Wycombe Liberal Democrats » Marlow

Labour last again!

morty — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:59:42 +0000

In a Wycombe District Council By-Election on Thursday the Conservatives held onto the seat left vacant by a Conservative resignation.
The Liberal Democrats came second with Labour trailing in last place. Labour had tried to win support with a highly negative campaign that only resulted in red faces in the Labour camp.
Thank you to Carol and everyone who helped in the campaign.

The full result was:

1st – Conservative 928
2nd – Carol Cummins (Liberal Democrat) 382
Last – Labour 209.

Wycombe Community Resource Zone (scrapstore) Cressex – under threat – Cllr Trevor Snaith -Oct 2007

Trevor Snaith — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:36:42 +0000

Over the last week I have been receiving letters and calls from local residents in Ryemead who are raising concerns regarding the scrapstore
I am told their funding and premises is under threat from their landlord, Wycombe District Council as of next March.

When I hear of issues like this it concern me and makes me question the future of Wycombe’s voluntary sector in the current local economic and political climate.

Myself and our local community consultant Hilary Reed visited the scrapstore yesterday.

Our findings
1. The scrapstore we discovered is an Aladdin’s cave
2. Used by schools, groups churches, local artists –and more
3. Developing arts/ crafts experience in the community
4. Good for community cohesion
5. providing low cost materials
6. Opportunities to learn through art/ craft
7. Assisting recycling targets of council
8. Underpinning the local community voluntary and cost sectors

The issues
1. Funding for this project is being cut – Why ?– a venture of this scale needs supporting and additional funding
2. WDC are funding this project –BCC are not – believe BCC are benefiting from the centre and need to be making a contribution also
3. It’s probable by March 2008 the resource zone may have to close unless it can be funded by moving to the voluntary sector

Whilst we were there the unit was visited by over 30 people and groups from Ryemead ward (Local Church) ,Abbey Ward ( Local Church) and the other a group from Flackwell Heath (helping disabled)

Every one we saw in there had a smile on their face

WDC are in the process of working with a newly formed management committee to migrate the service to the voluntary sector. I wish them every success and will be monitoring progress.

Why is it Town Wards get massive housing developments and Rural Wards get a house or two!! – Cllr Trevor Snaith – August 2007

Trevor Snaith — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 17:57:58 +0000

I READ with interest in the BFP the reasons for refusing the building of five homes in Hazlemere opposite the Cedars Residential Homes.
I am familiar with the area and the ongoing issues regarding development of the site, and sympathise with any councillor and ward faced with the dilemma of inappropriate developments.

However, I have to comment there is a need for the district to build mixed dwelling homes in our semi rural, rural villages and out-of-town brownfield sites to sustain the local communities and meet the expected new government housing targets. We can’t keep dumping development in the town.
I note with interest and with some irony the reasons for rejection of five homes.
Cllr McCarthy states: “I think we need to remind ourselves that this site is exceedingly busy, I think the quality of the local environment will be harmed and the development will have an unsatisfactory impact. I do think there would be excessive pressure on the outside area by this development.”
Since joining the council, I’ve noticed a marked difference in our councillors’ views on rural/semi rural(urban) areas v town areas. This puzzles me somewhat as I’m aware that the rural areas need to look towards building homes to be able to protect rural communities and community cohesion

Let me point out some stark facts. A situation exists where we have seen massive building programmes in the town wards for several years.
Many of the town councillors grapple with these problems on a daily basis but often the scale of the problem is multiplied by the sheer size of the developments we are seeing being dumped in our wards. We all appreciate the need for new homes but they need to be in a controlled way.

A ward close to my heart (Ryemead) in Wycombe I estimate had suffered with over 400 new homes in the last ten years. Over 150 more are in progress – plus another 480 are to be built in the next three years in the Marsh area alone. That’s without the incremental builds we now face from back garden and knockdown incremental rebuilds.
The local environment and community is being harmed and developments are having an unsatisfactory impact across all of the east end of High Wycombe town.
We have a situation where Ryemead has the “accolade” of being one of the wards with the highest density of homes per hectare and highest growth in new homes in the Wycombe area
There is excessive pressure and lack of foresight and understanding on the pressure this will place on local schools, transport, roads, community facilities and community cohesion.
The entire east end of the town is suffering with increase in traffic on the A40 and surrounding roads and increase in congestion.

I would like to believe next time I or another town councillor raises concerns or objections regarding excessive housing developments and the social impact, be it on allotments, high rise apartments, or large estates in the highly-populated town wards, I trust we can count on support of our rural and out of town councillors in opposing them with the same vigour as the five homes in Hazlemere?

