Isle of Ely (South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats)

Isle of Ely

Introduction

Found to the north of the constituency, Isle of Ely has had a long tradition of being represented by Liberals and Liberal Democrats. The magnificent cathedral can be seen for miles around. In 2007, there was an electorate of 19205 people.

Latest Stories

Oct 31, 2011:
- Councillors Allowance Petition Tops 3,0000
  Neil Morrison, Jonathan Chatfield and Kilian Bourke collect signatures for the noto25percent campaign in Ely Cambridgeshire Lib Dems' countywide campaign to overturn the increase in councillors' allowances is gathering pace and their petition has jumped from 1,000 to more than 3,000 signatures in just four days. A weekend of campaigning in Cambridge City and Ely as well as ongoing activity around the county has raised the number of signatures on paper alone to over 2,000. Signatures online had taken the total number over the 3,000 mark. The Lib Dems have put a motion to Cambridgeshire County Council on December 7 to reverse the controversial 25 per cent increase in councillor allowances before they become effective, and the petition is an opportunity for the public to pressure politicians to support it. Jonathan Chatfield who was leading the team in Ely which gathered over 500 signatures alone said: "This shows the real strength of feeling about this issue. People were saying loud and clear that now is not the right time for councillors to be awarding themselves a 25% increase in their allowances." Lib Dem Group Leader Kilian Bourke added: "This is not about party politics. It is about public servants being able to look the public they represent in the eye. I hope that Council Leader Nick Clarke will take heed of the public mood, admit he made a mistake and get it right second time round." Lib Dem spokesperson for localism, Sarah Whitebread said: "I urge those who have not already done so to sign the petition at www.noto25percent.com. If enough people sign up, there will be great pressure on politicians to scrap this increase." Published and promoted by South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats, 16 Signet Court, Swann's Road, Cambridge Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
Apr 10, 2011:
- Lib Dems Unleash Women Power at the Polls
  Woman power is dominating East Cambridgeshire's elections as Liberal Democrats unleash their latest weapon in the battle for votes. They are fielding 18 strong female candidates throughout the district - more than double the number chosen by the Conservatives and Labour. If elected, when voters go to the polls on May 5, the women will alter the male dominated balance on East Cambridgeshire District Council and more closely reflect the electorate. Lib Dem sitting councilors, Hazel Williams, Sue Austen, Sheila Friend-Smith and Pauline Wilson are defending their seats and they are joined by a new line-up. Former Cambridge City Councillors, Jennifer Liddle and Jenny Bailey who have moved into the district, bring a wealth of experience to their fight for seats in East Cambs. Former East Cambridgeshire District Councillor and Lib Dem Leader, Charlotte Cane, who took a break from local politics due to pressure of work, is hoping to return. And they will be joined by Lorna Spencely, Elizabeth Mitchell, Gayner Griffiths, Dian Warman, Lindsey Harris, Ruth Palmer, Nicola Masters, Johanna Crighton, Anthea Maybury, Joanna Burnett, Brenda Wilson, Lesley Phillips and Sue Fentiman. Lib Dem Leader, Ian Allen said: "We are very proud of our female candidates and are confident they will put up a good election fight. "Although we have had strong female politicians on the council, the chamber has been very male dominated. We want to change that so that we get a more balanced viewpoint and reflect the electorate generally." Published and promoted by South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats, 16 Signet Court, Swann's Road, Cambridge Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
Sep 20, 2010:
- Tories Make Sure Taxpayers Pay Up and Shut Up
  East Cambridgeshire residents fork out £60,000 a year for transport and safety improvements but have been robbed of the chance to say how the money should be spent. Tories on the district council have decided to axe a key committee which discussed the issues in public. They have given no reason for killing off the East Cambridgeshire Area Joint Traffic Management Committee which drew its members from both the district and county councils. Members meet to consider and approve schemes such as cycle paths, road safety improvements, pedestrian crossings, traffic calming and dropped kerbs to assist disabled residents. The committee's budget was made up of £60,000 from East Cambridgeshire District Council - including donations from the village parish councils - and £60,000 from Cambridgeshire County Council. Councillor Bob Stevens, who represents Bottisham on the district council said: "This decision is absurd. We have been given no explanation and it has robbed residents, parish councillors and district councillors of having any input in decisions on transport and safety. "This committee had a full and important agenda and it is ludicrous to kill it off." The decision to axe the committee comes at a time when the Tories on Cambridgeshire County Council are diverting government money from the Local Transport Plan into the fund for the guided bus. "Crucial decisions are being made by the Tories on the county council about transport and safety spending in East Cambridgeshire," said Lib Dem leader, Ian Allen; "yet residents will have little or no say. "We have already seen a number of projects axed to pay for the ill fated guided bus which brings no benefit to our residents. This is another example of the Tories ignoring the views of residents to pursue their own agenda." Published and promoted by South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats, 16 Signet Court, Swann's Road, Cambridge Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
