Canterbury & Whitstable Liberal Democrats

Nearly two years ago, Liberal Democrats chose to do the right thing in the national interest at a time of crisis. We put tribalism aside and the good of the country first.

We didn't come into politics to make cuts, but with the economy on the verge of collapse we knew we had to take the difficult decisions necessary to get the deficit under control and the country back on track.

Amid fears that David Cameron's veto had isolated the UK in Brussels, MEPs from across Europe and the political spectrum have today re-elected Liberal Democrat MEP Sharon Bowles as Chair of the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee.

The committee, widely regarded as the Parliament's most powerful, is responsible for legislation in the headline areas of economic governance and financial services.

'Cllr Ellis really does need to get his facts right before he makes a statement to your newspaper (cllrs squabble over plans for football ground).

First, these are not 'Lib Dem attacks'. This is not a party issue. But they are arguments from cllrs representing residents who are likely to be affected by a process that has been secretive, biased and fundamentally undemocratic from the outset.

Apparently Labour don't have a 'Plan B' for the economy after all!

As I drove on Saturday morning, I was preparing to turn the radio off and then Ed Balls popped up. I listened with amazement. In his interview he admitted not only that the programme of cuts being carried out by the Coalition government were right, but that Labour would not over turn them if they were in Government. Unfortunately however he didn't go as far as to admit that the cause behind all the cuts - the dire economic situation - was in fact largely his fault.

"BARMY EU 'COLDER FRIDGES' ORDER WILL COST US £100M"

If you are a regular Express reader then you may have seen this story published this month.

Contrary to claims in the Express article, "Barmy EU 'colder fridges' order will cost us £100m", there are no new EU regulations ordering supermarkets to turn down fridge temperatures. The facts are far less chilling!

This month I joined my colleague in the South East Sharon Bowles in voting to exempt so called 'micro-entity' businesses from complex EU accounting rules. Millions of small businesses must now only comply with national reporting rules which usually demand very basic information.

Sharon said: "It is pure common sense to exempt small businesses that rarely operate across borders from complicated accounting rules. Of course it is important for small businesses to provide basic information to comply with national laws on transparency and tax regulation. But we must not make this process more complicated than necessary."

At the County Council meeting last Thursday, Martin Vye, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat Group expressed his concern about Councillor's ability to check how the administration is using taxpayer's money, and running services from them.

Martin Vye said:

"The new arrangements that the Conservative administration are bringing in are deeply flawed. The committees which are there to call them to account should be independent, so that searching questions can be asked and any waste or ineffectiveness exposed.

I thought I would offer some thoughts on how things are as a Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament in the wake of David Cameron's disastrous decision last week.

It's clear the UK has been left to stand like naughty schoolboys outside the classroom, while all other member states forge ahead for a greater economic union. We are out in the cold because of the whims of the more Europhobic backbench Tories. Now there is a genuine danger, as Vince Cable has pointed out, that we could be relegated not just to a second tier of European countries, but shunted to a third on our own. No solidarity with our neighbours, no say.

Development issues continue to be a major activity in Barton. There is an application for a hotel at the Blockbuster site, many proposed house extensions in the ward and proposals to sell almost a third of Longport car park for housing. I have written to all members of the council's Executive to alert them to the fact that this car park serves many organisations and has a community function. It is used by solicitors visiting the prison, market stall holders, visitors to the colleges, schools and university, tourists visiting the World Heritage Site and attendees at four local churches. The so called need to build 2000 homes in south Canterbury is also still a continuous threat to our surrounding arable fields, although no decisions have yet been made.

There has been some success with getting new signs along the bridle route /Pilgrim's Way /cycle path /Public Right of Way that traverses Barton Farmland. For some years there have been motorists illegally using this route as a short cut, although this safety issue only came to my attention this summer. It has been a test of wills to get Kent County Council to act, but tenacity and perseverance are two of my better virtues! The new signs are having some effect and I have been in contact with businesses there to ensure they divert their business traffic via Appledown Way, rather than the lane leading to Pilgrim's Way. Next year I hope to arrange the police to do spot checks on motorists using the Lane.

Earlier this year I requested that Barton Road was put on the "salting/gritting route" by KCC Highways, as it appears that the gritting lorries were salting Mount Road rather than the bus route along Barton Road. Consequently, Barton Road is now on all KCC maps as part of the secondary salting routes. In addition I requested that the Gap is included for gritting, as many hospital staff park there. This will now be included for gritting in the Winter programme, i.e. when there is snow. Let's hope we don't have to use these services too much over the coming months!!

As of this month we now have an injection of youth in the ward, with some new Focus Team Members, studying at the nearby university. Wonderful news, and we couldn't have had a better Christmas present!

"Brussels bans children's party toys"

Several newspapers have claimed that "Brussels" has imposed new rules on the UK banning children from blowing up balloons or using party whistles. This is wholly untrue.

EU legislation on toy safety aims to protect young children from death and injury and reflects expert medical advice - and simple common sense. Balloons and other toys placed in the mouth can and do cause death and injury.