PLYMOUTH CONFERENCE LAUNCHES LABOUR ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN THE SOUTH WEST

Sedgemoor Labour Party delegates took part in the 2011 South West Labour Party conference at Marjon University in Plymouth as key speaker Deputy Leader Harriet Harman told them "the South West needs an army of Labour councillors to lead the fightback against the Tory cuts."

Speaker after speaker at the conference spoke about the window of opportunity brought about by the collapse of the LibDem vote due to that Party's treachery in order to get into Government. Bridgwater councillor Brian Smedley , Chairman of the Sedgemoor District Labour Party said "It is clear that voter confidence in the Lib Dems has vanished. They said they'd provide 3,000 extra Police then voted to cut them instead, they said they wouldn't in crease VAT then did exactly the opposite and they said get rid of tuition fees and then voted to treble them. The LibDems are no longer a viable alternative anymore in the South West and recent Labour council victories in Cornwall and Gloucestershire show that we're on our way back."

Andy Merrifield , Chair of Wells CLP agreed and said "Labour were aiming to stand candidates in all the North Sedgemoor wards and seeing as the LibDems were being blamed for allowing the Tory cuts and now in some places standing against themselves, such as in Highbridge where the official Libdem candidates were up against anti-coalition independent liberals, voters were responding positively to Labour as the real alternative."

Sedgemoor Labour Group leader Cllr Kathy Pearce (Bridgwater Hamp) said she was taking inspiration from the County Council victory in Cornwall where the Labour candidate had come from 5th place to win and in Stroud ,similarly coming from behind to leap frog over the Libdem candidate to take the seat. "There is now no doubt that voters are returning to Labour. We learnt today that our new membership in the Region since the General election has now reached 3,770. Many of these are young people who feel a masive sense of betrayal by the Lib Dems, who a lot of them voted for last time. The Tories got in on a minority vote and are bringing in vicious and harmful cuts which they wouldn't be able to do without LibDem connivance! Obviously people didn't vote for this to happen and are now angry about this betrayal".

Council elections will be held on May 5th and Labour ,as the main opposition in Sedgemoor, will be working hard to double it's representation and to break the Tory hold on the District.

SEDGEMOOR TORIES PUSH THROUGH CUTS BUDGET....and not a liberal in sight!

Sedgemoor Tory leader Duncan McGinty claimed his Council had 'discussed with residents and staff', 'consulted with the public' and 'increased transparency and engagement' whilst announcing a budget cut of 13.8% and a staff reduction of 25%. Echoing Camerons sham 'Big Society' (as a cover for cutbacks) he said "we have found alternative ways of delivery". As Tory councillors fell over themselves to say and do nothing (apart from vote in support at the end) it was down to Councillor for tumbleweed central Paul Herbert to say "when times are tough you got to agree that Sedgemoor delivers".

Labour members stood in turn to attack the Tory record. "Local authorities today are facing an unprecedented level of cuts and uncertainty." said Leader Kathy Pearce (Labour Hamp)"The Tories are making up policy as they go along and the community is paying the price for the ideology of a Government that fails to understand local Government while boosting the profits of private companies and we arfe left to pick up the pieces! The Tory Sedgemoor budget is a short term budget based on cuts when we should be preparing for the future. We should be taking a more strategic perspective, things like the Labour Governments 'Retail initiative' should be built on,we shouldn't be reducing our economic development function , and volunteer groups depend on core funding yet we're taking it away".

Cllr Brian Smedley (Labour Hamp) said "Nobody believes the Tories when they say they've consulted on anything. The Splash? Northgate? Tescos? And the Tory 'Big Society' is a total con. We already had a 'big society'- thats the Welfare state which the Tories are hellbent on dismantling. They're talking about something thats just an excuse for cuts, sham empowerment without funding and an end to local democracy and accountability."

Cllr Julian Taylor (Labour Eastover) said "This budget doesn't take into account inflationary trends. I can see an 'emergency budget' looming and further cuts to services. "

McGinty attempted to justify his budget with reference to Harold Wilson "Whichever Party is in office, the treasury is in power"

Cllr Taylor leapt back to his feet "It's not the treasury it's the bankers! Bob Diamonds bonus alone could pay for 1,000 health workers! Itls bankers kickbacks and the community paying the price!"

The Tories then voted unanimously to push the budget through.

And what of the LibDems who claimed this week that they could take control of Sedgemoor District Council at the Elections on May 5th? Well,actually, they weren't there. Not one of them. Currently with 3 members on SDC their wild estimates of quadrupling their representation in their latest literature "Lib Dems on course to win 14 seats and take Sedgemoor" looks a bit...inevitably..like the usual load of LibDem drivel designed to con the voters. However, next time the people won't be fooled.

