Ashfield Archives - Mansfield & Ashfield Liberal Democrats

The Ashfield Independents are failing to plan

27th April 2022/in Ashfield, News /by Martin Howes

It’s the job of the District Council to ensure there is an up-to-date Local Plan, setting out how the district will evolve in the coming years. The Local Plan can suggest sites for new housing, employment and community facilities. Most importantly, it can protect green spaces from development.

The last full Local Plan for Ashfield was adopted way back in 2002. The Ashfield Independents who currently lead the District Council have failed to give Ashfield the new Local Plan it needs.

To the dismay of local people, the draft Local Plan issued by Ashfield Independent councillors proposes building thousands of houses in the Green Belt around Hucknall. Under the draft Plan, alternative sites away from the Green Belt will be left untouched.

In response to feedback from local residents, the Ashfield Independents have done little except prevaricate and try to pass the buck.

They are planning to fail

Failing to adopt a good Local Plan risks putting the big housebuilding companies in the driving seat.

The Council should put the needs of the community at the centre of the planning process by adopting a new, better Local Plan

Lib Dem priorities for Ashfield’s Local Plan

Community facilities and public services must come first.
Take the climate emergency seriously.
Respect our Green Belt.
Deliver quality homes for people of all ages and all income levels

Papplewick Green – planning application for the field

27th August 2021/in Hucknall /by Martin Howes

The ongoing saga of the Papplewick Green Playing Fields on Kenbrook Road, Hucknall seems to have many instalments.

The original planning application submitted earlier in 2021 included a 3g synthetic pitch, classrooms and goal storage enclosure.

Large numbers of local people made comments to the councillors and council departments. It’s a partial victory for local people that the original plans are not going ahead.

Ashfield District Council has granted planning permission for a new goal storage enclosure.

An application for a licence for sale of alcohol and for music was submitted and then withdrawn.

Hucknall Sports FC played on the field and the previous Wigwam pitches for many years. The petition “Retract Eviction Notice for Hucknall Sports FC” gained 6,400 signatures.

The Council have handed Sports Gateway a one-year usage arrangement for the field and pavilion. Hucknall Sports are no longer regularly using the field, at least not for this season.

Many local people have expressed frustration with the Ashfield Independents over the future of the field. The best councillors know what
matters in their area, not in an arrogant way but because they pro-actively consult local people.

A photo opportunity is no excuse for not following the Covid guidance

12th May 2021/in Ashfield, News /by Martin Howes

“We won’t let you down” says the front-page headline of the Ashfield Chad (12th May 2021). However, the photograph under the headline shows us that the Ashfield Independents have already let us down.

The photo shows Ashfield Independents councillors and campaigners gathering in a large group, not wearing face masks, not keeping two metres apart. At least they are outside, which does make a big difference.

Responsible political parties have issued guidance for their campaigners about social distancing, wearing face masks and avoiding large groups. The photograph suggests that the Ashfield Independents party is not one of those responsible political parties.

In our day-to-day lives we are not yet allowed to meet up in groups of more than six people. Elected politicians should be setting a good example. One rule for us, another for them?

Martin Howes, Chair of Mansfield and Ashfield Liberal Democrats, said

“Putting politicians in photographs has always been a priority for the Ashfield Independents. Meanwhile, combatting COVID is still local people’s top priority”.

For a greener, more caring Nottinghamshire

Our county council candidates for Hucknall

6th April 2021/in Ashfield, Hucknall /by Martin Howes

Hucknall’s Liberal Democrat candidates in the county council elections are Martin Howes in Hucknall North and James Harvey in Hucknall South.

Martin Howes lives in Hucknall North. Martin was previously a councillor and council portfolio holder for finance. His experience makes Martin ideally suited to scrutinising how Nottinghamshire County Council spends our money.

James Harvey grew up in Nottinghamshire. He settled in Hucknall in 2012 and now lives in Hucknall South. James works in IT for one of Nottingham’s major employers.

If elected, Martin and James will work hard for Hucknall.

“Let’s build a caring community and a greener town” says James.

Key policies for Nottinghamshire County Council

30th March 2021/in Hucknall, Mansfield, News, Sherwood /by Martin Howes

In the run-up to the Nottinghamshire County Council elections in May 2021, we are setting out the Liberal Democrats’ vision for Nottinghamshire.

Liberal Democrats want Nottinghamshire to be a green county. We must take urgent action on climate change.

Nottinghamshire must be a caring county. The Conservatives have short-changed our care services. Liberal Democrats demand better for the people of Nottinghamshire.

Your local Liberal Democrats are determined to make Nottinghamshire fit for the future. Let’s make our county work for everyone.

For details of the Liberal Democrats’ policies for Nottinghamshire, please see:
A Green County
Better Transport for a Greener County
A Caring County
A County That Is Fit for the Future

https://www.facebook.com/LeeAndersoninAshfieldEastwood/

Lib Dems respond to “nuisance tenants” comments

19th November 2019/in Ashfield, GE19 /by webofficer

Liberal Democrats respond to Conservative candidate Lee Anderson who said “nuisance tenants” should be forced to live in tents

In response to a Conservative candidate in a marginal seat stating that “nuisance tenants” should be forced to pick vegetables and live in a tent in a field, Rebecca Wain, Liberal Democrat candidate for Ashfield said:

“I absolutely reject the proposal that we should make people homeless because they are seen by a Conservative candidate as inconvenient. Liberal Democrats believe in the need for support, better community policing, less inequality and a public health approach to tackling antisocial behaviour. Housing is a human right and if the Conservative candidate doesn’t recognise this then they are unfit to be in public office”

Liberal Democrats Spokesperson Layla Moran added:

“Everyone in this country deserves a decent standard of living. Conservative candidate Lee Anderson’s comment exposes a concerning disregard for this basic human right, and a lack of empathy towards those whom he aspires to represent.

