National News
Havant Liberal Democrats in the Press
This page shows a selection of press coverage of Havant Liberal Democrats.
Lib Dems hoping the Clegg effect will help them make progress
Published Date: 29 April 2010
By Elise Brewerton
The Liberal Democrats say they are hoping to make major inroads on Havant Borough Council because of the Nick Clegg effect.
The Conservatives' hold on the authority is the strongest in the county.
They dominate politics in the borough with just three seats each for Labour and the Liberal Democrats out of 38.
But Susan Stocker, leader of the Lib Dems, who will be fighting to hold on to her Leigh Park Bondfields seat, thinks the political landscape is about to change, particularly with the resurgence of her party thanks to leader Mr Clegg.
She said: 'People are watching the debates and I think that's made all the difference.
'It's opened people's eyes to the Liberal Democrats.
'I personally think it's very important that there's a good opposition to scrutinise the work of the leading group, it's good for politics and I hope we can build on our group in this election.
'At the moment it is frustrating and it would be good if we had a lot more seats but that is up to the electorate.'
The Lib Dems are fielding younger candidates in this election than the opposition which they hope will energise their campaign.
Labour leader Richard Brown, who will be fighting to keep hold of his Warren Park seat, fears that despite the good work of his Labour colleagues in the borough – Leigh Park especially – people will vote as in the General Election and give the party a bloody nose.
He said: 'I feel I've been good value for money over the past eight years and I've worked hard.
'But a lot of people feel they have been let down by politicians from all parties and personally I think we have been tarnished with the same brush as them even though I don't claim expenses, only my basic allowance.
'We do need a strong opposition in Havant and I hope we get it to break the stronghold the Tories have here.'
Tory leader Tony Briggs, who represents Cowplain, said he does not believe there will be a sea of yellow in the council chamber come May 7.
He said: 'I compare the Nick Clegg show to The X Factor. It's all about performance and no substance.
'What people really want to know is how bad are the country's finances and what are they going to do about it.'
And he said he is looking forward to next Thursday's battle, adding: 'We enjoy a fairly big majority but at some stage or another other parties are going to eat into that. I believe that every authority needs a good-quality opposition.'
Hospital issue a key point in Havant election debate
Published Date: 28 April 2010
By Elise Brewerton
It's an issue that has left the community reeling - and it's got competing politicians hot under the collar too.
The long-promised but quickly axed plans for Oak Park Community Hospital was one of the main biting points of The News sixth pre-election hustings in Havant.
Housing, education and even fox hunting were debated in what was a lively hustings at Leigh Park Community Centre last night.
But Susan Stocker, leader of the Lib Dems, who will be fighting to hold on to her Leigh Park Bondfields seat, thinks the political landscape is about to change, particularly with the resurgence of her party thanks to leader Mr Clegg.
Liberal Democrat Alex Payton, Labour's Rob Smith and David Willetts, the current Conservative incumbent of the Havant seat, clashed over the fallout of the axed hospital.
Mr Payton, a barrister, told the audience he did not accept that all hope was lost and said his party were the only ones still pushing for the much-longed for facility.
He accused Mr Willetts of not doing enough to save the hospital and compared him unfavourably with the Chichester MP who successfully fought to keep open the A&E unit at St Richard's Hospital, Chichester, last year.
'A campaign to keep St Richards' is different to a campaign to open something that does not currently exist', said Mr Willetts.
'We need to get health needs met. There are several different ways in which it can be done and the best way should be a community hospital, but I'm trying to be imaginative and flexible.'
None of the candidates supported the figure of 6,300 new homes which central government has told Havant Borough Council must be built within the next 20 years.
But Mr Willetts said there was an urgent need for new housing for families. 'Young families come to my surgeries and they are sleeping on sofas at friends houses, camping in spare rooms or the kids are sleeping box in a box at the bottom of the bed. There is a real problem locally.'
Mr Smith, a teacher, said he favoured a figure of 4,000 new homes and said: 'I think it is necessary for government to lead on this. I do think local authorities need that push.'
Mr Payton said the Liberal Democrats would make gardens greenfield sites in order to stop back garden development.
They each agreed that Portsmouth City Council - which owns large swathes of the area's social housing - should take more responsibility in tenants needs in the Leigh Park area.
When quizzed only Mr Willetts supported overturning the ban on fox hunting.
Residents plead for better transport to hospital
Published Date: 20 March 2010
By Jeff Travis
RESIDENTS have stepped up the fight for better transport to and from Portsmouth's Queen Alexandra Hospital.
