On Saturday, local Liberal Democrats joined a range of BTCV volunteers and residents of the Brownings Avenue / Eastern Crescent area to build garden areas on the field in between. It was all part of the BBC Springwatch project. Local ward councillors Graham Pooley and Jude Deakin, Cllr Alan Arnot (Patching Hall) and Parliamentary Candidate Stephen Robinson took part in the digging and planting process.
Cllr Fraser Macpherson, Liberal Democrat Councillor for the West End, today (Monday 9th June) launched his June 2008 update to West End Community Council.
Local campaigner Mike Peel is pushing for action to improve Pirbright Tunnel.
Springvale Liberal Democrats have started to deliver their latest Focus Newsletter across the Ward. The main stories are: Hilton Hall under treat of closure, Cllr Whitehouse thanks the voters, What May's election results mean for Wolverhampton, EU commissioner backs Liz Lynne's call for cancer action, road resurfacing and flooding in Spring Road.
Springvale's Lib Dem councillors have learnt that council officers are trying to justify the closure of Hilton Hall. The officers say that the hall's structure is unsound and will need demolishing. Cllr. Malcolm Gwinnett said, "This is just not true. The hall is in need of a great deal of renovation but is still safe. I believe the hall should continue to be used while officers of the Authority use all the time available to find funding to build Lanesfield the purpose built community centre that it deserves. I and my colleagues are committed to this course of action. Cllr. Richard Whitehouse has already handed in a large petition from the users of the hall demanding action. As one tea dancer said, "I have been coming to the tea dances here for years. I do not want to go to Bilston Town Hall, its too far, so what am I and the wife to do." Cllr. Mike Heap said, "You can rest assured we will be doing all in our power to save the Hall."
I read with some concern the views of Bury Society and the Suffolk Preservation Society. To care for the character and environment in which we live is a worthwhile cause. We cannot however ignore the needs of our community. It is the needs of people we should look after first. In Bury St Edmunds the average wage is below the national wage, while the cost of housing is above the national housing. Curbing house building will only widen this gap.