Reading Liberal Democrats

Reading’s Liberal Democrat prospective MP for Reading East, Cllr Gareth Epps, joined hundreds of Reading residents in London for Saturday’s [5 December] Stop Climate Chaos demonstration called ‘The Wave’ – but not before doing his bit locally.

Gareth joined Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg MP, shadow Secretary of State Simon Hughes MP and Reading MEP Catherine Bearder on the march. Before Gareth caught the train for London he helped plant dozens of trees on Longbarn Lane Rec in his Katesgrove ward. This formed part of the BBC ‘Breathing Spaces’ initiative – an attempt to break the world record for the number of trees planted in one hour. Dozens of residents and local schoolchildren took part on the Rec which is being upgraded after pressure from Cllr Epps and local residents.

Gareth says:

‘The Copenhagen talks are probably the most significant political event this decade. The science is clear beyond reasonable doubt that climate change is man-made, and that radical action is needed to stop it. No mainstream voices believe the spin of the climate change deniers.

‘It’s absolutely right that politicians should take the strongest possible lead in this. That’s why I was out with Nick Clegg and other leading Liberal Democrats as part of “The Wave”.

‘And that’s why I played my part locally in helping to make Katesgrove green. There were dozens of people in Longbarn Lane Rec on Saturday morning planting trees, young and old. It was a really great piece of community action to see and I was proud to be part of it.’

Reading’s Liberal Democrats have welcomed the news that Reading Borough Council has belatedly joined the group of local authorities representing over 5 million residents of the Thames Valley and west London who are campaigning to oppose Heathrow Airport expansion.

Liberal Democrat councillors in Reading have signed up to Greenpeace’s Airplot campaign, becoming owners of a plot of land earmarked to be concreted over for the third runway. The campaign is an attempt to frustrate the compulsory purchase process and demonstrate the strength of opposition to the third runway.

Welcoming the news that Reading Borough Council has formally joined the 2M Group of 24 local authorities campaigning against Heathrow airport expansion, Cllr Gareth Epps, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary campaigner, said:

“This is positive news for the people of Reading who already suffer aircraft noise from Heathrow, and for the thousands of local residents who oppose a Government scheme that makes a mockery of Labour’s commitment to tackle climate change.

It is a pity it took the Labour Party in Reading so long to face up to their responsibilities on this matter. I would urge Reading residents, including councillors like my Liberal Democrat colleagues, to sign up to a campaign backed by the overwhelming majority of local people.”

Editor’s Note: Cllr Gareth Epps has campaigned for the Council to formally oppose Heathrow expansion since 2007 when he asked a formal question to then Labour transport spokesperson Cllr Tom Crisp. At that time the position of the Labour council administration was that the Council should not oppose expansion; however, it supported the cross-party motion passed earlier in 2009 which formally signed the Council up to 2M.

Council officers have decided to reject the application from Vodafone for a 14 metre high mast on the corner of Lower Elmstone Drive and Elmstone Drive.

Local residents, 229 of whom signed a petition against the mast application, are delighted with the news. Petition organiser and local councillor, Ricky Duveen said, ‘this is a good decision for Tilehurst where we have clearly demonstrated the depth of feeling about plans to erect this monstrosity in our residential neighbourhood.’

‘I would like to thank all the residents who signed our petition and I would also like to say a special thank you to Nerys and Andrew Wilkinson who helped with the petition and also provided a lot of excellent publicity for our cause.’

The council’s rejection is based on planning grounds in that the mast and its base cabinets would be obtrusive structures that do not fit with the surrounding environment.

However, Vodafone can appeal against this decision and they have three months in which to do so. Given the amount of time and money they have already spent on this case, an appeal is very likely. Any appeal will be heard by an independent Planning Inspector and both sides will be able to put their case.

Ricky added, ‘Despite this threat that will hang over Tilehurst for a few months yet, this is a splendid win for Tilehurst in Round 1.’

Local residents were appalled when they heard about Vodafone’s mast application, especially since they sent off a barrage of protest letters to Vodafone last July when the company first tried to consult local residents.

Investigations by the Lib Dems on Reading Borough Council have revealed only one fixed penalty notices been issued by the Council in relation to illegal dog-fouling in recent times.

This is despite the fact that dog fouling is a regular complaint of local residents.

