The pre-Budget report released today has been roundly condemned by West Dorset Liberal Democrats as a wasted opportunity to help ordinary people in West Dorset.

Dr Sue Farrant, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for West Dorset, said, “The Labour government has finally admitted that the tax system is unfair to anyone who is not a top-earner. This was a golden opportunity for the Chancellor to help ordinary people by reducing the basic rate of income tax. Instead, he has announced a £5billion tax hike!

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	£28 million at risk in Icelandic banks
	£15 million overspent on building project
	£7 million lost on pension fund investment in City building
	£3 million spent on consultants in the last eighteen months

Even before these huge losses Conservative-run Dorset County Council had cut care services for the elderly and disabled. After trying to close 13 libraries they have cut the opening hours of every library and brought in charges for Internet use. What will the Conservatives cut now to make up for their lack of leadership and control of local taxpayers’ money?

Read more about the financial crisis hitting the county and who is to blame.

Councillors Caroline Payne and Janet Page at former flood troublespot - now draining free

Following visits by the Environment Agency to town and parish councils some flood warden schemes have been put in place. Cllr Janet Page says that the one in Beaminster is already working well. “Where blocked drains reported to the County Council are kept clear and cleaned out flash floods are less likely.” Cllr Caroline Payne recommended this idea to villagers with problem areas. “It would help if the County Council also ensures hedge and verge trimmings are cleaned away and ditches maintained”.

Local trader Matt signs Franny Allen

The number 71 Town Bus is set to go to the Historic Cobb in Lyme Regis before Christmas, campaigners were delighted to hear. Members of Lyme Town Council first raised this issue 3 years ago and received many excuses, but it seems that a petition signed by 300 residents and local traders, organized by local Liberal Democrats has made a real difference. They were also supported by articles and pictures in the Bridport and Lyme News.

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Like everyone else in the country, residents of West Dorset are suffering from rocketing food and energy prices.

The government’s own figures show that bread is up by a fifth, butter and eggs by over a third, and potatoes by over a quarter.

West Dorset Parliamentary Candidate Sue Farrant recently joined forces with the Lib Dems’ Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable MP to highlight the real increase in the cost of living.

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Two years ago Conservative-run Dorset County Council decided to build a new secondary school for Wimborne. It was meant to cost £35 million with £31 million coming from the Government and £4 million from the County.

But County failed to get the building contract signed and the contractor was taken over by another firm.

After a year of wrangling, building costs have soared to over £50 million. The Government will not provide any more money, so the County now has to find at least another £15 million!

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Liberal Democrats at West Dorset District Council are campaigning for planning authorities to grant permission for more energy micro-generation such as photo-voltaic panels to be allowed on listed buildings. Planners at West Dorset have rejected a number of recent applications in the area on grounds that the “Overall modern appearance forms a visually incongruous feature harmful to the historic character of the buildings.”

Bridport Councillors Ros Kayes and Dave Rickard, along with local Solicitor & Chair of the Chamber of Trade Mike Harvey, are campaigning for change.

“Adequate insulation is one of the most effective ways of reducing energy consumption and I therefore want to see West Dorset increasing insulation grants,” said Cllr Ros Kayes. “But we are also going to have to change planning rules as we have so many buildings of historic character and 70% of the landscape is designated AONB. To continue to refuse this equipment in conservation areas long-term is environmental folly.”

Back in 2001 the Conservatives took all the posts on the Cabinet that runs Dorset County Council.

The Conservatives said that from then onwards they would make all the decisions by themselves and that we should judge them by the results:

• Eight years on the County is suffering from potentially huge financial losses.
• The Conservatives have spent too much on consultants and on public relations.
• Council Tax has increased by more than inflation year after year
• Borrowing has ballooned.

The Conservatives have cut:

• adult care services for the elderly and disabled,
• library opening hours, and
• just look at the state of our roads.

There is no doubt who is responsible. The buck stops with the one-party Conservative Cabinet. They alone have made the decisions that are costing the people of Dorset dear.

Next June you will get the chance to have your say. The Liberal Democrats will be offering a positive programme of change. We will manage your money more effectively.

Beaminster Cllr Caroline Payne and Sue Farrant call for more affordable housing in rural areas

A roof over one’s head is a basic need. Sadly, all too many people in West Dorset simply can’t take it for granted.

Fact: In the year to March 2008, 61 households were accepted by West Dorset District Council as being homeless and in priority need. Another 61 homeless households were put onto the housing list but for one reason or another are not priority cases and are unlikely to be housed by the Council.

Fact: Across the six Dorset District Councils, 140 households were judged to be homeless and in priority need in the year ending 31 March 2008.

Fact: At the end of March this year, a total of 125 Dorset households were living in temporary accommodation (including bed and breakfast).

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West Dorset Liberal Democrats campaigning against the closure of local Post Offices

Local Liberal Democrats have greeted with dismay the announcement that all six of West Dorset’s threatened post offices are to close. Dr Sue Farrant said, “We all knew that the ‘consultation’ period was a sham. The Post Office has just steamed ahead with what it always intended to do. The thousands of people who signed petitions or supported our protests have been totally ignored.”

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