A new scheme was approved today to bring order to the chaos of utility companies digging up our roads - thanks to cross-London work led by Camden Council.

Everyone has experienced the frustration and inconvenience caused by roadworks. While we must accept that it’s a difficult job co-ordinating all the different utility works in any given area, when we see the same stretch of road dug up for the umpteenth time in a matter of weeks it’s clear that more can be done to regulate roadworks and minimise disruption for residents and road users.

Camden Council has been leading the way in tackling this complex problem that affects so many Londoners on an almost daily basis. Leading a group of London Boroughs and working with Transport for London, Camden has developed and successfully trialled the London Permit Scheme. Utilities companies will still retain their statutory rightto undertake road and street works, instead of simply notifying councils of any impending work they will have to apply for a permit. This means councils will have greater control over the local area, better able to influence and coordinate any roadworks that are needed.

Camden Council also monitors the work of utilities companies digging up our roads - in 2007, utilities companies were fined nearly £500, 000 for overrunning on works in Camden and causing congestion on our streets.

Local councillor and resident Ben Rawings is trying to give more power to people when it comes to roadworks: “Too often we see bits of road dug up with no indication of who is doing it or why. I was pleased to see that recent work by the Council on Camden Park Road clearly displayed the reason for the works and a contact number. I’m pushing for this to be made standard for all roadworks across Camden.”

If there are any roadworks in your area that you are concerned about, let us know.

Local Councillor and Camden Cycling Champion Paul Braithwaite is spearheading the fight to keep the 2012 Cycling Olympics in Camden.

Despite being originally planned to run through Regents Park, Kentish Town and Highgate - following the successful 2006 Tour of Britain route - the International Cycling Union shocked cyclists and fans alike by suggesting moving the 2012 Cycling Olympics out of London.

Launching his campaign to keep the Cycling Olympics in Camden, Paul organised a protest at the bottom of Highgate West Hill - part of the original planned route.

Paul argued:  “They’re London’s Olympics.  It will be the one opportunity for our residents to see an Olympic event free and on their doorstep.  Anyway, you’d have to go a long way out of London to find any hill as challenging as Highgate’s West Hill!”

Read full story in the Ham & High here.

The Lib Dem campaign for a one-hour bus ticket, allowing pay-as-you-go Oyster Card users to pay once per trip, is gathering momentum. Add your support now and help get a fairer deal for bus users.

London Lib Dems believe that a fair bus fare is when you pay once to get from point A to point B, regardless of how many buses you need to take. This is how the tube works, and how buses and trams in many major cities around the world work too. Oyster Card pay-as-you-go users are being cheated, having to pay for each bus they take when they’re only making a single trip.

Cantelowes is quite well connected by bus routes - but many trips require more than one bus. The 390 takes you to Kings Cross, for example, and the 29 and 253 to Camden Town - both are large hubs, where you can get a bus to many parts of London.

The Lib Dems are campaigning for a one-hour bus ticket - just like they have in major cities around the world - to give bus users a fare deal and encourage more people to use public transport. Already hundreds of people have signed the petition - you can show your support by signing up here. The campaign also has a Facebook group. It really can make a difference - the Lib Dems campaigned for half price bus and tram fares for the unemployed, to help them travel around the city to go to job interviews. It took a few years, but finally it happened! So with your support, we can really make a difference and make public transport better.

The Deputy Mayor challenged by the Lib Dems over expenses claims has resigned - the 5th high-profile resignation of a senior advisor hand-picked by Boris Johnson since he took office last May.

Despite pledging to restore trust in City Hall finances, Tory Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s administration has been plagued by scandal and improper use of taxpayers’ money. The latest high-profile casualty is Deputy Mayor Ian Clement - hand picked by Boris Johnson to advise the Mayor on Government relations, with a salary of over £127, 000.

Despite using a taxpayer-funded credit card to buy a series of personal items, racking up a £1, 500 bill, Boris Johnson and the Conservative administration backed him, claiming he’d done nothing wrong. Following pressure from a range of groups, including London Lib Dem leader Mike Tuffrey AM, Ian Clement resigned today.

Commenting on the resignation, Mike said; “Ian Clement’s resignation was inevitable but three fundamental questions still need to be answered by the Mayor.

“Firstly, over a period of nine months Ian Clement repeatedly broke City Hall rules about personal spending. Why did Boris Johnson allow this to take place?

“Secondly, is Boris Johnson still allowing his senior staff to bill taxpayers for taking each other out to lunch and dinner?

“Third, will Boris Johnson now agree to publish the full expense details of all of his senior staff? Only this step will allow the public to judge what type of regime the Mayor is really running at City Hall.”

After a steep rise in unemployment levels across London, the Liberal Democrats are calling on the Conservative Mayor of London to promote a scheme to help jobseekers travel around the capital.

Over two years ago, Leader of London Assembly Lib Dems Mike Tuffrey proposed half-price bus and tram travel for people on Job Seeker’s Allowance, to enable them to travel around the city in their search for employment. Earlier this year Boris Johnson finally acknowledged the benefits of the Lib Dem proposal. Now, as unemployment figures soar due to Labour’s recession, Mike has been calling on the Mayor to promote the scheme to jobseekers.

Mike said; “No one should be forced to turn down an interview because they can’t afford a bus fare. Yet Boris Johnson has put up fares this year by 11% - three times the rate of inflation. At present an unemployed person on JSA, with a weekly income of just £47, will end up paying £2 for a return trip to an interview. If they pay their fares in cash the fares will be £4.

“When you are on such a low income cheaper travel can make a world of difference to getting back to work.”

Thanks to this Lib Dem scheme, people on Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) or the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) for more than 13 weeks can claim half-price bus and tram fares. For more information on how to claim go to www.tfl.gov.uk/discountcard or ‘phone 0845 330 9876

In a week when the Conservative Mayor of London got caught out in the expenses scandal, your Liberal Democrat London Assembly Members have been working to hold the Mayor to account and improve life for Londoners.

This week saw revelations that one of Boris Johnson’s hand-picked deputies has been using a taxpayer-funded credit card to upgrade flights and buy meals and groceries over the last 9 months. Lib Dem Assembly Member Mike Tuffrey has been leading the call to hold the Mayor to account and called upon him to answer three specific questions;

“Boris Johnson’s pledge in the last election to restore trust in City Hall finances now rings very hollow. First, over a period of nine months Ian Clement repeatedly broke City Hall rules about personal spending. Why did Boris Johnson allow this to continue?

“Second, why is Boris Johnson still allowing his senior staff to bill taxpayers for taking each other out to lunch and dinner?

“Third, will Boris Johnson now agree to publish the full expense details of all his senior staff, so the public can judge just what sort of regime is he running at City Hall?”

Lib Dem Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon has also been calling for a new approach to upgrading the tube, saving money and creating less problems for tube users; as well as campaigning for Oyster Card access to London’s train services and for a fairer deal for Oyster users on buses.

You can contact the Mayor of London to ask him about the expenses claims - his contact details are here.  To get in touch with your Liberal Democrat Assembly Members, visit their website here.

 Today London goes to the polls to elect its Members of the European Parliament - and your vote can make a real difference.

Europe is important: it makes decisions that genuinely affect our lives. It is the place where we can tackle the problems that are too big for Britain to tackle alone - climate change, the economic crisis, cross-border crime and international terrorism. But it needs to change - it needs to be more open, more transparent and more efficient.

The Liberal Democrats know that Britain needs to play a strong and positive role in Europe: making sure the needs of Britain’s citizens are heard, that the big issues are being tackled effectively, and leading the changes that are needed to make Europe fairer and more accountable. Sarah Ludford and your Lib Dem representatives in the European Parliament have been working for you and delivering real outcomes:

• Catching criminals and bringing them to justice - Lib Dems pushed forward proposals for the European Arrest Warrant, meaning criminals like the 21/7 bombers are extradited quickly from other European countries to face trial here;
• Putting your safety first by, for example, banning toxic chemicals in everyday products that put people at risk;
• Saving you money - helping to cut the cost of telephone calls at home by liberalising the market, and cracking down on unfair roaming charges for mobile ‘phones

These are just some examples of all the work that has been done. Last time, Camden’s own Jonathan Fryer just missed being elected by 0.6% of the vote. This time, your vote could really make a difference in getting another hard working Lib Dem to represent you in Europe.

Labour has wasted its opportunities in Europe over the last decade. Lacking any policies or beliefs, they’ve failed to take leadership in Europe, failed to deliver in Europe for Britain and failed to push forward the radical reforms needed to make Europe work for citizens. Labour’s foreign policy has damaged our relationships with other countries and lessened our influence internationally. The Tories think Britain can go it alone and would isolate us at a time when the problems we face - climate change, economic crisis, international crime and terrorism - demand international action. They are even isolating themselves in the European Parliament, joining together with right-wing extremist parties from other countries.

Your vote will really count in today’s election. Make a positive choice for effective international work, for real and meaningful reform of Europe, for a stronger voice for Britain. Vote against Labour’s wasted opportunities and lack of direction; against the Tories isolationism; against extremism and intolerance. More and more people are turning to the Lib Dems for a positive voice that will work for them - just this week Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee and The Observer backed the Lib Dems. Join them, join us: vote Lib Dem today.

Click here to read more about the Lib Dem’s manifesto for Europe

Liberal Democrats across London have launched a campaign for a 1 hour bus ticket, enabling passengers using pay-as-you-go Oyster to pay only one fare per trip, however many buses they need to take.

Currently, passengers who need to use more than one bus to get from A to B have to pay a separate fare for each bus they use. This is an unecessary penalty and can put people off using public transport - at a time when we need to encourage greater use of public transport to save the environment, improve air quality and reduce congestion.

The Lib Dems have proposed a simple, common-sense solution: a single ticket that is valid for one hour, allowing passengers to make as many changes as they need. Caroline Pigeon AM, Lib Dem transport spokesperson in London and incoming Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, argued;

“You can already switch from tube to tube on the same ticket, so it makes real sense to allow people to do the same with buses. It really is unfair that people who use Oyster pay as you go have to pay a new fare every time they change buses.

“One hour bus tickets already operate successfully in Paris, Rome and Brussels. It is now time London caught up and gave bus users a fair deal.”

“One hour bus tickets would also make bus travel very attractive to a lot of people who often don’t use the bus at present. One hour tickets could even lead to a shift away from people using their cars for short trips and help to reduce congestion across London.”

To sign the petition, visit the campaign webpage.

Which politicians in Camden really care about sustainability issues and air quality in particular?  One of the most exciting and enthusiastic meetings that regularly takes place in Camden’s Town Hall is the all-party Sustainability Task Force.  On 22 April I had invited two of London’s leading experts on London’s air pollution to present.  Interesting to note the level of party interest: No Conservative or Labour Councillors bothered to attend.  But there were two Green Councillors and nine of us Lib Dems.

Prof. Frank Kelly of King’s College, the UK’s top man on health ramifications,  told us that new science is now revealing that air pollution is causing very serious cardio-vascular disease as well as asthma. He was altogether convincing that the poor quality air around Camden’s main roads is taking years, not months, off those affected’s lives and severely damaging the lung development of our children.

Activist Simon Birkett, founder of the Campaign for Clear Air in London (CCAL), raised the imperative need for us to  make Camden’s Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) much more stringent .  Apparently the particulates filters that have been fitted to all London buses have had the unfortunate side-effect of boosting London’s levels of Nitrogen Dioxide to such  levels that we’re now the worst city in Europe for that noxious gas.  But the government agency DEFRA, rather than working towards compliance with EC laws, is busy preparing a submission to seek an exemption to delay cleaning up our act on NO2 until 2015.  And Mayor Boris is actually introducing counter-productive measures, like a waiver on white van man,  and doing nothing about London’s dirty old diesel taxis that idle all around St Pancras like a toxic pearl necklace.

This public session on air quality alerted the dozens who attended to the health consequences of diesel engines on London’s toxic air quality.  We have to increase understanding as a first step towards cleaning up our act in London.  Where better to start than in Camden?

There’s a growing disconnect between politics and communities, between politicians and the people they serve. Decades of centralisation under Tory and Labour governments have increased the distance between people and power, and the attitude of many in the “Westminster bubble” has made this disconnect worse.

The Liberal Democrats want to change this.  We would roll back the years of Tory and Labour centralisation, devolving power to local government and to communities and individuals themselves. We would give British people a fair, modern and effective voting system - one where every vote counts equally, where elections are our way of selecting those who rule on our behalf, not politicians’ way of getting their job.

Nick Clegg MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats,  isn’t waiting to change Westminster’s ways. Since becoming Leader, he has held public meetings across the country to give people a chance to put questions to him, hold him and the Lib Dems to account and to debate any issues they think are important. Nick says:

“Politics is about people and listening to them. These meeting are a great way to make this happen. No scripted questions, no pre-prepared answers - just a frank talk between me and local people about the issues and problems that matter to them, and how we can solve them.”

On 23rd April one of Nick’s public meetings will be held in London - well, inside the M25! The meeting will be held at Sutton College of Learning for Adults, not far from Sutton rail station. While the meeting is open to all and free to attend, to guarantee aplace RSVP to meeting@paulburstow.org.uk

Under Mayor Boris, London is increasingly facing the wrong way on air pollution.  He has refused to raise congestion charges, despite town being as choked today as it has ever been, and the £8 daily charge has become increasingly ineffective.  He’s halving the size of the congestion zone as a populist gesture to wealthy 4×4 drivers in Kensington and Chelsea.

Camden and Islington Lib Dems protest against Tory Mayor Boris Johnson’s inaction on air pollution

Instead of pressing Government to comply with European law for the health of all our residents he has delayed the requirement that white van man must operate cleaner vehicles - a measure due to become law this autumn.   Now that the largest trucks inside the M 25 are required to be clean (thank you Ken Livingstone), the prime causes of deadly toxic particulates and nitrogen dioxide are the dirty diesel engines in inefficient small vans and taxis.  The way forward is to give financial incentives for these operators to clean up their act rather than delay the introduction of measures which would benefit all our health.

Last Monday there was a totally misleading front page lead in the London Standard - the first edition under a Russian oligarch - stating that Boris will flood London with electric cars which could be used for one-way journeys.  Apart from the fact we should be encouraging walking and cycling, not driving, this was distracting pie-in-the-sky nonsense.  Every car charging point currently costs £3,000.  The battery technology simply isn’t there yet, with the existing cars needing an uninterrupted six hours or more on charge and, most significantly, there’s is simply no money set aside.  It’s just smoke and mirrors.  Meanwhile the budget to develop the cycling infrastructure, known as LCN PLUS, has been hacked back.  Thus far, Boris is making all the wrong moves on the air we breathe.

Or “Happy St David’s Day!” St David is the Patron Saint of Wales, and his feast day is today, 1st March.

My dad’s family are from the valleys of south Wales, and usually I go back there to celebrate St David’s Day. This year I’ll be in London though, so if you see me today I’ll be sporting a daffodil (a national symbol of Wales) on my jacket, and the Welsh flag will be up in my window!

St David was a Welshman - the only British saint native to the country of which he is patron. He was a renowned teacher and preacher in the 6th Century, founding monastries across Wales and Cornwall, and followed a particularly ascetic and strict monastic code: no personal possessions, hard manual labour with few tools, a strict diet of vegetarianism (mainly just bread with salt and herbs) and drinking only water. Patron saints usually get their status thanks to a particular act or miracle - George slayed the dragon, Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. David’s notable miracle is reported to have happened at Llandewi Brefi where, when those at the back of the crowd complained they couldn’t hear David’s sermon, he laced a cloth on the ground which rose beneath his feet, allowing all to see and hear him. It is said that a white dove (a symbol of the Holy Ghost) landed on his shoulder - and this is how many portraits depict him.

We’re very fortunate in our neighbourhood to have the London Irish Centre in Camden Square - not only does it provide a wide range of services for the Irish community in London, but they provide a fantastic service to the local community as well. Camden is also blessed with the Welsh equivalent - the Canolfan Cymry Llundain, or the London Welsh Centre, on Gray’s Inn Road. There are a number of events in London to mark St David’s Day, though many of them were held yesterday or Friday.

Lib Dem campaigners called on Mayor Johnson to take tough action to tackle pollution on Euston Road – one of London’s most polluted – and not to scrap Phase Three of the London Low Emission Zone. On Monday of last week, as Londoners struggled through the snow, Boris Johnson scrapped the planned extension of the Low Emission Zone safeguards to smaller vehicles.

Local Lib Dem councillor Paul Braithwaite, said:

“Local people in Kings Cross and Somers Town are the ones that suffer from breathing toxic air – along with the kids at Argyle School, just 100 metres away from Kings Cross Station.

“It is perverse and very disturbing that Mayor Johnson has decided to axe the vital next stage of the Low Emissions Zone – due October 2010. This was the only realistic way for London to tackle white van man and other diesel polluters.

“We know that it’s a difficult time for small businesses, but instead of dropping new air quality standards we should be providing practical help to enable them to make the changes at minimum cost.

“More and more people are saying that ‘we can’t afford not to go green’, as a successful economy and clean environment go hand in hand. Mayor Johnson clearly has not got this message.”

Local Lib Dem campaigner Jo Shaw added:

“Residents in Somers Town and Kings Cross already have a much lower life expectancy than people living in other parts of the borough. The Mayor should be protecting and improving our health, not undermining plans to make our air cleaner. Mayor Johnson should be helping Londoners breathe more freely.”

200 kilometres of inner London roads woefully fail European minimum standards for pollution – many of these are in Camden. More than a thousand Londoners die each year because of the effects of air pollution.

Diesel engines in taxis and vans are the main causes of toxic particulate pollution – this aggravates asthma, and causes cancer and heart disease, and other health problems. Environmental campaigners highlight that Euston Road has one of the highest concentrations of these polluters in the borough:

A kilometre ring of taxis daily surround St Pancras their diesel engines idling, emitting fumes and pollution
Bus stands make York Way a toxic canyon
Trains out of Kings Cross and St Pancras are predominantly diesel powered
Congestion on Euston Road makes it one of London’s worst polluted

The Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) within the M25 ring road was implemented in 2008. As a consequence all lorries over three and a half tons must now be fitted with filters or incur punitive daily fines. Phase Three of the LEZ was due to be extended to “white van man” in October 2010.

Camden Liberal Democrats propose that instead of cancelling the Phase Three requirement, Mayor Johnson should set up a scheme to contribute to the cost of making vans, taxis and other affected vehicles compliant, instead of perpetuating the damaging effects to health.

Many London councils, including Camden, are in contravention of the EU Air Quality Directive with regard to particulates (PM 10, PM 2.5) and noxious emissions (NO2). That is primarily because of the use of diesel in the capital.

Particulates known as PM2.5 have now been widely recognised as being the most dangerous to health. They result from burning of fossil fuels, particularly diesel, but also gas boilers.

PM2.5 particulate pollutants are one thirtieth the diameter of a human hair. Their small size means that they can easily enter the blood stream where they can have a bad impact on health.

The European Union recently proposed that the safe level for PM2.5 should be redefined to just 10 micrograms per cubic metre of air; a figure that is frequently exceeded in London. London is hardly even collecting tracking data on PM2.5 (whereas New York has recently set up 150 locations for measurement in 2009).

The 200km of roads London has just three pollution-measuring stations, compared with New York’s 150. There is no measuring station near Kings Cross. Camden only has one PM2.5 measuring station in Camden, in Russell Square, run by DEFRA. The Euston Road is under the control of TfL, as are most of the main air pollution “black spots” in the borough.

The responsibility for ensuring that air quality in the UK conforms with the EU directive lies with central government. The UK is likely to be fined by the EU for failure to comply with the EU directive on air quality.

The government has delegated some of its regulatory powers to the GLA, which has implemented the Low Emission Zone. There are complaints that the GLA has not been enforcing the LEZ regime against lorries through the fining system set out in the scheme.

Although there has not been the snowfall predicted, freezing temperatures have made road conditions more hazardous. Overnight gritting teams have kept all main routes gritted and driveable with care, and most London Buses are operating again (including all in Camden). Gritting of all main routes will continue throughout the day as required.

Day shift teams are now concentrating on gritting pavements on main roads and side roads. Many of Camden’s side roads are inaccessible to the main gritters and road clearers, which would damage parked cars. These are being cleared by smaller JCBs and gritters over the course of the day.

For up to date information on Council services see the Council’s website or call 020 7974 4444, and for information on public transport and roads see TfL’s website or their news update.

Though still understaffed, the Maiden Lane Estate Office was open and offering a full service to residents from 9am today. All main paths, external steps and walkways were cleared and gritted yesterday, and more maintenance work was carried out today. Caretakers collected rubbish from across the estate this morning, but as refuse collections were cancelled across the borough yesterday and today the rubbish is being stockpiled until tomorrow.

Finally, I spent the snowy period looking out for problems and thinking about local services and vulnerable people - but it was clear when walking around the neighbourhood that lots of people were making the most of the snow and having a really good time! Send us your photos, and we’ll put them up on the website to show everyone how beautiful - and how much fun - our area can be! Send your photos to benlibdem@googlemail.com

The heavy snowfall last night has caused massive disruption to services in Camden and across London. I’ve done two tours around Cantelowes ward this morning to spot any major or urgent problems - if you have seen any I’ve missed I’m available all day by email and ‘phone - ben.rawlings@camden.gov.uk or 07823 533 415.

Transport across the city is severely affected, with no bus services at all and many tube lines partially or fully closed. For the most up-to-date information, see Transport for London’s website or read their adverse weather update. National Rail services are also severely disrupted - check National Rail’s website for up-to-date information.

Council services are also severely affected by the weather and the inability of many Council staff to get into work. However, all major Council buildings are open and essential services are being prioritised second only to services for vulnerable people. Most services are running but with reduced staffing numbers, so please be patient if trying to get through. Kentish Town District Housing Office reception is closed. Caretakers are out in force clearing paths and pavements - I’ve seen several as I walked around Cantelowes.

The Maiden Lane Estate Office is open, again with a reduced staff and concentrating on emergency services/responses, vulnerable residents and clearing/gritting paths. The Office will be open until 5pm today, after which time the normal Council number (020 7974 4444) should be used. Again if you have any problems, contact me on ben.rawlings@camden.gov.uk or 07823 533 415.

Up-to-date details on Council services are available on the Council website, or by calling 020 7974 4444. The forecast is for more snow and more severe weather warnings have been issued. You can find out more at the met office website.

Liberal Democrats on the London Assembly have used the draft budget to get the Mayor to seriously consider their proposals to improve transport across the city.

Lib Dem London transport spokesperson Caroline Pidgeon said: “If you can switch from tube to tube on the same ticket surely it makes sense to allow people to do the same with buses. At present people are penalised for using more than one bus on any journey. This is both unfair and in some cases a deterrent to people even using the bus.

“Other European cities recognise the benefits of time limited bus tickets and it is time the idea was adopted in London.

“Boris Johnson has already taken up the Liberal Democrat proposal to extend half price bus and tram travel to people on Job Seeker’s Allowance. The challenge to Boris Johnson is to go further and to adopt our sensible proposals to tackle fare evasion and time limited bus tickets.”

Liberal Democrats on the London Assembly have been fighting to keep front line police numbers up, and for improvements to the way policing in London is funded.

Dee Doocey, Lib Dem spokesperson on policing and Member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, has finally secured an agreement to pilot a feasibility study on zero-budgeting for the police. Dee explained: “Since I was appointed to the Metropolitan Police Authority I have argued that we need to find ways of directing more resources to front line policing.  The best way of doing this is to start from a blank sheet of paper and prioritise how the Met’s £3.6 billion budget should be spent. Under the current system business groups are set targets for budget reductions to be achieved each year, but there is no fundamental review of how the money is currently being spent.  I am delighted that this pilot will now go ahead and I am convinced that the exercise will release much needed funds.”

Dee has also been ensuring that the use of more civilians in the police force doesn’t lead to a reduction in police on our streets. Nurses and data inputters are being brought in to do jobs that were previously fulfilled by police officers - not necessarily a bad thing, but only police officers can actually police our streets. While the Lib Dems on the London Assembly are fighting to make sure there are no cuts to front-line policing, the Lib Dems nationally would put more police on the street by axing Labour’s wasteful, illiberal and ineffective ID card scheme.

These discussions were part of the Mayor’s draft budget debate - where the London Assembly Lib Dems put forward a package of alternative proposals for budget savings combined with a number of new measures to help provide more assistance to people in debt, along with measures relating to transport,  extra support for Safer Neighbourhood Teams and tackling London’s poor air quality. You can see the Lib Dem proposals on their website.

Although the Government forced through the third runway at Heathrow without even having a vote at Parliament, the Lib Dems both locally and nationally are keeping up the fight against the unnecessary and damaging expansion.

All three Cantelowes Lib Dem Councillors have signed up to Greenpeace’s ingenius new campaign, becoming ‘beneficial owners’ of the plot of land Greenpeace UK have bought in the area earmarked for the third runway. Beneficial owners have no financial stake in the land (so it’s like signing a petition), but they are entitled to legal representation if the Government issues a Compulsory Purchase Order. The more beneficial owners there are, the more difficult and complicated it will be for the Government to get ownership of the land and use it to build the third runway. If Labour won’t let us have our say democratically, we have to make our voice heard a different way!

I wrote to Camden Labour MP Glenda Jackson, who supports the third runway, to urge her to change her mind. You can see my letter here, and her response here. Local campaigner Jo Shaw is continuing the fight and pressing our MP to call the Government to account. Nationally the Lib Dems are leading the fight against Heathrow expansion, putting forward more sustainable and effective alternatives investing in a high-speed rail network across the UK. You can join in the fight to by signing up to Greenpeace’s Airplot! campaign, and supporting the Liberal Democrats.

The Government gave the 3rd runway at Heathrow the green light today, without a clear business case, denying MPs a vote and ignoring the massive impact it will have on the environment and the lives of Londoners.

The Liberal Democrats have long opposed the expansion of Heathrow and other London airports, and have campaigned for a reduction in domestic flights which would help cut carbon emissions. Instead, we propose investing in high speed rail links between the UK’s major cities along with major improvements in the rail network and lower rail fares - making it easier to move around the UK, boosting the economy and creating jobs, and reducing the number of short-haul flights (and all the pollution that they generate).

Camden Council has joined the 2 Million group campaigning against the expansion of Heathrow airport, and Camden Lib Dems have played an active and leading part in the campaign. Camden Labour MP Glenda Jackson supports the 3rd runway: yesterday I and a number of other councillors wrote to her urging her to reconsider her position.

Although the Government has made its decision the fight goes on. London MP Susan Kramer has taken on a new role leading the Lib Dem campaign against the expansion, and Greenpeace have come up with an ingenius way to continue the protest by buying up the land where the 3rd runway is due to be built.

For more on the protests and to sign up to the campaign, see the campaign website.