Dear friend,

I would like to clarify my position on the proposed high speed rail route through Buckinghamshire. I am deeply concerned about the impact of HS2 on our county.

The Labour Government’s preferred route goes through the only Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (the Chilterns) between London and Birmingham as well through our historic parks and homes. I too am personally affected by the route as it goes directly in front of my home.

There have been ‘public’ meetings called at which the Liberal Democrats have been prevented from speaking. Therefore I have decided to write publicly to state the facts.

If elected as your MP for Aylesbury constituency I will vote against the route as I believe the case for it as the best route has not been proven. To my knowledge David Lidington has only said we should take part in the consultation. This is not good enough. The job of being our MP is to fight for our community over such issues. I am prepared to do that.

All three major political parties are in favour of high speed rail in general. However, the Liberal Democrats would first ensure that our existing rail network is upgraded and dormant lines reopened. We would open thousands of miles of railway tracks and stations. Only once we have made the best of our existing network, should we be considering such an enormous investment in high speed rail, and where the route is best placed. We must also ensure that we minimise the environmental impact of any such proposal.

The Tories have publicly said that they will shorten the consultation process and bring the whole project forward by two years. Theresa Villiers MP stated “if elected to power at the election, [the Tories] would start work on the project in 2015 – two years earlier than the Government’s plan.” Hansard 11 March 2010: column 450.

The Tories have also confirmed that they would haev a Heathrow spur, which would force the route through Buckinghamshire. This is both unacceptable and very dangerous.

We must be able to take part in a full and open consultation process to ensure that all the views of Aylesbury constituency are fairly represented. I have met with Norman Baker MP, Lib Dem transport spokesman, and we as a party are not wedded to this route. As your MP, I can confirm that I would fight for you and our beautiful county and vote against this route and push for a full consultation process to prove this.
Regards
Steven

As the election campaign grows momentum, Steven Lambert, Aylesbury’s Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate made time to visit the Walton Court Healthy Living Centre.

Samantha Hall, Chief Officer of the HLC gave Steven a guided tour of the wide ranging services and facilities on offer. They spent significant time discussing the challenges and successes that the charity had faced in their efforts to provide for the surrounding community.

Steven commented afterwards, ‘…The Healthy Living Centre is much more than a cafe, and plays an important role in the life of the community it serves. I was amazed to learn of the range of services and facilities on offer, and the sucesses they have had against such difficulty. I will be looking forward to see them suceed and flourish, and if elected MP will give them as much support as possible.’

If you would like to know more about the Walton Court Healthy Living Centre, its facilities and services, please visit thier website: The Healthy Living Center

Steven and Aylesbury Lib Dems attended the AVDC full council meeting last night (14th April) to discuss the Government’s High Speed 2 (HS2) Exceptional Hardship Scheme, which sets out the timeframe of the Government’s preferred route; and what financial compensation would be made to residents during the consultation period.

Steven spoke at length at the debate, saying “we must roundly reject any proposals to shorten the consultation period as set out by the Tories. We must marshal our evidence – in the same way as was done against the Tory AVDC Local Development Framework plans (which Steven fully opposed), so that our evidence stands up to Government scrutiny and the plan is rejected”.

Steven also challenged the premise of the Governments plans saying:

• We must invest in the existing local rail network before any HS2 proposal is seriously considered.
• We must not under any circumstances, shorten the consultation period as the Tories have said they will and AVDC must use every tool it can to fight this plan.
• HS1 is a different animal to HS2 and the two must surely link or and time saving is lost in ‘interconnection transfers’.
• There is no economic benefit to Aylesbury Vale, but if we are to have any that would be a stopping Station in the same way that HS1 has at Ashford International.
• An intermediate stopping station here would see large cuttings and a larger land take and would probably be based at Bicester because of space.
• The route goes too close to Wendover, Stoke Mandeville Ellen Road, Rowland Way Fairford Leys and Waddeson for no apparent reason and that must be challenged.
• That the exceptional Hardship Scheme must include the devaluation of livestock as well as property.
• It goes through an AONB, historic parkland and environmentally fragile places, therefore the route must be rethought.
• Anyone who thinks a Heathrow spur would alter the route or make it better is fooling themselves because the line would still come this way and would not add any time or cost benefits.