In just two hours, 148 people signed a petition to demand a dedicated bus service between Emsworth and hospital.
It comes as many elderly residents are struggling to get to and from Cosham.
As reported in The News, the hospital encourages Emsworth residents to take the train to Havant and then catch a bus to Cosham.
But David Willetts, Tory MP for Havant, has worked out it takes at least 69 minutes - 20 minutes more than it takes to get to Chichester's St Richard's Hospital, which is further away.
Havant Lib Dems have now started a petition, which was unveiled in St Peter's Square, Emsworth.
The petition will be presented to Mel Kendal, the councillor who heads transport in Hampshire.
Alex Payton, Havant's Lib Dem parliamentary candidate, who helped to collect signatures, said: 'A round trip depending on time of day can take up to three hours for many Emsworth residents.
'There are rail links too but they involve long walks for most people, some rather elderly, at each end.
'We think more direct action is now needed to convince bus operators that a direct service is necessary and viable.'
The petition comes after Havant's Oak Park Community Hospital was scrapped by NHS Hampshire because of a lack of money.
Meanwhile, Emsworth Victoria Cottage Hospital, in North Street, is set to be sold off by NHS Hampshire.
Cllr Kendal told The News that current transport provision was more than adequate.
He said: 'We are sympathetic to Emsworth residents' request and have worked closely with bus operators, the community transport sector, hospital authorities and Portsmouth City Council to try to deliver the best public transport links to the QA hospital.
'Emsworth is served by two principal services that, between them, provide four journeys an hour to Havant bus station.
'From Havant bus station there are six buses an hour from Havant to the hospital. Using service 700, with one change of bus, Emsworth residents can be at the QA hospital in 37 minutes.'
Cllr Kendal said the authorities and community groups provide patient transport, such as 'Call&Go' for the elderly and vulnerable.
He added: 'Over £700,000 a year is spent supporting local bus services in the Havant area.'
Councillors told to scrap free parking at Havant offices
Published Date: 23 February 2010
By Elise Brewerton
Councillors have been asked to scrap free parking for them outside their town hall.
Havant Lib Dems put in a motion calling on senior officers and councillors to pay to park next to Havant Borough Council.
Councillor Faith Ponsonby, who represents Battins ward, in Leigh Park, said this would put the council in line with other organisations, including hospitals, where doctors and nurses must pay.
Tory council leader Tony Briggs said he would now look at the idea as part of the major review of the council's travel plan for the £13m redeveloped civic campus.
Cllr Ponsonby said the money raised in parking charges - which she has worked out to be around £25,000 a year - could be used to fund temporary skips around the borough for people without transport who cannot afford to pay for rubbish to be taken away.
'It should only be until 4.30pm so that people attending meetings at 5pm could park for free,' said Cllr Ponsonby.
'If you have council work during the day you get an allowance and that could be used to pay for it.
'Anyone doing a job of work expects to pay for parking, even if you work at a hospital.
'I don't think it's right that we don't pay when everyone else has to.
'It's what we get an allowance for.'
Cllr Ponsonby said fellow Lib Dem colleague Cllr Ann Buckley refuses to use the free car park on principle, preferring to pay at the council-run car park across the road from the civic offices.
But at the full council meeting where the matter was debated Hayling councillor Victor Pierce-Jones was visibly angered by the proposal.
He said: 'If I am forced to pay I will simply park for free at Tesco down the road, park there for two hours, and push off.'
Cllr Ponsonby withdrew her motion at the council meeting after Cllr Briggs' decision to include it in the travel plan review.
Speaking at the meeting Cllr Briggs said: 'We're looking at a travel-to-work plan coupled with the development of the public service village.
'I will undertake with Cllr Collins for him to look at the costings (of the skips) so we fully understand the cost implications.'
Time to act now on 'disgraceful' roads
Published Date: 04 February 2010
By Jeff Travis
Residents are fighting for crumbling roads to be resurfaced.
Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians say the state of three main roads in Havant is horrendous and have likened them to dirt tracks.
This winter's icy weather has left the surface of Middle Park Way, Park House Farm Way, and Southleigh Road in a terrible condition with much of the surface disintegrating.
Ann Buckley, who is the county councillor for Leigh Park, said something had to be done as large chippings were flying up at pedestrians and drivers - and were heavy enough to crack a car's windscreen.
She is angry as residents campaigned for two years for the pothole-ridden roads to be resurfaced.
