excellent organisation called "Kickstart" which helps the unemployed in their search for jobs. "Kickstart" is held in the Methodist Church Hall in South Street on a Thursday and Friday morning every week, and anyone can walk in without an appointment and ask for free help.
I was inter ested to read the article about Hockerill in last month's edition.
We are fortunate that so many of our lovely old buildings have survived, as, in many other towns, the historic buildings have been demolished to make way for the motor car. But, there are serious problems with the Hockerill crossroads. From the days when stage coaches travelled on their way to East Anglia, with a pub on each of the 4 corners, up to the present time, Hockerill crossroads has been a most important junction.
The Public Planning Appeal by the Secondary Schools against the District Council's decision to refuse the Schools' planning application has just finished.
The Herts and Essex High School and the Bishop's Stortford High School wanted to move to a huge green belt site to the south of the Town where they could both expand to 8 forms of entry. They wanted to sell off their existing sites for more housing. But East Herts Council refused them permission and the Schools then appealed. The Public Appeal hearing lasted for 4 weeks and every conceivable aspect of the application was carefully scrutinised.
By Mione Goldspink in Bishop's Stortford Flyer October 2011
Many people in the Town are really upset by the Planning Committee's decision on August 25th to grant permission for Hendersons to demolish the Council's old office block and build a mixture of shops and residential units on the site. This was reached by a vote of 6 to 5, with all the Bishop's Stortford members voting against the application. One very disturbing aspect of the meeting was the statement which was made by a Conservative Councillor who is a member of the Executive. It is reported that he implied that the Council had already voted in favour of a mixed-use development on this site, and so the councillors on the Development Control (Planning) Committee were duty bound to grant permission. This was simply outrageous, and contrary to all good planning practice. Councillors on planning committees must be free and unfettered and must make their decisions on planning grounds alone. The Civic Federation has reported the Executive Councillor to the Standards Committee.
The elections on May 5th were, to say the least, disappointing for the Lib Dems in Bishop's Stortford.
At District level, Bishop's Stortford has thirteen seats on the Council. The LibDems now have only one of those, held by Cllr Mike Wood who retained his seat in All Saints Ward. However, we sadly lost Mione Goldspink after 20 years representing the people of Stortford. Mione lost her seat in Central Ward as did Bob Taylor. In All Saints Ward we also lost the seat vacated by Andy Graham, who did not seek re-election after 16 years.
Re :-- Liberal Democrat influence over the NHS 'Reform' Bill,
As Liberal Democrats, we are delighted that the Government has agreed to make significant and major changes to the proposed NHS 'Reform' Bill. This is due in no small measure to pressure exerted by the Liberal Democrats which, in association with concerns expressed by the medical profession, caused the Government to pause and to consult.
The Bishop's Stortford High School and the Herts & Essex High School have appealed against the planning decisions by the East Herts Council. The Council refused the planning applications, which involved the moving of the two schools to green belt land at Whittington Way and building over 700 houses across the town on the vacated sites, on the Beldams Lane Playing Field and on land at Patmore Close.
The appeal will be heard at a Public Enquiry, which will begin on September 20th and run for about three weeks.
The Civic Federation, local Residents' Associations, Thorley Parish and other community groups in the town plan to contest the appeal, which is being funded by Hertfordshire County Council using tax-payers' money.
The local branch of the Liberal Democrats is also supporting The Bishop's Stortford Civic Federation's fight against the schools' move.
However, funds are needed to engage legal counsel to ensure that Bishop's Stortford Communities are professionally represented at the enquiry. Please help the Civic Federation to fight the 'Stop Schools' Move' appeal by donating online on the Civic Fedration's website at http:/www.stortfordcf.org.uk or by sending your contribution to:
'CAUSE' c/o 5 Maple Avenue, Bishop's Stortford, Herts. CM23 2RP
Your support would be appreciated and any donation gratefully received.