The Liberal Democrats were able to secure an amendment to the recommendation that ensured the scheme included industrial/commercial properties (including agricultural premises and land, particularly those with livestock) and that “Close vicinity” should be clearly defined so that the scheme covered as much of the route affected as possible.

Ironically the Tories amended the proposals to include ’second homes and buy to let homes’, meaning that Gordon Brown’s second home at Chequers and Waddesdon Manor would then get blight compensation!

The agreed proposals will now be submitted to Government for consideration. See here for AVDC’s subseqent letter to all Parish Councils in Aylesbury Vale.

AVDC letter_to_parish_councils_15_April

Gordon Brown at last ended all speculation when he finally announced the date of the general election. Scheduled for the 6th of May, Brown referred to it as, “probably the worst-kept secret of recent years.” After dragging his feet, eventually Brown has given you the voter your chance to make your voice be heard and decide who should represent you as the Aylesbury Constituency MP.

With the date now formalised, the hard work of Aylesbury’s Liberal Democrats over recent weeks will continue as the election campaign accelerates. This election represents a unique opportunity for the people of Aylesbury. With the Labour vote almost completely evaporated, and the Conservative majority of just 7000, Aylesbury has a chance for the real change it has deserved for so long. A change only offered by the Liberal Democrats.

Steven Lambert, Aylesbury’s Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate was delighted to hear the news. He commented, “at last, people will get the chance to decide who they want as their local MP, and not before time! The Liberal Democrats will be fighting the election calling for real change and a fair deal for our area. A vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote to cut taxes for those on low and middle incomes, give all our children a fair start in life, create green jobs and bring in big reforms to the way the country is run.”

Steven Lambert has already been campaigning hard on a number of issues close to the heart of voters in the Aylesbury Constituency. One of the most important local concerns is healthcare. The closure of inpatient services at Rayner’s Hedge Neuro Rehabilitation Unit, the funding crisis at Stoke Mandeville which has led them to try and sell off land to ASDA to pay for services, and the potential closure of Wycombe Hospital are all vitally important issues that need urgent discussion to see if they can be solved without depriving the public of their local health services.

The lack of real investment in our local schools is also a vitally important local issue. The Lib Dems will reduce primary class sizes to just 20 giving all children a more focused education and a better chance of doing well. Older children will be given more freedom to choose their path in education, offering 14-19 year olds the right to take up a course at college, rather than at school, if it suits them better. We have also committed to scrapping University tuition fees, saving them nearly £10,000 each. We have a financially responsible plan to phase fees out over six years, so that the change is affordable in these difficult economic times.

Many voters have already raised with Steven their concerns over the High Speed 2 Rail Project. As it currently stands, it requires much more debate and more involvement with communities before any final plans are made. The current route brings no benefits to our area but hits us with unacceptable environmental costs. Steven has been vocal in his insistence of engaging with the forthcoming consultation process to ensure your interests are represented, adding that, “the Liberal Democrats are not wedded to this scheme and as MP for Aylesbury, I would vote against the plans we have in front of us.”

Steven continued, “another issue I and many voters are concerned about is the appalling previous practice of MPs’ claiming exorbitant expenses from the taxpayer. Our current MP, David Lidington, took full advantage of the system, and I feel that he should be answerable to the voters for his behaviour. In contrast to David I will not take a second home in London if elected and will travel by train every day alongside every other commuter.”

Aylesbury has long deserved better; Aylesbury wants a real difference – only the Liberal Democrats can provide this. Steven Lambert is the only viable option if you too want to see this difference.

Do you feel the same about these issues? As a local party we can always use your help. From something as simple as putting up a window or garden poster a poster, to making a donation, or offering your talents and time, your efforts will make a difference. Why not get in contact with us and we can discuss ways you can get involved?

Steven met with Norman Baker MP on 29^th March 2010 to discuss the proposals for High Speed 2 (HS2) in more detail as, unlike the Conservative Transport Spokesman; Norman did attend the briefing with Lord Adonis on HS2.

Steven and Norman can confirm that the Liberal Democrat national position is that there must be considerable investment in the current rail network to improve services and re-open lines as well as reform ticket prices as a matter of urgency before a rational decision can be made on HS2.  Our support of HS2 is conditional on not taking investment away from doing these essential projects.

Norman confirmed that the Liberal Democrats were not committed to any specific route (including this one) and was very concerned to learn from Steven that the proposed route takes the shape and direction it does because of the environmental, community impact as well as historic parkland and National Trust land being destroyed.

