News

Lib Dems welcome £20m leveling up grant 

Liberal Democrat councillors on Gloucester City Council have welcomed the news the city is to receive £20 million from the Government's Leveling Up Fund. The decision was announced in the Chancellor's Budget statement on Wednesday. Councillor Jeremy Hilton, Lib Dem group leader, said: "The three group leaders met ahead of the local elections to agree on the three projects the council would bid for and tasked officers to prepare the bid document. "The bid went in shortly after the elections and was sent in with all party approval. I was happy to endorse it for the Lib Dem group and I am delighted that the council has secured £20 million towards three important regeneration projects. "At long last we may see the restoration of the historic Fleece Hotel. The £9.5 million towards the new university campus in the old Debenhams building will drive this project forward and the £4 million for the digital innovation centre will bring in much needed high tech jobs." The three projects are: - Debenhams (£9.5 million) a

Yellow lines or not?

Lib Dems welcome return of the Festival of Light

The return of the Festival of Light to Gloucester has been welcomed by the Liberal Democrats. Gloucester City Council announced the return of the festival, which will run from November until February next year, and will see the light installations bring colour to the city as the nights draw in over winter. Among the highlights will be Shadowing that will turn three ordinary lampposts in the city centre into magical illuminated stages where visitors can dance and play with their shadows. Designed by award-winning digital artists Chomko and Rosier, it will see the lights record and play back the shadows of those who pass under them. The installation launches on October 29 in Berkley Street, Southgate Street and St Mary De Crypt corner, as well as at Blackfriars Priory when the street lights turn on after dark. Another highlight will be Breathing Room by Anna Berry, which is a walk-in kinetic light installation creating a unique sensory experience. Councillor Jeremy Hilton, leader of Gloucester Liberal Democrats

Council must stop advertising artificial grass on its refuse vehicles, say Lib Dems

Gloucester City Council must stop advertising artificial grass on its refuse vehicles, according to thee Liberal Democrats.

Longlevens by-election to cost £10,000

A by-election to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of the Sheriff of Gloucester will cost taxpayers at least £10,000. Conservative Councillor Clive Walford resigned in September just five months after being re-elected in May to represent Longlevens. City councillors had also unanimously appointed him Sheriff - an important civic post in Gloucester supporting the work of the Mayor. Councillor Walford's surprise resignation has triggered a by-election on November 4 which will now cost at least £10,000 to hold, according to city council officials. In May's all-up election, Councillor Walford won the third seat in Longlevens - pipping Liberal Democrat Sarah Sawyer by 62 votes. Sarah Sawyer is now standing in the by-election for the Lib Dems. Councillor Jeremy Hilton, leader of Gloucester Liberal Democrats, said: "This by-election is unnecessary and Longlevens residents will rightly feel angry they have to go to the polls again just six months after electing their councillors. "Local families are facing tax

Future of Paygrove Lane site hangs in the balance

The future of a piece of land in Longlevens remains uncertain with fears housing could still be built on it.

Housing stock survey to protect Kingsholm's family homes is delayed by council red-tape

A promised housing stock survey in Kingsholm has been delayed yet again by council red tape.

Sarah Sawyer to challenge Conservatives in Longlevens by-election

Gloucester Liberal Democrats have announced their candidate for the forthcoming by-election in Longlevens. Community campaigner and Longlevens resident Sarah Sawyer will be the challenger to the Conservatives. The by-election, which will be held on November 4, has been caused by the sudden resignation of Conservative councillor and Sheriff of Gloucester Clive Walford - just five months after he was re-elected. Sarah, who is well known in the Longlevens community, stood for the Liberal Democrats in May's local elections and was just 62 votes from being elected. Three councillors - including Liberal Democrat Linda Castle - were elected to represent the area on the city council with Sarah finishing fourth. The married mother of three has a strong record of community activism. Sarah set up the Friends of Elmbridge group and raised £60,000 to build a children's play area in Armscroft Park. During the pandemic, Sarah raised £1,000 to feed local school children and received an award from the Mayor of Gloucester to t

Lib Dem opposition calls for better tree planting and maintenance

Liberal Democrats on Gloucester City Council have laid down a challenge to the Conservatives to plant more trees in the city and improve tree maintenance budgets. Their challenge will be heard at a meeting of the city council when it meets on September 23. Councillor Ashley Bowkett, who represents Barnwood, will move a motion calling for the cabinet member Richard Cook to: - · identify ways the council can do more to support tree planting and maintenance · identify further city council funds for this purpose · encourage the county council to boost funding for highway trees, and · set targets and map them against such further funding so that the 2020 Strategy for Gloucester can be fulfilled. Councillor Bowkett said: "Trees are an essential part of the high-quality green infrastructure that our communities value, yet the current council budget allocated to this is acutely inadequate. "This is putting considerable pressure on the city and county council to meet the commitments laid out in the 2020 Gloucestershir

Lib Dems invite the police and crime commissioner to address the city council on policing in Gloucester

City councillors are to debate a motion over concerns about anti-social behaviour and petty crime in Gloucester. If approved, the council will invite the newly-elected police and crime commissioner for Gloucestershire, Chris Nelson, to address council on his plans to reduce anti-social behaviour in the city. The motion, which has been proposed by the Liberal Democrats, asks council to agree that increasing the number of police officers and PCSOs patrolling in Gloucester to cut anti-social behaviour and reduce crime is an objective the council could support. The Lib Dems are asking that a letter be sent to Gloucestershire's PCC, from the three group leaders inviting Mr Nelson to address council in open session on his plans to improve community policing in the city of Gloucester, allowing for a question-and-answer session from elected members following Mr Nelson's address to council. Lib Dem group leader Jeremy Hilton, who proposed the motion, said: "Tackling anti-social behaviour across the city was a manifest

Munira Wilson Keynote Speech

Liberal Democrats are calling for tutoring to become a permanent fixture in England’s schools.

Bring Back the Industrial Strategy

Under this Conservative Government, the UK's economy has been plagued by sluggish growth, dwindling investment, and regional disparities.

A Fair Deal for Our Armed Forces Community

The armed forces community - service personnel, their families and veterans - deserve a fair deal. For too long, they have been taken for granted by this Conservative Government.

Combating human trafficking & modern slavery

Slavery, in all its forms, is an affront to the fundamental British principle of individual liberty. No human being should ever be enslaved.

Giving people security in later life

The Liberal Democrats have become the first UK party to commit to protecting the triple lock on pensions in the next Parliament.

What’s on the agenda at Lib Dem Conference?

We’re heading to Bournemouth for the party’s first in-person autumn conference in four years. As ever, the agenda is packed full of topical debates on the biggest issues facing Britain today.

Hundreds of NHS ambulance staff waiting for driver training despite deadly delays

Hundreds of NHS ambulance staff across the country are waiting to complete essential driver training, new data from the Liberal Democrats has shown. This is despite dangerous delays to response times and a shortage of ambulance drivers.

Food prices soar by a third

Food prices have soared by 30% in the last two years, the biggest rise on record.

Lib Dem investigation reveals sewage cover up

Liberal Democrats demand water firms measure how much sewage they are discharging into waterways

England's hospitals are crumbling

A Freedom of Information investigation by the Liberal Democrats has found hospitals with chemicals leaking in patient areas and others with multiple broken fire alarms.

Liberal Democrats WIN Somerton and Frome

Sarah Dyke smashes the Conservatives with the best result of the night in Somerton and Frome

Happy 75th birthday to our NHS

The Liberal Democrats are proud to be champions of the NHS.