The Memorial Service for Michael Causer, a young gay man from Merseyside who died after an allegedly homophobic assault earlier this year, will take place at 7.30pm on Saturday 29th November at the Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool.

The service will be a celebration of Michael's life and all are welcome, particularly the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender communities of Merseyside, to attend to pay their respects.

You do not have to have known Michael personally. What matters is that you care. There's not even a dress code - Michael's family have said simply, "Come as you are." Red AIDS ribbons, Michael Causer badges - all are welcome.

But please try to arrive a little before 7.30pm so that we can be seated for the start of the Service.

Michael Causer (1989 - 2008)
Memorial Service
7.30pm, Saturday 29th November
Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool

Burgalry Rates drop by 21% across Tuebrook and Stoneycroft

I have just come from an important meeting this afternoon reviewing various crime levels, police and community action plans for both the Tuebrook Stoneycroft and Anfield Wards

For the crime figures shows year on year reduction in the levels of house break-ins by 21% across the whole of Tuebroook and Stoenycroft.

Sadly our neighbours in the Anfield area which has always had a similar crime profile saw an increase of break-ins by 5%

I think this shows the dramatic difference the Tuebrook beat the burglar campaign has had in delivering practical support to over 4500 households with UV marker pens and light timers , equally beneficial has been our efforts in making residents more alert to burglaries, with practical advise like close alleygates. This campaign in Tuebrook has not be supported or copied by councillors for neighbouring areas.

However this will not make us complacent , we are still to reach another 2500 Tuebrook, Stoneycroft and Newsham Park homes with our community safety pack.

We relooking at various funding streams to upgrade more areas of street lighting and in the longer term develop a Youth centre running along side the Tuebrook Hope Centre, at the Christ Church, Buckingham Road site

We are currently seeing substantial modernisation at Anfield Sorts Community Centre with additional security fencing and lightig

We are working with community safety to roll out a limited number of further sites for alleygating.

If you have any ideas on how to keep up the progress we have all been making drop us a line

Lastly I have convened a further meeting with Community Safety , Police and Youth Service to develop actions plans for the border ares of Tuebrook and Anfield , where crime levels are still unacceptably high. That is not to detract from some excellent progress made this year by the Police, Youth service and Community working together

I am sure you are equally pleased to read of the progress but will still keep vigilant

Best Wishes

Steve Radford

Osborne Road,Tuebrook Fire Arms Appeal for Information.

A firearms incident occurred on Osborne Road on Wednesday 12th November at aprox 1935 hours in the evening.

There appears to be no motive for the attack and fortunately nobody was injured.

Two people were seen leaving the scence on a dark coloured motorcycle after the incident.

If you do have any information regarding this incident could you please call DS Whittle on 777 5686

Community Skips

As ward councillors we can only order 4 community skips in any two month period

They are a faculty over and above normal council services, most districts do not have this provision

We are appalled every time we order then we are loaded with quite petty comments

We can not and do not supervise the exact drop off location that has to be left with the driver

We will not leave skips overnight to become missiles launching pads for vandals

Skips are not provided for individual houses

We are not able to order replacement skips that day if and when they are full

If we get continued complaints about the skip programme from any streets in future we will simply take that sreet off our request rota

The following locations skips will be delivered to

Wednesday 19th Nov Corner of Silverdale Avenue and West Dery Road lay by

Wednesday 19th Nov Junction Northgate Road and Plemont Road

Wednesday 19th Nov Stoneycoft Crescent

Thursday 20th Nov Hilberry Avenue at Siutton Street end

Sorry to be harsh but the amount of silly calls we deal with over the skip facility is becoming needlessly time consuming and totally unrealist
Last month we had skips delivered in Woburn Hill, Tynwald Hill and Snaefell Avenue. Over the year we hope to roll then right across the ward

Culture of chaos rife at Liverpool Council, claims report

Nov 11 2008 by Marc Waddington, Liverpool Echo

Liverpool Town Hall 320

A DAMNING inquiry has revealed a culture of chaos in Liverpool council departments.

The investigation found officials were failing to handle people’s personal data correctly and not properly managing or monitoring staff expenses.

It discovered four bailiff companies were contracted to pursue council tax debts, breaking the council’s own rules.

Internal investigators, who looked into a quarter of council departments, said a £40,000 criminal fraud inquiry into the alleged counterfeiting of leisure centre passes was ongoing.

Despite their report claiming there was little compliance with proper procedure in almost three-quarters of town hall work, council bosses today said controls were being put in place to make sure improvements were made.

Investigators also found:

Income from events at the ECHO Arena and BT convention centre was left outstanding for up to three months.

Parking fees are not being collected because staff do not manage computer systems properly.

There was “no overall improvement to the council’s control environment” since their previous report.

Liberal group leader Cllr Steve Radford said the report, due to be discussed by the council’s audit and accounts committee tomorrow, was “deeply worrying”.

He added: “It is quite disconcerting because not only does it say there are shortcomings, but that they have flagged up these issues before and yet management appears to carry on in splendid isolation.

“If I was the chief executive, I would say to senior managers ‘you have to lay the law down’. It should be a case of either you fall into line or go.”

A council spokesman said: “We are putting in place more rigorous and robust internal control policies, and introducing new guidelines.”

Volunteer for Hate Crime Hotline?

Stophate UK, an independent, confidential telephone line dedicated to supporting and advising victims of hate crime, are looking for local volunteers to help staff the lines. No experience is necessary as full training and support will be offered to the volunteers.

