THE REAL ALTERNATIVE FOR WANDSWORTH

 SAFER, FAIRER, GREENER IN WANDSWORTH 

Once-proud Wandsworth is fraying at the edges. These are the early signs of a deep malaise. The complacency of the current Council exerts its corrosive effect throughout the Borough. Broken pavements, deteriorating road surfaces and uncleared rubbish are signs of a Council that is abdicating from its responsibilities to residents. Look elsewhere - housing, law and order, social services, schools, waste management - and you see the same signs. The Council is retreating from its role; it points to success in meeting over-narrow performance indicators, and blames anybody else when services fall short of people’s real needs.

This has to stop. It’s time to give power back to people and to their communities. The time has come for fresh thinking from the Liberal Democrats, a party that truly believes in local democracy. Even when councils have limited powers, they can still lobby, facilitate and cajole. We beleive in the value of local leadership.

Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell says "People in every part Britain are turning to the Liberal Democrats. There are no no-go areas. And where Labour and the Conservatives have let people down, we’re delivering. Better services, better value for money and better accountability."

What the Liberal Democrats will fight for:

  Streets & pavements: back to the Brighter Borough. Reverse the deterioration of the Borough’s roads and pavements

  Environment policy: real action and real accountability. Setting high standards and reporting back. Leading the community on wider action on pollution and transport.

  Law and order: confidence and justice. Deterrence; justice; results. Visible policing and new approaches to antisocial behaviour.

  Communities: enriching the social environment. Development benefit for all residents; joined-up delivery of social services.

  Education: real choices for residents. High standards; increased secondary provision; ensure that there is a good local choice for all.

  Managing the Council: open and effective. Leadership across whole community; open government; value for money; keep the Council Tax low.

View full manifesto document:

(PDF, 773.2 kb)