Norman stated that the rationale of his comments in Parliament, on the environmental impact, were stated because the plans on paper only demolish circa 20 houses on the entire route and go through fields and open spaces. Therefore not demolishing towns and villages – which would be a severe impact in comparison, but having something on the table enables it to properly be ruled out. Which is what we have in front of us today.

Steven and the Liberal Democrats will fully support local residents in gaining adequate compensation for planning blight during the consultation process and Steven will attend the AVDC meeting on 14^th April 2010 to agree the AVDC response.  Steven said “suitable protection from loss of noise and other adverse environmental consequences when the route is finally decided.

Proper consideration must also be given to the Milton Keynes Sub Regional Growth Area, which is set to be the size of Birmingham when the proposed route is built. Therefore interconnecting or a stopping station within Buckinghamshire might prove to be a sensible option.

Norman Baker said “I have been given assurances by Lord Adonis that the proposed route is only a proposal and that the consultation due in the autumn will be a genuine consultation and that the responses will be given full consideration. Nothing should be ‘off the table’ in the consultation and every avenue must be explored for the right route to be finally agreed on.

In contrast, The Conservative Party Transport spokesman Theresa Villiers has called for the project to be brought forward with the consultation period massively reduced.  The comments by the local Tory MPs on the indicative route are, no doubt, genuinely felt but are significantly at variance with their party’s national policy.”

Steven said “it is legitimate to wonder whether they would resign a Cabinet/Shadow Cabinet post over the route if it came to a vote in the House of Commons. I can assure residents, that I would vote against these plans. I would urge as many people as possible to make your voices heard and take part fully in the planned public consultation which is due to start this autumn.”

Angry at the Tory’s gross misuse of public finances, Aylesbury’s Liberal Democrats arrived at The Gateway, on Gatehouse Road, to show what they thought to The Conservatives ability to spend your money wisely. The protest was timed to coincide with a party celebrating the build, despite the fact that the council chamber will not officially be used until the 14th of April.

AVDC Councillor, and Liberal Democrat Perspective Parliamentary Candidate, Steven Lambert was vocal in his criticism of the Tory’s excessive spending, believing that the £9m spent on The Gateway could have been put to much better use, making Bucks County Council even greener for example.

In an interview with BucksTV, he suggested the money could have, ‘helped us with affordable housing; it could have changed every single community centre across the vale…We could have also started a solar panel program, part funding solar panels right the way thought the vale making us the greenest council in the country, and instead the Tories have opted to spend all this money on a council chamber for their own vanity.’

Coverage of the protest was provided by BucksTV, and can be viewed online with the full interviewhere: http://tiny.cc/5flzv

Steven Lambert, Aylesbury’s Liberal Democrat Perspective Parliamentary Candidate, went to examine the efforts the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust have made in refurbishing and developing the accommodation in Vale House.

Here he got the opportunity to talk to a number of residents and the management team, discussing the plans they had for the future of Vale House and the difficulties they have successfully overcome.

The flats open were nearing completion and looked extremely good. Steven commented afterwards, ‘Vale House has been ignored for years. This lack of funding and interest has led to a neglect of the needs of the people who live there. The Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust have made a fantastic effort in developing Vale House and the refurbished rooms I saw looked excellent. The Aylesbury Liberal Democrats are in full support in the work they have done here and look forward to seeing the finished product.”

Aylesbury’s Liberal Democrat Perspective Parliamentary Candidate Steven Lambert went to visit the residents of Thistle Court, Plym close; a care home for elderly residents of Aylesbury. Thistle Court provides a number of activities for the residents, and Steven was just in time to see the weekly raffle which aimed to raise money for the annual residents’ outing. A wide range of issues were discussed, from taxation to litter picking.

The Liberal Democrats are keenly aware of the issues faced by pensioners. For example, we propose the abolition of the council tax, to be replace by a local tax based on ability to pay. This would be of huge benefit to most pensioners who would pay less under a local income tax type scheme. Further, we propose that the personal tax allowance should be raised for all to £10,000, so that no pensioner with total income below this level would pay income tax at all. This would benefit most taxpaying pensioners to the tune of around £100.

Steven’s visit proved popular with a number of residents and he promised to return soon to continue the dialogue.