Sutton Borough Liberal Democrats

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Speaking up against hate best testament to Holocaust

Article: Feb 5, 2012

January 27, 2012 10:15 AM

Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford recently attended an event in London to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, as well as a ceremony in the European Parliament earlier in the week. She has signed the 'Speak up, Speak out' pledge against prejudice and discrimination.
Local MP quizzed by Trinity students

Article: Feb 5, 2012

Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake this week visited Trinity School in Croydon to speak before an audience of students and teachers.

He spoke about his experiences as a Liberal Democrat MP and the politics of the Coalition. He then fielded questions from the floor and was quizzed on issues including Nick Clegg's leadership and reform of the House of Lords.
TfL admit King's Cross junction does not meet safety standards

Article: Feb 4, 2012
As a result of questions asked to the Mayor by Caroline Pidgeon, Transport for London have admitted that a large junction at King's Cross does not meet their own safety standards, and refused to answer on why they have done nothing to comply with those standards.

You can read full coverage on the King's Cross Environment blog.

And on the same blog, you can read about Caroline's continued scrutiny and Boris Johnson's complacency on cycle safety issues.

Caroline's questions and answers to the Mayor in full:

Junction at King's Cross (1)
Question No: 313 / 2012

Caroline Pidgeon
Does the York Way/Pentonville Road/Grays Inn Road junction comply with TfL's 2005 London Cycling Design Standards with regards to lane and carriageway width?

Written response from the Mayor
The London Cycling Design Standards 2005 (LCDS) is a best practice guidance document intended to ensure that consistently high standards are applied to new schemes in order to reduce barriers to cycling. The existing junction layout at Kings Cross was implemented some time before this best practice guidance was published. The design for the imminent pedestrian and cycle improvements at the junction did use the 2005 LCDS Guidance.

The forthcoming improvements at this junction provide:

a wider approach to York Way in order to provide additional space for road users and cyclists

new advanced stop lines for cyclists

a "straight across" "one phase" crossing for pedestrians

more space and comfort for pedestrians when waiting at and crossing the junction

This work will be completed before the 2012 Games, which are expected to bring a large number of additional pedestrians to the Kings Cross area.

TfL will include the junction within its review of cycle safety at planned TLRN major junctions with a view to making further changes after the Games if appropriate.

TfL has also commenced a wider ranging strategic review of the Kings Cross Gyratory System.

Junction at King's Cross (2)
Question No: 314 / 2012

Caroline Pidgeon
If the junction at York Way/Pentonville Road/Grays Inn Road does not comply with TfL's standards when did you first become aware of this fact?

Written response from the Mayor
Please refer to my answer to MQ 313/2012.

Junction at King's Cross (3)
Question No: 315 / 2012

Caroline Pidgeon
If the junction at York Way/Pentonville Road/Grays Inn Road does not comply with TfL's standards please explain why TfL has failed to act to make the junction compliant with its own standards?

Written response from the Mayor
Please refer to my answer to MQ 313/2012.

Junction at King's Cross (4)
Question No: 316 / 2012

Caroline Pidgeon
Please explain what correspondence TfL has had with the Metropolitan Police about the compliance of this junction at York Way/Pentonville Road/Grays Inn Road?

Written response from the Mayor
I believe that you are referring to compliance with the London Cycling Design Standards 2005.

TfL discussed the forthcoming pedestrian improvement scheme with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) as part of its standard design process. Following discussions with the MPS, TfL adapted the designs for the planned pedestrian scheme in order to create some additional space for cyclists and other traffic travelling north from Grays Inn Road into York Way.

There has been no correspondence with the MPS regarding compliance with the London Cycling Design Standards.

Junction at King's Cross (4)
Question No: 317 / 2012

Caroline Pidgeon
Please explain if there are other junctions on the TfL road network that are not compliant with TfL's own standards and when they will be rectified?

Written response from the Mayor
I believe that you are referring to the London Cycling Design Standards 2005 (LCDS).

The LCDS is a best practice guidance document intended to ensure that consistently high standards are applied to new schemes in order to reduce barriers to cycling. TfL develops its schemes with reference to this guidance and always endeavours to provide the best possible cycling facilities within the constraints of the given location.

