Welwyn Hatfield Council goes Blogging

A group of councillors in Welwyn Hatfield went on a blogging course on Monday 17th November. They have set up their blogs, which you can find at the following sites:

Louise Lotz
Mandy Perkins
Kim Morris
Roger Trigg
Fiona Thompson

Have fun reading their blogs!

Cheers

Louise

Vince can solve your credit crunch problems

Vince Cable is pictured here with Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Paul Zukowskyj. Vince Cable shows how a basket of groceries has increased in price. But Vince has the solutions to the credit crunch Read our story - left, to see what they are. In 2007, the groceries cost nine pounds and seventy-one pence. Today, in 2008, the same basket of groceries costs twelve pounds and twenty-four pence. That's the effect of the credit crunch. But Vince Cable has the solutions. Read on to find out what they are.

"People are feeling the pain of the credit crunch and rocketing prices," says our PPC Paul Zukowskyj. "The government is doing too little, too late to help people get through the hard times.

"We need to put money back in the pockets of people who are struggling to make ends meet.
Liberal Democrats are calling for a 4p cut in the rate of income tax, paid for by upping taxes on pollution and closing tax loopholes used by the rich.

"We would also get tough on unnecessary and wasteful government spending, and use some of the money saved to cut taxes even further for those on low and middle incomes."

Liberal Democrats in Peartree Ward welcome plans to tackle booze problems

Alcohol-related disorder in Peartree Ward on Friday and Saturday evenings could be tackled more effectively under new powers proposed by the Liberal Democrats. The plans to tackle binge drinking were launched by Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg MP on Monday 8th November.

Problems caused by alcohol and binge drinking round Woodhall shops has made the whole parade unpleasant for everyone, and street wardens and police have a job at the weekend tracking down the binge drinking culture which has had a knock on effect on the young people of the area who imitate this anti-social problem with large numbers of young people in the area and also from the surrounding wards congregating in parks to drink.

Louise Lotz said, "For too long, binge drinking has been causing problems in Peartree. I am pleased Nick Clegg has put forward these plans as I believe they will go a long way to tackling the binge drinking culture that is such a problem here."

The proposals, outlined in Tackling Booze Britain, include:

· Stop irresponsible drink promotions by introducing a minimum price for alcohol
· Put an end to the sale of alcohol to children by imposing a 'one strike and you're out' policy
· Protect Accident & Emergency staff by fining disruptive drunks in hospital A&E departments

Launching the proposals, Nick Clegg MP said, "The Government's failure to tackle the alcohol misuse in this country has left many of our town centres as no-go areas on Friday and Saturday nights.

"We cannot afford to ignore the impact that this problem is having on many people's lives.
"These proposals will increase funding for treatment of people with a drink problem, force retailers to sell alcohol responsibly, and ensure that those people who cannot handle alcohol responsibly are held to account.

"Following the publication of today's Home Affairs Select Committee report, these changes now become inevitable.

"We need a radical new approach to the alcohol related problems in this country. Parents, young people, and the alcohol industry must all play their part if we're to have any hope of dealing with the country's binge drinking culture.
"Ministers have spent years ignoring this growing problem. It's time action was taken to tackle this now."
Ends