To find out more, an information session is being held at Millenium House, Victoria Street, Liverpool this Thursday 13th November from 6.00pm to 8.00pm. Feel free to drop in to the meeting to find out more about volunteering to staff the telephone lines. You could be the person who helps a victim of hate crime become a survivor of hate crime.

Extraordinary General Meeting 9th December for Tuebrook Hope Centre

The Tuebrook Hope Cente is reviewing its constitution at an EGM onTuesday 9th December from 6.30

The proposed changes will:

Bring constitution in line with best practice and the recent Charities Act

Formalise working relationship wth Stoneycroft URC andThe Free Church of ngland , Buckingham Road

Broaden objectives to reflect community safety, divesity and social inclusion agendas

Tuebrook to host LGBT Forum

The Cities LGBT forum is to hold its first out of town public forum in the Tuebrook Hope Centre, Saturday 22nd November

"We are delighted the LGBT network has accepted our invitation, it is a very positive statement about taking the campaign for eqality and diversity out into the communities of Merseyside, we are proud the Hope Centre last year pioneered a youth conference dealing with sexual health and anti-homophobia issues" Cllr Steve Radford

The foium is open to all LGBT people and partner agencies are welcome to set information stalls up on the day

If you wish to participate in the day please feel welcome phone The Hope Centre on 228 1137 or 07920090322

Police Warning and Public Meetings

This is typical of the Lib Dems preaching decentralisation but to keep their political control, they have made the area committee larger and therefore more remote

The Committee however has a public question time you may like to take advantage of by tabling a question on the night - Monday 27th Oct at the Deaf School Queens Drive from 6.30 or e mail ann.coy@liverpool.gov.uk

The second meeting is for Tuebrook Stoneycroft Ward residents at St Cecilia's School, Snaefell Avenue from 5.30 till 7.30 on Thursday 20th November

If you are unable to make either meeting but want us to raise anything , drop us a line

Police Warning : recently we have had instances of houses broken into at the front by thieves seeking to gain car keys left in the lobby. Please ensure house and car keys are not visible by your doorway.

Lastly whilst delivering light timers and UVF pens to over 4500 local residents we have been appalled by neighbours leaving their keys in the front door whilst they unpack their groceries or leaving the front door ajar. This is a free invitation to thieves and may invalidate your house /car insurance.

Sorry to state the obvious but we had over a dozen instances of this in the last month during visits.

Warmest Regards

Steve , Chris and Hazel

Just to let you know of two public meetings coming up

The Area Committees have been combined to make a District Committee for Liverpool East comprising Tuebrook, Stoneycroft, Old Swan, Anfield, Knotty Ash, West Derby and Yew Tree.

Dear Editor,

I have little doubt I was the sole councillor who attend the Special Education Committee meeting (Thursday 23rd Oct) with an open mind on the merits or otherwise of closing Croxteth Comprehensive School

Clearly this area of the city is equally effected by reducing school populations and the fact government funding policy will not support "Village Schools"

At the Committee I asked Key questions as to the alternative schools being secular or catholic

I asked for information over the educational added value of Croxteth Comp and lastly what provision would be made to redeploy highly skilled and motivated staff to nearby schools.

The response showed Croxteth Comp for four years had provided above national average added educational value. The response over staff was helpful but not robust

The fundamental question of whether non-catholic children would in effect be directed to a catholic controlled school, the response was a Yes.

It was a founding principle of my party at the turn of the century to ensure all parents had an effective choice between catholic, protestant and/or secular education.

Therefore I voted against the closure and re-iterate my personal commitment
to ensure all parents have effective choice between faith , secular , single and co-educational schools within a reasonable catchment area.

Councillor Steve Radford
Leader Liberal Party Group

Labour MP's abuse Banking Influence

To the Editor

The suggestion that Labour MPs are hoping to meddle in the commercial affairs of both Royal Bank of Scotland and Liverpool Football Club shows that when the chips are down it’s back to the bad old ways from the bad old days. The government has assisted the banking sector as the lender of last resort and supposedly was not going to interfere in day-to-day business. If you don’t trust bankers to be working for the general good would you really trust a motley crew of Labour MP’s to be working for anything other than their own short-term interests?

This scheme has never made sense as it starts by putting an international stadium in a densely packed urban area? Liverpool FC should have a new stadium but not when it means giving up part of a historic Victorian park and making life worse for those who live in the surrounding area. A major stadium needs a significant transport infrastructure that can only be provided close to the motorway network and rail links. Such connections could be found on some of the large brown field sites at the edges of Liverpool.

Stanley Park was chosen not because it was the best site for the Club or for the City but because it was going cheap. If these so called socialists had any real care for things actually in public ownership they would be trying to save Stanley Park from being practically given away. The last thing we need is Labour meddling to the detriment of all concerned. The credit crunch could have given Liverpool the opportunity to have the stadium it deserves not the quickest solution possible that moves the costs onto the public.

Yours sincerely,

Cllrs Chris Lenton & Steve Radford, Liverpool Liberal Party.

POLICE DROP IN

Tuebrook Hope Centre Friday 14th November

On Friday 14th November Senior Police from Tuebrook Police Station will be operating a drop in advise centre from 10 till mid day at the Tuebrook Hope centre, rear of St John's Church, Tuebrook, so if you or neighbours want a confidential chat on any policing issues why not drop by.

