Braintree and Witham Liberal Democrats

Hedingham County Division comprising the Braintree District Wards of:-

Hedingham and Maplestead (3 seats), Stour Valley N & S, Bumpstead, Upper Colne and Yeldham

The local organiser is Steve Bolter, phone 01 787 461 604

e-mail hlibdem@cbb4u.co.uk

Steve has lived in Gestingthorpe, since 1983. He was a District Councillor for the Hedingham and Maplestead Ward from 2004 to 2007. He is a member of the national executive of the Green Liberal Democrats.

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Links to recent publications

Spring Focus 2011 Election Focus 2011 Hedingham Herald September 2011 (local edition of County Newspaper)

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News

Chris Huhne has Resigned, but the Policy Goes On (6^th February 2012)

The Tory right were ready for the departure of Chris Huhne from the post of Minister for the Environment and Climate Change.

Within a day the oil and gas lobbies were calling for a drastic cut in the land based wind turbine feed in tariff and for increased exploitation of gas reserves. The next day came the aviation lobby's calls for both coalition partners to break their election promises and allow more runways in the south-east of England.

Oil and gas lobbyists always forget that subsidies to make renewables competitive are only needed because fossil fuel electricity generators are subsidised, by not being charged for the disruption to the climate they are causing.

Increased exploitation of gas and oil increases its price, increases our foreign exchange burden and increases our dependence on Russia and the middle-east. Feed in tariffs for renewables help stimulate capital investment, which yields price reducing economies of scale in the production of the hardware needed to capture the energy. Increased renewable use reduces fossil fuel demand, helping to keep energy prices down.

As there is no practical alternative to fossil fuel for aviation, and because exhaust gases released at high altitude are almost twice as polluting as those at ground level, we cannot have uncontrolled growth in aviation. As the UK already has more than its fair share of world aviation and the south-east has more than its fair share of UK aviation, the south east of England should not have any more runways.

I share the lobbyists concern that changes to the planning system could make it more difficult to prevent wind generators in unsuitable locations. I agree that current higher levels of protection from inappropriate development should be retained, but not just for wind turbines; but for airports, fracking operations, and other major developments too.

Chris Huhne achieved a remarkable advance in environmentally friendly policy. The advance will be continued by Ed Davy with the strong backing of the Liberal Democrats and those of other parties who are committed to making this the greenest parliament to date.

Steve Bolter 6^th February 2012

No to Any More Runways in the south east of England (East of England, SE and London Regions) (20 Jan 2012)

Local Lib Dems are pleased that senior Lib Dems, including Norman Baker (Transport) and Nick Clegg were swift to reafirm Lib Dem policy when Boris started promoting a scheme a new airport off the Isle of Grain. The Party is standing up to the Tories, who stated their opposition the expansion of aviation to boost their vote in the election, but who now show signs of caving in to the aviation lobby.

Recent Lib Dem pronouncements have referred to no new runways at Heathrow or anywhere in the south east. Norman Baker has confirmed that this refers to the geographical south east, including Stansted and the whole of the East of England Region, not just the South-East Region.

Aviation is a major contributor to Global Climate Change and cannot be allowed to expand without limit. The UK already has more than its fair share of flights, and the south-east has a more than fair share of UK flights. If there is any expansion of aviation capacity in the UK, the last place it should be in the midlands or the north.

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New 400 000 volt line (15 Jan 2012)

The local Lib Dem rep is monitoring National Grid's proposals. The grid needs to be improved, but it needs to be done in the least intrusive way. The case is being made for the crossing of the Stour Valley to be underground. More detail is expected in the coming months.

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Steve has replied to Caroline Lucas's call for Lib Dems to desert to the Green Party

Steve argued that this might make Caroline eel more powerful,but that it would not gain any votes for green issues in this Parliament.

Lib Dem members should be giving their MPs the backing they need to help them ensure that even more LibDem policies become Government policies.

Our members disserting them would weaken their powere to kerb the Tory right and bring in more green policies.

For the full text click here

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In the May 2011 District Council Election we contested one of the 3 Hedingham seats.

It was a quiet election with only the Tories and us putting out any information. We suggested our supporters gave their second vote to the Green candidate

Our vote of 661 was only 65 down on 2007, when we probably had some tactical voting from Labour supporters, but almost the same as that which gained us the seat in the 2004 by-election.

This time, with the Conservatives coming out in force to vote no to AV, their vote was generally up but one Torry suffered a loss of 70 votes.

We were fourth, following the three Tories. The Greens, came fifth, followed by the three Labour candidates, who gained an average of 96 votes each over 2007.

Steve Bolter notes that the highest vote went to the youngest candidate, and this was District Wide. We need more young members.

We would like to field more young candidates in the 2013 County Election and 2015 Braintree District Election.

Without the AV effect, and when national Tory policies start to bite, the Tory vote could drop back considerably, making Hedingham and Maplestead winnable again in 2015.

May 2011 District Council Election .

2004 to 2011 Results compared.