Campaigns

Read more about my campaigns ...... email me if you want to get more involved.

Save Our Greenbelt

I have been campaigning against proposals for the over-development of South Gloucestershire under the Government's 'regional spatial strategy' (RSS). The proposals would include a huge new housing site on green fields that would increase the size of Chipping Sodbury by half. The RSS decision has been postponed indefinitely following a legal challenge but developers have earmarked this site ready to submit an application.  More >>

Buried Treasure for Pensioners

I am delighted that the Government has recognised that many pensioners are missing out on a little-publicised scheme to fill 'gaps' in their record of National Insurance contributions. This could improve the basic state pension of many people who are not getting full pensions.  The Pension Service is taking steps to contact people after I convinced them that many pensioners could be entitled to a big boost to their state pensions.  More >>

Save Our Local Post Offices

South Glos has seen a new round of post office closures under government plans for the Royal Mail. Post offices are a lifeline to many of our town and village communities and I worked hard alongside Tytherington residents, addressing public meetings, running petitions and meeting with government ministers, councillors and council officials to put together a funding package to enable Tytherington Post Office to reopen in 2009.  More >>

Climate Change - 60% is not enough

As Lib Dem Climate Change spokesman, I campaigned to persuade the Government to set a binding target of an 80% cut in Britain's CO2 emissions by 2050, rather than the 60% that was originally contained in the Climate Change Bill.  My amendment to the Bill was accepted by the Government and passed into law in 2008.  More >>

Pensions Justice for Mothers

I am celebrating the success of a campaign for pensions justice for thousands of women who gave up work to bring up their children. The Government is launching an initiative to identify women who could be missing out on the right amount of pension.  I will be working with Government officials to work out the best way to make sure that retired women get this missing money as soon as possible. More >>

Save Frenchay Hospital

*Sign the petition on the Downing Street website* Local health chiefs voted to make Southmead the major site for a new acute hospital to serve North Bristol / South Glos.  The campaign to keep Frenchay open continues.  In September 2007, the Health Scrutiny Committee at South Gloucestershire Council decided to make a fresh referral to the new Health Secretary about the future of Frenchay.  More >>

Concerns about the extension of Wickwar Quarry

I chaired a meeting on 7th June 2007 for local residents to raise their concerns about the proposed extension of Wickwar Quarry. The applications are expected to be determined by the members of the Development Control (West) Committee at their next meeting on July 5th. I agreed to write to the Government about guidance that councils should not enforce planning conditions whilst a new planning application was pending.  More >>

Defend Freedom of Information

I am supporting a campaign to defeat a Bill in the House of Commons that would bring in a special exemption for MPs from the Freedom of Information Act.  A petition has been launched by the Liberal Democrats to defend freedom of information against this attempt to create one law for MPs and Lords and another law for everyone else.   More >>

Slash the NHS Debt!

I was shocked by the recent news that the North Bristol NHS Trust has debts of £100 million. It is feared that this could lead to frontline health cuts.  Filton and Bradley Stoke candidate Emma Bone and I have already written to Ministers calling on them to reduce the debts of the North Bristol Trust.  We are now collecting petition signatures to present to the Government. Please add your name by clicking on the link here:  More >>

Fight "Mast Madness"

Local Lib Dem councillors and I have launched a petition campaign to fight back against the proliferation of mobile phone masts in the local area. I have set up an online petition on my website calling for a change in the law so that mobile phone mast applications have to go through a full planning appraisal before they can be approved.  More >>

Green Tax Switch

Support the Liberal Democrat campaign for a "green tax switch". We are proposing to use the tax system to discourage pollution and spend the revenue on cutting income tax for millions of families. Political parties need to be bold in their commitments to tackle the threat of global warming and climate change. So far only the Liberal Democrats have come up with detailed policies in this key area.  More >>

Standing up for South Gloucestershire

I am campaigning with local councillors for a fairer deal for residents of South Gloucestershire from central Government. You can see what I have been doing over the past year by looking at my latest annual report here.  For more information on the "Standing up for South Gloucestershire" campaign, and to support its work, click on the link here:  More >>

Save the Macmillan Palliative Care Unit at Frenchay

The South Glos. Liberal Democrat group and I have joined forces with local campaigners in support of demands to save the Macmillan Palliative Care Unit at Frenchay Hospital.  I have spoken to Kingswood resident Martin Stevens about his petition campaign in support of the unit and has personally pledged my support. I have also launched an opportunity for local residents to sign the petition online on my website. More >>

Save Thornbury Hospital

The future of Thornbury Hospital has been called into question following plans by the Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust (AWP) to shut 10 beds on Grace Ward, which currently provides care for older people with mental health problems, as well as respite care.  Local organisations have joined together in a campaign to keep the hospital open.  More >>

Cinema 4 Yate

Our campaign for a cinema for Yate has received a massive response from local residents, who have returned thousands of surveys by post and through the www.cinema4yate.com website.  The owners of Yate Shopping Centre have now produced a blueprint for the centre, containing an artist's impression of what a new cinema might look like.  More >>

Save Our Post Offices

News that the Royal Mail is considering closing half of its "Crown" post offices puts a new question mark over the future of Yate's main post office. I am challenging the Government over these plans and fighting the possible closure. Post offices play a vital part in the local community and are particularly important for older residents.   More >>

Axe the Council Tax!

The Liberal Democrats are campaigning to replace Council Tax with a fairer system of local taxation based on ability to pay. I have launched a major consultation to find out the views of local residents, sending out over 2,500 e-mails to constituents as well as seeking opinions by text message and by more traditional means.   More >>

Results of my Survey on Planned Changes to Local Hospital Services

Massive scepticism among local people about plans for changes in local hospital services has been revealed with the publication of the results of my large-scale NHS survey. More than 80% of residents surveyed said that the views of South Gloucestershire residents were not being properly taken into account by local health chiefs.  More >>

Victory for Locals in Opposition to Severnvale Stadium

A survey of the views of local residents revealed high levels of opposition to proposals for a 30,000 seater stadium and 1,600 houses to be built on marsh land between Easter Compton, Pilning and Severn Beach.  Following a visit by myself and other opponents to the South Gloucestershire Council offices, I am delighted that the developer has dropped its plans. More >>

Campaign for Broadband Internet Access across Northavon

I am supporting several grassroots campaigns for BT to upgrade local telephone exchanges to allow residents to access “broadband” internet connections.  At present, many people with home computers use their ordinary telephone line to dial up to the internet or send e-mails. For anyone who uses the internet regularly from home, it can be very frustrating to watch a computer painstakingly downloading  information.  More >>

Tuition fees

The Government's recent White Paper on education proposes to allow universities to raise extra money by charging "top-up" tuition fees of up to £3,000 per year, in order to raise extra money. I have been opposing these  plans, as have the majority of those constituents whose views I have asked on the issue.  More >>

Save Our Pension Book Campaign

Justice in Women’s Pensions

Millions of married women are reaching retirement to discover that they will receive little or no state pension, despite having paid £8billion in National Insurance contributions. I am calling on the Government to write and alert these women that they may be heading for a small pension.  More >>