Rugby Liberal Democrats.

Going for Gold in Rugby

Rugby Liberal Democrats pledge :-

·               A top performing Council delivering high quality services that are value for money.

·               A long-term plan for Rugby in consultation and partnership with its people.

Under Conservative and Labour administrations Rugby Borough Council has been judged as only “Fair” by two Audit Commission reports.  It performs poorly on recycling, services are being slashed and money continues to be wasted while Council Tax increases to ever higher record levels with inflation busting increases every year.

Voting Liberal Democrat is a vote for :-

Greater Openness

We are elected as your voice on the Council.  We want to involve you in the process of giving Rugby a better future and making it an even better place to live.

We will :-

·               Be leaders within the community

·               Make openness and transparency in decision-making a top priority.

·               Establish a simple “one-stop-shop” access to the Council and other agencies, with opening hours to suit you.

·               Re-invigorate local forums such as the Youth Council and Older People’s Forum which are key too much needed improvements.

·               Hold regular “Listening Days” around the Borough to involve you in Council decisions, e.g. on Budgets and Council Tax.

·               Open up the Planning system to take greater account of those affected by development.

A Safer Community

Our Residents Surveys tell us that the major concern in Rugby is crime and anti-social behaviour.  Liberal Democrats will take strenuous action, in partnership with the Police, to make our neighbourhoods safer.  Our initiatives have already secured more money for Neighbourhood Watch.  We want real action, not just talk.

We will :-

·               Take firm action against anti-social behaviour.

·               Take firm and positive action, in partnership with others, on the increasing alcohol and drug issues within the Borough.

·               Involve young people in planning and providing facilities to give them the opportunity to do something more constructive than hang around on street corners.

·               Make offenders answerable for their actions.

·               Support a free graffiti removal scheme with the perpetrators doing the clean up.

·               Continue to support and strengthen Neighbourhood Watch.

Clean, Green and Healthy Communities

Developers are after your back gardens, our playing fields and the Radio Mast site.  The Liberal Democrats will continue to oppose the destruction of Rugby’s open spaces; unlike the Conservatives and Labour, who want major housing development in Rugby.

We will :-

·               Resist development of green-field sites.

·               Promote a balanced community with affordable housing policies and the use of “Community Land Trusts”. (www.communitylandtrust.org.uk)

·               Tackle Climate Change.  We must move away from fossil fuels and instead develop locally produced renewable energy, like wind and solar power, and reduce energy use with grants for better home insulation.

·               Encourage and build pride in our neighbourhoods. We will reward the best neighbourhood in the Borough.  It will be judged in conjunction with Britain in Bloom

·               Establish a “Keep Rugby Tidy” campaign (www.encams.org.uk)

·               Increase recycling to match the best levels in the country and Europe.

·               Implement the “Zero Waste” Charter.

·               Establish a Citizen’s Jury on traffic to tackle the increasing traffic problems and consequent air pollution.

·               Improve the physical and mental health of the whole community by a joint strategy for leisure and public health, including investment to strengthen social care.

·               Support our communities by introducing the Living Streets concept (www.livingstreets.org.uk)

·               Promote tourism and a vibrant local arts and music scene with a bi-annual Festival of Arts and Music.

Inclusion and Diversity

Rugby needs a diverse, inclusive and sustainable community with a mix of employment opportunities and a revitalised Town Centre.

We will :-

·               Work with the Town Centre Company and others to encourage a mixed town economy, including cultural activities.

·               Develop a cultural quarter of the town that will become a draw for specialist shops and entertainment.

·               Keep car-parking charges at a realistic level to attract shoppers and visitors into the town.

·               Improve the range of transport facilities.

·               Encourage new high tech industries to provide a mixed and more sustainable economy.

·               Encourage participation in learning opportunities to achieve a life-long learning culture.

·               Encourage the provision of shopping, leisure and employment facilities throughout the Borough that are accessible to all.

 

The Liberal Democrats will embrace the above principles to improve the quality of life and deliver effective, efficient and affordable services to the people of Rugby Borough.

Contacts Jerry Roodhouse 07768 058353

Liberal Democrat Councillors

Cllrs Chris Holman, Gwen Hotten, Sue Roodhouse, Neil Sandison, Sue Peach, Noreen New, Jess Upstone, Richard Dodd and Ron Ravenhall.

Election 2007

Borough Council

·        Lib Dem      10

·        Labour       13

• Conservative         24
• Ind              1

Liberal Democrats are campaigning hard in Dunchurch & Knightlow, Hillmorton and Benn and have also been working in areas such as Bilton.

We are defending 3 seats.

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Published and promoted by Rugby Liberal Democrats, 41 Bracken Drive, Rugby CV22 6SL.
The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider.