Liberal Democrats in West Dorset believe in putting the interests of local people first. We will run West Dorset District Council in the interests of the people rather than in the interests of the Council itself.

Housing

Molly Rennie and Stella Jones welcoming more affordable housing

Everyone should have a roof over their heads and a safe place to live. We want to see an end to the policy of putting people into bed & breakfasts and will look to create another temporary centre such as Exhibition Court. We will work with expert providers to address the problems of homeless people and enable them to find a productive place in the community.We recognise that providing additional sustainable affordable housing is the number one local issue in West Dorset. The Council needs to develop a far more imaginative and innovative approach to solving this problem. Our specific priorities are to:

• use the new planning framework to ensure that the percentage of affordable housing on new developments is increased from the current target of 35% to at least 40%;
• apply this policy to developments of over nine homes rather than the current minimum of fifteen;
• insist on real affordable homes being delivered rather than payments in lieu;
• strongly support the introduction of choice-based lettings as a priority and use this to ensure that affordable housing actually goes to local people in need;
• develop incentives and provide support to encourage flats above shops, the development of community land banks, local self-build and the imaginative use of sustainable materials to increase energy efficiency;
• encourage small-scale social housing in villages where there is a local need and provide support for schemes like that at Buckland Newton;
• use more of WDDC’s own reserves to support these policies and;
• support the national campaign to increase Council Tax on second homes and use these proceeds to fund more affordable housing.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

Martin Ray, Mark Parsons and Karl Wallace backing increased recycling

The Conservative-run District Council has been appallingly reluctant to introduce recycling and is content simply to meet minimal Government targets rather than recycle for environmental reasons. We believe in protecting the local environment and reducing waste. We therefore strongly support the collection of plastic, kitchen waste for composting and other items as it becomes practical to do so and we would introduce a weekly collection of recyclable waste. We would create an active partnership with schools, to encourage young people to recycle, and with local supermarkets to reduce packaging.

We will take a more aggressive approach to acts that are detrimental to our environment such as litter, flytipping, flyposting and dog waste.

Economic Development and Tourism

Getting the balance right between large and small scale economic development is crucial

This needs to be based on West Dorset’s unique selling points – our environment, Heritage Coast, history, culture and the AONB. Our policies include:

• continued help for local businesses with more small-scale premises at low rents;
• priority to assist sustainable industry such as local & organic food producers, rural crafts and green tourism based on cycling, walking and the use of public transport;
• encourage the development of conference facilities in Dorchester and Lyme Regis and a walkers hostel in Lyme Regis;
• support for innovative schemes to enable young people to travel to neighbouring colleges so that they can obtain qualifications and improve their job opportunities;
• attract high tech jobs based on the standard and quality of life in West Dorset;
• support the development of Business Improvement Districts;
• ensure that future housing allocations are based on where there is employment so as to reduce the length of journeys to work;
• open Tourist Information Centres on Sundays and into weekday evenings throughout the summer;
• support efforts to extend the tourist season and make it genuinely all-year-round;
• improve public transport links to major tourist sites;
• support proposals to improve beach safety;
• create a marine nature reserve in Lyme Bay with an end to dredging for scallops.

We need to be taking the lead in actively promoting a series of events to take place during the Olympics. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to promote our area and it must be used to the full. We will also ensure that there is a permanent legacy from the Olympics that will benefit our area for many years to come.

Leisure

Stella Jones and Tony Lyall calling for improved activities for teengers

We strongly support the provision of a new public swimming pool in Dorchester and we support the decision to place the funding of the Bridport Leisure Centre on a secure long-term basis. We will also increase the funding of leisure facilities in the Sherborne area and develop a scheme to assist disadvantaged groups. We will encourage the increased provision of facilities for older children, such as skate parks, adventure play & youth shelters. We will also investigate reducing charges to leisure centres for children, especially in school holidays. We will ensure that a fishing jetty is completed in West Bay.

Car Parking

Bridport’s Park & Ride

• the creation of a new category of long-term car parking pass for residents who do not have anywhere else to park;
• increased support for park & ride schemes in Dorchester & Bridport and the further development of dial-a-ride;
• the development of plans to encourage cycling and walking as well as safer routes to school;
• encourage the use of the existing shoppers pass for local people who regularly use their market towns.

Public Toilets

Tim Harries calling for our public toilets to be improved, not closed

In an area so dependent on tourism it is essential that our public toilets are in a better condition. We have consistently opposed plans for closure and will introduce a programme to modernise them all over the next four years. We will consult about the location and level of provision of public toilets with local councils and communities. We will open new toilets in Bridport town centre before the Town Hall ones are closed.

Planning and Licensing

We feel there is a need to train town and parish councillors more effectively in current legislation so that their comments are even more professional and therefore have greater impact on the planning process. The whole planning process needs to become more transparent to assist both Councillors and members of the public.

We want to see planning policy aimed at preserving the nature of our market towns and our beautiful countryside. New developments must also:

• encourage the use of higher environmental standards in new buildings including the use of ‘greener’ construction materials and more sustainable heat & power sources and;
• should encourage walking, cycling & public transport and have plenty of open spaces.

We believe that planning needs to be more flexible in its approach to developments in villages and must take into account local needs.

Electoral Registration

We want to make it even more obvious on the registration form that it needs to be returned if people are not to lose their vote. We also support the return of doorstep canvassing by the Council to identify voters in areas where there is a low rate of return of forms.

The Management of WDDC

We will conduct an environmental survey of the management, policies and practices of WDDC aimed at decreasing wastage, energy costs and encouraging sustainability both in the Council and the wider community.

We will encourage the devolution of decision making and responsibility to town and parish councils where they want it and provide appropriate revenue support.

We will ensure that there is real and effective consultation on all major decisions with local town & parish councils, community groups and affected residents. We will give a right for members of the public to not only attend but also to speak at council and committee meetings.

A Liberal Democrat led Council will be pro-active in achieving the policies set out in this manifesto. Democratically elected Councillors, and not Officers, will be the driving force of our Council. We believe that it is wrong that the ruling group should both make decisions AND scrutinise them. We would amend the Constitution so that scrutiny committees are chaired by members of the opposition parties.

We continue to recognise that the Council Tax is an unfair and unsuitable method of raising local taxation and will campaign for its abolition. While it continues we will lead a major campaign to help those who need Council Tax Benefit to claim the support that they are entitled to receive.