Middleton www.heywoodandmiddletonlibdems.org.uk FOCUS Edited by Councillor Wera Hobhouse and Local Campaigner Terry Smith Lib Dem Plan for Economic Recovery *Lib Dems announce plans for tax cuts for lower paid * “Ordinary people need money in their pockets now” says Wera The Liberal Democrats will cut taxes street. for people on low and middle incomes, raising them for the richest Councillor Wera Hobhouse said so the tax cuts are affordable. We “People are very worried about the will fund this by ending upper rate current economic situation. I tax relief on pensions, clamping recently met with Liberal Democrat down on tax avoidance, harmonising treasury spokesman Dr. Vince income and capital gains taxes, Cable, who has been constantly increasing green taxation and ahead of the government with trimming overall central public solutions to the problems we have spending. faced. As a council we are doing our These proposals would not increase best to help people through these government borrowing; that means tough times. We shall just have to they are affordable now. This tax cut hope that the government now is now urgent to get money to listens to the calls of the Liberal Heywood and Middleton’s Parliamentary Candidate people who are struggling the most, Democrats to cut taxes for those Councillor Wera Hobhouse alongside Liberal helping them to pay for essentials families who are really struggling at Democrat Treasury Spokesman Dr Vince Cable MP. and keep us spending in the high the moment.” Investing our way out of Where are Recession the Tories? Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has set out plans to put Britain on a Green Road out With Jim Dobbin preparing to defend his of the Recession, creating jobs and leaving a Parliamentary seat against a strong and legacy that will save energy, put money back increasing Lib Dem challenge, Focus asks: into people’s pockets and fight climate Where are the Tories? change. The Conservative party has selected 85% of all The plans will cost £12.5bn, which would be paid for their Candidates across Britain, yet in the by scrapping the proposed VAT cut. The vast Heywood and Middleton Constituency, they majority of that money will be spent immediately, Local Campaigner Terry haven’t even sent out the application forms. making a real impact on the economy and people’s Smith talks to a Middleton While they won’t admit it, it is clear that they lives right away. Resident about getting have no ambitions to win here. through the recession Green Road out of the Recession proposals In contrast, your local Lib Dem candidate, include: · Building 40,000 extra zero-carbon social Councillor Wera Hobhouse, was selected two · A five-year programme to insulate every houses years ago and has been working flat-out for the people of Middleton ever since. school and hospital, with 20% completed in · Buying 700 new train carriages the first year · Reopening old railway lines and stations With so little Conservative presence in · Funding insulation and energy efficiency for a Middleton, only the Lib Dems can defeat the · Installing energy and money saving smart million homes, with a £1,000 subsidy for a failing Labour Government here. million more meters in every home within five years Play Area for Alkrington so that it can be enjoyed by *Residents vote massively in favour local children for years to of play area for Kirkway Stocks come.” Councillor Wera Focus is delighted to announce the construction of a new Hobhouse, Middleton Play Area for 8- 13 year olds on Kirkway Stocks, after Parliamentary residents voted massively in favour of the development. Candidate added “I know some residents have Hundreds of residents attended an event at St Peter’s school to concerns that developing look at the proposals and give their views on them. In all, 191 this area could attract people voted for the proposals, with just 23 voting against. With antisocial behaviour, but I will do my utmost to ensure that every residents making such an unequivocal decision, Labour controlled effort is made to stop this becoming the case. Young people act in Middleton Township had no choice but to give the go-ahead. an antisocial manner mainly because they are bored. At some point the cycle has to be broken, and if local children realise that Local campaigner Terry Smith welcomed the results and said “I this area is for them, I am quite sure that they can come to work with young people across Middleton day-in, day-out, and respect it. I will work with local Police and Community Support one of the biggest issues is the lack of facilities for youngsters Officers where necessary so that we can avoid problems arising, across the borough. I am extremely glad that the people of and to make sure that the whole community sees the benefits of Alkrington have overwhelmingly supported this play area, and we the new development.” must now ensure that it becomes a real asset to the community, Lib Dems Push For Recycling! Middleton is celebrating its great recycling raise recycling to 50% by 2011. “This is a tall order” success! says Cabinet Member for the Environment, Cllr Wera Since 2006 figures have more than Hobhouse, “but I think we can achieve it.” “We are doubled from 16% to 35% of all our the most improved borough for recycling across waste in the borough being recycled! Greater Manchester and I now want to be really ambitious because I think we can become the best Local Campaigner Terry Smith said “I recycling borough in the region!” am really proud of the efforts Middleton Residents have made. They have been great in In addition, the Council is also looking at new coming on board with Alternate Weekly ways to recycle, including options such as food Collections, and the doubling of recycling in the waste recycling collections, and recycling of old Borough just shows how dedicated they have furniture, as both of these things still end up in been, and what we can all achieve when we work landfill. Councillors would also like residents to be together” offered wheelie bins for cardboard and paper to those In light of these recent successes, Councillors who would like a bin instead of the blue bags. from all parties have passed a motion at Council to Recession Questionnaire

Name(s) Question 3 Question 4 Email/Phone What steps are you taking to tighten Have you been affected by the banks’ Address your belt? unwillingness to lend money?

Question 1 Are you better or poorer off than last Any other Comments? : year?

Other (Please state) Question 2 Do you support reducing the basic rate of income tax, paid for by tax increases for the very well off?

Please Return to: Wera Hobhouse, FREEPOST OL5575, OL16 1ZZ

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