After pressure from the Lib Dem Focus team, the Bedgebury Place developments will pay for the Sunday no 12 bus service to be resumed for two years. The service will start from when the new residents move in, expected to be during summer 2015.
Grit Bin Success – but not yet!
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.
Tory Council Threatens Transport for the Elderly and Disabled
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
Parking at School Gates
There have been a lot of complaints from local residents about parking around the primary schools in Monkston Park and Walnut Tree.
The Lib Dem Focus team has asked the police to help resolve the issues which range from parking on verges to stopping local residents getting out of their drives.
Potholes Fixed
At last! The major potholes at the entrance to Sweetlands Corner, Kents Hill have been repaired.
The Lib Dems are demanding that MK Council fill in the rest of the potholes in our area. Let’s hope the others don’t take a year to fill in too.
Jenni Ferrans and Subhan Shafiq inspect the repaired road at Sweetlands Corner, Kents Hill
Walton Grange – but Where?
The local Lib Dem Focus team has reported missing street signs in Walton Grange for Holland Drive and Harley Drive. People have moved in so where are the signs?
Jenni Ferrans and Subhan Shafiq in Holland Drive and Vanessa McPake in Harley Drive – we think!
Save Our Grit Bins!
Liberal Democrat councillors were shocked to be told that the Conservative run MK Council is proposing to scrap grit bins altogether because they are not used! New and replacement grit bins are now being refused.
Instead, the Tories propose to dump open bags of grit on the street – AFTER the snow has fallen!
The Liberal Democrats have started a campaign to save our grit bins. Please sign up here.
www.ipetitions.com/petition/grit-bins
Street Light Fiasco
The Liberal Democrats have found out that due to poor management by the Conservative run MK Council, the street light contractors have not been fixing the lights properly. This has led to countless street lights being out. Have you seen the stretch of the V10 with 5 out of 6 streets lights out? Or the entrance to Walton Grange with lights out on both sides of the road?Your local Focus team are campaigning to get to get street lights repaired, and properly, as soon as possible.
If you have a street light out on your local estate then let the Focus team know.
Just tell us the road name and the number/letter on the street light pole.
Cuts to Community Transport
Your local Lib Dem Focus team has just learnt that the Conservative run MK Council will be cutting the Community Transport scheme next year. It looks as if 2/3rds of the current users will NOT be able to use the service.
The Liberal Democrats believe in standing up for our older and vulnerable people and will be fighting hard to stop this scandal. We want to keep the service and ensure that our older people can still get out and around to their lunch clubs, doctors and the shops.
Tories Stop Grit Bins
The Conservative run MK Council has decided that they are not going to pay for any more grit bins in MK!
Worse, they won’t even let the local councillors or parish councils pay either. Many residents are left worrying that they will fall over in the first icy weather. The Lib Dems say this is a cut too far!
Vanessa McPake had asked for new grit bins in Bartholomew Close, Walton Park and Cloudberry, Walnut Tree but these will now be refused. Disgraceful! Subhan Shafiq is wondering if the grit bin in Tewksbury Lane, Monkston will ever get repaired, put back in the right place and filled with grit!
Vanessa McPake checking the existing grit bins in Walnut Tree and Subhan Shafiq finding the bits of the bin in Tewkesbury Lane, Monkston Park.