Following delicate discussions police have been carrying out a highly effective disruption campaign for "alleged"drug dealers operating along West Derby Road after a period of intelligence observations.

We trust you will appreciate we can not comment too much upon details for legal reasons, however I was delighted to see police cars jam in and "escort" occupants out of several cars well known to local residents for express deliveries

Regards

Cllr Steve Radford

Liberals condemn Government targets for demolition of homes

At the city council 15th October the Liberal Party Group opposed the corporate plan ,particulary attacking the governemt objective whereby councils are measured on an combined equal value basis ,the improvemnt and reletting of vacant homes and the demolition of vacants.

Cll Steve Radford hit out than to treat the demolition of houses as of equal merit as the renovation of vacant omes was immoral and took no account of the long term environmental and social impact. The Green Party voted with us, whilst Lib Dems and Labour agreed the plan

Liberals secure protection for local councillors in Land Sales

At the city council meeting on October 15th Cllr Steve Radford led the challenge to new rules on delegated powers to allow ward councillors to scrutinise the sale of leases or freehold where officers recommendations were not seen as in the best value of community.

To his credit Cllr Warren Bradley conceded the need for this safeguard whilst at the same time speeding up sales which were not contested

No to fingerprinting School Children

At the city councilmeeing 15h October Liberal Party Councillors ,along with all the other groups on the city council, voted to oppose the finger printing of school children

Speakers Corner Debate case against EU Constitution from Cllr Steve Radford

On saturday 11th October Cllr Steve Radford joined the Debatewise team to oppose the case for the EU Constitution.

Steve pointed out that the Lisbon Treaty gave the EU unelected commissioners even more powers than the previous draft constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters.

He praised the honesty and courage of MP's like Frank Field who had stuck by their elction pledge to give the Britsh People a vote on this fundamental and detrimental shift of power from the UK Parliament to an unelected EU

Debatewise is an organisation which encourages flushing out topical debates with two sides of any issue being given equal debate time.

Theyt run a blogsite for various current, religious and commercial debates

Following the debate on the EU our friend Guy Herbert put the case against ID Cards to the public gathered around Speakers Corner

Licensing hearing for Booze Buster 24 hour License at 116 - 118 Queens Drive, Larkhill is to be heard on Thursday 16th October from 1.00 in Millenium House, Victoria Street.

We would urge all residents able to attend to do so. We have requested police to lobby against the application despite tehm having remained silent on previous cases

Cllr Steve Radford

Tories revert to Centralisation

Dear Editor

When the current Conservative Party Leader took over we were presented with a "liberal" version of conservatism we had not seen for many decades.

He promised to defend civil liberties and to roll back central state control of local government.

How quickly the illusion has been blown away

The short term populism of promising a council tax freeze for two years comes at a terrible costs

It could only be done with the most excessive central state control of local government spending. The only choice councillors of all parties would be left to decide upon would be which services would take the hardest hit.

Yes ,its great sound bit for the electorate damaged by rising costs but it exposes the Tory Party to be as autocratic and opportunist as anything New Labour has had on offer.

It shows a Tory Party Leader who can not look beyond the latest press headline grabbing opportunity , for those of us praying for change it is depressing

Cllr Steve Radford
President of The Liberal Party

Warning on deadline for park facelift funding bid

Sep 23 2008 by Marc Waddington, Liverpool Echo

Cllr Radford said: “We were told at the time of the meeting we would be disadvantaged because of the Olympics.

“Now we find out the council still has not entered the bid.”

But executive member for the environment Cllr Berni Turner said the bid was being finalised.

She said: “The bid will definitely be in on time. We have to make sure we get it absolutely right.”

Debt Advice Facility opens for Tuebrook and Stoneycroft Ward Residents - Friday 3rd October

From Friday 3rd October there will be an open door debt advise centre to assist residents with financial problems and benefits

The confidential service will be provided by trained KUC staff but operate every week from 10 till 2 at the Hope Centre Tuebrook

Residents wishing to make an appointment are welcome to telephone the hope centre office 228 1137, you may need to leave your contact details on the ansaphone and our team will get back to you

The scheme is being funded by the allocation of Working Neighbourhood Funds as supported by all three Ward Councillors

Newsham Park £4.5m Heritage Bid

I have been alarmed that the bid we reviewed at the special meeting of 17h July had not progressed. As a consequence I have written to Cllr Bernie Turner and had the following reply from lead officer Paul Scragg. Since then I understand progress has been made over the £4.5m bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

'The Newsham Park Forum took place last night and Councillor Radford raised a question regarding the progress and production of an Executive Report relating to the approval of a submission to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for Newsham Park. As Members are aware this has been the subject of discussion and work by the Forum for a considerable period of time.

The Forum were already aware of the September deadline for the submission of an application by LCC to the HLF and a meeting regarding consultation and agreement on the scope of the bid took place with the Forum where a number of Ward Councillors were also present. Councillor Radford requested that the answer be circulated to Ward Members.

I confirm that as part of the Council’s budget considerations going forward a review process of all capital projects has been initiated by Executive Management Team to help inform spending priorities for the authority. The Newsham project is currently going through this review process which needs to be completed before an Executive Board Report can move forward.

