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If you can’t vote LibDem – vote Independent, or Green!

The overwhelming dominance of Haslemere and Waverley councils by one party, is not healthy. We need some fresh voices, for more constructive discussion reflecting a range of views.
For the county council by-election on May 2nd, the local Liberal Democrat team has deliberately not named a candidate, because we believe that the independent, Nikki Barton, will be a hard-working, excellent councillor. She has a strong record as a local volunteer, a town councillor, and previously, on the county council from 2013 – 2017. We know that she shares many of our concerns, and will fight hard to protect local interests – including the threatened library.

For the borough election in Haslemere East and Grayswood, you can vote for three candidates – but we have just two candidates. We recommend that you use your third vote to support the Green candidate, Gary Lloyd.

Similarly, in the town elections for Hindhead and Shottermill, I recommend that you lend your additional votes to the Green candidates, Bella Bramley and Rebecca Slama in Hindhead, and Claire Matthes in Shottermill.

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Now a Council Candidate – but who am I?

Here in South West Surrey, we have local elections next month, on Thursday May 2nd, for Waverley borough council,and also for the Haslemere town council  – and I’m a Liberal Democrat candidate, for both.
For Waverley, I’m a candidate in the  ward of Haslemere East and Grayswood:
(For the town of Haslemere, I’m standing in the Critchmere ward).
So – who am I? What drives me, as a candidate?

Continue reading “Now a Council Candidate – but who am I?”

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Brexit Jitters Hit the Stalled Housing Market

The government’s own declared target is to build 300 000 new homes a year – but instead of building more, the number of new housing starts is down on last year. The number of new homes registered by housebuilders with the National House Building Council (NHBC), representing 80% of the national total, was just 159 617: not much more than half the annual target.

From the Guardian:

Brexit jitters hit London housing market as newbuilds decline sharply

Housebuilding in the UK was down slightly in 2018 on the 2017 figure, from 160,396 to 159,617.
 Housebuilding in the UK was down slightly in 2018 on the 2017 figure, from 160,396 to 159,617. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

Housebuilding declined sharply in London and the Midlands last year as political and economic uncertainty around the shape of Brexit hit the housing market, according to industry figures.

The number of new homes in London registered by housebuilders with the National House Building Council (NHBC) in 2018 fell 10% from the previous year to 16,069, the biggest annual drop since 2016. In the east Midlands and West Midlands, registrations were also down 10%, to 13,447 and 13,087 respectively following two strong years.

Source: Brexit jitters hit London housing market as newbuilds decline sharply | Business | The Guardian