Spelthorne Council's Annual Monitoring Report for the Local Development Framework shows that the average density for new builds of more than 10 homes was over 100 per hectare for the first time. This was up from a figure of just over 60 in the previous year. This figure is much higher than that for any other local borough and is an indication of the level of over-development we are experiencing.
Nominations closed on Wednesday with Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne as the only contenders. The contest will be decided by a month long ballot of 70,000 party members. Just hours after the nominations close, both men are due to take part in the first of 10 hustings, speaking for up to 15 minutes each before taking questions from the floor. The pair have pledged to lead a campaign of mass civil disobedience if ID cards are made compulsory.
Lib Dem majority Folkestone Town Council have funded a major repainting project for street litter bins across Folkestone. Over the last few days, over 50 bins across Folkestone will get a smart new blue and gold paint job.
Last night, Lib Dem Group Leader Michael Headley questioned both the Bedfordshire Police Chief Constable and Bedford Hospital Chief Executive at a council meeting.
Chelmsford council policy for new houses is threatening "town cramming" i.e. over-development and the loss of public open space, according to the local Lib Dems. They have warned that the intensive building of flats on brown-field sites in the town could be going too far. One such site is the previous Jeep showroom on the corner of Rainsford Road and Parkway.
London's police force has been found guilty of breaking health and safety laws over the shooting dead of a man officers mistook for a suicide bomber. The Metropolitan Police unnecessarily put the public at risk in chasing Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes across the city, a jury decided. Armed police shot Mr de Menezes shot seven times in the head at Stockwell Tube station on 22 July 2005. The force has been fined £175,000 and ordered to pay £385,000 in costs. The Liberal Democrat and Conservative shadow home secretaries have both called for Met chief Sir Ian Blair to resign.
