The Liberal Democrats say that continued funding for initiatives that support local enterprise, employment and training programmes are at risk following the referendum decision. In response yesterday to a question from the Liberal Democrats, the Conservative leader of South Northamptonshire Council gave details of EU funding programmes that are benefiting the district.

Commenting after last night’s meeting of South Northamptonshire Council, Liberal Democrat Councillor Martin Johns said: “The prospect for continued funding for important economic and social projects in South Northants are now very uncertain. It may be of surprise to some residents but European Union funding has supported a range of local initiatives over many years. An even wider range of support has been provided across Northamptonshire and to our local university. Programmes supported by the EU have included business development, employment, training, and support for local agriculture. The EU for example, supported the introduction of Broadband across South Northants, helping connect rural businesses and homes.”

County Councillor Chris Lofts commented: “Its disappointing that the Conservative leadership at South Northants Council has so far failed to fully assess the potential impact of the loss of EU funding on local businesses and the voluntary sector. Another case perhaps of Conservatives without a plan? The Liberal Democrats are urging SNC to wake up to the negative impact of the potential loss of significant EU funding in the district. There is an urgent need to lobby government to explain how it intends to replace existing EU funding programmes after Brexit.”

Councillor Martin Johns added: “The council should indeed be lobbying central government and our local MP, now a cabinet member, who pushed so hard for the UK to leave the European Union.”

Leader of South Northamptonshire Council’s Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Martin Johns writes an open letter to people in our district.

The reality of what Brexit means is beginning to affect you and me, our families and all communities in South Northants, as it is elsewhere across the entire country. The Leave campaign that prominently included our own MP Andrea Leadsom, has proved to be just that, a campaign. There was no plan before June 23^rd other than to win, and there is no plan today. Within 24 hours all the key promises made to people, some emblazoned on their Leave battle bus, were shamefacedly taken back.

Following the result, Boris Johnson and Michael Gove looked shocked, bewildered and confused. Today Michael Gove has ruthlessly turned on his friend and called Boris untrustworthy and no leader. Andrea Leadsom’s response had been simply: ‘stay calm’, now she has said: ‘delighted to say I’m running for the leadership – let’s make the most of the Brexit opportunities’; a Freudian slip perhaps.

To appease their right-wing, and to fight off UKIP, the Conservatives gambled with our future peace and prosperity and lost. A generation of our young people, 75% of who voted to Remain in the EU will suffer most for this reckless act.

That’s not to dismiss the real concerns of many of you who voted for Brexit. It’s hardly surprising there’s antagonism towards the EU. For 40 years most of our national press have done nothing but print propaganda against Europe and the EU.

There are genuine concerns about migration that must be dealt with, but there’s also a housing crisis, low pay, zero hour contracts and a struggling, cash starved NHS. All these issues that urgently need attention are on the backburner, pushed aside while the Conservative leadership contest rages and before a plan is cobbled together for Brexit.

Brexit will mean a weakened economy resulting in higher inflation, food and other prices will rise, even lower interest rates will affect pensioners on fixed incomes. Uncertainty is already hitting the value of the pound, jobs, house building, and investment.

After all the pain of the recession, the Conservatives have put a bomb under our economy. Fuelled by Farage and his appalling UKIP campaign, we have seen racist incidents grow, fortunately not in our more tolerant district. But friends, family and neighbours have fallen out with each other over the referendum. Our nation is deeply divided by age, region and nation. Indeed, our United Kingdom is at grave risk of break-up.

With David Cameron to be replaced within two months by a new prime minister, and with no plan in prospect for negotiating our withdrawal from the EU, things could hardly be worse for our country. Like a Shakespearian drama the Conservatives are viciously attacking each other, putting themselves before country. Meanwhile at this time of deep national crisis, the Labour Party continues to tear itself apart, a hopeless case.

There’s a surge in support for the Liberal Democrats, from people who want to help ensure Britain remains a tolerant, liberal, outward looking and optimistic society. This is what millions of people voted for last week. If you share our vision come and join us.

To join or find out more go to:  http://www.libdems.org.uk

South Northamptonshire councillor, Martin Johns replies to our Member of Parliament Andrea Leadsom’s open letter to her constituents.

On Thursday we will have probably the most important vote we will ever cast at the ballot box. The outcome of the referendum will profoundly effect us, and our children and grandchildren for decades to come. The question comes down to whether we remain as a leader in Europe and the world, or leave the world’s biggest trading block and let others decide our future.

With their bizarre conspiracy theories, the Leave campaign shuns all the financial experts, indeed they denigrate experts of any sort. The Leave campaign portrays the overwhelming mass of economic evidence as simply lies. In the 40 years that I’ve been involved with politics I’ve never seen anything like the inflammatory propaganda run by Farage and others in the Leave campaign. Instead of the economic realities of life, Andrea asks us to simply put our trust in her, and Nigel Farage, Dennis Skinner, George Gallaway, and Boris. Trust us they say, take a punt with your job, your savings, your pension and with the public services you rely on. The risk of another recession is worth it Farage keeps telling us.

Andrea writes of “when the heat and noise of this referendum has passed” but be under no illusion, if Britain leaves the EU much more than heat and noise will adversely affect us, our families and neighbours for many years to come.

If you want to keep the United Kingdom united, a Europe that’s peaceful and prosperous, with a cleaner, greener environment, with workers and family rights secure, I urge you to vote on Thursday to Remain in the EU.

Customers of HSBC’s Towcester Branch have been shocked at news that the bank is to close in August 2015.

Liberal Democrat, Councillor Catharine Tarbun who represents Towcester Mill, which includes the town centre, said: “It was quite a shock to learn that HSBC is to close. This is another blow to Towcester’s town centre.”

Councillor Martin Johns adds: “This is very disappointing news for Towcester. HSBC is in a key location in the town, moving their customers to a branch in Northampton will be very inconvenient and will have a knock-on adverse effect on other businesses in the town. With the increasing trend towards online banking, high street banks are struggling. I think this closure says more about problems within HSBC than Towcester as a high street destination. However, the loss of yet another business to the town centre will have a negative effect on the town.”

Councillor Chris Lofts comments: “This closure again demonstrates that both the town and district councils need to be doing more to help sustain our town centre. The Liberal Democrats are already in discussion with SNC about helping support our town centre in a more robust way.”

Banking first started on this site as far back as 1781. This was the bank run by local wool merchant and banker John Jenkinson. What became the Midland Bank opened in 1921 until the bank was acquired by HSBC in 1992.

Liberal Democrat councillors have acted swiftly to block a housing developer from bringing construction vehicles through the hamlet of Wood Burcote. The proposal was connected to the development of over 200 new houses on land off Burcote Road in Towcester.

Commenting Councillor Chris Lofts said: “I was dismayed to notice that a developer was proposing to bring construction vehicles through Wood Burcote. It would have been crazy to take this route along what should be a quiet country lane serving Wood Burcote.”

Councillor Martin Johns adds: “Lib Dem councillors for Towcester Brook Ward immediately raised the issue with both SNC’s planning officer and the developer. We are pleased to say that Redrow Homes have dropped their proposal and the council will consult on an alternative route or routes.”

Councillor Lisa Samiotis comments: “Common sense has prevailed. We can only assume that the developer had failed to check out their proposed route before making a planning application. Residents have told us they are very pleased with the prompt action taken by the Liberal Democrats.”

The Liberal Democrat Focus Team thanks all those who supported them at the elections on Thursday. Four out of five councillors representing Towcester on the district council are now Liberal Democrats.

Commenting Martin Johns says: “Liberal Democrat councillors will continue to keep in touch, listen and work hard on behalf of everyone in Towcester, no matter who people voted for.”

Chris Lofts comments: “The local election resulted in a massive turnout in Towcester, 85% in Mill Ward and 79% in Brook Ward. The Liberal Democrats expect that South Northamptonshire Council responds by respecting the clear democratic will of Towcester people to have their opinions listened to.”