Support your local shops and markets – Cllr Trevor Snaith – July 2007

Trevor Snaith — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 08:16:49 +0000

With the development of Eden what is going to happen to our local shops?

We are seeing small businesses being pushed out of business by the weight of the large retailers, Trevor Snaith and Ray Farmer are asking the council to invest in our local communities to support local shops for local people

The Friends of the Earthg have recently produced an advert you may find interesting

Click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGoWKVA87ro

The competition authorities are currently investigating supermarkets.

In January they published their interim report. In this report, they recognised several potential problems related to supermarket dominance.

The next stage of this inquiry is crucial. Tough action is urgently needed to control the power of the supermarkets.

We have the opportunity to ask the Competition Commission to make the grocery industry fairer for everyone.

We must urge them to investigate the things that really matter:

Stronger planning policies
Needed to protect smaller shops.
Supermarket code of practice
Needed to protect the interests of consumers, farmers, workers and the environment.

After all, who wants cheap food if it’s at the expense of people and the planet?

Lib Dems triumph in Ryemead and Bourne End

Steve Guy — Fri, 04 May 2007 16:18:36 +0000

The Liberal Democrats have bucked the trend of Tory advances by taking three seats from them in Wycombe District, while Labour have lost four seats.

In Ryemead, Trevor Snaith and Ray Farmer have won Ryemead with a massive swing from Tory to Liberal Democrats (the defeated Tories chose not to stand on the platform while the result was announced!). This is a testament to the hard work Trevor and Ray have been doing.

In Bourne End, existing Lib Dem councillor, Brian Pollock now has a Lib Dem colleague Simon Fowke. Brian has an excellent reputation in Bourne End, and with Simon’s help will now be able to do even more.

On sad note is that long serving Marlow Councillor Maurice Oram has lost his District Council seat, although he retains his seat on Marlow Town Council.

You can be sure that all of the new Lib Dem team will be working hard to deliver for the people of Wycombe. A big thank you to everyone who voted Lib Dem, and to everyone who worked so hard on the campaign.

Marlow matters!

Steve Guy — Tue, 01 May 2007 10:14:52 +0000

(left to right: Maurice Oram, Jim Campbell, Ivor Coleman, Derek Done, Elaine Funnell and Margaret Done)

Marlow Liberal Democrats are challenging for both District and Town Council seats.

Marlow NW leaflet:Marlow NW.pdf

Marlow SE leaflet:Marlow SE.pdf

(Since the boundary changes, these wards are now part of Beaconsfield constituency – more information on the Beaconsfield Lib Dems website)

Lib Dems second in Greater Marlow

Steve Guy — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 09:07:44 +0000

Many thanks to everyone who fought for or voted for Ivor Coleman in Greater Marlow. Sadly, yet another Tory councillor was returned to Wycombe District Council by our unfair electoral system – but we are heartened that once again we have shown that Liberal Democrats are now the serious challengers all over the district. Labour’s distant third is making them look increasingly like a spent force in Wycombe and Marlow.

It is sad that the people of Greater Marlow won’t have the benefit of Ivor’s passion and experience as a Wycombe District councillor on this occasion, but he will continue to serve as a Marlow Town councillor with dedication and enthusiasm. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrat campaign will continue to fight as the real alternative at two more by election which have just been announced.

Ivor Coleman to stand for Lib Dems in Greater Marlow

Steve Guy — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 09:04:09 +0000

We are pleased to announce that Marlow Town Councillor Ivor Coleman has agreed to be the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Greater Marlow by election. The by election for the seat on Wycombe District Council takes place on Thursday 2nd March.

Ivor Coleman

IVOR COLEMAN, 63, was born in Marlow. Now widowed, he has 3 daughters, 3 grandsons, 3 granddaughters, and 1 great grandson. Has been a member of Marlow Town Council for 30 years, twice Town Mayor of Marlow in 1996/97 and 2002/3, and Deputy Mayor on 5 occasions. He was a member of Wycombe District Council for 12 years from 1991-2003. Having worked for many years at Marlow Brewery, Ivor now works for T.N.T. Managed Services.

Ivor has been involved in many Marlow organisations for a long time, these organisations cater for many people living in and around Marlow and include Marlow Youth Club, St Johns Ambulance, and the Air Training Corps. He has also been a Governor at Foxes Piece Schools for many years. Ivor is well known locally for organising Classic Cars displays at many local events including the Marlow Bottom Rose Carnival.

Ivor says:

If elected I will strive to serve the residents of Great Marlow in the same way as I have served the residents of Marlow Town for many years. I will work with your elected Independent Councillor Malcolm Blanksby carrying on the good working relationship that existed when I was previously a member of Wycombe District Council.