Regards

Paul Scragg

Manager Parks and Environment "

For too long work for Newham Park has been bypassed

Cllr Steve Radford - Leader Liberal Party Group

Ref Outline Planning Application 16 - 22 Glamis Road

We felt it important to alert you to a current outline planning application for 16 - 22 Glamis Road, Tuiebrook. This site you may appreciate we have worked to use our limited building control and environmental health powers to encourage its clearance and development

It is with a heavy heart we need to explain why we are unable to support the current outline planning application for eleven flats

Firstly an outline plan its not a serious intent or detailed plan but merely a sketch to see if the concept has potential for approval

Throughout tuebrook it is the areas of high density cheap flats which attract high levels of long term vacants, anti social behaviour and vandalism. Just look at the problems we have in Marlborough Road, Buckingham Road and Windsor Road. We have for years been trying to turn this situation around rather than add to it

It is not just older properties with high density flats that bring excessive problems, even the relatively new build flats at New Road Court have been a disaster.

We believe the site has the viable size to provide an economic investment for family homes. So we have written to the planers opposing the application

Of course you all as residents are entitled to write in supporting or objecting to the plans as you see fit.

In contrast you will be pleased with our support a complex for tow major shops and 80 apartments has been approved for the Carlton Venue Site, Green Lane,. here we believe the size of site and immediate access to public transport , plus the sixe of apartments will attract a stable development

Lastly we wish to thank everyone who has helped to deliver invisible marker pens and light timers as part of our Tuebrook beat the burglar Campaign , so far we have distributed kits to 3500 of the 7000 Tuebrook homes. If you have not had a kit yet feel welcome to call into any of our three weekly advise centres

Warmest Regards

Cllrs Steve Radford, Hazel Williams and Chris Lenton

FUTURE OF QUARRY ROAD SCHOOL SITE

Cllrs Steve Radford, Hazel Williams and Chris Lenton
Liberal Party Group
41 Sutton Street
Tuebrook
Liverpool
L13 7EG
0151 259 5935
07920090322

Dear Editor,

We must thank Cllr Clien (letters Page 17th Sept.) for attacking us in the Liberal Party , having taken time off attacking his own colleagues in the Social and Liberal Democrats.

In the case of the Planning submission made by the Education Dept officers it had not initially designated the Quarry Road site for open space, in fact planning officers made little secret that they thought it would make the council a good site for housing. and a capital gain for the council

The key issue is that the Millbank Playing fields has two senior football pitches which can not be replaced on the layout of the Quarry Road site, Cllr Clien's figures are misleading to suggest otherwise.

In fairness it was Cllr Dave Irvine and Stephen Hurst who indicated at the Planing Committee they wanted replacement fields at Quarry Road added as a condition, as it was not included in Education's plans.

There is no quid pro quo on replacement fields ,as suggested by Cllr Clein ,as the Quarry site can not accommodate the size of senior pitches being destroyed at Millbank

It was the view of Education and Sports England that the replacement pitches be developed at Newsham Park.

It was our view as objectors that the upgrading of current pitches at Newsham Park did not represent a replacement, merely an upgrading of a current provision

For the future we are concerned that uncontrolled open space at Quarry Road presents real dangers with its frontage on Queens Drive and there has been no commitment for its up keep. Therefore the interest expressed by Lister Steps has obvious benefits for all.

From the outset The Liberal Party has always wanted a new school ,but we should ahve seen a far more enlighted reconfiguration of the Deaf School site and use of the Qyuarry Road site or progress on using bownfield land at Lister Drive

Unlike Cllr Clein we have consulted and listened to our residents and so far had an enthusiastic response to this pragmatic proposal

Cllrs Steve Radford, Hazel Williams and Chris Lenton
Liberal Party Councillors for Tuebrook and Stoneycroft

Energy Saving Campaign

Dear Friends

Following out popular campaign delivering over 3000 light timers and invisible ink marker pens, we are now embarking on the delivery of 3000 energy light bulbs kits to local families

Today light bulbs were delivered to households in Sutton and Brainerd Streets, in the first of many delivery runs

We still have a further delivery of 900 light timers and marker pens to go. Last week we rolled out kit to families in the Victoria / Burns Roads

If you are able to assist either of these campaigns please call into any of our local advise centres

Tuesdays 6 to 6.30 United Reform Church, Lister Drive

Tuesdays 7 to 7.30 Christ Church , Buckingham Road

Wednesdays 6.00 to 6.45 Main Hall , St Andrews Church, Adshead Road, Clubmoor

We are providing energy efficient bulbs to any friends irrespective of ward borders. If you want a box of twenty to pass along your street drop in

Stock may also be collected from the hope Centre tel 07920090322 or 228 1137

Warmest Regards

Cllr Steve Radford

Homophobia is endemic in Liverpool, says leading Liberal

Aug 4 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

HOMOPHOBIA is endemic in Liverpool according to one of the city’s most prominent gay leaders and not enough is being done to turn the tide, he claims.

“How many more gay youngsters will commit suicide, how many will have to be attacked or killed before this city takes this problem seriously?” said Cllr Steve Radford last night.

“There is an appalling level of endemic homophobia in Liverpool.

“The Stormbreaker research shows it is worse than in the worst parts of East London. Around 14% of gay households in the city, that’s about one in eight, have been attacked in the last couple of years by people they know, or perceive, as friends or neighbours.”

Work Cllr Radford, the Liberal Party member for Tuebrook, has undertaken – along with Liverpool East Youth Panel and Tuebrook Hope Centre – to educate young people on the dangers homophobia has brought about.

