Five years on
Five years ago my ward colleague Nick Kilby, then Opposition spokesman on Education, delivered a stiff reminder to the Lib Dem administration about the need for school places, reminding them that they had earlier dismissed his demand for more places based on the known facts about a ‘baby boom’ currently under way in the Borough.
The latest ‘Voice’ totally untruthfully, alleges that ‘Kingston Conservatives have opposed investment in local primary schools across Kingston’.
This allegation was made in 2010 and at the Surbiton Hill bye-election in 2011. It was rebutted then as the link shows. But they’re at it again, following their usual practice of never letting a good, working fib die!
Also five or six years ago, Tudor Ward Conservative Councillor Dennis Doe was very actively campaigning for a new secondary school in North Kingston. At the time the Lib Dems seemed to be more concerned with the possible effect on Grey Court school in neighbouring Richmond (then Lib Dem controlled if my memory serves) than in answering the needs of North Kingston parents. Now they boast that ‘7 years after the extra children start their primary schooling’ they will ‘open a new secondary school in North Kingston next year.’
Better late than never – but it should have been – COULD have been – up and running now.
Pinocchio’s ‘Voice’ bleats again
For all Pinocchio’s mate apologised for his antics in 2010, the latest ‘Voice’ suggests that Kingston residents can expect more of the same from the Lib Dems in this year’s local elections.
This ‘local news ‘ was printed in Carlisle (which is in England – just!). Kingston is obviously short of printers.
They boast of a freeze in the Council Tax – this year! The hope is that you won’t notice that last year they hiked it by just short of the amount which would have made them hold a referendum to pay for this year’s freeze. 2010 all over again. And they don’t tell you that they’ve had enormous help from Boris Johnson, who ended Ken Livingstone’s series of inflation-busting rises as long ago as 2009.
Quite the tackiest bit in the whole thing is the supposed presentation of a ‘cheque’ to a Norbiton family for £1400. I do hope the family didn’t try to cash it! The credit for lower taxation is due to the Coalition government as a whole, including the 305 Conservative MPs, not just the 53 Lib Dems.
On the local front we have a big picture of the Mayor surrounded by Lib Dem Councillors, including Surbiton’s Malcolm Self and Liz Green holding a ribbon to mark the ‘off’ for the wonderful Tolworth Greenway. Now I do wish they’d make their minds up about this. Only in December another Lib Dem Councillor, John Ayles, was suggesting to the assembled members of Ellerton and Bond Road RA that it was really the Tories’ fault that this thing had been put there as it was a Transport for London project under the control of Boris Johnson. So do they want credit for it or don’t they?
Or is it just a case of “if you like it, we did it; if you don’t, it was the Tories!’?
I could go on but that will do for now!
Government acts on floods
From the Prime Minister:-
Dear Paul,
This has been a tough week for Britain.
The wettest winter in two and a half centuries, some of the worst flooding in decades, and more severe weather on the way this weekend.
We’re doing everything we can to help:
- Delivering extra pumps and sandbags
- Deploying the military wherever needed
- Providing additional support for local emergency services
We will do what is necessary to help families and communities get through this very difficult time – more information is available on the Environment Agency website if you are affected.
We will also help people rebuild their lives and get back on their feet after the flooding, with repair grants of up to £5,000 for homeowners and businesses affected by the floods, and further support for businesses and farms that have suffered.
Amidst all of this, as is so often the case, in the toughest of times we are seeing the best of Britain.
Visiting the affected areas this week, I saw the incredible hard work and dedication of our emergency services, the Environment Agency, local authority workers, councils and armed forces.
I also saw the most inspiring community spirit amongst the many volunteers who are rolling up their sleeves and helping out those in need.
Everyone involved in the relief effort deserves our heartfelt thanks. Please join me by leaving a message of support on Facebook.
It will take time, but together we will deal with these floods, get our country back on its feet and build a more resilient country for the future.
Please take a minute to say thanks to everyone who is working so hard to make that happen.
Best wishes,
David Cameron
Pinocchio’s mate admits ‘dirty tricks’
The Surrey Comet website carries this story concerning ‘dirty tricks’ by a Lib Dem ‘campaigner’ in the 2010 election. We reported on this extensively at the time, as you can see by accessing our Health and Hospital page. The story is at this link.
It appears that the culprit is seeking election to the Council in May, fortunately not in Surbiton. Perhaps between now and then he will recall other similar instances of being economic with the truth. There have been quite a few.
Flooding
The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has passed on this information with a request that it be passed on by all who receive it. This we have pleasure in doing.
The current situation:
- 8 flood warnings in place for next couple of days including Ravens Ait.
- River levels are currently high in Thames Ditton effecting Kingston.
- Rainfall in next few days is not expected to be heavy.
Action taken by Kingston Council:
- Multi-agency flood plan is in place.
- Kingston council staff are door knocking and delivering information to those most likely to be affected (areas such as Queens Promenade, Queens Reach and Thameside, including checking on vulnerable people. If you are aware of any such residents – only those likely to be affected by flooding – please inform the council by telephoning the contact centre on 0208 547 5000 and asking that an ‘on call street scene officer’ be informed.
- The Hawker Centre and Kingston University’s Kingston Hill sites have been identified as centres ready to take residents should the need arise.
- If such contingency plans need extra support then the military is on standby ready to assist.
The whole situation is continuously being monitored for any changes or developments.
Road partial closure
from RBK Highways:-
Location:
Surbiton Crescent junction with Maple Road.
Restriction:
Surbiton Crescent is closed in the direction towards Kingston Town Centre only. Diversion route is along Maple Road and Surbiton Road.
Start:
08:00am 29 January 2014.
Duration:
Expected completion date 03 February 2014.
Reason:
Emergency gas escape.
Utility:
Southern Gas Networks.
Surbiton Forum 