As you may be aware, TfL is undertaking a review of cycle safety at all junctions on the Barclays Cycle Superhighways implemented to date and at other major junctions on the TLRN where work is planned. More information on this review will be available soon.
Burstow launches "Save our Sergeants" campaign

Article: Feb 4, 2012

Local campaigners Roger Roberts and Abigail Lock have joined forces with local MP Paul Burstow to launch a campaign to protect our local police numbers and keep our area one of the safest in London.

The Conservative Mayor of London's police cuts have already resulted in the borough losing four police sergeants across the borough including one in the Worcester Park area, with a further 330 posts due to be cut by 2015.
Residents warned over bogus census scam

Article: Feb 3, 2012

Sutton Trading Standards has warned residents about email fraudsters who are using a fake census warning to try to obtain sensitive personal information.

Conmen are circulating an email entitled 'Population Census: a message to everyone - act now', allegedly in the name of National Statistician, Jil Matheson. The email tells recipients that they must provide further information for the Census or face a fine.
Speaking up against hate best testament to Holocaust

Article: Feb 2, 2012

Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford recently attended an event in London to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, as well as a ceremony in the European Parliament. She has signed the 'Speak up, Speak out' pledge against prejudice and discrimination.
Paul's reaction to St George's withdrawing from merger process

Article: Feb 1, 2012

Commenting on the news that St George's Hospital have pulled out of the merger with St Helier Hospital, Paul Burstow MP for Sutton, Cheam and Worcester Park said:

"This is clearly very disappointing news, however, it's important that all parties now act to protect the provision of services such as A&E and the maternity unit within the borough.
Hat-trick of council tax freezes set to be agreed

Article: Feb 1, 2012

Council tax is set to be frozen in Sutton for the third year in a row.

Sutton Council is poised to be one of the first in London to freeze its part of bills to help residents through difficult economic times.

If the plan is approved by the full council, it would leave the full-year charge for each Band D home at £1,140.89 after Sutton takes advantage of a 2.5 per cent one-off grant from the government. Not increasing council tax for three years is equivalent to a 14 per cent cut in real terms.
Carshalton and Wallington Regional Action Day

Event: February 25, 2012
Former Stanley Park High School set to provide new primary places

Article: Jan 31, 2012

The former Stanley Park High School looks set to be transformed to provide hundreds of much-needed primary school places for local children.

The council's Executive Committee is due to consider the proposal which, if agreed, could provide extra primary places as soon as September 2013.

A baby boom, coupled with Sutton schools' excellent reputation, means more and more families are applying for places in the borough's schools. It is anticipated that up to an extra eight forms of entry will be needed by September 2013. The council has been expanding existing schools for the past few years, and another five are set to add extra classes in time for the start of the next school year.

Liberal Democrat Sutton

Why is the London Borough of Sutton regarded as their flagship by Liberal Democrats from all over the country?

Firstly, Sutton Council has been run by Liberal Democrats for 25 years, the longest for any major local authority in Britain. We currently hold 43 of the 54 seats on Sutton Council.

Secondly, it has two of London's hardest-working* MPs - Tom Brake and Paul Burstow - who have held their seats since 1997. Paul is Minister for Health, and Tom is Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Backbench Committee on Home Affairs.

And third, because Sutton under the Liberal Democrats has pioneered so many ground-breaking developments in the environment, community safety, education, partnership working, and community engagement. Sutton's Lib Dem council is currently creating the UK's first sustainable suburb at Hackbridge on the east of the borough.

You can learn more about Liberal Democrat Sutton by exploring this website, or contacting any of the Sutton team named in the following pages.

*Paul was named the hardest-working of London's 73 MPs by the Evening Standard, and Tom was ranked third (behind another Lib Dem, Vince Cable).

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Sutton Borough Liberal Democrats

Sutton Trading Standards has warned residents about email fraudsters who are using a fake census warning to try to obtain sensitive personal information.

Council tax is set to be frozen in Sutton for the third year in a row.

Liberal Democrat Sutton

Abigail Lock

Brian Paddick

Caroline Pidgeon