“As a Conservative parliamentary candidate in a marginal seat, Anderson should not be stoking and entrenching division, or targeting vulnerable people.

“Unfortunately, this sort of comment is all too common from Conservative Party candidates, who are out of touch with the constituencies and the people they are attempting to represent.”

(https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/tory-candidate-tenants-tent-field)

Announcing Tim Ball as Parliamentary Candidate for Sherwood

19th November 2019/in GE19, Hucknall, Sherwood /by webofficer

The Mansfield and Ashfield Liberal Democrats are pleased to announce that Tim Ball has been chosen to represent the Liberal Democrats in Sherwood in the upcoming General Election on 12th December 2019.

On his selection Tim said:

“I am delighted to be representing the Liberal Democrats here in Sherwood. The Liberal Democrats are the strongest party of Remain. Every vote for the Liberal Democrats at this election is a vote to stop the Brexit chaos.

Please help us to build a brighter future for our area of Sherwood and for our United Kingdom by supporting the Liberal Democrats on December 12th”

You can read more details about Tim on his Candidate Profile page.

This election gives us a real chance to build on the national success from the spring and improve on previous results. In order to do so we are going to need your help. Please let us know if you are able to volunteer your time during the election by contacting us through the website’s Contact Us page. In order to meet our potential we are also going to need to raise a minimum of £500, If you are in a position to make a donation, this would be enormously helpful. You can do so by emailing our Treasurer, Vicki Charlton on treasurer@mansfieldandashfieldlibdems.org.uk or through the website’s Donations page.

Finally if you would like to make a bigger contribution to the Liberal Democrats efforts locally, and if you are not already a member we would love you to join us. You can do this by visiting https://www.libdems.org.uk/join-local.

Very many thanks for your continued support!

Announcing Rebecca Wain as Parliamentary Candidate for Ashfield

7th November 2019/in Ashfield, GE19, News /by webofficer

The Mansfield and Ashfield Liberal Democrats are pleased to announce that Rebecca Wain has been chosen to represent the Liberal Democrats in Ashfield in the upcoming General Election on 12th December 2019.

On her selection Rebecca said:

“It is an honour to be selected as the parliamentary candidate for Ashfield. A lot has changed since the last general election and this is your chance to have your say. If you believe in a future which the United Kingdom remains united then we need to change the current trajectory. Let’s oppose Brexit and the damage it will do and then get on with the important tasks ahead of us to protect the planet, invest in health and social care and ensure that equality is at the top of the agenda.”

You can read more details about Rebecca on her Candidate Profile page.

You can contact Rebecca via email on rebecca.wain@ashfieldlibdems.org.uk.
Rebecca’s Social Media details are:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/RWainAshfield/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/bex_the_green

This election gives us a real chance to build on the national success from the spring and improve on previous results. In order to do so we are going to need your help. Please let us know if you are able to volunteer your time during the election by contacting us through the website’s Contact Us page. In order to meet our potential we are also going to need to raise a minimum of £500, If you are in a position to make a donation, this would be enormously helpful. You can do so by emailing our Treasurer, Vicki Charlton on treasurer@mansfieldandashfieldlibdems.org.uk or through the website’s Donations page.

Finally if you would like to make a bigger contribution to the Liberal Democrats efforts locally, and if you are not already a member we would love you to join us. You can do this by visiting https://www.libdems.org.uk/join-local.

Very many thanks for your continued support!

Liberal Democrats

Swinson: Corbyn could be the block to stopping a No Deal

7th October 2019/in Hucknall, Sherwood /by Leon Duveen

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson has today warned that Jeremy Corbyn could be “the biggest block to stopping a No Deal Brexit” following the Labour leadership refusing to back any interim Prime Minister but Jeremy Corbyn.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson said:

“Liberal Democrats are absolutely prepared to go forward with a government of national unity. The country needs that as an insurance option to ensure we have a Prime Minister who will actually obey the rule of law and request an extension of Article 50.

“That Prime Minister could be anybody that commands the confidence of the House of Commons. Jeremy Corbyn doesn’t have the numbers to command a majority and until he accepts that fact he could end up being the biggest block to stopping a No Deal Brexit.

“The Liberal Democrats remain determined to stop Brexit, because the best deal possible is the one we have right now as members of the European Union.”

Lib Dems: ‘School Cuts’ data shows funding still an emergency

30th September 2019/in Hucknall, National, Sherwood /by Leon Duveen

Responding to the relaunch of the National Education Union’s ‘School Cuts’ website, which reveals that more than 15,000 schools will have less money per pupil in real terms in 2020 than they did in 2015, Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary Layla Moran said:

“The Conservatives continue to fail our children. This data removes the wool that Boris Johnson tried to throw over our eyes – that he is making parents and teachers wait for the money their schools desperately need.

“Whilst he peddles catchy soundbites, teachers are still faced with impossible decisions on which support staff to cut or which basic supplies not to buy.

“The money in the Spending Round won’t reach all schools until next September. Even then, it will probably take until around 2022 for the cuts since 2015 to be reversed. That’s seven years wasted – the length of time a child is at primary school.

“Liberal Democrats demand better for our children’s futures. We need an emergency cash injection this year to reverse school cuts, so that teachers have the resources they need to help their pupils succeed in life.”