Phil Woolas MP, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister has thrown his weight behind Rochdale's Post Office rescue package. He advised Lib Dem councillors in his Oldham constituency to look at Rochdale's plan to pay the Government subsidy, a plan that has been welcomed by Postmasters of the post offices that have been earmarked for closure.
A very special event is planned for 21st September this year as a joint fundraiser for the Liberal Democrats South East Region European campaign and Lewes local party. Norman Baker MP will take to the mic alongside The Jazz Caverners for an afternoon of rock and roll classics in the atmospheric All Saints Centre, Lewes.
Liberal Democrats continue to campaign to save the Post Office card account, which was put out to tender by the Labour government last year. They feel that to award the contract to another provider would clearly make things worse for Post Office Ltd. Said Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate Stephen Robinson: "Post Offices form the heart of many of our communities, and need to be allowed to provide more services to make them sustainable. However, the Labour government seems prepared to sentence them to a slow death from neglect."
Planned works to improve footpaths near Cheriton Primary School in Church Road Cheriton have been welcomed by Cheriton Councillor Tim Prater.
The US senate has voted in favour of ending the effective ban on travel to the US for HIV-positive persons. This decision enables US authorities to lift the restrictions although it is clear whether action will be taken under the Bush or the next presidency. Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford has led a campaign to include the abolition of HIV/Aids discrimination as a principal goal in EU visa negotiations with the US. This culminated in EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot writing to US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff challenging the justification for the US policy.
With around 74,000 people eligible to take part in the consultation over the future of the Borough only 118 responses were received to this opportunity for local people to tell their Councillors and Council Officers what they think is important.