'Six to Fix' - Liberal Democrat County Council Manifesto 2009

Focus on the basics ~ Work in partnership ~ Build on success

Highways

Get the basics right! Roads and footways take you to any other service you use. Surfaces must be safe, maintained and kept safe during icy weather. Highways staff need the right skills, training and equipment - and we must have enough people to do the job required, to avoid broken promises and high absence rates. Promote Community Speed Watch.

Transportation

Speed up the review of speed limits and develop safer crossing areas, especially through villages and near schools, parks and leisure centres.

Award passenger transport contracts on Quality Standards as well as price, to bring vehicles up to the appropriate accessibility requirements by 2015. Review areas in partnership with operators and communities to avoid duplication or gaps in routes. Explore flexible use of school buses to benefit un-serviced communities when the buses would otherwise lie idle. Promote cycle and walking routes.

Youth Services

Halt the cut backs in youth provision. Work with partner organisations to lift this service out of the doldrums and invest in our young people. Help young people to learn life skills which will keep them safe while promoting their independence. In partnership with others, reintroduce cycle training and encourage first aid training, driver awareness, swim safety, student firefighter courses, gardening and cookery courses etc in clubs, colleges and schools.

Education

Listen to the concerns of local people about the Building Schools for the Future programme and reconsider the best way to improve results, pupil teacher ratios, reduce class sizes, and improve school buildings throughout the county. Build on the success of the District Children's Trust Boards to further improve services to children and families.

Social Care

Work with the voluntary sector to build a robust day care service, together with reliable personal care providers, especially in rural areas. Be responsive locally in each district to the needs of residents. Forge strong partnership arrangements with district and borough councils to deliver appropriate services and encourage diversity and innovation, building on best practice.

Community

Support voluntary organisations and innovative community initiatives, such as social enterprises, delivering essential services to Staffordshire residents, for example through the Community & Learning Partnerships. Work with parish and town councils or other community partners, to develop local cost-effective solutions, to deliver on local priorities. Invest in partnership solutions to cut crime and get more Bobbies on the Beat. Support the high performing Staffordshire Police and Fire services to deliver a safer Staffordshire.

Liberal Democrat Candidates 2009

in Staffordshire Moorlands District Council area

Biddulph North - Ron Sherwin

Biddulph South & Endon - Christina Jebb

Caverswall - Judy Gregg

Cheadle & Checkley - Phil Silk

Churnet Valley - Phil Routledge

Leek Rural - Roy Gregg

"I have lived and been employed in the division for over 30 years and am married with two teenage children and a spaniel. I am a Chartered Environmental Scientist and worked as a Pollution Control field officer with farmers and water companies to clean up local watercourses. As a former District and Town Councillor, I helped to instigate our highly successful recycling scheme and chaired the Climate Change working party. I am a parent governor of my local high school and a Parish Clerk in 'the hills'. The countryside is in crisis! We need affordable homes for youngsters and a planning system that supports sustainable farming diversification, villages and local industry. As Treasurer of @21 Market Street, a charity which supports vulnerable young people locally, I will campaign against cutbacks in youth provision. Helping them to achieve life-skills will benefit us all as they become productive citizens and better parents."

Leek South - John Fisher

If elected, my priority will be to fight for Leek residents at County Hall to get the best possible level of service provision, at the least cost to you the Council Tax payer.

As an experienced District Councillor of 14 years standing, I take pride in dealing with your concerns and priorities quickly and efficiently. If elected, I would want to ensure that every young person in every part of the three tier system has the very best possible education. I would restore the cut backs in youth provision. We need to invest in our young people in Leek. Highways maintenance in Leek has suffered from insufficient resources, leading to potholes and poor pavements. These issues will be a priority. The County Council must invest in partnership solutions to cut crime and get more police officers back on the beat.

In conclusion, if elected I can assure you of my trust in all matters.

in Newcastle-u-Lyme Borough Council area

Kidsgrove & Talke - Mary Maxfield and Sandra Bowyer