Southwell Liberal Democrats

We need more Police in Southwell………….. That was the message to the Police and Crime Commissioner, Paddy Tipping, and the Area Inspector. After the Town Survey identified concern about local police numbers, Councillor Stuart Thompstone asked the Town Council to invite Paddy Tipping a public meeting, which was held in January. Nearly 100 residents came to the Library and expressed their concerns.

What influence do Southwell's Conservative District Councillors have?
That question was put to the test at the January Planning meeting of the District Council. The Councillors were discussing an application to build 67 houses on land at the corner of Allenby Road and Halam Road. Detailed proposals had already been subject to considerable criticism by the Town Council and other Southwell Groups.

Our next Branch meeting will be on Thursday Jan 24th at 7pm in The Reindeer.

As a departure from our usual meetings, we propose an informal discussion on "Lib Dem values and what we stand for".

Please join us and give us your views

In 2008, Conservative Councillors were pressing for parking charges to be introduced throughout the District. Concerned about the impact on local shops, District Cllr Peter Harris and Liberal Democrat Town Councillors negotiated a deal for two hour free parking in Southwell. In Newark, full charges apply in most car parks.

Recorded crime in Newark and Sherwood is at its highest level for nearly a decade. The Police and Crime Commissioner has claimed that nobody believes that crime is going up; it's about how crime is reported and recorded.
However, concern about crime is certainly increasing. Burglary and speeding traffic are most mentioned with residents wanting a greater police presence in rural areas.

The District Council has re-issued useful advice on waste that is suitable for recycling, but options are still limited.
Contamination in silver bins reduces recycling rates and adds recovery and disposal costs.

Town Councillors Peter Harris and Peter Scorer

clear plastinc litter on Hockerton Road

Falling Behind

Tory Plan to Scrap Councils

Faced with a £54 million shortfall by 2020, Conservatives at County Hall want to scrap all Borough and District Councils in Nottinghamshire to create one "Super-Council" run from West Bridgford. Savings of £20-£30 million are promised to answer the County Council's financial woes. However County Durham, which went Unitary in 2009 and cut 2700 jobs, still has to make £39 million of cuts. It is a similar story for Cornwall and Wiltshire Unitary Councils.

Stuart Thompstone reports that the Campaign for a zebra crossing on Lower Kirklington Road at the bottom of The Burgage, is making progress. It has passed the County Council viability test but officers are scratching their heads about the exact location.
Hopefully this will not drag on too long so a crossing can be quickly installed on this busy road.

We will be re-launching our Councillors' surgery caravan at the Market on Saturday 17th November 2018. We're sorry that we haven't had a serviceable van for several months. We will be there again on 15th December.

In the New Year we will revert to our previous timing of the first Saturday of the month. The Surgery will be open from 10am until 12 noon and all are welcome to come along and talk about any issues you may have that relate to the town. We will do our best to follow them up with the appropriate authorities.

We've had an amazing response to our Town Survey - thank you so much to all who replied - we really value your comments.

It's heartening that people really care about our town and how it develops.

There were so many hard copies that it is taking us a long time to analyse them but here are the interim figures.