The Tories have presided over a real mess! We support recycling and voted to go along with the Council’s plans to have ordinary rubbish collected one week and recyclable rubbish the next. What we didn’t vote for is the mess many of you have had with the new system.

New bins not delivered, bins delivered when not ordered, green sacks not delivered, compost bins arriving followed by a second unordered compost bin. You name it and the Tories have mishandled it.

It is incompetence and the controlling Tories must take responsibility.

"I can’t understand why it has been so difficult. I have received an unwanted compost bin and recycling bin like many of you" said Councillor Bob Booker. We will ensure that a full account of the problems be reported to the Council. We hope that the council tax payers don’t have to pick up any bills.

The Conservatives voted for a rise of 15% in County Council tax in spite of a Liberal Democrat proposal, supported by Tony Ludlow, to keep the rise down to 11.9%.

The County Council doesn't need the money this year: over £13 million is going into a reserve fund which the Tories can use to keep future council tax rises down. Would you let the gas company take your money a year or two in advance?

Liberal Democrats are pushing for a different form of local taxation which will take into account tax payers means. It is local income tax. Its easy to collect and understand.

After our last Focus we thought you might like a flavour of the problems brought to our attention and which we are tackling on your behalf:

• Signs at Russett Rd blocked by vegetation have been cleared. Other signs may be moved to help visibility.
• Old leaves and litter cleared from the Ashdell Road (that part which the contractors usually miss!).
• Clearing of litter at Beavers Close alleyway and Southview Rise shop area.
• Getting wrongly delivered compost and recycling bins collected.
• Tackling a visibility problem at junction of Windmill Hill with the Ridgeway.
• Many requests to clear litter along some of our alleyways and in the centre of Alton.

Cllr Jim McKell continues to press for a Skatepark in Anstey Park. He is supported by Town Councillor Pam Jones.

"The need for this facility is now well established and it is planned to link it with a "Youth Shelter". This is like a Dutch barn and

creates a place where young people can gather informally" said Jim.

The location and lay out of equipment is still to be sorted out. Alton Town Council will lead the project. They will be seeking the views of potential users.

Jim added " It has been a pleasure to work with our young people on this and they have shown great strength when faced with the task of persuading the authorities to support it. It may not cost the local taxpayer a bean. It will enhance the facilities at the Anstey end of the town"

Did you realise that in Hampshire 55 children died on our roads during 2000?

More horrifyingly, 30 of these tragic deaths occurred inside the car.Research shows that 54% of these casualties were not wearing seat belts at the time of the fatal accident.

There are safer ways for your children to travel especially to school. They could walk or cycle!

East Hampshire District Council are working with schools in the area promoting safer Routes to School .Is your child’s school involved? If not ask why! A change in behaviour could save the loss of a child’s life.

Litter is again becoming a big issue in the Town. A number of your councillors have been trying to help stem the tide of rubbish being dumped on our streets and in our alleyways.

"Local residents are great at telling us of problems.I have had the alleyway up to the Southview Rise shops cleared. The Normandy Street and Victoria Road alleyway has also been cleaned up after numerous complaints by residents, the Alton Society and my colleague Councillor Pam Bradford! These areas need constant supervision by us all" said Councillor Bob Booker.

The Town Centre, has been plastered with chewing gum. Why the users can’t put it in the bins is beyond us! Perhaps Wrigleys should be sent the cleaning bill if the cleaning is ever done! Your Lib Dem councillors support the District Council’s plans to clean up this mess but think it should be done now!

Councillor Jim McKell helped push for the plans for new homes to be built on the site south of the railway station at a recent planning meeting. "It needed a change of use from commercial to residential which is difficult to get under our local plan" said Jim "but the majority of councillors on the planning committee supported the Alton councillors’ wish to allow the change".

" I am delighted that with the support of my colleagues on the Town and District council we were able to win the argument to get these homes built. "

Councillors Jerry Janes and Allan Chick also pushed for this development to take place. " Affordable homes are needed in Alton and this project will add essential housing with local residents having the first choice to get them" said Allan.

"The current planning system made it difficult to get these plans through but common sense prevailed" said Jerry Janes.

At a recent Council debate the Lib Dems proposed that East Hants District Council should push the government to introduce a local income tax to pay for local services and abolish the unfair council tax.

Local income tax could lead to a reduction in national income tax. Payment is based on the ability to pay. Those on low fixed incomes would pay less and in some cases nothing at all. It was pointed out that many Pensioners are in this position. However one Tory councillor said he would never vote for a lib dem idea no matter how sympathetic he was to it! This is typical of the blinkered views expressed by the tired old Tory Party. If they did not think of it then it is not worth supporting!