Category: Social exclusion

Conservatives are promising fantasy money for highways – Floreat Salopia Ollam Foraminis?

Conservatives are promising fantasy money for highways – Floreat Salopia Ollam Foraminis?

The Conservatives have promised an extra £40 million for highways if they are re-elected. At a committee meeting early in the month, council officers confirmed that this money could not be found within the planned budget but will have to come from grants, extra government funding, cuts to other budgets and the council’s diminishing reserves. The £40 million is fantasy money, not a commitment. The Conservatives have cut £10 million from the highways budget over the last two years. They have been able to make up a bit of ground through one off government grants for potholes and to repair highways after severe weather. But the road network is so decayed in many areas, especially rural roads, the council is not managing catchup. Perhaps it is time to change the county’s motto from Floreat Salopia to Floreat Salopia Ollam Foraminis. (Please excuse my cod Latin. Corrections welcome in the comments!)

Policing by consent in question after Clapham Common, police report and government bill on crime and justice

Policing by consent in question after Clapham Common, police report and government bill on crime and justice

This article was first published on Lib Dem Voice. The scenes on Clapham Common last night as the police broke up the vigil for Sarah Everard were a disgrace and undermine the fundamental principle of policing by consent. Leading Lib Dems have called on the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick to resign. It was not a protest. It was a statement of solidarity with a woman who had been abducted from the streets of London and murdered. It was a declaration that women should be safe on the streets. Lib Dem Voice editor Caron Lindsay told of her personal experiences yesterday. The UK’s tradition of policing by consent is being replaced by policing by authority. Legislation now in parliament looks set to reinforce authority at the expense of the fundamental right of freedom to protest. A tectonic shift in the relationship between protesters, governments and the police is underway. We have seen this on the international stage. The suppression of protests in Hong Kong, Myanmar and Iran and the police reaction to the protests following the death of George Floyd are just a few examples. Not everyone in the police is in favour of growing authoritarianism. They stand above calls…

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On the death of Simon Lissauer – A Ludlow homeless man who was lost in life but had many friends

On the death of Simon Lissauer – A Ludlow homeless man who was lost in life but had many friends

Simon Lissauer was a homeless man who had slept in a garage in Ludlow for at least ten years. He died Wednesday night in a hotel provided by Shropshire Council to give him shelter during the second lockdown and because he had complained of being unwell. The death of Simon has affected many people. His friends here in Ludlow and beyond. The team of council officers who had been working so hard to help him. There is a sense of failure amongst us. Simon could be difficult to deal with at times. But we were getting closer to get him into permanent accommodation when his body gave way.

Shropshire Council reconsiders bus cuts – that’s good news but we await the details

Shropshire Council reconsiders bus cuts – that’s good news but we await the details

Update On 12 June, the Cabinet agreed the following: Local Bus Services To not implement the reduction or removal of services as consulted, but where the consultation feedback has highlighted genuine efficiencies or cost pressures those will be focussed upon.   To amend the Council’s 2019/20 budget and reduce the planned reduction in the public transport budget from £405,000 to £180,000. Future Public Transport Services To commence a review of the current operation and future opportunities for, improved public transport services across Shropshire, including reviewing concessionary travel and the opportunities for bus franchising. The Cabinet also recommended increases on some Shrewsbury park and ride charges but deferred other increases until they have been reviewed.

Shropshire Council is withdrawing support for the county’s rural communities (updated)

Shropshire Council is withdrawing support for the county’s rural communities (updated)

The council customer service point in Ludlow Library is open four days a week. But plans are afoot to reduce its opening to two days a week, Tuesday and Friday. This will mean that vulnerable people will find it harder to access support and get referrals to the food bank. Age Concern told the Shropshire Star that the countywide cuts will be a serious blow for the elderly. Other cuts to community support are on the way. Shropshire Council is no longer interested in supporting the rural communities in our county.

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