Duncan Hames for Chippenham

Prospective local Lib Dem MP Duncan Hames stands shoulder to shoulder with Chippenham residents against Conservative plans to build 3,000 new houses on the outskirts of the town.

The Conservative-led Wiltshire Council’s “preferred option” is to build to the North and East of Chippenham. This includes Bird’s Marsh, near the woods, and close to flood plains near Hardens Mead. This is in spite of a petition signed by over 2,000 residents opposing the plan.

Duncan Hames said: “I’m disappointed that Wiltshire Conservatives are proposing these building plans while they continue to declare in their leaflets that they are in favour of protecting Bird’s Marsh. This is the kind of double-talk we need to get away from in politics”.

Lib Dem Wiltshire Councillors recently introduced a council motion calling for the Conservatives to drop the plan as their preferred option. Unfortunately, Conservative Councillors from outside of Chippenham blocked the motion.

Local Liberal Democrats are concerned by the strain that any new development will place on existing local services. The Lib Dems want to build on derelict sites and do-up empty housing rather than use green field sites.

Duncan Hames added: “I have written to the Housing Minister to say plainly that we can’t take this many new houses in Chippenham”.

On Saturday 20th February, prospective local MP, Duncan Hames, was joined by Lib Dem Frontbench Environment Spokesman, Simon Hughes MP, to observe a state-of-the-art local environmental project.

Duncan and Simon joined local environmental group CAVE (Chippenham and Villages Environmentalists) to a demonstration of a ‘thermal imaging’ camera on an ordinary Chippenham home. The camera, which has been sponsored by Westlea Housing Association, shows an image of the heat being lost from a house, helping the homeowner to see what how they can save energy and money.

Duncan - who has recently been appointed to the South West Zero Carbon Panel of Experts for his expertise on green energy projects - said:

“I invited Simon to Chippenham to see this cutting edge environmental project right here in our area. I think it’s is great that a group like CAVE are taking the lead in helping their fellow local residents to defend our environment and save themselves money, rather than waiting for the Government to make the first move. Westlea also deserve full credit for sponsoring this socially responsible project.”

“Simon Hughes and the Liberal Democrats are calling for a national programme of home insulation and improved building regulations to help homeowners save money and to safeguard our environment for future generations.”

9,000 Wiltshire pensioners will miss out on Cold Weather Payments triggered by the recent weather, according to analysis of Government figures by the Liberal Democrats.

Cold Weather Payments of £25 a week are paid to people on low incomes who receive a qualifying benefit, such as Pension Credit, which goes unclaimed by as many as 1.7m pensioners, 9,000 of them in Wiltshire.

Prospective Lib Dem MP for Chippenham, Duncan Hames said:

“It is a dreadfully unfair that Wiltshire pensioners on the breadline are missing out on these payments, worth nearly quarter of a million pounds a week.

“Fuel prices are at an all time high, making Cold Weather Payments all the more important to people already struggling on a poor pension. Local pensioners this weekend have told me what a difference these payments make to them when I have called by to visit.

“Labour has failed pensioners by creating a complicated system that makes it difficult for them to get the help they desperately need. The Government should be making every effort to identify pensioners who are missing out and get them this extra cash.”

The Liberal Democrats have announced they will fight the General Election on four key principles, designed to make Britain a fairer place.

Prospective MP for Chippenham, Duncan Hames, has today set out his campaign priorities: fair taxes; a fair start for every child; fair, clean and local politics and a fair, green economy with jobs that last.

Duncan said:

“People in Wiltshire have been let down by their politicians and are rightly frustrated. I am going into the election with a clear direction and a manifesto that is short, direct and to the point.

“We will introduce fairer taxes by closing loopholes for the richest, introducing a tax on mansions and tax cuts of £700 for everyone else.

“If your child is at school we can promise investment to help reduce class sizes, improve discipline and develop one-to-one tuition.

“We would also give you the right to sack your MP. The Liberal Democrats are the only party committed to real change of our political system, flushing out big money and corrupt donors and reducing the number of MPs by 150.

“And we will rebuild the economy in every part of Britain in a way that promotes green technology and creates lasting jobs. We will put an end to casino banking, bring back competition and support local entrepreneurs to make sure Wiltshire businesses can find the money they need to grow.

“The coming months are a crucial time for politics and I will be using them to focus on these four priorities and delivering real change for Wiltshire.”

In his speech on Monday, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg said:

“David Cameron and Gordon Brown are playing the politics of the airbrush and the focus group.

“One doesn’t know what he believes. The other doesn’t know what to do with the power he clings to so desperately.

“I believe the country wants something different. The Liberal Democrats are different. We offer credibility where it’s needed. And hope for our common future.”

Earlier this year, prospective Lib Dem MP for Chippenham, Duncan Hames wrote to the Audit Commission to ask for an enquiry into redundancy pay outs made to senior council officials after Conservative councillors chose to pay out at up to four times the statutory rate.

The auditors have now reported back and have uncovered that the council made over £32,000 of overpayments to the redundancy pay outs. The auditors found errors in nearly half the cases that they looked into and their report criticised the poor accountancy procedures at the Conservative-run Wiltshire Council which allowed the mistakes to be made in the first place.

Duncan said “I’m glad that I was able to help bring this miss-spending of taxpayers’ money to light. Hopefully the money can be recovered but it should never have happened in the first place. At a time when the Conservative leaders of Wiltshire Council have been talking about cutting jobs, this sort of carelessness is unacceptable. On top of this, the outgoing chief executive is in line to receive up to two years of salary for taking voluntary redundancy when he leaves - so claims by Conservative councillors that ‘lessons have been learned’ ring rather hollow.”

