
Pat Lewis, a long term resident of Northbourne, has joined Councillor Roger West and the local Lib Dem team for this area.
"Pat's a great asset to theteam" says Roger West."She's a retired deputyhead teacher, was a localcouncillor and is a greatcampaigner on healthissues, as a former nurse."
"She has also been the older people's champion for Bournemouth. In this role she won the respect of people from all political parties."
"Her local links, hard work and experience make her the perfect choice to fight for our area" says Roger. "If Pat is elected she'd help hold this awful Tory Administration to account."
Daily Echo Article: Former council leader Peter Charon resigns
Budget 2012: For the many, not the fewOver 20 million working people will be better off next year after Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government delivered the biggest ever increase in the income tax personal allowance in the Budget. The massive £3.5bn tax cut for working people delivers:
Download Full PDF of the Budget 2012 |
Report Casts Doubt on Legality and Value for Money of Mouchel DealThe deal made by the Conservative Council involves the outsourcing of hundreds of millions of pounds of council services to the troubled business services firm Mouchel. The leaked report by Stephen Parker, the former Chief Accountant for Bournemouth Council stated: "as Chief Accountant I have expressed serious doubts about the value for money and deliverability of the contract" Email Response from Cllr Roger West to the Administration & Resource Overview & Scrutiny Panel upon recieving the Parker Report: (Outlook Format / Word Format) Budget Figures Show No Overall Saving from Mouchel Deal: (Page 1 / Page 2) REDACTED COPY OF THE PARKER REPORT: here |
Study after Study shows that Wind Farms are not Detrimental to TourismIn any area where tourism plays an important role in the local economy a wind farm application raises questions about the possible negative impact on tourism. However, studies have consistently shown that fears about the possible impact on tourism are unfounded. Consultations Start for the Navitus Bay Wind Farm Navitus Bay Project Website: here Do you support the Navitus Bay Wind Park Project? Take our Online Opinion Poll |
Graham's Newsletter Thursday 5th April 2012Parliament has been officially in recess this week and does not start back until next Tuesday. But I was in Gibraltar on Monday, where the new Socialist-Liberal coalition invited me to address a meeting of their cabinet and I paid a courtesy call on the Governor. Gibraltar's main concern at present is how to stop Spanish fishing boats fishing illegally in its waters, particularly since they are using sledges to drag up everything off the sea floor, which is illegal in many parts of Spain and elsewhere. The previous (Conservative) government turned a blind eye to the practice; the current government has said it will enforce the law; and Spain is seeking to make this a cause celebre on the issue of sovereignty. There are also still tensions over the pollution of the western beach by sewage from storm drains over the border in La Linea... |
Other ArticlesThe Mouchel Saga in 39 Long, Hard and Expensive StepsSenior Council Officer Pay, Pension Contributions and Expenses RevealedBournemouth Borough Council in disarray - BBC Report on the series of scandals gripping the councilBournemouth Lib Dems back whistleblowing accountant - BBC Report on Stephen Parker and the Mouchel contract.Consultation starts for Gypsy and Traveller SiteCoalition Programme to Spur Youth Employment - Nick Clegg announces new programme to reduce record high youth unemploymentCouncillor Beesley Planning Board Scandel - (Tribunal Case Summary/ Full Tribunal Case) |
LinksLiberal Democrats in GovernmentPoole Liberal DemocratsMid-Dorset & North Poole Lib DemsWest Dorset Liberal DemocratsSwanage & Isle of Purbeck Liberal DemocratsGraham Watson Liberal Democrat MEP for the South WestBoscalicious! - The Boscombe WebsiteBournemouth Town Gallery |
Another Council Director put on Paid LeaveTop legal officer Joy Postings service director for law and governance was removed from her post and placed on "long-term leave" following a 15 month investigation into her conduct during the Beesley Planning Board Scandel. It is alleged that Miss Postings failed to provide evidence to a national tribunal whcih showed that Cllr Beesley had sought her advice and recieved confirmation that his relationship with a planning consultant did not constitute a prejudicial bias. Tribunal Case Summary: here |
Council Capitulates as Stephen Parker is ReinstatedIn a joint statement released by Bournemouth Borough Council and Mr Parker it is admitted that: "Mr Parker made public the information contained in his email of the 11th of October with honest intent" Mr Parker was suspended after criticising the Mouchel contract and was escorted out of the town hall by council officials among cheers from his colleagues. The Council has withdrawn the suspension of Mr Parker and has informed Mouchel Limited, his new employer, of that decision. Daily Echo article: here |
Letter to the Advertiser: Imax is really a financial disaster - Lorraine Crouch
Lorraine Crouch THE spend on the Imax building can only be described as criminal. £6.5million has been spent from funds allocated of £8.5million already, plus £217,000 on interim plans and now another £2million to knock it down, using up the whole of the allocated spend. That money can never be replaced. This is a financial disaster for the town. |
Ensbury Park Road in a State of Disrepair - Councillor West Seeks Action
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Clampdown on 'rogue' mobile home park owners in Bournemouth