TAUNTON CALLING!!

500 Somerser Students marched through their County town today in protest against the Tory led Coalition Governments cutbacks in Education including the rise in tuition fees and the abolition of the EMA.

Marching from Vivary park to the riverside gardens, the group heard speeches from local and National student activists and from protest singer Billy Bragg,who also performed 2 songs.

Rob Thompson , a student from Richard Huish College, warned Somerset Lib Dem MPs who had broken their promises on Tuition f ees to "Hold onto their seats because they'd be losing them next time round!" .

James Leeman, a Taunton student, read out Lib Dem leader Nick Cleggs broken promise in full before ripping the paper to pieces saying "Young people aren't to blame for this situation, many of us fell for Cleggs lies but we won't be fooled again!"

Billy Bragg attacked the ConDem notion of a so-called 'Big Society', the philosophy of which was driving these cuts. "My generation came through the 'real ' big society which our parents had created after the war . One where people cared for one another and where health care and education was free. When Tories say ' why should i pay for these students education' they really mean 'why should they pay for their operations, their health care, their housing and their right to a decent life' . "

As the students marched past County Hall workers rushed to their windows to applaud them and as the procession wended it's way through the centre of Taunton motorists and shoppers cheered them on whilst some joined on.

The march was peaceful and well stewarded making the rather heavy Police
presence somewhat superflous .

SEDGEMOOR TORIES VOTE THROUGH TESCO

Angry scenes in the Sedgemoor council chamber today greeted the unanimous Tory vote to support the bid for a Tesco Extra store on the Northgate site of the former Sedgemoor Splash. A demo with banners and placards greeted councillors as they arrived for the meeting and was joined by Labour Councillors who led the attempt to get the Council to reject the Tesco bid.

60 people packed the Council chamber to witness the spectacular site of the Tory ranks remaining totally silent throughout the meeting and then simply vote through the proposal at the end.

Labour councillors spoke out against the proposal. Pearce "Sedgemoor has not learnt the lessons of previous developments and does not listen to the people" , Smedley "The development should be leisure led with clear linkages to the town centre" , Taylor "The Tesco mission is to close down other retailers!" and Di Campo "The people of the town have spoken but the Tories think they know better". They were supported by Burnham and Highbridge Libdems Leach "ASDA killed Highbridge town centre" and Mansfield "Not one Tory voted with us,i'm disgusted!" , but still the Tories wouldn't budge.

Finally it was down to Tory executive member Herbert to try to justify the decision and at the same time attempt to outline Sedgemoor Tory achievements... "We've refurbished your bandstand" , "We're a forward thinking and delivering council!" ("boo!!"). Trying to rescue the situation, Tory leader McGinty said "It's a risk but we believe we can minimise it."

Members of the Public , including many residents of nearby Anson Way who would suffer considerably from the ill thought out plan, spoke in vain towards the deaf ears of the Tories .
"How could any council in it's right mind suggest another supermarket in Bridgwater?" , "What we need is a Marks and Spencers type store", "Cash is king- but after selling the assets the cupboard will be bare!" "Tescos will undercut all traders! It won;t be money for Bridgwater but for Tescos!!", "You are going to sell off FOREVER a public open space for a Supermarket!", "Take care of our Green spaces, they ain't making any more!"

Labour Councillor Brian Smedley called for a recorded vote to put on record those councillors who had voted for and against .

For the Tescos proposal; -
Alder ( Con ,Kings Isle) Baker (Con, Bridgwater Quantock) Bown (Con,Sandford) Bradford (Con,N.Petherton) Burridge-Clayton (Con, Burnham North) Cresswell (Con, Bridgwater Bower) Crow (Con , Bridgwater Quantock) Davey (Con , Burnham N) Denbee (Con, Axe Vale) Downing (Con,Cheddar) Dyer (Con,Cannington) Filmer (Con,Brent) Fraser (Con,N.Petherton) Gilling (Con, Brent N) Grimes (Con, Berrow) Hall ( Con, Bridgwater,Bower) Hamlin (Con,Woolavington) Herbert ( Con, Huntspill) Hill (Con, Cheddar) Jones (Con, Burnham N )Joslin (Con,Cannington) Kingham (Con,W Poldens) McGinty (Con , E Poldens) Moreton (Con, Huntspill) Preece (Con, Bridgwater Bower) Savage (Con Cheddar) Slocombe (Con, Bridgwater Quantock) Turner N (Con, Kings isle)

Against the Tescos proposal; -
DiCampo (Labour, Bridgwater Victoria) Leach (Lib, Highbridge) Mansfield (Lib Burnham South) Pearce (Labour, Bridgwater Hamp) Richards (Labour,Bridgwater Victoria) Smedley (Labour, Bridgwater Hamp) Taylor (Labour, Bridgwater Eastover) Turner J (Labour, Bridgwater Hamp)

Abstain
Scott (Con, Axbridge)

Uproar greeted the final vote (28-8-1) , pushed through by the out of town Tories that dominate Sedgemoor with the complete collusion of the 6 Bridgwater Conservatives. "We'll sort it out at the May elections!" "Don' t vote conservative, this is what they do to you!" "Disgraceful!" "Get off the Council!" and "Go and get a job in Tescos instead!"

