Quentin's Dilemma

Former Tory now Labour MP for Grantham and Stamford Quentin Davies, was vociforous in his opposition to the proposed closure of Ryhall Road post office - even coming to Stamford to support protesters. What a surprise then when his name appears as one of the government's supporters of the bill to go ahead with closures nationally! An example of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing?

Stamford achieves Quality Parish Status at last!

Stamford LibDems are delighted that Stamford Town Council was awarded the official certificate for Quality Parish Status on 19th February 2008.

STAMFORD LIBDEMS JUBILANT!

Tories receive a resounding NO vote!

We are delighted to tell you that we have achieved great success in the Town and SKDC elections:

We have FIVE District Councillors - a gain of one seat:-

Dr. Sam I. Jalili - All Saints'
Harrish Bisnauthsing - St. John's
Chris Brough - St. John's
Maureen Jalili - St. John's
Joyce Gaffigan - St. George's

The representation at District level for Stamford is now made up of:
FIVE LibDems
Three Independents
One Conservative

This means that at least eight of Stamford's representatives at SKDC will vote positively on Stamford issues and will not blindly follow the Conservative Cabinet's instructions. We hold out great hopes that the one SKDC Conservative SKDC councillor now representing Stamford (Stamford Town Councillor Mike Exton represents the Deepings at SKDC) - will also work hard to make Stamford's voice heard. We trust that Cnllr Exton will do the same.

We have SEVEN Town Councillors - no change:-

Dr. Sam I. Jalili - All Saints'
Maureen Riley - All Saints'
John Binder - St. George's
Maureen Jalili - St. John's
Harrish Bisnauthsing - St. John's
Chris Brough - St. John's
Jane Peckett - St. Mary's

The Town Council is now made up of:
SEVEN LibDems
Six Conservatives
Seven Independents
One Labour

Stamford now has a balanced council which is not dominated by the Conservatives. This means that there will be a much more democratic governance for the town which will truly reflect the views and demands of Stamford People.

Stamford Liberal Democrats - Local election results

The results from the local elections are now available on our main website in the Election Special section. You can download and view the results in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. Just click the links that you will find on that page.

The documents available provide the following information:-

• Stamford - District (SKDC) and Town Election 2007 - Seats
• Voting Results
• Stamford Lib Dems: Our Story of Success
• Comparison of Votes Between 2003 and 2007 District Election (Prepared by S I Jalili)
  

Pity your postman!

A weary please from this particular Yellow Bird, for those of you who have a letter box at foot level, preferably with a stiff brush behind it - do think of your postman! Every election time there are legions of party supporters of every political colour who return home with skinned fingers, aching backs and creaking knees having 'done their bit' for the party by delivering election leaflets. Amongst the worst letter boxes are definitely those at leprechaun level. The best are those lovely boxes fixed at eye level on the wall.

There are several categories of letter box. The aforementioned leprechaun special. The completely sealed up variety (how do they get any mail) the snap your fingers off, the 'I've got a dog who will bite your fingers off - we have a deliverer with a very short finger now, the very posh which takes ages to work out how to get your leaflet in (but looks classy), the non existent letter box (in the same catagory as the completely sealed), the reasonably kind type which can be hard to operate but doesn't scar you for life and the absolutely lovely easy to use, easy to reach post box on the wall.

Of course, some people would argue that they don't want any election literature but this is a democracy, if we don't all give you the opportunity to make your minds up on an informed level then we would be living in a dictatorship. That said, should the writer of this item be in charge of the country right now - the first new law would be to ban all letter boxes which didn't conform to the - yes of course, the delightful post box on the wall (especially if its got a pretty little hunting horn or carriage and four on it, or best of all - a yellow bird, very jolly).

Perhaps we should make this part of our manifesto - support your postmen/ladies - get a postperson user friendly letter box!

Mobile Phone Masts - Stamford LibDems lone battle

Your SKDC LibDem Councillors Maureen Jalili and Joyce Gaffigan, in their role as members of the Development Control Committee (Planning), have been fighting a lone battle along with some support from Independent councillors against Government regulations which requires them BY LAW to approve applications for MOBILE PHONE MASTS even when sited near SCHOOLS. They have consistently argued and voted against such applications on the basis that to vote in favour of them is to endorse them.

This absurd anomaly arose from the Conservative government's agreement with phone companies to cut planning controls for masts. Under the current ridiculous rules it is easier to get planning permission for a 15 metre mast than it is for a 5 metre conservatory.

This April LibDem Shadow Local Government Secretary, Andrew Stunnell MP, has presented a Bill to bring in the 'precautionary principle' giving extra safeguards for schools, homes and medical facilities from the risk of excessive radiation emitted.

Currently telecommunications companies can erect masts without going through the full planning procedure. All they have to do is to put one A4 notice up near to the site, ignoring local residents' concerns and disempowering local councillors.

PLEASE WRITE TO YOUR LOCAL MPs care of the House of Commons (in Stamford's case Mr. Quentin Davis) ASKING THEM TO SUPPORT THIS BILL.

Freedom of Information Act - this concerns us all

We decided to include this item because it affects everyone of us, although it is not specifically related to Stamford.
Conservative back-bench MP David Maclean is energetically pushing through a Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill which would exempt MPs from the Freedom of Information Act. This private members bill was slipped in late on a Friday afternoon and passed through the first stage virtually unopposed with the Government doing nothing to protect the Act.
On Friday 27th April, the Debate is set to continue Liberal Democrat MPs Norman Baker and Simon Hughes are spearheading the LibDem effort to stop the bill and have vowed to keep fighting to stop it becoming law.
Britain was amongst the last in Europe to introduce a legal right of access to public information, although it is the country where it is most widely used.