Cllr Roger West, Pat Lewis & Park Home Resident Pauline Jones at the Kingfisher Park Home Site The practises of some mobile home park owners has subjected some residents to extradinary acts of harrassment. Park owners have allegedly disrupted residents plans to sell by flooding homes or setting bonfires to choke residents. MPs are considering whether more legal powers are needed to regulate park owners. Councillor Roger West who has consistently campaigned on the issue said that there should be more clarity in Park Home agreements. "Most homes to my knowledge change hands with no legal advice and therefore it is essential that the agreement is crystal clear" Ken Ayres chairman of Bournemouth's borough-wide Park Home Residents' Assoication said that councils, who license park homes, should have the power to revoke licences. |
Imax to be Demolished... Finally
Demolishing the building will cost the council £2 million. This comes after market testing revealed that private developers were too concerned with the state of the economy and the limited potential imposed by the location to invest in the site. Unwilling to wait for the market to improve Cllr Beesley said "the development market is not buoyant enough to take forward acceptable schemes at present". The space will be used by BSO and Pavillion Dance it might also play host to beach volleyball, racket sports, and an open air cinema. The plan involves knocking the building down to ground level, leaving the basement which has rooms and toilets in it, and the top deck at ground level will be reinforced so that vehicles can be driven onto it if an event is set up. It will be called phase one as they realise a more comprehensive plan will need to be established. |
The £10,000 Tax AllowanceThe Lib Dem policy of no tax on the first £10,000 you earn is at the heart of the Coalition Agreement to be delivered by 2015. We've already taken the first steps to delivering this and from April most local people will be paying £27.50 a month less in income tax. The full £10,000 allowance will put £60 a month back in the pockets of ordinary people. It will take over three million low paid workers out of tax altogether. We believe these savings can't come too soon for local families. That's why the Liberal Democrats are campaigning to bring forward the introduction of the £10,000 allowance. No one can offer easy answers right now, but we can pledge to fight every day to make things a little bit better for you and your family. Sign the E-Petition to Help Bring Forward the Introduction of the £10,000 Tax Allowance |
Coalition Plans to Extend Law on Communications MonitoringThe plans don't include access to the content of phone conversations, emails, or text messages but do include who you talked to, when and for how long. This information can be obtained without a warrant. The key difference between the old Labour plans heavily criticised by Lib Dems in 2008 and the new coalition plans is that it will not involve one large centralised database under government administration but many smaller databases administered by internet service providers (ISPs). |
Queen's Park Residents Campaign to keep Play AreaThe council is looking to close the play area at Strouden Field, Queen's Park on the basis that it wants "an even distribution of play facilities across the borough" On Saturday (3rd March) 50 people turned out to sign letters of objection. Michael Rowlan, Parks Development Manager at Bournemouth Borough Council said that: "there are currently three playgrounds within a very small area Bradpole Road, Mallard Road and Strouden Playing Field -while to the south there is a large area of housing with very poor access to play facilities" "To ensure an even districution we will soon be developing a new play facility at Queen's Park" |
Debunking Wind Farm ScaremongeringWind Power Debate Reduced To Chinese Whispers By Tories - Feature Article on Conservative Claims by Dr Martin RodgerCllr Roger West takes tourism head to task for his recent comments on how the Navitus Wind Park might affect tourism. Mark Smith Director of Tourism & Corporate Communications claimed that the wind park could cost Dorset's tourist industry 500 jobs in a recent Daily Echo Article based on the dubious application of the findings of a Scottish economic impact report. Interestingly the study actually supports the case for building wind turbines saying that: "Under all circumstances, the vast majority (93-99%) of those who had seen a wind farm suggested that the experience would not have any effect. Indeed there were some tourists for whom the experience increased the likelihood of return rather than decreasing it." |
Council Urging Dog Owners to be Responsible in Wake of Wave of ComplaintsBournemouth Borough Council received 209 complaints of dog excrement needing to be cleared up off the streets in 2011 - a figure which is above the national average in itself. However in January 2012 there were 46 reports alone and so far this month the Council has received a staggering 86 complaints. Stuart Best, Street Services Manager said: "There is a growing problem of dog fouling across the borough to unprecedented levels. Council resources are having to be diverted every day from routine operations to go out and clear up after irresponsible pet owners who are failing to do the right thing. It's unpleasant, anti-social and hazardous to both cleansing staff and local residents. We would like to remind people to please use the bin." |
Lisa Succeeds in Drawing Attention to Sub-Standard HousingCouncil Officers will work with landlords to see if improvements are needed in targeted inspections of rented accomadation in Boscombe. Lisa Northover, former councillor and ward representative for Boscombe West, lauched a petition calling for increased inspections in response to the dire conditions of much of the housing. Lisa has said she's "pleased the council is taking action. We need proactive inspections, not just reactive ones." Lisa's Petition: http://www.petitiononline.co.uk/signatures/inspect-all-dave-wells-housing-in-boscombe-within-6-months/4015 Channel 4 Dispatches: Landlords from Hell Housing in Boscombe: Housing is the issue which underpins most of the problems in Boscombe. Poor planning over many years has led to a dominance of single person units and bedsits. |