ANGER IN COUNCIL CHAMBER AS SEDGEMOOR TORY EXECUTIVE BACKS TESCO BID

A packed meeting of Sedgemoor District Council saw the 100% Tory ruling executive unanimously vote through Tescos plans to build a giant supermarket on the site of the much loved Sedgemoor Splash swimming pool. The 10 members of the SDC Executive, none of who represent Bridgwater wards, recommended that Tesco be given the go-ahead and the pressure is now on the Full Council meeting on 28th January for ratification.

The plans submitted by Sedgemoor officer Doug Bamsey, would see a massive ' Tesco Extra' built on the Northgate site, a 600 space car park and a reduction of public open space on the adjacent Brewery field. The sale of the land would bring in £5.8m as a capital receipt for SDC which they would earmark for the planned new Swimming Pool on the Chilton School site.

Bridgwaters Labour Mayor Cllr Bill Monteith said "What the town needed was a flagship Leisure & Recreation development with attached retail development but what we are being offered is a large retail development with a very much reduced leisure facility ! The Splash was key to this flawed development. Any new pool should have been built in the town centre. This is NOT the fault of Tesco or of the current economic climate but of the collective myopia and lack of strategy of THIS council. So desperate was this Council to gain a capital receipt that it failed to negotiate the best settlement. Such was the dread that someone may save the pool that they demolished it ASAP. Why? Surely a developer as keen as Tesco would have done that having acquired the site! And what was Plan B? What did they consider for the site while a sale was being negotiated? Nothing! Tesco must have been sniggering into their accounts at this ineptitude. The sight of a Council prostituting itself for the sake of a capital receipt, with out regard for the potential damage that it could do is ,frankly, abhorent ."

Labour Councillor for Hamp , Brian Smedley , picked up on a ( presumed) spelling mistake in Mr Bamsey's report when he described the Evaluation process as the 'Exiting Town centre function'. "This is in reality an 'Exit Strategy' for the Town centre. There won't be a Town centre as a result of this development. Has Sedgemoor really taken on board the likely consequences of such developments in other towns? In Accrington for instance - a town the size of Bridgwater (35,000) and similarly beholden to a Tory dominated District (Hyndburn) was promised 450 jobs by the Tescos they had approved permission for. 2,000 people applied. 191 jobs were advertised of which only 64 were long term unemployed - the rest being redeployed from other Tesco stores or displaced. The other issue is the total Gridlock that will be created as this site will be right in between the NDR and Taunton rd snarl ups that will be made worse by the planned EDF developments"

Eastover Labour Councillor Julian Taylor pointed to the failed ASDA development in his ward "This will have a similar detrimental effect. Jobs created won't be new jobs and won't be good jobs, minimum rate, not long term and just relocating. Some serious questions need answers - Were Tescos invited to contribute to a replacement pool? Did they offer? If they weren't asked , why not!?"

Members of the public added their weight to the chorus of criticism directed against Sedgemoor Tories.

Local Trader Sally Jones said "Once in this town they will undercut all the local traders. We have lots of empty shops and this won;t encourage them to fill up. We've seen in the media what Tescos has done to other towns such as Shepton Mallet. Tesco will do exactly what ASDA did to the other end of town so please Councillors learn from your mistakes and protect what you have. Once in then Tescos will have control !"

Roger Smith , manager of the adjacent Angel Place shopping centre said "this proposal could lead to current retailers in the town centre rethinking the terms of their leases if they think the impact of such a development will be too great on their businesses"

Prospective tesco neighb our,Eric Pasco, said the vicinity was ".. part of a conservation area and the Brewery Field had been given to the town to use as public open space/recreation in perpetuity."

Local resident Bob Cudlipp pointed to a petition of 1,875 names supporting Town centre swimming and leisure facilities and called on councillors to " look again at the site in the light of Public consultation."

Linda Brigg, ex Splash disabled group, said "We have had consultations but Sedgemoor take no notice!"