Those Liberal Democrats elected on Thursday were:

Lisa Samiotis

Catharine Tarbun

Chris Lofts

Martin Johns

Liberal Democrats have succeeded in having an application to fell trees on Towcester Water Meadows withdrawn. Tory controlled South Northamptonshire Council (SNC) had submitted plans to cut down trees on the water meadows, and reduce others by 40%. Trees on the water meadows are subject to preservation orders and are in a protected area. Although the trees are on land owned by SNC the application to fell them were made by a contractor and not the council. The application was however authorised by the council.

Commenting, Councillor Martin Johns says: “Liberal Democrats supported retaining all these trees, it would have been a another act of vandalism to cut them down. It’s a scandal that the Tories want to fell trees simply to get more light into their massive building that now dominates Moat Lane.”

Councillor Chris Lofts says: “At first I couldn’t believe that the Conservatives would have approved making this application. I should have known better of them and that these lovely trees would be next on their list for removal.”

Councillor Lisa Samiotis comments: “Not only is the council pretending it’s not responsible for making the application, it’s having to pay twice for advice from tree consultants. The council has to support its application with advice from consultants. As a planning authority it is then paying Aylesbury Vale Council to provide advice to SNC’s planners.”

If you wish to see the application do so by following this link:

http://snc.planning-register.co.uk/plandisp.aspx?recno=74837

Northamptonshire County Council is reviewing the Service 8 bus route between Northampton, Towcester, Brackley and Bicester.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Chris Lofts says: “These are key links between Towcester and both Northampton and Brackley. Many people without access to a car rely on this bus service. Liberal Democrats are keen to improve the service and welcome the county council’s announcement of a review.”

Councillor Davis Tarbun comments: “Towcester’s Liberal Democrat Focus Team will be pleased to hear the views of users of the Service 8 and in particular views of how it could be improved. We will forward to NCC any suggested revisions to the current timetable and comments on the operation of the current service.”

The current contract for the section of bus Service 8 between Silverstone and Bicester is due to end on Saturday 29^th August (the section between Silverstone and Northampton is operated by Stagecoach without subsidy). Northamptonshire County Council is now designing the bus timetable for the replacement contract, in conjunction with Oxfordshire County Council, who subsidise the section between the county boundary and Bicester.

Liberal Democrat Schools Minister David Laws MP has today announced that Sponne School will receive a share of a £370 million school buildings fund. Good school buildings are vital to making sure that more children and young people in Towcester receive a first class education. Sponne will receive money to refurbish sports facilities, and fund an electrical distribution and lighting upgrade.

The announcement follows representations made by Towcester’s Liberal Democrat Focus Team who has consistently fought for funding to improve schools in Towcester.

The Conservative Party’s plans would mean dramatic cuts to school maintenance and improvement in the future. The Conservatives have set out proposals to divert up to £5 billion from school capital budgets – cuts that would leave many more children in Towcester stuck in unsuitable school buildings.

Liberal Democrat Schools Minister David Laws MP said: “I am delighted to be announcing this funding for Sponne School in Towcester, fought for and delivered by Liberal Democrats in government. Your County Councillor Chris Lofts has been an outstanding campaigner for Sponne School making a very clear case as to why this project should be funded. Liberal Democrats want to carry on investing in our school buildings to give every child the best possible start in life.

Conservative plans would mean huge cuts for schools – ripping apart the coalition’s efforts to improve school buildings and condemning children in Towcester to crumbling classrooms and out dated facilities.”

Councillor Lisa Samiotis comments: “This money is absolutely fantastic news for children, parents and teachers in Towcester, and I am delighted that Liberal Democrat ministers have listened to our case. It is much harder for teachers to teach and for children to learn when they are stuck in school buildings that aren’t up to scratch.”

Councillor David Tarbun says: “Investing in Sponne will give more of our local young people the opportunity to get the first class education they deserve. I will fight very hard against unfair Tory plans to starve our local schools of investment in the future.”