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)
  

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.

Wharf Road - who's telling Porkies?

YET ANOTHER BLOW FOR STAMFORD TRADERS
WHO IS TELLING THE TRUTH?
WHERE WILL THE MONEY SAVED GO? STAMFORD?!

We understand that the Environment Agency has strongly denied that it forced SKDC to begin decontamination work on Wharf Road car park this April.

Recently, we actively backed Stamford Traders in their urgent request to SKDC’s Portfolio holder Cllr John Smith and the SKDC Cabinet to delay commencement of the decontamination process until after completion of the Gateway project work in Red Lion Square and Sheep market which is causing such mayhem in the town. This request was flatly turned down by Cllr Smith and the SKDC Cabinet. However, it has now been ascertained that Cllr Smith’s insistence that SKDC were obliged to begin the work NOW was UNTRUE. The Environment Agency say that they made no such demand and that it could have been booked in for a later date.

Additionally, when it transpired that the Wharf Road decontamination work was now to be paid for by the East Midlands Development Agency, thus saving SKDC the £500,000 ring fenced for this purpose, LibDem Cllr Jalili asked for part of this money to be used to subsidise free parking for the duration of the Gateway works in order to attract visitors back into the Town for our beleaguered Stamford Traders.

This request was also turned down by Cllr Smith and the SKDC cabinet. No reason given!

A large demonstration was held on Tuesday 10th April in support of Stamford Traders - hopefully Cllr Smith and SKDC took note of this.
Any comments? Contact us on stamfordlibdems@uk2.net or the blog

Up to 95% of SKDC Planning Applications have no input from elected representatives

Did you know that now up to 95% of all planning applications are determined by officers at SKDC with no input from your elected representatives? Even if you raise objections to a planning application, your elected representative will not be informed of them.

This 95% which is in excess of the Government's own target of 80% was approved by SKDC's Conservative Cabinet members.

This is highly unusual. councils such as Islington's LibDem Council have currently 65% of applications determined by officers.

Cllr. Maureen Jalili would be interested to hear your views on this - email stamfordlibdems@hotmail.com or ring her on 01780 765 655