Change the council (Jeremy Hilton)

Change the council

April 16, 2010 11:36 AM

Jim Beeley (Hucclecote), Verona Vidal (Barton & Tredworth), Jeremy Hilton (PPC Gloucester) and Anna Mozol (Quedgeley Severnvale)

Liberal Democrats in Gloucester are fielding candidates in all fifteen wards for the city council elections to be held on the 6th May.

Currently, the Liberal Democrats are the second largest party with 11 councillors, and this year they will be defending four seats and fighting to gain more across Gloucester.

Liberal Democrat leader Jeremy Hilton, he said: "The Tories have run Gloucester City Council for the last five years. They have run out of steam and the cabinet is exhausted. It is time to change the council. Only the Liberal Democrats are strong enough to defeat the Tories. I urge voters to back the Liberal Democrat candidate in their ward."

The Liberal Democrats have listed six key policy areas that they are fighting the elections on.

A Liberal Democrat run council will deliver:-

1. decent homes for all - with 5,200 families on the housing waiting list a Liberal Democrat council will use our brown field land to build more affordable homes for families to rent

2. cost effective council - the Audit Commission has reported that the council fails to meet minimum standards for its management of resources. A Liberal Democrat council will look after your money and manage the council's resources effectively

3. greener Gloucester - Liberal Democrats will plant more trees, keep our streets clean and recycle more waste. We oppose the building of a toxic waste incinerator

4. high quality regeneration - under the Tories regeneration has stalled, just look at Kings Square and the Railway Triangle. Liberal Democrats will work harder to deliver quality regeneration schemes that we can all be proud of

5. vibrant cultural and sporting life - council run festivals will happen under a Liberal Democrat administration. We will accelerate the building of the 8-lane all weather athletic track and work with Gloucester City Football Club bring the club home to Gloucester

6. listening to you not telling you - a Liberal Democrat council will work with community groups and the public to deliver a 21st century city- a city that is proud and protective of its history

Deputy Leader, Declan Wilson said: "The Audit Commission recently inspected the council and said it was performing in the bottom half of councils in England. They gave the Tory council a one out of four for managing its resources. We know we can do better. There are 5,200 households on the housing waiting list and this will be one of our top six priorities - providing more decent affordable homes for people to rent."

Jeremy Hilton confirmed that the Liberal Democrat group are committed making the city council a listening council: "We shall work with the people of this city to provide better services and we shall listen to what people want for our historic city."

Ends...