Let local people decide on Rail Terminals

Chris Lofts campaigning in Blisworth

Chris Lofts, Liberal Democrat candidate for South Northamptonshire, has been out on the campaign trail again. Chris spent part of Friday morning with a visit to Silverstone University Technical College (UTC). Chris made his visit to get a greater understanding of the difficult financial issues facing the whole of education.

Later, Chris and his Lib Dem campaign team were battling with the rain in Roade and Blisworth, where there are plans for massive Rail Freight Terminals. Commenting Chris Lofts said:

“There are two separate proposals, each would in my opinion blight our countryside, as well as damage the quality of life in Roade, Blisworth and Milton Malsor. The traffic generated would badly affect surrounding areas too. There would be even more congestion and air pollution on the M1, and local trunk roads, including the A508, A45, A43 and the A5.”

The Conservative’s want these plans decided centrally, by a Government minister and bureaucrats in London, bypassing local communities and the usual planning process.

Chris Lofts added: “I recently attended a public meeting in Roade, where it was plain there is considerable local opposition to these plans. Our former MP was also there and added her concerns, but overall her views were the same as her Conservative Government; ‘let market forces decide’, and that means, not local people. We need a change of approach and a strong local voice.”

Chris Lofts concluded: “As your MP I would fight to stop Government ignoring local opinion. I’d fight to scrap policies that put developers’ profits before our environment and people’s lives.

As your MP, I wouldn’t be a poodle of Government.

With the Tory landslide, we need a strong opposition, and in South Northamptonshire, I would provide that strong local voice.”

https://m.facebook.com/snlibdems/

The air pollution report the Government doesn’t want you to see

Chris Lofts calls for action on air pollution

The Liberal Democrats have called on Andrea Leadsom to publish her highly embarrassing report on air pollution before the election. Chris Lofts, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for South Northants, has said the government is reportedly blocking release of its report into air pollution because it is worried the “shaming” findings would become a major election issue. Chris Lofts said: “This is a public health issue that directly affects Towcester and other parts of South Northamptonshire, it shouldn’t be a party political matter.”

Chris Lofts also commented:

“Air pollution is one of the biggest health challenges in Britain today. The Conservatives have hidden the truth about their toxic policies. Increasingly air pollution is linked to a rise in asthma, COPD, heart conditions, and even recently to dementia. A vote for the Tories is a vote for more air pollution.

It is a disgrace that the government wants to block a report which is expected to say that pollution is at dangerous levels in many of our cities and towns, including Towcester. Liberal Democrats have been campaigning hard for Towcester’s relief road. The Conservatives claim they support the Lib Dems on this but have failed to take action. All we get from the Tories is ‘hot air’.

As Environment Secretary, Andrea Leadsom should be hugely embarrassed because it is EU air quality standards the government is flouting. No wonder the Conservatives want a hard Brexit, so they can change the rules to leave polluters free to damage the nation’s health.

The government is refusing to spend the money on measures that would improve air quality, such as investment in public transport, but this is a false economy because it burdens the NHS and destroys lives.”

Lib Dems Call for Action on Air Quality

Towcester Liberal Democrats have called on the government to tackle poor air quality and ensure vital pollution limits are not watered down post-Brexit.

This month marks the 60th anniversary of the Clean Air Act, which was introduced in the 1950s to tackle deadly smog affecting UK cities.

In a letter to the new Secretary of State for the Environment Andrea Leadsom, the government is urged to ensure it follows through on EU agreements to tackle air pollution and enshrine essential limits into British law.

The letter emphasises that the government must not “betray the legacy of the Clean Air Act by allowing the UK to become the dirty man of Europe once again.”

Full text of the letter

The Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP

Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Dear Andrea

We write to you as both our local MP and in your new role as Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Earlier this month the Liberal Democrats wrote to your predecessor Liz Truss on the important issue of air quality. We are unashamedly using much of the text of that letter to highlight the issue again as it greatly affects Towcester, here in your own constituency.

This month marks the 60th anniversary since the Clean Air Act came into force, which did so much to reduce the deadly smog then afflicting cities across the UK. We are now faced with another crossroads in the fight for cleaner air, as the country prepares to leave the EU and potentially put vital pollution limits at risk.

As you know, Towcester suffers from air pollution caused by traffic, in particular HGVs, using the A5 through the centre of town. With a relief road still many years away, children, the elderly and people with respiratory and heart conditions are all particularly vulnerable to the serious health impacts of such poor air quality. Towcester has schools, nurseries and retirement homes all in very close proximity to the A5. Air quality has been monitored in Towcester for many years but no action has been taken directly to improve air quality.

It is now time for a new Clean Air Act to take this fight to the next level and enshrine vital EU legislation into law. We’ve come far in the fight against air pollution in recent decades, but there remains much to be done. Air pollution is still linked to an estimated 40,000 early deaths each year in the UK. Thousands of children still go to school in areas with dangerously high levels of pollution, damaging lung development and causing higher rates of asthma. The young, elderly and people with respiratory and heart conditions are all particularly vulnerable to the serious health impacts of poor air quality. Many parts of the UK such as Towcester are still failing to meet EU limits for safe and healthy air. Yet despite this, DEFRA has halved local authority funding for tackling air pollution.

European wide legislation is crucial to ensure action is taken by governments to improve air quality. Air pollution crosses borders, with around 40% of harmful pollutants in the UK coming from elsewhere in Europe and much of our own pollution ending up abroad. A new EU agreement has been reached to cut deadly emissions is set to halve the number of premature deaths from air pollution in the EU by 2030. Yet this strong international framework risks coming undone by the UK’s departure from the EU.

We would urge you to ensure that in coming Brexit negotiations, the UK government follows through on EU agreements to tackle air pollution and enshrines essential limits into British law. Leaving the EU must not be used as a way to dilute vital air quality legislation. Please do not betray the legacy of the Clean Air Act by allowing the UK to become the dirty man of Europe once again.

Whatever happens in the coming years, the UK government must commit to making Britain a greener and healthier place to live – investing in electric vehicles, promoting energy efficiency, and encouraging green innovation – and continue to play its part in delivering cleaner air for future generations.

Yours sincerely,

Councillor Martin Johns

Towcester Town Council /

South Northamptonshire Council

Towcester Brook Ward

Councillor Chris Lofts

Towcester Town Council /

South Northamptonshire Council

Towcester Mill Ward /

County Councillor for Towcester & Roade

Councillor Lisa Samiotis

Towcester Town Council /

South Northamptonshire Council

Towcester Brook Ward

Councillor Catharine Tarbun

South Northamptonshire Council

Towcester Mill Ward

Councillor David Tarbun

Towcester Town Council

Springfields Council Offices Demolition Underway

Recently the Liberal Democrats successfully called on South Northamptonshire Council (SNC) to withdraw their application to cut down trees on the water meadows. However, work is underway to fell trees on the former council offices site at Springfields. The offices with ample car parking were completed in 1983, with several additions built some years later. The site is being redeveloped for over 80 houses but only a few will be affordable homes. There will be no children’s play area or public open space.

Although several trees had preservation orders, all trees on the site except two are being cut down. Following requests from Liberal Democrat councillors, SNC agreed last year to move a commemorative oak tree to another location.

Commenting, Councillor Martin Johns says: “It’s well known that Liberal Democrats strongly supported keeping the award winning Springfields council offices. Our view was shared with the vast majority of Towcester residents. Unfortunately, Tory controlled SNC went ahead with the move anyway. Although many Conservative councillors openly expressed having doubts about the controversial decision. Towcester’s two Conservative councillors always supported knocking down the Springfields offices and moving to Moat Lane.”

Councillor Chris Lofts says: “People in Towcester regret the expensive office move to Moat Lane. The loss of the landscaped green entrance to this part of town, including the loss of the trees, now coming into blossom, is a great shame.”

Towcester gets voice on Planning

Towcester will soon have the Lib Dems represented on South Northants Council’s Development Committee. Following the election of Liberal Democrats last week the Conservatives lose one place on the council’s committee that deals with planning issues.

This is good news for Towcester. Despite our town having the prospect of major development taking place, Towcester has been unrepresented on planning matters for a significant period.

Committee seats are allocated in proportion to the number of seats held by each political group. Last Thursday’s landslide result for the Liberal Democrats means the Conservatives lose two committee places to the Lib Dems and the Independents lose one place. Whilst planning is not party political, it has to be good for our town to have someone representing them who has local knowledge and is in tune with local people.

Councillor Chris Lofts commented: “Given the resounding message from Towcester last week, the town awaits a response from the Conservatives on their highly unpopular plans for moving the council’s offices. Conservatives claimed the by-election would be in part a referendum on their plans for building new council offices. Towcester people couldn’t have made their view more clear. They don’t want to see council offices moved from Springfields into the town centre.”

Tories consider charging for your Green Bin

Liberal Democrat councillors have come out strongly in favour of keeping the council’s green wheelie bin service free of extra annual charges. South Northants Council’s Conservatives are considering charging an annual fee for using green wheelie bins.

SNC’s waste and recycling service is one of the few services that benefits everyone in Towcester. To charge householders an extra £30 to £60 a year or more for using their green wheelie bin would be wrong.

Focus Team member Lisa Samiotis says: “Charging up to £60 a year for having a green wheelie bin would reduce recycling, add to fly-tipping and car trips to the recycling centre”. Lisa Samiotis adds: “It would be a recipe for chaos”. Councillor Chris Lofts says: “SNC is reviewing its how it runs its waste services because they need to renew the vehicle fleet. This is sensible. Your Liberal Democrat councillors will however be looking for all party support to keep your green wheelie bin from having extra annual charges introduced.”

Cllr Martin Johns with resident discussing green wheelie bins charges

New Loos for Towcester?

Example of modern automated toilets

Councillor Chris Lofts and I have asked for the detailed costs for installing new public toilets in Towcester. Many people have expressed their concerns over the loss of public toilets in the town. Local businesses have also been angry that they have been expected to offer their facilities to no-paying customers.

The town council is to consider in September replacing the existing loos with new automated toilets, similar to those in Stony Stratford. These have proved popular with locals and have been free of vandalism and abuse. South Northamptonshire Council own the toilets in Towcester but like other services they have closed them and refused to pay for modernised facilities.

As with other services (school crossing patrols, street lighting, library services, youth services) our Tory run county and district councils are increasingly passing the buck onto the town council. Liberal Democrats believe that public toilets should be provided. Watch this space for Lib Dem action!