Local party activists have been busy campaigning for the Meadowbank by-election, which takes place on Thursday this week (26th November).
Liberal Democrat candidate Sachin Singhal attended last week’s meeting of Bradley Stoke Town Council, where he made use of the “questions from the public” session to confront Councillors with a query about healthcare provision in the town.
According to Mr Singhal, over 200 pregnant women in Bradley Stoke are having to travel to Filton or Patchway for treatment and advice after facilities at Bradley Stoke Surgery were withdrawn earlier this year, pending re-development of the site.
Council Chair Mark Forsyth replied that there was nothing the Town Council could do about the matter, adding that the surgery was waiting to receive planning permission from South Gloucestershire Council for its proposed expansion. He was then hastily corrected by some of his fellow councillors, who advised him that permission had already been granted – over twelve months ago.
The only constructive comment came from Cllr Brian Hopkinson, who suggested that patients could use the services of Four Towns Community Transport.
The Lib Dems have also distributed a second edition of their ‘Focus’ leaflet combined with a ‘Community Survey’ form in which they ask for residents’ views on a number of topics including traffic and transport, the location of the Town Council offices, anti-social behaviour and crime.
The Conservatives, whose candidate is Ernie Brown, have not (as far as we know) delivered any further leaflets. Agent Paul Smith did however provide a statement to The Journal which highlights achievements and plans of the current Conservative administration:
We are spending just under £6k on the lower football pitch at the Jubilee Centre (used mainly by BSYFC) to improve drainage in wet weather and reduce the number of cancelled matches during the winter months. BSYFC had hoped to obtain grants from various third parties but when these were not forthcoming we agreed to fund the full cost of the work.
We are replacing the maintenance man’s Piaggio as the old one died. The red three wheeler has been a regular sight on the roads in Bradley Stoke for many years, however it has been breaking down with increased regularity and repairs are no longer an economical solution. Council agreed at their meeting this month that a replacement should be purchased and the new black Piaggio will arrive shortly.
After last year’s freeze in the precept, to help residents through the recession, BSTC have implemented a modest 1.79% increase in the 2010/11 precept (amounting to just £2 on band D). The extra money raised will pay for the ongoing improvements to services introduced by Conservatives such as the dedicated MCO, extra part-time police officer, Brook way Youth club and many many more.
Approximately 2,250 people living in the Meadowbank parish ward are entitled to vote in Thursday’s election. Polling takes place at the Church of Christ the King, Mautravers Close, between 7am and 10pm.
Related links:
- Lib Dem Leaflet (21st November) [PDF, 381KB]
- Lib Dem Survey (21st November) [PDF, 316KB]
