Lid Dems: We’ll target the climate and cost of living crises
LIBERAL Democrats in South Gloucestershire are promising a “fundamentally different type” of council if they take power in the upcoming local election.
As the second largest party on the council could take control after the election if the Conservatives lose their narrow majority of five seats.
“There are two huge challenges at the moment,” said leader Claire Young, “the threat to our planet from climate change and the cost of living crisis. We know people are really concerned about the soaring prices of food and household bills, and they’re also worried about protecting our planet for future generations. Those would be our top priorities. We want to offer support and advice to people and businesses, help them cut their bills and also grow the local economy.”
Cllr Young said the current Conservative administration has not kept up with climate targets, despite pressure from the Liberal Democrats to cut greenhouse gas emissions more quickly.
Another area she believes the Tories have fallen short is in working with the region’s other political leaders, particularly Labour’s Dan Norris, the metro mayor of the West of England. Cllr Young also backed bus franchising, which would see the bus network brought back under public control.
A Clean Air Zone for polluted parts of the district “would not be considered at the moment” if the Liberal Democrats took power. Instead, the party would focus on improving local buses and cycling routes. Cllr Young also promised to keep council car parks free.
“That’s not something we would consider at the moment,” she said. “Our focus is on trying to improve bus travel and active travel, which will have the knock-on effect of improving air quality. I think that’s a more positive approach, giving people real alternatives. From the point of view of our residents with Bristol’s Clean Air Zone, lots of places now don’t have buses to Bristol.
“We would keep council car parks free. The [Cribbs Causeway] Mall has a huge amount of free parking, and Yate shopping centre also attracts people from a wide area and has free parking. When we look at the high streets in our area — Downend and Thornbury and all the other places — it would be very unfair to them to introduce parking charges.”
Another “huge issue” is housing, with thousands of new houses being built across the district.
“We desperately need a new Local Plan,” said Cllr Young, “to protect our communities from speculative development and provide small-scale genuinely affordable housing for local people while protecting our countryside.”