The Tory response was unbending. Cllr Anne Fraser (North Petherton) said "Tesco has embraced the Bridgwater Vision and I've never seen anyone using Brewery fields anyway" (cries of "Rubbish!").

Cllr Dawn Hill (Cheddar) said "This council has a reasonable track record in trying to get the best developments". She cited her involvement in Clarks Village, Street as a good example of a similar development. (to cries of "No Comparison!").

Cllr Paul Herbert (Huntspill) said "This is a listening council and businesses need to change to survive."

Trying to quieten the angry audience tory leader Duncan McGinty ( East Polden) told the audience "Please listen!" to cries of "Thats the problem - we ARE listening!".
It was down to Cllr Ann Bown (Wembdon) to sum up the Sedgemoor Tory position "Bridgwater is ONLY a part of Sedgemoor. Is it right to put this burden on the tax payers of Wedmore and Cheddar?" (shouts of "yes" and "thats what its for!")

Chief Executive Kerry Rickards tried to sum up by saying "this project has been 7 years in the making. Sedgemoor has a reputation nationally as one of the lowest cost Authorities in the land!" (cries of "cheapest!" and "Resign!")

Councillors will relook at this decision at a special meeting on 28th January.

LABOUR GO FROM 5TH TO 1ST IN CORNWALL BY ELECTION

While all eyes were focussing on the Labour victory in Oldham last night a more exciting example of Labours recovery occured here in the South West as Labour came from 5th place to win the Camborne North By Election on Cornwall County Council .

Labour gain from Conservative

Lab 239 (33.1%, +22.4), Con 203 (28.1%, -8.8), LD 156 (21.6%, +2.2), Lib 61 (8.4%, +6.2), MK 32 (4.4%, -10.4), Green 31 (4.3%, +4.3).

Swing of 15.6% from Con to Lab since 2009.

• Champion, Michael Neale - (Mebyon Kernow - The Party For Cornwall) - 32
• Holmes, Paul Thomas - (Liberal Party) - 61
• Merrick, Jacqueline Norma - (Green Party) - 31
• Pascoe, Anna Kerensa - (Liberal Democrats) - 152
• Pascoe, Denise - (The Conservative Party Candidate) - 203
• Robinson, Judith Christine - (The Labour and Co-operative Party Candidate) - 230 Elected

Labour were in fifth place in this ward at the last election May 2009

Camborne North 2009
Con 36.9%
Lib Dem 19.4%
Ind 15.4%
MK 14.8%
Lab 10.7%
Lib 2.2%

With elections on the horizon here in Sedgemoor Kathy Pearce, leader of the District Labour group said " Both of last nights results a re obviously fantastic news for Labour . It is heartening that people are now seeing through the Coalition policies which are hitting public services disproportionately severely, targetting the less well off and the most vulnerable hardest . Locally and nationally , over the next few months, we are about t o see the loss of services on a scale neveer seen before. "

"The Tories and Lib-Dems are completely failing to address the issue of the mega-rich tax avoiders and the bankers who got us into this financial mess in the first place by a lack of regulation. They are pursuing a policy of rising unemployment and pressure on the public purse, which will potentially put us back into recession. They already borrowed more in December than the Labour government did the previous year.

"Today is the start - people and Labour fighting back and telling this government that this is just not good enough and there is a better way, through Labour."

"I KEEP MY PROMISES" Says Labour winner in Oldham By Election

Labour have won the Oldham East and Saddleworth By-election with a massive 11% swing , 42% of the vote and an increase of 16%. Debbie Abrahams, who won the seat for Labour, said "This is a clear message to Cameron and Clegg. People are sick of broken promises on VAT , trebling Tuition fees, scrapping EMA . People are turning back to Labour because of the Reckless policies of the Coalition, the Unfair cuts and the broken promises. I keep my Promises!"

The result-which was better than even the Labour landslide in 1997, saw the collapse of the Tory vote as Camerons followers switched to the Cleggites in a desperate attempt to save their ConDem coalition cronies with 14% of Tory voters changing sides as dissillusioned Libdem voters switched to Labour sick of their parties broken promises.

Andy Burnham MP said after the count "Labour are winning elections again. This is a very good result for Ed Milliband who led from the front in a very difficult campaign. "

In her victory speech Debbie Abrahams referred to the founding of the Independent Labour Party by Kier Hardie in 1893 "when working people first realised the Liberals were not for them".

The result;-

Abrahams (Labour) 14,718

Watkins (Lib Dem) 11,160

Ali (Tory) 4,481

Nutttal (UKIP) 2,029

Adams (BNP) 1,560

Alan (Green) 530

FlyingBrick (Loony) 145

Maurice (Eng Dem) 144

KLoz (Pirate) 96

Bishop (BusPassElvis) 67