If you have questions for your local Lib Dems you can email us at contact.us@bournemouth-libdems.org.uk
My name is Michael Chizlett I'm a Lib Dem activist and have been directed to respond to your enquiry to the 'contact us' email address as regards Lib Dem policy on the equality of same sex marriage.

There is a myth doing the rounds that environmentalism has hit a wall - that green politics is only for good times. Some argue we have to choose between protecting our environment and growing our economy. But this argument is utterly wrong.
It is simply not true that you have to give up on the green economy if you want to grow. This is the case I have been making loud and clear today, you can read more here.

Greetings
Parliament has been officially in recess this week and does not start back until next Tuesday. But I was in Gibraltar on Monday, where the new Socialist-Liberal coalition invited me to address a meeting of their cabinet and I paid a courtesy call on the Governor.
Gibraltar's main concern at present is how to stop Spanish fishing boats fishing illegally in its waters, particularly since they are using sledges to drag up everything off the sea floor, which is illegal in many parts of Spain and elsewhere. The previous (Conservative) government turned a blind eye to the practice; the current government has said it will enforce the law; and Spain is seeking to make this a cause celebre on the issue of sovereignty. There are also still tensions over the pollution of the western beach by sewage from storm drains over the border in La Linea; I have been taking this issue up in Brussels and met environmental campaigner Janet Howitt on Sunday evening to review progress. But the main difference between the current coalition team of Fabian Picardo (Soc) and Joseph Garcia (Lib) and their Conservative predecessor Peter Caruana is how open, transparent and inclusive is the new government of the Rock. Caruana ruled it like a medieval fiefdom until his arrogance upset so many voters that they threw the rascal out.

In a joint statement released by Bournemouth Borough Council and Mr Parker it is admitted that:
"Mr Parker made public the information contained in his email of the 11th of October with honest intent"
Mr Parker was suspended after criticising the Mouchel contract and was escorted out of the town hall by council officials among cheers from his colleagues.


The executive director Mike Forrester who was paid almost £140,000 in 2010/11 recieves the majority of his salary through a one man company potentially saving him up to £15,000 a year in taxes.
Mr Forrester was appointed to the post of executive director of business transformation in late 2009 on an interim basis.