He said: “These people need to be challenged in an open way,” he argued.

“I’ve urged the chief executive to take up the programmes we’ve been running across the city, but so far they’ve been limited to the work we’ve done.”

More action is needed, he stressed, to combat negative attitudes that breed the sort of violence that led to the death of Michael Causer.

Rubbish skipped in big clean-up

Aug 4 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

TONNES of rubble and rubbish has been thrown in skips in a clean-up in a district of Liverpool.

Tuebrook’s Respect Week saw 70 tonnes loaded into skips, doubling last year’s total.

About 80 young families were attracted to a job fair in the district, and about 3,000 ultra-violet pens have been handed out to beat burglars.

Local councillor Steve Radford is now celebrating the award of a further £2,500 grant, which will mean almost half the Tuebrook ward will be covered.

About 500 light timers have also been delivered to help holidaymakers keep burglars guessing.

Planning hearing - Coconut Carlton sites Tuesday

Can you please let as many residents know as possible that the Planning Committee will be meeting on Tuesday in the Town Hall , Dale Street . We expect the case of the former coconut grove venue site to be debated at mid day.

All residents are welcome to attend and put any views forward

As Ward Councillors we believe it is vital the site is redeveloped for the benefit of all the Tuebrook, Stoneycroft and West Derby Area

Cllr Steve Radford

Newsham Park Bid

On Thursday 17th July I chaired a special meeting of the Newsham Park Working Party.

I was advised by officers that the council needed to streamline a bid for £4.5 millions to the Heritage Lottery Fund by a deadline of september.

To do so it was vital we target those elements that needed priority and for that reason I convened a special meeting

On the 17th July the Group , including various residents and councillors ,agreed that bid should include :

Lighting for park entrances and the pathways to improve security

Refurbishment of the Fairfield Bandstand

Improved signage for the Park and information signage in the Park itself

Significant repairs to the Lakes themselves

Play and fitness equipment to attract more sports people into the park

A second play area on the Newsham Drive part of the park

Upgrading pathways

Lastly a programme of improving shrubbery and further tree planting,
finished off with a water feature and public art

There is no guarantee that this bid will succeed,
however please rest assured I am absolutely determined officers are given
clear directions and speedy decisions so our bid has the best chance possible of succeeding

Cllr Steve Radford

Tuebrook Community Fayre, Jobs Fayre and City Safe Public Meeting

Dear Friends

Can we invite you to one of several forthcoming events

Community Fayre - a whole range of council, youth service and voluntary agencies will give details of all local events and services. Pop in and have a coffee. We will have the details of the free splash programme for younger residents running through the summer holidays:
Tuesday 29th July 10.00 - 14.00 hours at Hope Centre , rear of St John's Church

Jobs Fayre Friday 1st August from 10.00 till 3.00 at Tuebrook Hope Centre, interested in looking at jobs in the area or training opportunities pop in

Tuebrook City Safe - got concerns about policing and community safety. meet senior police looking after our area
Hope Centre Sunday 3rd August from 2.00 that afternoon

Please feel welcome to invite your friends and neighbours

Warmest Regards

Steve ,Chris and Hazel

Open Letter Bin Collections

It appears that the government’s bin madness knows no bounds since the latest attack on one of the most basic public services is to remove all Council’s legal requirement to empty bins. This would mean that householders would be subjected to various petty dictates about weight, position and contents of their bin. If any of these rules were breached a bin would not be emptied and a fine possibly imposed.

This comes after the government’s plans to end weekly bin collection and to introduce pay as you throw schemes that are really another locally levied tax aided via micro chipped bins. Taken together with the understanding that even though there have been retreats on some of these issue all of them are either planned or have legislation in place for future implementation, it is possible to see the full reality of what is being proposed. If Labour had any integrity they would be honest with the electorate and have an open debate about the end of municipal rubbish collection and the obvious privatisation that these various policies amount to.

The system as proposed by Labour would do nothing for a City such as Liverpool that already has great problems with waste. What is needed is not a revolution that ends the system of rubbish collection but the consistent application and enforcement of the approach already in place. The resent developments in recycling services have been a success and with a more robust attitude to dumping our main problems could be with reach of being dealt with. The last thing Liverpool needs is a convoluted system that will only prove a spur to dumping and the abandonment of waste. The governments proposals are about service cuts, privatisation and tax raising not the environmental welfare of our City.

Yours sincerely,

Cllrs Steve Radford & Chris Lenton, Liverpool Liberal Party.

All welcome. Please come and support local action and awareness raising for your local group.

Liverpool NO2ID group will be having its first meeting at:

Place: Cooper's Pub, Lime Street Station, Lime Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 1JD

Time: Tuesday 8th July, 7:30pm

Tuebrook Stoneycroft, Newsham Park, Larkhill, Breckside Park and Anfield Anti Crime Campaign

Over last few weeks we have been helped in the distribution of over 1500 anti crime light timers and property marker pens

In particularly we would like to thank local community groups and organisations including members St John's Tuebrook. Christ Church, Buckingham Road, St Andrews Clubmoor the United Reformed Church Stoneycroft, Hope Centre Senior Citizens and Lister Steps

No less the hundreds of ordinary residents who have delivered to friends and neighbours. In this first month we have far exceeded our initial target and over next few months we will be delivering even more anti crime kits to thousands more local homes.