Residents counted as many as 130 potholes in Park House Farm Way.
After all the campaigning, residents breathed a sigh of relief when resurfacing work was done last autumn by Hampshire County Council.
But the crumbling surface is now providing more misery for residents.
Cllr Buckley described the roads as 'disgraceful'.
'These busy roads are bus routes and were resurfaced last year,' she said.
'Immediately, chippings started to break away and have scattered over the road surface and pavements.
'It is increasingly difficult to negotiate these roads without chippings flying up from the road.
'The work has clearly not been undertaken to the right specification. These roads were dreadful before the freeze and the bad weather has made things even worse.
'Most of the surface laid has now disintegrated.'
Richard Brown, 66, of Oxenwood Green, Warren Park, said: 'The chippings have come out of the holes.
'It's worse if you are on a bike than anything else.
'The stuff is being chucked up straight into people's windscreens.'
County council officials said the road surface was redressed as part of a rolling programme.
The work involves spraying bitumen on the road and then covering it with a layer of stone chippings.
The chippings only become fully embedded under the action of vehicle tyres, a spokeswoman said.
She said the recent weather had taken a huge toll on road conditions generally. Despite calls, no-one was available to comment, but the council said it was looking to repair weather-affected roads.
Lib Dems pick Havant candidate
Published Date: 28 January 2010
By Alex Forsyth
Political editor
Havant Lib Dems have chosen their candidate to fight Tory MP David Willetts in the General Election.
Alex Payton, a former Berkshire councillor and mayor, beat ex-Portsmouth councillor Alex Bentley to the job.
The 35-year-old told party members it was time to change the face of Havant politics, which are currently dominated by the Conservatives.
'People's trust in MPs has been betrayed by scandals and poor performance,' he said.
'Our first job is to restore to politics decency, honesty and fairness.'
Cllr Ann Buckley, Lib Dem county councillor for Leigh Park and Bedhampton, said: 'Alex Payton's experience as a councillor, mayor, campaigner and his commitment to live in the constituency, if elected, makes him an ideal challenger to the Tories.'
Mr Payton currently lives in Greenham near Newbury. He is a practising barrister and often works in Portsmouth County Court.
As a former councillor he campaigned against Post Office closures, health service cuts and council tax increases.
He has worked with the Royal Berkshire Hospital and Reading University.
£1.2m recycling centre for Havant
Published Date: 23 January 2010
By Jeff Travis
A state-of-the-art £1.2m recycling centre is set to be built in Havant.
For years residents have struggled to use the Household Waste Recycling Centre in Harts Farm Way because of poor access.
Cars regularly queue up as people try to get into the facility to offload bulky waste, like clothing, furniture and freezers.
But those days are set to be over as Hampshire County Council has confirmed it will overhaul the town's recycling centre - which is the busiest in the county because of its proximity to the A27.
The multi-million pound project will transform the facility with a new dedicated access road, more car parking spaces and more waste container bays.
It will also eliminate the current problem of the recycling centre closing to the public. The gates often have to be shut for health and safety reasons every time a waste container is changed over.
The county council hopes the new facility will be much more 'customer-friendly'.
A bigger centre is more needed than ever as the amount being recycled in Hampshire has more than doubled over the last decade to more than 284,000 tons a year.
The revamp was music to the ears of county councillor Ann Buckley, who represents Bedhampton and Leigh Park, who has been pressing for the makeover.
'I am really delighted it's being updated,' she said.
'We have wanted this for some time. I think it will make a huge difference to local residents. It will solve the dreadful problem in the road and people will not be waiting outside for a long time.
'I think it will encourage more people to bring their waste to the site.'
Although Havant is the busiest recycling centre out of the 24 in the county, the site has one of the lowest recycling rates because of its outdated facilities.
The county council hopes the new-look centre will help boost the town's recycling rates up to 60 per cent in line with other modernised sites.
Approving the plans, Councillor Ken Thornber, leader of Hampshire County Council, said: 'Hampshire has some of the best recycling and waste disposal facilities in Europe and by making it easier for people to recycle their bulky household and garden waste in Havant, we will be able to build on the success Hampshire has already achieved in this field.
'Thanks to the county's impressive recycling rate, together with our three Energy Recovery Facilities, we have been able to divert almost 90 per cent of household waste away from landfill, making Hampshire the top performing county council in this area.' A timescale for the project is not yet clear.
A planning application needs to be submitted and then the county council will have to find a contractor before work can begin.