Cllr Kirsten Bayes, Redlands ward councillor who tabled the question commented:

“Recently we have received a number of complaints across the area from local residents fed up with the amount of dog mess on footpaths and public areas – particularly in South Reading including Cintra Park and Bede Walk.

“This problem is the result of a handful of dog owners regularly failing to act responsibly.

“Reading Borough Council must take tougher and more concerted action to prosecute dog owners who allow their dogs to mess in public places.”

Cllr Glenn Goodall, Environment spokesperson for the Lib Dems added:

“One Fixed penalty notice has been issued in recent times – this clearly does not reflect the scale of the problem across the Borough.

“If this public nuisance continues it will be necessary for Labour-run Reading Borough Council to review the amount of resources focussed on this area to see if it’s doing the job.”

The Lib Dems welcome the news that Labour-run Reading Borough Council has finally agreed to back our plan for a cleaner, fairer Reading by introducing free bulky waste collections for more Reading residents, including those on low incomes.

Cllr Gareth Epps, Lib Dem Group Leader and Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Reading East commented:

“The Lib Dems in Reading have long campaigned for the introduction of free bulky waste collections for people on low incomes. In a recession with many people in Reading struggling to pay bills this plan which we first put forward is more needed now than ever”

Cllr Glenn Goodall, Lib Dem environment spokesperson added:

“We are delighted that Labour has finally seen sense and belatedly backed our scheme after they and the Conservatives rejected it last year. Only the Lib Dems have the vision to make this town a cleaner and greener place. Fly tipping is a major problem for Reading and this will help reduce it across the borough.”

Editor’s Notes:
For more background information about the Lib Dem campaign can be found at this URL victory for cleaner greener and fairer Reading

Last night a Lib Dem amendment was unanimously carried, with Conservative backing, calling for the full financial implications of the Council’s Climate Change Strategy to be annually reviewed. It also called for the progress of the strategy to be examined by the Environment Scrutiny Panel.

The strategy itself talks of the need for carbon dioxide reduction schemes, waste minimisation, and utilising food waste for producing heat and power; all themes the Lib Dems have long been campaigning for.

Cllr Glenn Goodall, Lib Dem environment spokesperson, said:

“Officers have worked hard to produce this impressive strategy which seeks to address the many challenges of climate change.

“But in times of economic uncertainty, it would be so easy to sweep the environmental agenda to one side.

“The Lib Dem proposal ensures cross-party commitment to continual funding.

“This strategy should be the first port of call for the Council when considering the impact of future policies, no matter the subject.”

Cllr Gareth Epps, Lib Dem PPC Reading East and Group leader welcomed the strategy:

“In Parliament Lib Dems MPs campaigned to strengthen the Climate Change Act, and succeeded in part in getting Labour Ministers to make targets tougher.

“It’s vitally important in Reading now that we make sure our road out of recession is a green road, and we use every opportunity to create new jobs that help protect the environment.”

Editor’s Notes:

The Council approved the Lib Dem amendment to the Council’s Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan on 27 January.

Please contact Cllr Glenn Goodall for more information on 07967 478 701

Cllr Gareth Epps, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary campaigner for Reading East, has turned landowner and called for the fight against the environmentally disastrous expansion of Heathrow Airport to be stepped up, following the announcement today (15 January) that the Labour Government has given the go-ahead.

Gareth, who has branded the scheme an ‘environmental disaster’, has been representing residents in Caversham, Woodley and Earley who are already complaining about increased aircraft noise from Heathrow in recent months. He has signed up as a beneficial owner of a plot of land in the middle of the area proposed for compulsory purchase, under a scheme being run by Greenpeace, and is urging local residents to do the same.

Gareth has also demanded that Reading Borough Council joins the “2M” group of local authorities against the scheme, in a formal written question to the Council meeting on 27 January. The question was tabled several months ago in order to guarantee a mini-debate on the issue at the meeting. The Council’s current stated position is one of neutrality to the scheme, following previous questions by the Lib Dems.

Commenting on the Government announcement, Gareth said:-

“The expansion of Heathrow would be an environmental disaster. Today’s announcement rips to shreds any remaining credibility the Labour Government has when it claims it is serious about tackling climate change.

“If this scheme goes ahead, Heathrow would be Britain’s single biggest source of carbon emissions. Thankfully, it is almost certain that any government elected at the General Election will cancel this ludicrous project.