If anyone would like to asist their own home and five neighbours please call to any of our weekly advise centres

With Thanks

Councillors Steve Radford, Hazel Williams and Chris Lenton
Tuebrook and Stoneycroft

RESPECT THE IRISH VOTE

Last Friday the people of Ireland voted to reject the Lisbon
Treaty.

But politicians across Europe are refusing to accept the
result. They arrogantly insist that the Treaty must go
ahead anyway. Despite the no vote, the UK Government is
planning to carry on regardless, and ratify the Treaty in
the House of Lords on Wednesday.

This is part of an attempt to isolate and bully the people
of Ireland.

Please take 30 seconds to send a message to Gordon Brown by
signing the petition on the Downing Street website.

Tell Gordon to respect the verdict of the Irish people - and
drop the Treaty.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Abandon-Lisbon

Newsham Park Forum Thursday 19th June

Dear Friends

I have been asked to chair the Environment Forum for Newham Park , that is to to differentiate with the Housing based Steering Group for newsham Park which I also attend)

The first meeting of this year is this Thursday 19th June at 6 in the Adult Education Centre

It was my decision to hold the meetings at 6 to enable the participation of members of the public

Whilst the object is to lead and co-ordinate officers actions there is value in encouraging public involvement.

In response to residents concerns we have included on the agenda, both the progress towards park improvements by way of the Heritage Lottery Bid, need for increased security.

Local residents are welcome to attend or e mail me any questions that they want raised

Warmest Regards

Steve Radford
Liberal Party Councillor for Tuebrok and Newsham Park

Maybe we should ask the Irish Republic Invade the UK to restore Democracy

Cllr Steve Radford
President of The Liberal Party
41 Sutton Street
Tuebrook
Liverpool
L13 7EG
0151 259 5935
07920090322

For Publication

Dear Editor

Voters in Ireland have rejected the European Union's Lisbon reform treaty in a referendum by 53.4% to 46.6%.

What is deeply disturbing is why only the Irish Republic allowed its people to vote

The cowards and hypocrites in Labour and Lib Dems promised us a vote on the new constitution at the last General Election, then in the House of Lords voted to prevent us having our vote

Never mind the UK invading Iraq to restore Democracy. May be we should ask the Irish Republic liberate the UK to restore Democracy here?

Councillor Steve Radford
President of The Liberal Party

LIBERALS back Operation Black Vote across UK

Meeting in Westminster on Saturday 7th June members of the National Executive of the Liberal Party (not to be confused with the Liberal Democrats), passed a unanimous motion urging all councils and in particular Liberal Party Councillors to work with Operation Black Vote to establish Councillor mentoring schemes.

The aim being to encourage the participation of young Black and other minority communities into the political life of the country

Reporting Back to the NEC , Party President and Liverpool City Liberal Party Group leader, Steve Radford said he was extremely impressed with the professionalism and depth of commitment OBV had shown.

His only word of caution was that Liberals should also seek such schemes be extended to all young people, not just the BME communities as alienation was rife .

He pointed out that the Liberal Party had for years run mentoring schemes for young politics and media students, however the OBV model gave a more robust approach and utilised the resources of local councils and most importantly the BME community Groups

Cllr Steve Radford 07920090322

Newsham Park vacants Update

Dear neighbours

Last night (Wednesday 11th June) I attended the meeting of the Newsham Park Steering Committee (re Housing)

A report was given that extensive attempts to sell 33/35 Newsham Drive and 81/83 Belmont Drive had not met the reserved price

As a consequence these properties at an adjusted price will be remarketed and probably auctioned

Attempts to sell 16 Prescot Drive for a refurbishment site again had not been successful , therefore with my support the committee recommend the site be remarketed for sale as a potential new build within clear conservation planning guidelines to be compatible with the Park

Lastly an attempt to sell two substantial sections of Prescot Road in two sections will be made on basis of potential block refurbishment
The Committee also agreed to the demolition of a smaller block of Prescot Road which included the former dentists which was the subject of a serious fire

Regards

Cllr Steve Radford

Clubmoor Update Thursday 12th June

Just to advise residents the issue of the 24/7 license application for the sale of alcohol will be heard at the Licensing Committee Friday 20th June from 10.00, all residents are welcome to attend and or speak

In the case of the current ASdA breaching planning conditions, my motion asking for an open investigation will be discussed at the Regeneration Committee today at 4.30

This committee for other reasons will be held at John Lennon Airport

If any residents wish to attend and may find a lift helpful, please phone us on 07920090322

Regards

Steve Radford and Dennis Gaskell

Joint Stadium Needs Transport Infrastructure

Dear Editor

In the local press Cllr Warren Bradley has advocated a joint stadium for LFC and Everton.(Daily Post Letters, Liverpool Echo News)
Of course there would be great cost savings to the two clubs to do so

However that must be the prime choice of the clubs themselves, as they would have to manage the commercial arrangements of managing any joint stadium

What this debate does show is the cavalier fashion in which the council has dealt with the issue of building a stadium of 60,000 and potential of nearer 75,000 on Stanley Park, in one of the most densely populated parts of the city

Cllr Bradley talks about the new stadium having the infrastructure. Has he even looked at the inability of the road system around Anfield to deal with the current LFC congestion ?.

The fact is that the new Stadium, whether for LFC or both Clubs ,will condemn the whole of the Anfield ,Walton. Clubmoor and Tuebrook Areas to utter gridlock

There is no railway nor motorway links to the new stadium !

Cllr Bradley, please encourage a joint stadium if the clubs want it , but make sure you deliver the prime duty of the council by ensuring it is built on derelict land near the rail and motorway links a new International sized Stadium needs.

So far your administration has been totally blind to the lack of infrastructure and been hell bent on building on Stanley Park irrespective of the Traffic and Environmental damage

Cllr Steve Radford
Leader Liberal Party Group

Liberals Call on PCT to leave Green Lane Medical Centre Open

Tuebrook's three Liberal Party Concillors have written to Liverpool PCT urging them to keep open the highly popular and modern Green lane medical centre - please write in if you have not already

Appeal for Residents help with Anti Crime Campaign inTuebrook and Stoneycroft

Dear Neighbours

From tomorrow and over the next 6 months we hope to reach over 3000 local homes and provide significant anti crime kits free of charge

From our ward allocation we have purchased £6000 of anti crime kits to distribute

Part of the kit will include a device which will switch your home lights on and off when you are away e.g. holiday

The second part will be a smart water marker.

By putting your house number, followed by post code on all valuables, e.g. TV, bikes, DVD act. It will mean if stolen the goods can be traced back to you, it will help police catch the criminals.

Most importantly by aiming to get virtually every household in the district marked up by this invisible ink. We will have a real deterrent to prevent crime in the first place.

The smart water pens in a kit will actually mark up 6 homes

We are therefore asking you if you would look after 6 homes, your own plus five friends or neighbours in the Tuebrook/ Stoneycroft Ward

If you are up for helping out. Please e mail your name and home address and the five addresses you will look after. (at tuebrookhope@hotmail.co.uk)

We are approaching dozens of community groups and churches to help this campaign so we can roll out the 3000 kits with maximum speed

We have already done a presentation to the Tuebrook Hope Centre seniors Group and Tuebrook Line Dancers. If you have a community group we could speak to about the scheme, please let me know.

Having secured a large number of houses through groups and contacts such as yourselves,we will then individually knock outstanding households (thus why we need keep a list of homes assisted)

Over the last five years we have made tremendous efforts to drive down crime, this will be a major initiative not seen in any other district

Over and above this we as local councillors have requested again this year £45,000 is spent to purchase extra police patrols in the area

We are sure everyone will rally round and this effort will help build up a real sense of neighbourhood confidence, its a great opportunity to invite new residents join in.

Warmest regards

Steve, Chris and Hazel

Liberal Party Response to proposed combining 2009 Local and Euro Elections

From Councillor Steve Radford
President of The Liberal Party
41 Sutton Street
Tuebrook
Liverpool
L13 7EG
0151 259 5935
07920090322

To Rt. Hon Hazel Blears MP
Secretary State for Communities and Local Government
Eland House
Bressenden Place
London SW1E 5DU

e mail to 2009elections@communities.gov.uk

Firstly may we thank the Secretary of State for Communities for consulting The Liberal Party over the proposal to combine Local and European Elections in 2009.

It is the robust view of The Liberal Party that there are considerable benefits reducing the numbers of times electors are expected to attend for voting in any reasonable period.

We have long held the view that there should be a democracy day whereby all elections are held on one day in any calendar year.

However if we are to combine elections on one "Democracy Day" there is a real danger that the local aspect" of the elections is unduly influenced by national political considerations, the impact being exaggerated by the first past post voting system.

Therefore we would only support this change as part of a more fundamental reform to energise local democracy.
This should include:

Consideration should be made for this to be a National (Bank) holiday

The Government should consider facilitating a public information booklet, whereby each and every candidate/party contesting that electoral area is able to make one modest election address in one booklet. This to be paid for and distributed as a booklet to each household from public funds

Local Councils should be able to vary the electoral systems to enable voting to take place by the Single Transferable Vote,
this would ensure there are no safe seats on any council and every vote has equal value wherever the resident lives.

We believe if councils were allowed to be elect by STV many would switch from annual elections to a four year cycle.
This option should at least be given to all councils operating the current multi member 3 ward system.

In the longer term ,it would allow more stability for wards whereby the numbers of councillors for the same ward could be increased or decreased to reflect population changes, rather than redrawing ward borders cutting across historic communities.

Again this would reduce the number of times electors are expected to vote whilst retaining a degree of stability that the current common annual local election system provides.

Lastly we have found the party list system used in the European Elections alienates many voters.

We would urge you to change this system to STV with the option to reduce the size of regions to areas more meaningful to the electorate.

We would oppose the combination of Local and European Elections, as it would have an unhealthy influence of national political issues blurring the local elections, unless it was part of a radical democratic reform of local government
including allowing communities to opt for STV.

We strongly urge you to broaden the remit of your consultation to include alternatives strategies.

Cllr Steve Radford
President of The Liberal Party

A City Councillor’s Personal View From Councillor Steve Radford

in Liverpool Scene Magazine

Election nights in Liverpool are never predictable; we never expect a national trend to take place here. Even a city-wide swing will have wide variations across the 30 wards. Whilst Liverpool is a major city, in many ways it is still an urban spread of many distinct village type communities.

Prior to the Council elections, as the leader of the opposition Liberal Party Group, I had a fair few phone calls from both Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders asking what we would do in the event of a hung council, as the third largest party.

We made it clear we would judge any administration on the following three criteria:

(1) the need for sound finance - Liverpool City Council is in my view a landlord of mass neglect, with many of the derelict buildings throughout the city being council owned!

(2) building on parks and open spaces – which would seem to be going against the very purpose for which they were created in the first place and which is just as much in need of today as yesterday

(3) the pathfinder policy, whereby thousands of terraced homes in working class communities are demolished – this has to be looked at afresh. In my view this laying waste whole housing districts must be stopped, for it is a peacetime equivalent to the military pathfinder policy of WWII in Germany

Council Housing Experts, that are paid hefty consultation fees confessed under cross examination, that they believe there are an additional 12,000 terraced homes that should be demolished on top of the current 3,000 homes already planned. As this would be politically explosive, the council officers are in complete denial as to what was said at the public enquiries.

The real victims of the council and partner Housing Associations boarding up houses and effectively blighting areas are those of us who have worked, saved and bought our modest terraced homes. The Joseph Rowntree Trust has gathered research suggesting that the average person, post demolition and compensation, would be approximately £35,000 worse off.

As the election results came in there was a real hope that the ruling Liberal Democrats would be forced to negotiate with The Liberal Party Group. The bulldozers were under threat.

Nadia Stewart, formerly of the Croxteth Labour party, who had previously fallen out with Cllr Rosie Bailey, walked to the Liberal Democrats giving then the magic 46 seats. The bulldozers were thus safe and thousands of terraced communities should now be wary that they are not next on the planned run-down to demolition.

One sign of hope is that the Labour Leader Cllr Joe Anderson recognises that this policy, funded by government, needs to be reviewed.

As Liverpool continues to demolish thousands of affordable homes, the waiting list for housing has soared to record heights. Cllr Joe Anderson also recognised that if the Labour Group had been closer to winning, this policy would have to be reviewed in a bid to garner Liberal Party co-operation.

In fairness he is experienced to consider the real harm the policy has done to local communities.

The next local elections are two years away. However just one further defection or a by-election could bring the whole balance into question and the bulldozers of four national building companies who have achieved an effective monopoly over sections of the city might find themselves put to grass.

Cllr Steve Radford
Steve is Leader of The Liberal Party Group and has served many years on the Housing Committee

Dinner Mattered more than Leighton Dene and Boaler Street care facilities

Cllrs Steve Radford and Chris Lenton
Liberal Party Group
41 Sutton Street
Tuebrook
Liverpool
L13 7EG
07920090322

Dear Editor

We wish to protest at two deeply disturbing aspects of the council's first annual meeting this year

You would have thought after being hammered by the electorate at the local elections the Lib Dems would have been in a listening mood, far from it !

They pressed ahead after a brief debate to stick with the closure of both Leighton Dene and Boaler Street Rehab and Care facilities.

Even more disturbing was that the newly elected Labour Mayor only allowed two speakers from both Lib Dems and Labour on this debate ,as there was a pressing need to sit for dinner

Having supported the call for a special council meeting on this issue we were more than disappointed at this debate being adjunct to the council annual meeting and given such a truncated time for debate.

As far as we were concerned the future of first class care facilities mattered more than a council dinner

Secondly, last year we had 8 scrutiny committees, they have now been reduced to 6.

The worst example must be a committee is now somehow expected to oversee Housing, Recycling , Parks/Environment, Community Safety and a host of other Neighbourhood issues.

We fear it represents a deliberate attempt to prevent elected members scrutinise the administratu=ion, officers and leading councillors alike.

There is a real danger that the council will make even more major mistakes , like the Matthew Street Festival Fiasco, if ordinary councillors have fewer and fewer opportunities to oversee the administration

The Liberal Democrats proclaim transparency and accountability , in practice they are are undermining democratic accountability at every turn

Councillors Steve Radford and Chris Lenton
Liberal Party Group

New super school would look 'like Walton jail'

May 12 2008 by Ben Turner, Liverpool Echo

The planned new £27m West Derby comprehensive school

LIVERPOOL’S first £27m super school was today likened to Walton jail.

Campaigners criticised an artist’s impression of the new West Derby Comprehensive, saying it looked more like a prison than a school.

They also claimed proposed parking spots would do little to prevent a growth in traffic on the already car-clogged Bankfield Road.

Council officials today stressed all views would be taken on board as consultation got under way. They stressed the futuristic school would transform “the quality of education for current and future generations of children.”

Playing fields behind Tuebrook’s Peter Lloyd leisure centre are earmarked for the site.

It will replace the existing ageing school, which is split across two sites off Bankfield Road and Quarry Road.

Special school Ernest Cookson, in nearby Mill Lane, would also move into the complex as part of a £400m makeover of the city’s schools.

The school, designed with the input of pupils, will include facilities ranging from cutting-edge computer equipment to a four-court sports hall, lecture theatre and recording studios.

But residents have objected, saying playing fields should not be sacrificed. They also predict big increases in traffic.

Tuebrook Liberal Party Cllr Hazel Williams said promises of car parking on the new school’s Bankfield Wing playground would not be enough to alleviate traffic .

She was also scathing about the design.

She said: “I am sorry to say my honest opinion is it looks like a jail and has the same look about it as Walton prison.

“From the word go, myself and Tuebrook residents have nothing against the school, but it’s in the wrong location and these plans have done nothing to change that view.”

Town hall planners insist the benefits of placing West Derby comprehensive on a single site outweigh objections.

A council spokesman said the detailed plans would be submitted in August.

He said: “We are seeking the views of parents, pupils and local people about the design and this will help influence the detailed planning application.”