Abandoned Cars
Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats are continuing their fight to get abandoned cars off the borough's streets.
15 Feb 2001
News
Door to Door services under threat
Last night's executive Committee Meeting of Bedford Borough Council refused the Liberal Democrat Group's last ditch attempt to save the funding for the Door to Door service. "This is a hammer blow to the people who rely on Door to Door." Said Liberal Democrat Leader Michael Headley. "Last year alone Door to Door carried nearly 30,000 passengers. Without the borough grant the future of the service is in doubt. Door to Door will not be able to plan ahead because they can no longer rely on any funding from the borough council." The decision to force Door to Door to join the struggle to try to grab some of the, already oversubscribed, One -Off money was made despite the fact that last year the Borough guaranteed to give them a minimum grant of £27,000. "Passing the buck to the County council is little more than a smoke screen. I am shocked at the way the Labour group so carelessly threw away this valuable service." The Labour group tried to justify their decision to remove Door to Door's funding by saying that it
1 Feb 2001
Save Your Local Voice
New proposals are being put forward to have an American-style Mayor for Bedford. However, the Bedford Liberal Democrats Party believe there is a hidden danger. An American style mayor system of government would:
1 Feb 2001
Our Children lose out - Class Sizes highest since the 70's
Michael Headley has obtained previously unpublished government figures showing that the number of secondary school age pupils per teacher has increased since Labour came to power.
1 Feb 2001
Allowances too high
The Liberal Democrat Proposal to save over £80,000 of the Borough Council's allowance budget was lost on Wednesday. The rest of the Executive committee closed ranks behind the Labour Group proposal voting for the higher figures. Liberal Democrat Leader Michael Headley explained why his group was proposing a much lower settlement than everyone else. Cllr Headley said, "People become councillors because of the good they want to do for local people not because they are attracted by money. We can't have a system that encourages people to be in it for the money." With a total budget £80,040 below next years allocated budget, the Liberal Democrat proposal was designed to return this £80,000 back to providing services. The Labour group weighed in with a £4,500 basic allowance and a total budget of £301,100, which they admitted had been lowered after discussions with the Liberal Democrat group. Unfortunately the Liberal Democrat proposal was defeated. "We voted against the Labour Proposal because it was too high." Sa
12 Jan 2001
Dogma Drives Council to Destruction
Despite a spirited battle from the Liberal Democrats the historic hedgerow that runs along the side of Cardington Road in Bedford has been consigned to the compost heap of History. The Council's Executive committee made the thoughtless decision at their meeting on Wednesday night. "This is a victory of Dogma over Common sense." Said Liberal Democrat Leader Michael Headley. "I don't believe that allowing one bus to get to the town centre three minute quicker is worth the loss of this hedgerow and the thousands of pounds of council tax payers money that the County Council want to spend. I do not believe that this vandalism is necessary in order to ensure that the Park and Ride scheme is a success!" "This fight is not over." Said local ward councillor and deputy group leader Dan Rogerson. "I am very worried about widening this road. The risk of flooding and the danger to the nearby houses is too great. Good sense could still win through at the Planning committee when they discuss the hedge's preservation order.
11 Jan 2001