http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from Somerset Liberal Democrat Group en-GB Somerset Liberal Democrat Group http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 Somerset Liberal Democrat Group 2010-08-01T09:16+01:00 United Kingdom http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000088/give_farmers_more_time_say_lib_dems.html Hopes that Somerset's County Farms may be saved from sell-off were dashed again after yesterday's County Council meeting. 2010-07-22T18:01+01:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000087/reducing_fuel_costs_in_somerset.html 'In a rural community many of us live in houses which don't have access to a range of cheaper fuel sources. Solar technology and funding is available now ( See Feed in Tariffs from National Government: www.fitariffs.co.uk). The problem is one of making this accessible to the people of Somerset. 2010-07-15T18:16+01:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000086/tories_vote_again_to_sell_county_farm_estate.html Today at Somerset County Council's Scrutiny meeting the Conservatives voted to back their Cabinet's policy of going for a fast track sell-off of the "family silver" - the County Farm Estate. They refused to back a call by the Liberal Democrats for a proper and full review of the estate, and turned down a request to have full consultation with all interested parties. 2010-07-08T16:52+01:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000079/fairness__the_liberal_democrat_manifesto_launch.html Nick Clegg has launched the Liberal Democrat General Election manifesto. The manifesto sets out four clear priorities of fair taxes, a fair chance for every child, a fair economy, and a fair deal by cleaning up politics. 2010-04-14T10:24+01:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000074/tory_budget_makes_damaging_cuts_to_somersets_services.html The Liberal Democrats on Somerset County Council rejected the Tory administration's budget for 2010/11 at this week's Full Council meeting. They believe the cuts will seriously undermine the high quality services Somerset's residents have come to rely on. 2010-02-18T16:00+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000075/young_people_sold_short.html The new Tory administration at County Hall passed their first annual budget at yesterday's Full Council meeting. 2010-02-18T15:00+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000073/0_rise_in_council_tax_but_dont_take_away_our_free_lunches.html Somerset residents will be shocked to learn that the 'pain' the Tories claim everyone must share through this recession, doesn't extend to them giving up their free lunches. 2010-02-17T16:00+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000072/is_something_important_to_you_on_the_tories_nice_to_do_hit_list.html The Tories at County Hall signed off cut after cut at their Cabinet meeting this morning, arguing that there's no room for 'nice to do' things in this year's budget. The six cabinet members and Leader contributed nothing to the debate and asked no questions of the council's officers, instead answering all the points the Liberal Democrats raised with a chorus of 'It would be nice to do' but simply is not essential. In other words the following things were not a priority: 2010-02-03T16:00+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000071/somerset_tories_ditch_camerons_hug_a_hoodie_approach_to_young_people.html A few short months ago, Tory Leader David Cameron launched with a fanfare, the Conservative Party's new and softer approach to young people, under the slogan; "Hug a Hoodie". 2010-02-01T14:48+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000070/somerset_tories_slip_up_over_gritting_countys_icy_roads__get_a_grip_say_lib_dems.html During the recent cold spell, it was clear that Tory-led Somerset County Council was letting people down across the county as many roads went untreated. 2010-02-01T14:44+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000068/conservative_councillors_commitment_to_carbon_management_a_sham.html It was officially confirmed at the County Council's Scrutiny meeting this morning that no money would be found from the next year's budget to meet the carbon reductions the Tories voted for last year. 2010-01-14T16:00+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000069/tories_cut_5m_spending_from_highways__putting_public_safety_at_risk.html Tories in control of Somerset County Council's budget for the coming year have withdrawn £5 million from the vital Highways Repair and Maintenance Programme and also Transport. This comes at a time when severe weather has hit us for the second year in a row and potholes in our roads have already doubled from where they were a year ago. Liberal Democrat councillors' fears were not allayed by promises to monitor the effect of the £5 million cut, on public safety. 2010-01-14T16:00+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000067/county_hall_tories_empirebuild_while_cameron_warns_of_cuts_to_come.html Under a new proposal by Conservative-run Somerset County Council, the new Tory Cabinet will be taking £300,000 from vital services to help them do the job. 2009-11-25T12:03+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000066/anger_at_distortion_of_budget_facts.html Cllr Jill Shortland, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition on Somerset County Council, today attacked the ruling Tory group's attempt to mislead local people over the use of Somerset County Council's reserves. 2009-11-18T13:26+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000065/pcso_funding_cut_stays_on_the_table.html The Liberal Democrat group at County Hall once again challenged the Conservative administration to confirm or deny the proposed £129,000 cut in Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) funding during the next budget round. 2009-11-11T16:53+00:00