Listen to the people's priorities - Lib Dems launch 'Five Steps to a Better Guildford'

1.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 2nd Apr 2007

The Liberal Democrats have launched their manifesto for the Borough Council elections. 'Five Steps to a Better Guildford' sets out the actions needed to start listening to the priorities of Guildford people, and repair the damage and waste of money resulting from four years of Conservative mismanagement.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson Sue Doughty says, "This election will allow the people's voice to be heard at last. The Conservatives ignored massive public protest when they closed the Civic before having plans in place for its replacement. The Conservatives ignored residents' priorities when they planned to spend £1.5 million on prestige refurbishment of the council offices' reception area at Millmead. The Conservatives ignored public support for real action to combat climate change, and gave us green spin instead.

"A Liberal Democrat council will listen to the priorities of the people of this borough. We will stop the waste of money and make Guildford a better, greener, safer place to live."

The Liberal Democrats give five steps needed for a better Guildford:

1. Stop the waste of money - delete unwanted prestige projects, promote projects that benefit the public and our environment, end the Civic chaos, cut council spin and keep council tax low.

The Lib Dems will introduce residents' concessions on council facilities such as Spectrum, increase funding for local community facilities, and provide more support for the good work done by voluntary organisations.

2. A greener Guildford - boost real recycling and lead the fight against climate change, aiming for a carbon-neutral council showing the way for a carbon-neutral borough.

The Lib Dems will collect food waste from the kerbside across the borough for composting within Surrey, cut the Council's energy use and maximise use of locally-produced food and other locally-produced products by the council. We will offer a 'Greener Guildford' badge scheme giving accreditation to businesses and shops offering green services. We will revise the SPA Strategy so that it benefits local communities and green spaces. We will protect parking for residents of existing homes by excluding new developments from having on-street parking permits. We will promote car-clubs across the borough.

3. Safer Streets - more community wardens, more CCTV, working in partnership with the police.

The Lib Dems will radically improve street cleaning, with more hit-squads to deal with litter and fly-tipping, extend CCTV working in partnership with the police, extend our community safety warden scheme and clamp down on vandalism and graffiti.

4. Homes for local families - affordable homes must come before offices, protect our green spaces

The Lib Dems will aim for 50% affordable housing in new housing developments and use non-strategic employment land for housing rather than green spaces such as gardens and countryside. We will use planning policy wherever possible to preserve family homes, for example by introducing Housing Conversion Restraint Areas in the town centre.

5. Save the Royal Surrey - fight to save our local hospital

The Lib Dems will continue to campaign with residents of Guildford and wider afield to save the Royal Surrey from closure and to maintain accident and emergency services at the hospital.

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Click Here to Download Our Manifesto.