Opinion

Liberal Democrats Call for End to Building on Parks.

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“Labour Councillors tell us children need somewhere to live,” says Liberal Democrat leader, Cllr. David Franks. “But children also need somewhere to play. A congested town like Luton needs its parks and green spaces.”

Claiming that Luton’s Labour Council has already built on far too many of the town’s parks and green open spaces Liberal Democrat members of the Overview & Scrutiny Board are sending a recommendation to the Council’s Executive Committee that a clause specifically seeking to avoid building on any more parks & green open spaces should be included in the Council’s official housing strategy document.

“Labour Councillors tell us children need somewhere to live,” says Liberal Democrat leader, Cllr. David Franks. “But children also need somewhere to play. A congested town like Luton needs its parks and green spaces.”

“The Labour Council has built on parks and green open spaces at Manor Road; Roebuck Close, Farley Hill; Bradley Road; Thirlstone Road; Falconers Road; Abbotswood Road; Butely Road; Wigmore Lane and is already planning to build on Wigmore Valley Park and the much-used green area at Wandon Close. When will they stop? When every blade of grass has been concreted over?”

The recommendation will be discussed at an Executive Committee meeting on Monday 10th December.

Luton Liberal Democrats – The Airport Expansion Plans Must Change

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“The plans need a major rethink if we are to avoid a massive hit on the quality of life of thousands of Luton residents. The plans must change.”
– Liberal Democrat leader, Councillor David Franks.

Whilst supporting the expansion of London Luton Airport, Liberal Democrat councillors have some very serious concerns about the way the expansion is being planned. As Cllr David Franks, Liberal Democrat leader on Luton Council explains, “The plans need a major rethink if we are to avoid a massive hit on the quality of life of thousands of Luton residents. The plans must change.”

A briefing note produced by Liberal Democrat councillors claims there is no need for the new access road to swallow up almost the whole of Wigmore Valley Park, it could follow the airport boundary instead. It is not necessary to sacrifice the park to gain access to Century Park and Terminal Two.

The briefing note also says the plan proposes a link into Eaton Green Road which will make Ashcroft Road, Wigmore Lane, Lalleford Road and Eaton Green Road itself major access routes to the airport and this is not acceptable.

Cllr. David Franks explains, “We have voiced these concerns at meetings many times and will continue to do so. The Council, and its airport company, cannot be allowed to get away with a plan which unnecessarily blights 20% of the town.”

Brexit – Has the tide turned in Luton?

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“The Liberal Democrat position has always been consistent, that there should be an informed people’s vote once the terms and consequences of any final deal are known and that it should include the option to Remain. This is not about a second referendum or the best of three, it’s about giving the people a first informed choice and giving them control of what the ‘Will of the People’ actually means.” – Lee Bridgen, Chair of the Luton Liberal Democrat Party

Constituency-by-constituency research by Best for Britain has revealed that the tide is turning in Luton on Brexit.

Both Luton constituencies of Luton North and Luton South, represented in Parliament by the pro-Brexit suspended Labour MP Kelvin Hopkins and by Labour MP Gavin Shuker respectively, voted in favour of exiting the European Union in the 2016 Referendum.

However, according to the research, Luton South which was 55.4% in favour of leaving the EU in 2016, is now 54.8% in favour of remaining.  Luton North, which was 58.2% in favour of leaving the EU, has shown an even greater swing to 53.1% now in favour of remaining.

Despite the apparent evidence of the turning tide up and down the country, as well as controversies over the flagrant breaking of electoral law by the “vote leave” campaign leading up to the referendum, both Labour and Conservatives continue to define their respective shambolic versions of Brexit as “the will of the people”.

Luton Liberal Democrat Party Chair Lee Bridgen said, “The ‘Will of the People’ seems to have been hijacked by a Conservative Government that is making a mess of Brexit, with precious little opposition to this from a Labour leadership that continues to support them.  The Liberal Democrat position has always been consistent, that there should be an informed people’s vote once the terms and consequences of any final deal are known and that it should include the option to Remain.  This is not about a second referendum or the best of three, it’s about giving the people a first informed choice and giving them control of what the ‘Will of the People’ actually means.”

It seems that some of the moderate MP’s from both Labour and Conservative Parties are finally coming around to our way of thinking.  If you want a say on the final deal, this makes it all the more important that you write to your MP, asking them to support a people’s vote.  You can also join our Exit From Brexit Campaign via the national Liberal Democrats website.

Council leader’s knife crime statement “just warm words” says Liberal Democrat leader

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“It is impossible to disagree with a single word she says, but there’s no mention of the fact that her Labour Council has brought the town’s youth services to a near shut down.”
– Liberal Democrat leader on Luton Council, Cllr. David Franks.


Luton Council’s press statement on the recent violent crime incidents in the town has brought a sharp response from Liberal Democrat opposition councillors. They say that actions speak louder than words and the Council’s massive cuts to the town’s Youth Services have contributed to the growth of knife and gun crime in Luton.

“It is impossible to disagree with a single word she says, but there’s no mention of the fact that her Labour Council has brought the town’s youth services to a near shut down,” says David Franks, Liberal Democrat leader of the opposition on the Council.

“Youth clubs have closed and others are struggling. Whilst it is certainly true the huge funding cuts imposed by Tory government have made life more difficult, the decisions on detailed spending cuts have been made by our Labour Council. The families of both victims and perpetrators have seen their lives shattered and warm words are not enough. We need more investment in Youth Services, not less.”

Andy Strange: My priorities for the 2017 General Election

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As the candidate in this election for the Liberal Democrats in the constituency of Luton South I think it is important for me to clearly spell out to the voters what my priorities are.

I believe that Britain is better off as a member of the European Union. I do acknowledge that the result of the 2016 referendum gave the government a mandate to start negotiations to leave. I also believe that the government had a duty to respond to that result by exploring how leaving the European Union could be accomplished without significantly damaging the rights and opportunities of British citizens, the British economy, or our standing in the world. I also believe, particularly given the narrowness of the result, that Parliament should have a significant say in how those negotiations are conducted; but that a decision on whether to accept the result of those negotiations should be made by the British people, not by politicians.

So my top priority will be to fight the Conservatives choice to pursue a hard Brexit — a choice that is supported by both UKIP and the Labour Party — which will lead to a poorer Britain, and a poorer Luton.

I will defend the principles of free trade and fight for Britain to remain a member of the Single Market and the Customs Union. Membership of which is of vital benefit to Luton’s economy; not least because of its manufacturing and aviation industries.

I will fight to keep Britain an open society and support the principle of freedom of movement. I will defend the benefits that managed immigration brings to Britain, and to Luton in particular. I want us to remain a welcoming, diverse, and tolerant town willing to make use of the talents of people from across Europe and the world.

I will do what I can to promote policies that support creativity and innovation. I will argue for investment in education, enterprise, and scientific research. I will also seek to protect people’s rights in the digital age.

I will push to ensure that environmental issues — so far largely ignored in this election — are kept high on the agenda. I will argue for policies to tackle climate change and air pollution, to protect our green spaces and natural landscape, and to improve the quality of urban environments.

I will work to ensure that our public services are effective, responsive, and properly funded. I will support Liberal Democrat plans to increase funding to the NHS and social care services. I will fight to protect support for the poorest and most vulnerable and to ensure that our taxation system is fair.

I will continue to argue for reform of our broken political system. I will fight for genuine change in areas such as party funding, fairer votes, effective local government, and media regulation. I will work to revitalise our political system – so it works for everyone.