Prospective local Lib Dem MP, Duncan Hames, has said he is delighted to hear that a planning application to build 200 new houses on Bradford on Avon Golf Course has been withdrawn.

The news comes after a sustained campaign to stop the proposed development by Bradford residents, backed by Duncan Hames and local Lib Dem councillors.

Commenting on the news, Duncan said:

“I see this as a real victory for Bradford residents and the keep Bradford Green campaign. After the application was submitted, I wrote to everyone in the affected area to alert them - over 200 letters of objection were sent to the Council planning office. This just goes to show that when we all pull together as a community we really can make a difference.”

In October, Duncan used the Freedom of Information Act to uncover minutes from a secret meeting of Conservative councillors at which they voted to remove a covenant protecting the golf course for the community, in return for a slice of the profits if the land is sold for development.

Duncan said:

“Conservative councillors on the old District Council were eager to build on the golf course, now that their secret decision is in the open the public have made their opposition clear. The new council should end this deal before we have to face another planning application.”

Prospective Lib Dem MP, Duncan Hames, is calling on Network Rail to radically improve the rail service through our part of Wiltshire by rethinking their new 10 year plan.
Duncan said “For too long we’ve been passed over for rail improvements. Trains from Chippenham to Bath and Bristol are often overcrowded, Melksham barely has a rail service, services through Bradford on Avon are in need of increased capacity and Corsham has no station at all! I’m determined to get a decent train service for our towns.”
According to their recently published 10 year plan Network Rail considered putting on more regular services during the day through Melksham, Chippenham and Trowbridge. The proposals included an additional hourly service from Chippenham to Bristol Temple Meads – but Network Rail eventually ditched the idea.
Duncan said “I think Network Rail needs to rethink this decision. If we are to encourage more people to use public transport we desperately need more trains. An extra hourly service from Bristol to Chippenham could also stop at Corsham - giving the town back it’s much needed train service. We also need to increase the peak capacity of services through Bradford on Avon to allow more people to use them and to be sure of getting a seat. ”
Network Rail have said they would consider going ahead if extra money could be found to help with the cost of adapting Chippenham Station. Duncan Hames is calling on Wiltshire Council to help meet these costs.
“The Conservatives who lead Wiltshire Council have told us that they want a better train service for Wiltshire but, so far, have failed to make it happen. If they mean what they say it’s time for them to put their money or that of major house-builders where their mouth is.” Duncan added.

Would-be MP for our area, Duncan Hames, is backing fellow Lib Dem campaigners in Melksham who want local residents to be given the right to reduce the speed limit on their roads to 20mph.

Speeding traffic on residential roads is a real worry for many people,” said Duncan, “As a governor at a local school, I am particularly concerned that Melksham’s young people should have safe routes to school. A 20mph limit on certain residential road would help a lot.” Melksham Lib Dems have a track record of campaigning on road safety. This summer, Cllr Jon Hubbard led a successful campaign to get work moved forward on the traffic island opposite Aloeric Primary School. Jon said “I was very pleased that we were able to get action on the school crossing. A young boy was nearly run down before that problem was fixed.”
“Getting the speed limit reduced to 20mph on those streets where residents want it will make Melksham a safer place. We are calling on the Council to ask residents if they want the speed limit reduced on their street.”
If you would like your road to have its speed limit reduced email Duncan Hames at duncan@ duncanhames.org.uk to join the campaign.

Following a weekend of remembrance for the country’s war dead, prospective local Lib Dem MP, Duncan Hames, has given his backing to the Royal British Legion campaign to secure a better deal for Britain’s troops and their families.

Duncan, who attended memorial services in Chippenham and Melksham on Remembrance Sunday, is backing the Royal British Legion efforts to secure a better deal for our troops. He recently met representatives of the Royal British Legion to give his support to their manifesto to improve conditions for British Armed Forces, past and present, and their families.

Kevin Shinkwin, the Legion’s Head of Public Affairs, said, “We’re really grateful to Duncan for making the time to meet with us and listen to our concerns. Our message to every candidate standing at the general election is very simple: ‘It’s time to do your bit’.
“The entire Armed Forces family needs the support of politicians from all parties,” he added. “Our manifesto outlines practical ways the next government can help, and we hope all the parties will give it serious consideration”.

Duncan says “Local people stand shoulder to shoulder with service families for whom the wounds of war, both seen and unseen, will require lasting care. Whatever we think of the wars that recent Governments have committed us to, it is our duty to make sure that our service men and women are properly looked after - both during their active service and once they return.”

Bradford residents were shocked to learn that Conservative Councillors met in secret to do a deal that paved the way for nearly 200 houses to be built on Bradford on Avon Golf Course.
Liberal Democrat campaigner and would-be MP, Duncan Hames, used the Freedom of Information Act to reveal official documents that show that, in a closed meeting in 2007, Conservative District Councillors agreed to scrap legal protections on the golf course in return for a slice of the profits going to the Council if the land is ever sold to developers.

Duncan said, “a legal covenant was placed on the golf course to keep this local beauty spot safe to be enjoyed by Bradford residents. By secretly agreeing to scrap this safeguard the Conservatives have sold local people down the river.”
Local campaigners saw off an earlier threat to the golf course in 2008 with the support of Duncan Hames and the town’s Lib Dem councillors. But now a new planning application has been launched, and with the covenant gone, the golf course land is even more at risk. “Local people won’t just roll-over for the Council,” said Duncan, “so far over 200 local people have written letters of objection to the Council to try to stop this development. I’m calling on everyone who cares about preserving this beauty spot to register their support at: www.keepbradfordgreen.co.uk