Wednesday 28 October 2009

Don calls for Commons commitment to 10:10

The 10:10 Campaign is calling on individuals and organisations to commit to trying to cut their carbon footprint by 10% in 2010. Bath Liberal Democrat MP Don Foster has already joined.

Last week (Wednesday 21st October) Don supported moves for the House of Commons to join the 10:10 campaign. Speaking in a debate on the issue he criticised the Labour Government for failing to back the proposal.

Don said, “The 10:10 campaign has so far been a real success, with many individuals and organisations signed up. The Government should be taking a lead, not just lecturing others on what they should be doing.

“That’s why I asked the Minister why she thought everyone else should sign up for 10:10, but not the House of Commons. Sadly I got no answer and most Labour MPs voted against the measure.

The debate was called by the Liberal Democrats, who were the first political party in this country to put climate change on the national agenda.

Don said, “It is disappointing that the government failed to give their support. The government needs to provide strong leadership on climate change, particularly in the run up to the Copenhagen Summit, and signing up the House of Commons to the 10:10 would have been a significant step in doing so.”

Monday 19 October 2009

Local students could face £7,000 tuition fees

There is now less than eight months to save a new generation of young people from huge increases in university tuition fees, according to Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, Don Foster

Don was speaking after the Conservatives suggested they will increase tuition fees to £7,000 if they take power at the next general election, which has to be held by next June.

That will see tuition fees for undergraduates more than double. Currently there is a cap of £3,300 in England and Wales.

Peter Mandelson has already suggested that Labour will allow universities to charge more than at present if re-elected – though the party is too scared to push through the changes it wants before June.

Only the Liberal Democrats will scrap tuition fees. The party believes university education should be free and everyone who has the ability should be able to go – and not be put off by the cost.

Bath MP Don said: “I look around Bath and I see people return from university with no job and a bank balance tens of thousands of pounds in the red. What sort of message is that?

“Labour and now the Tories are showing their true colours. They don’t care about young people – they just want to saddle them with staggering amounts of debt.

“The choice is clear: the people of Bath can vote for a politician who will condemn a generation of youngsters or for the Liberal Democrats who will make education free again, giving young people the best possible start.”

Wednesday 14 October 2009

Bumper crop of planning applications

We have six planning applications to bring to your attention.
The first is for the erection of a single story side extension following the demolition of an existing conservatory at 20 Bennett's Road Lower Swainswick. The application reference number is 09/03498/FUL.
If you want to view the application or make any comments then please follow the link Here.

The next application is for the erection of a two story extension to ground and lower floors at 82 London Road West. The application reference number is 09/03343/FUL
If you want to view the application or make any comments then please follow the link Here.

The Third application is for Internal alterations to damp proofing of vault using Delta system at 170 London Road West. The application reference number is 09/03392/LBA
If you want to view the application or make any comments then please follow the link Here.

The fourth application is for Provision of loft conversion with 2 rear flat roof dormers at 77 Bay Tree Road Bath. The application reference number is 09/03471/FUL
If you want to view the application or make any comments then please follow the link Here.

The fifth application is for Internal alterations to reinstate the building into one house to include removing part of the dividing wall between the two ground floor rooms at 28 Lambridge Place. The application reference number is 09/03318/LBA
If you want to view the application or make any comments then please follow the link Here.

The sixth application is for the erection of a rear conservatory at 9 Roseland Close. The application reference number is 09/03553/FUL
If you want to view the application or make any comments then please follow the link Here.