“The message must go out to the people of Reading East: now is the time to step up the campaign against Heathrow expansion. I have signed up – for free – as a landowner of the land that would form part of the runway. Millions of people want to ensure that this white elephant will never be built, and this is just one action they can take by logging onto Greenpeace’s website.

“What Reading and Britain needs – now – is a high-speed rail network, to reduce carbon emissions and help travel within the UK. Tory and Labour Governments have left our country behind the times on this, and even today, only the Liberal Democrats have put forward plans which will actually pay for high speed rail.”

Liberal Democrats have welcomed proposals from Reading Borough Council to convert the Council’s car pool into a Car Club.

The detailed proposals are to be considered on Wednesday 10th December at the Council’s Personnel Committee. This comes after the plan was revealed at last week’s Corporate, Community and External Affairs (CCEA) Scrutiny Meeting.

Gareth Epps, the leader of the Liberal Democrats on the Council said, “This will greatly boost car club provision in Reading and save the Council large amounts of money. We first proposed this to the Council in January and told them about the scheme operating in Bristol; car clubs were an important part of our manifesto for the May elections.”

“Car clubs benefit when their vehicles are used during the day. The proposal by the Council helps overcome this problem. It’s just the kind of initiative we want to see in Reading, given the traffic and parking problems in the town.”

Editor’s Note: Car clubs provide vehicles which are bookable by the hour by club members. They use the internet and advanced key fobs to manage access to the vehicles, and are often given special parking spaces in towns where the schemes operate.

Liberal Democrats in Reading have slammed a Conservative/Labour alliance to force through a ‘dismal’ Waste Strategy for the PFI authorities of Reading, Wokingham and Bracknell Forest, which appears to rule out the prospect of food waste composting across the authorities until well into the next decade.

Lib Dem group leader on Reading Borough Council, Cllr Gareth Epps, proposed that the strategy be “called in” until an unpublished Action Plan was brought in and scrutinised, alongside a separate Reading move to investigate piloting separate food waste collections for composting and kerbside glass recycling. The call-in was opposed by Conservative and Labour Councillors, who proposed that the Action Plan be scrutinised – but only after the Strategy itself has been agreed.

The re3 Waste Strategy – which runs from 2008-2013 – identifies a number of priority issues, such as:

• A shortage of landfill sites in Berkshire and the urgent need to divert waste away from landfill which is becoming increasingly heavily taxed
• The fact that food waste makes up 50% of all waste that goes into landfill – although the Strategy makes no explanation of what the PFI project intends to do to remove food waste which can be easily composted.
• The PFI Board has deferred decisions on what to do about food waste – despite pressure from Liberal Democrats to tackle the issue.

Commenting, Cllr Gareth Epps, Liberal Democrat Group Leader on Reading Borough Council, said:

“The Strategy is a dismal document, with no vision and apparently no action. Half of the substance has not even been published. The decision to approve it has been taken without anyone knowing what actions are being proposed.

There are now serious questions over how the waste PFI is to be managed. Serious action needs to be taken now to tackle food waste and invest in composting facilities. Labour and the Tories, however, are content to dump it in landfill, with residents footing a tax bill that will go up and up. It’s a crazy situation.”

Cllr Glenn Goodall, Liberal Democrat environment spokesperson, said:

“The Waste Strategy and PFI contract need proper scrutiny. Only constant Liberal Democrat pressure has forced this onto the agenda. Ultimately it’s Reading residents who will pay through the Council Tax for this short-sighted document, which barely merits being called a strategy.”

Editor’s Notes:

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This will be Reading’s Climate Change event of the year. Places are limited. Venue on Sunday 28th September 2008 1.30 – 4.30pm at Friends Meeting House, 2 Church Street, Reading RG1 2SB

The September 28 event is a fully facilitated open space meeting in which you will be supported in forming “Climate Action Groups” aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the Greater Reading area.

Turn your ideas into action and receive ongoing support over a six month period and beyond. No prior knowledge or experience necessary.

The hosts of the event, GREN (Greater Reading Environmental Network) provides a forum for a broad range of groups to share ideas and formulate collective views. They facilitate action together that individually might not be possible. Along with COIN (Climate Outreach and Information Network – a national charity)the event aims to create a powerful and vocal community of people working together on climate change.

To book your free place phone 01865 403334 or email catrina@coinet.org.uk, for further information also see the Climate Outreach and Information Network