Thank you for your support in the elections.
We won the election in Monkston Ward, with Jenni, Vanessa and Subhan all elected as Councillors for Monkston ward:
Jenni Ferrans 1128
Vanessa McPake 1085
Subhan Shafiq 981
Many thanks to all the people who have helped deliver “Lib Dem Service” in Monkston ward this year.
And THANK YOU to everyone who voted for us to continue!
Cllrs Jenni Ferrans and Subhan Shafiq – Walton Grange will now get fibre this summer.
Months of arguing by the Lib Dem Focus team and lots of lobbying from residents in Walton Grange has finally paid off.
Walton Grange will get fibre broadband this summer!
BT announced this week that they will upgrade cabinet 88, which serves the whole of Walton Grange, to fibre optic cables this summer in phase 1 of the BDUK project. With the very short distances across the estate, most households will be able to get almost the full 70mbps speed at their homes if they pay for the high speed contract. (Walton Grange at present is limited to about 0.25 mbps!)
Lower speed fibre contracts from BT that will give reliable broadband at around 30mbps currently start at £10 per month once you’ve got a landline. Other providers may start offering fibre contracts a few months later. Contracts for Fibre to the Premises should also be available after that – currently giving 140 mpbs.
Cllr Jenni Ferrans said “This is great news for the estate – an end to the misery of super-slow connections that cut out every 5 minutes! And it will be available for EVERYONE – flats – houses – original residents – new arrivals – everyone who wants fast
broadband, not just those who moved into houses early.”
Thanks for helping get the message across to BT. They were really aware of the message they were getting from residents!
Jenni said; “Now we need to work on other ‘not spots’ locally. Please see our guide to what’s proposed and contact us if you need fibre broadband and won’t get it under the current plans”.
Cllrs Subhan Shafiq and Jenni Ferrans met Cabinet Minister Norman Lamb to discuss a GP for Walton Grange.
Cllrs Subhan Shafiq and Jenni Ferrans met Lib Dem Health Minister, Norman Lamb, to report the problems people in Walton Grange have as they are not allowed to register with their local Walnut Tree GP. Walnut Tree GP Surgery are prepared to extend to take them – but only if NHS England will award them the funding they need. So far NHS England have not agreed. The Focus Team are continuing the campaign.
Residents discuss the plans for Walton Manor and Limbaud Close, Walton Park with the Focus team
Thank you to all the residents who attended the recent public meeting the Lib Dem Focus team organised so that people could have their say on the proposals for Walton Manor and the Chase Avenue development.
The Chase Avenue plans were already in, and residents got a good look at what was proposed. Amendments have been put in since, so look on the website for more details at:
All the residents comments on Walton Manor will be given to MK Council so that they know the strength of feeling of local residents
on some aspects of the proposals. The brief will go to the Cabinet for approval before going to MKDP to be included in the pack when they market the site to the developers.
On 28/3/2014 the Liberal Democrat Focus team held an exhibition about the proposed new developments in the Walton area. These include 5 self-build houses off Limbaud Close/Chase Avenue in Walton Park, and a new site to be developed, north of Simpson Road by Walton Grange and the industry there.
What is decided at this stage can’t be undone later! Please – HAVE YOUR SAY NOW!
We apologise but it has not been possible to put the documents onto the website.
Please email [email protected] for a copy.
The largest document is 2.6MB
This was the only “safe” footpath out of Walton Grange!
“What a mess”, that was the verdict of the Lib Dem Monkston Focus team when they recently visited the temporary footpath out of Walton Grange. “We have had many new developments in our area but we have never seen such a mess!”, continued the Focus team.
The temporary footpath is the only safe way out of the estate to walk to school, go shopping, get onto the redways to cycle and for many dog walkers. It leads into Beales Lane.
But at present, with the latest houses being built, the builders’ contractors have managed to dump rubble and mud along the footpath so that it is very dangerous. And there were lorries and dumper trucks manoeuvring round and parked across the entrance!
The Lib Dems have complained to the developers in the strongest terms and have been told they will ensure pedestrians can get through. We wait to see!
Deputy Mayor, Cllr Subhan Shafiq said: “As a new dad, I could not have got my pram up this footpath. It is a disgrace and dangerous for kids. Why is the Council allowing this to go on?”
SUCCESS! The path surface was compacted again and properly fenced and the material store moved within a few days.
THANK YOU to all the residents who signed our petition to save grit bins. We’ve WON!
Following the LibDem campaign right across Milton Keynes, the Conservatives backed down from their proposal to stop grit bins this week. They have now allocated a small budget next year – but it will have to cover both replacing damaged bins and adding new ones.
Vanessa McPake commented “The budget is not enough, it doesn’t start till April, and it stops after just a year, but at least its something. Now we need to campaign to make sure OUR residents get the bins they urgently need!”
Following residents requests, the Focus team has asked for two more bins – both on steeply sloping roads – one in Canonbury in Monkston Park, and one in Bartholomews Close in Walton Park. The Council have said, again, that we can’t have them at present! Please sign our petitions for these grit bins to let the Council understand how important they are!
Canonbury petition Bartholomews Close petition
If you need grit for roads and footpaths in the meantime, then ask for a bag by contacting us, or MK Council on 01908 252353 or email [email protected]. If you need it for your driveways, it can be bought at local builders merchants.
Community Transport for the elderly and disabled under threat from Conservative cuts
MK’s Conservatives have confirmed their proposal to make huge cuts to the Community Transport service (currently “PlusBus”). Around two thirds of the elderly and disabled users will be excluded from the service.
Although the Council has to make £10M cuts, the Lib Dems have made clear to the Conservatives that they expect the most vulnerable people to be protected from the worst of the cuts.
Cllr Subhan Shafiq said: “This would imprison people in their homes. It’s appalling while the Council continues to waste money.”
Please sign our petition and respond to the consultation to let them know your views! There are two consultations:
Budget Consultation 2014-15 – including a massive cut to the Community Transport budget
Consultation ends 15/2/2014
Future Provision of Adult Social Care and Supported Services Transport – specifically about the Community Transport
Consultation ends 28/2/2014
Like many people Cllrs Jenni Ferrans and Subhan Shafiq have fast broadband – but can you get it in your area?
BT published its plans recently for the government-funded fibre project and it’s mixed news for our area. Fibre is needed to get even moderately good speeds, not just fast and superfast, in our area (because we’re a long way from the telephone exchange and copper wire broadband slows down with distance), so this will benefit a lot of people and it’s really important that everyone gets the option.
Fibre-optic broadband will be available to most households in our area that want it by 31st March and most of the rest during 2014. But a few will wait longer, and some may not get it at all on this project. The details we know at present are below.
If you want to get fibre in your area, please:
The Schedule
It’s important to note that the schedule is NOT guaranteed. The work may prove easier or more difficult than expected, so the overall timetable may slip, or individual small areas may be moved between phases. At present, the schedule is:
Kents Hill
Monkston
Monkston Park
Walnut Tree
Walton Grange
Walton Park
Walton Hall
Where’s Our Playground? That’s the cry of young children in Walton Grange.
Most of the houses and flats have now been built BUT there is nowhere for younger children to play.
The Lib Dems are demanding that something be done to provide a play area, possibly on the edge of the new development next to Walton Grange. We’ll keep you posted and thanks to those local mums who have started a petition.
Some of the children campaigning for a play area in Walton Grange