- Tories Sink Developer Cash into Leisure "White Elephant"
  Cllr Ian Allen has attacked the Leisure Centre Project as a "White Elephant" East Cambridgeshire Tories have sunk £500,000 of developer 106 money into the multi million pound leisure centre project with no clear plan of how to get it off the ground. They have cleared out the 106 fund - money given to the district council for leisure and community facilities from developers building new homes in the district. The attack comes from the district's Liberal Democrats after figures released have revealed the massive financial commitment to the project. Lib Dems are worried that the Tories are leaving the district in an extremely precarious financial position. Architects' fees for the project have cost almost £300,000; a further £45,000 has been spent on highways work and £17,000 on archaeology at the site in Downham Road, Ely. Now the ruling Tory group on East Cambridgeshire District Council is expected to grant itself planning permission for the £11 million project in November. Lib Dem leader, Ian Allen said: "This is total madness. The Tories have cleared out all the 106 money on a project which is going nowhere. They have no idea of how they are going to finance this leisure centre and yet they continue to spend money. "They are pinning their hopes on the 2012 Olympics generating new money for sport and a levy on house building in the future. "On top of that, 80 per cent of residents questioned are still against moving the leisure centre out of town." Cllr Allen added that the present community-owned Paradise Sports Centre is protected by a 76 year cast iron lease which is a further obstacle in the way of the Tories' plan. "The new leisure centre is a white elephant," he said. "The Tories are pursuing a multi million project which they cannot afford and is unlikely to attract private backing in these difficult economic times. "But instead of putting this project on hold until the money is available they are pushing forward leaving the district council in an extremely precarious financial position." Published and promoted by South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats, 16 Signet Court, Swann's Road, Cambridge Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
Aug 16, 2010:
- Tories' Profit Making Scheme for Market could Backfire
  Cllr Pauline Wilson proposed an alternative pitch charge for the market that were rejected by the Tories Liberal Democrats have issued a stern warning to the Tories after they agreed a 58 per cent increase in charges for Saturday's market traders. They claim that forcing traders to pay East Cambridgeshire District Council £10 a week plus VAT to erect and dismantle stalls could be short sighted in the longer term. The Lib Dems claim that traders could eventually swap the council owned stalls for their own and bypass the charge. "This would leave the council back to square one and having to rethink its strategy all over again," said Councillor Pauline Wilson, Lib Dem spokesperson of the council's Community Services Committee. "This is a quick fix, short sighted solution which could backfire. The Tories see the market traders as an easy target and a way of making massive profit. But it could go badly wrong. "Some of the traders have already expressed concerns about the advance payment and are worried that they will have to give up." The Tories propose introducing the £10 charge plus VAT in transitional stages for existing traders. They will pay £5 a week for the first six months in advance, followed by £7.50 a week for the year 2011/2012 finally increasing to £10. New traders will be charged £10 a week plus VAT from day one. The increase with the other cost saving proposals will generate an extra £46,500 in profit from the Saturday Collectibles and Farmers' Markets, on top of the already budgeted £20,000. At the council's Community Services Committee meeting on Thursday (August 12) Cllr Pauline Wilson proposed a £5 increase on pitch charges across the board, which would have been VAT exempt and was supported by traders. It would have produced an additional £42,500. But her idea was defeated along with another from Lib Dem Cllr Hazel Williams who suggested introducing the £10 increase as a pitch charge, again free of VAT, and keeping the transitional arrangement. Cllr Pauline Wilson added: "The Tories may have shot themselves in the foot with this plan. No-one knows what will happen in a year or two and traders could decide to reject the council-owned stalls and buy their own. Eventually, the council may find it has priced itself out of the market. "Increasing the pitch fees by a small amount would have guaranteed increased profit for the market with the traders' backing." Published and promoted by South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats, 16 Signet Court, Swann's Road, Cambridge Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY