Cllr Bridget Smith, Liberal Democrat group spokesperson on the May 3 South Cambridgeshire District Council elections
The 2018 district council elections will see the Lib Dems putting up their strongest ever team of 41 exceptional candidates.
Joining the existing 14 councillors are people from all walks of life, professions and backgrounds, all of whom are community champions, passionate about upholding liberal values and inspired to work for the benefit of all in South Cambridgeshire.
All up elections give the Lib Dems a realistic opportunity for us to take control of the Council on May 3. We are enthusiastic about delivering the sort of local government we know residents value and want.
One of our first actions will be to bin wasteful Tory vanity projects and we will set in place a raft of policies to protect our villages, communities and residents.
After four years of Conservative failure to adopt a Local Plan we will ensure that the next one is not only quick to be approved but provides proper protection to villages and our quality of life while delivering the right sort of housing in locations where it is most needed.
We shall be focusing on supporting local businesses of all sizes, including farming, to maximise opportunities for local jobs where people live.
The failure of the Greater Cambridge Partnership to deliver any substantial infrastructure improvements will also be a major focus. So far the lack of public consultation, and then underestimating the consequences of riding roughshod over our communities, has been a disaster. We now risk losing additional funding as a result.
The South Cambs Lib Dems will support on-road busways where that is the clear preference of affected villages; and Park & Ride sites as part of a proper planned strategy for the District.
We have had enough of ad hoc standalone facilities which risk not only increasing congestion but causing a reduction in the already lamentable public bus services – and so have our residents.
We shall invest the money we save from axing self-indulgent vanity projects so loved by the Tories directly into our communities.
We will help our parish councils to tackle issues that really matter to them. This will include grants to protect our village amenities from crime, in particular ram raid attacks on ATMs.
For too long we have suffered a lack of joined-up delivery of school places, medical facilities and transport links. We will work with our partners to deliver a truly 21st century South Cambridgeshire.
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Simon Saggers, Green Party candidate on the May 3 South Cambridgeshire District Council elections
Cllr Neil Davies, Independent candidate on the May 3 South Cambridgeshire District Council elections
Full list of candidates standing for election to South Cambridgeshire District Council
