It’s me!

Yes, as it turns out my “retirement from politics” didn’t last more than a few weeks and, still immensely troubled by the way those 29 Tories (and their Labour chum) are running our town, I wasn’t actually away for very long.  I missed you residents, I missed getting results for you and I didn’t really feel like you had a borough councillor fighting for you on those important issues like housing problems, planning and environmental concerns.

So I decided that, with just ten votes in it, I would fight another day!  This decision was made some months ago and was official as of 1st December 2011.

Last week’s defection has left you without any Lib Dem representation at borough level in Brentwood West and that’s just not on – not for the 1548 who voted for him on general election day or the 948 that voted for me in 2011.  I think it is also important that you have someone who is focused on Brentwood West – from the tower blocks of Masefield Court to the town houses of Greensleeves Drive and from the Victorian houses in Crescent Road to the modern properties in Hillside Walk – and not principally on their business and the Crown Street traders.  I care about the town, and will support our independent traders like I always have done, but residents and their concerns were and always would be my main priority as your councillor.

Even the defector described me as “one of the most hard-working councillors” and here are just a few things I did when I was:

• Saving Warley Hill Post office: Shortly after I was elected in 2007, this facility was due for closure. I analysed the report comprehensively, highlighting a number of issues and errors that led to a re-think.
• Fighting against over-development: Although tied by being on the planning committee, I fought with residents against over-development, especially in Clements Park and Rollason Way.  I am pleased that I highlighted the issues and the seven storey residential block was turned down.  I am still fighting another one with residents now!
• Fought against speeding traffic, especially in London Road: I mounted a campaign back in 2007/8 and continued fighting the whole way through.  Even since I lost my seat, I wrote a motion for the (now Tory) councillor to present at full council asking for a full review of the speeding and the actions that could be taken.  My original actions led to the introduction of Vehicle Activated Signs to remind people of the 30mph limit – they haven’t really worked which is why I put that motion in through a third party (even though I wasn’t a councillor).

There’s loads of other things – just click on your road name on the right and you’ll find things that I have done for your road.  I have got planters re-planted, roads re-surfaced, got roads adopted by the council where others failed, got graffiti cleaned off in the middle of the night, got fly-tipping removed and helped a lady get much-needed attention paid to her husband’s grave.

There are many things I can’t talk about like helping a lady NOT get evicted by talking to the right officers and putting bailiffs off for a few days, stopping canvassing  on my election last year because an elderly lady started crying about her very sick husband so I went in and spent an hour with her checking she was OK and attending a police interview with a lady who had had an attempted break-in.

Even whilst I have not been a councillor I have been working for you – not just on the London Road speeding issue as mentioned above, but also getting agreement for the signage review on Brook Street Roundabout, working and funding the A12 Noise website and negotiating with the Highways Agency, still campaigning against over-development, organising the clearance of knotweed by talking to Railtrack AND keeping the location secret so it didn’t affect house prices.

All this AND having a 100% attendance record of attending council meetings and attending, on average, 4-5 evening council meetings a month and putting your views across at every single one.

A certain defecting councillor said he could only get things done if he was a Tory.  Thing is, as I have proven time and time again, if you are really involved, do your research, talk to the right people and put up a good business case for these things you CAN get things done – even if you are not actually elected.  But, it is easier if you are elected of course and this is why I ask for your vote on Thursday 3rd May 2012 so I can speak up for you (unlike some) and make your voice heard.

I’m a fighter, give me something to fight for and you won’t be disappointed.

Karen x

p.s if you want a postal vote just let me know!

#BrentwoodWest residents in the Homesteads will be pleased to see the coverage today that pleads for noise mitigation measures on the A12.

I have to say, before Christmas it was looking quite bleak, but I now think that we have a good chance of convincing the Highways Agency of our need for them.  I have set up a website for this campaign – www.a12noise.co.uk that has ALL the information and details of what can be done to help.

I would have been much more at home eating the cakes from the Sport Relief Bake Off but, instead, I’ve decided to run the Brentwood Sport Relief Mile in March!

I’m hoping I will get a few sponsors here.  As a team, (including councillors David, Barry, Vicky, Phil, James and Ross) the local Lib Dems are running for Sport Relief and we are hoping to raise plenty of money between us!

I’m pretty sure the race to the finish line will be between our two 20+ councillors Ross and James (although I am not saying who my money is on) but, being built for comfort rather than speed, I can assure you I’ll be taking a more leisurely pace at the back…but I will be donning the Sport Relief socks and T-shirt and completing it!

Yes, thanks to Nigel #BrentwoodWest now has three Tory ward councillors.  You can read our statement here.

In my view, Nigel has betrayed those who voted for him, his principles and his friends.  Many local residents have been in touch and told me they feel the same.

I would like to ask Nigel why he has done this, but he has been ignoring and avoiding me for weeks and hasn’t even the good grace to tell me to my face after all I have done for him and five years of friendship.

I will continue to fight for the people of Brentwood West and, with County Cllr David Kendall, will be fighting against the Tory machine.  Not joining them.

I have been out this week visiting local residents and working with them on a number of issues that affect them and you’ll hear more soon.

P.S. If you want to contact Nigel now – you can contact him at nigel.clarke@brentwood.gov.uk or email David and me at brentwoodwest.libdems@gmail.com

Hopefully, the Brentwood Gazette will be carrying this story today. If you would like to object, feel free to take some of the information from below from my objection and add anything else you think of!

You can email your objection to planning@brentwood,gov.uk, post it to Planning Department, Brentwood Council, Ingrave Road, Brentwood CM15 8AY or have your say on www.brentwood.gov.uk.

• Over-development of the St James Road/Rollason Way area by cramming in another 24 flats with insufficient amenity space.
• Only 0.8 parking space per property in this area which will further exacerbate the well-known parking issues in the area.  Where are those visiting the shops or working in the offices to park without further parking problems being created? There are only about 35 parking spaces in Rollason Way and there are nnot nearly enough for the current residents.
• This is an over-large development, 2-3 storeys above the current Brunel House
• This will create a dark tunnel in St James Road as the last chink of light is removed by the proximity of other tall buildings such as Premier Inn and 1 St James Road.
• The area is already characterised by empty retail and office space.
• The Warley area is overcrowded and, again, this will strain the infracstructure of the area (doctors, education etc)
• Anti-social behaviour is reported often in this area
• There is a lack of play facilities for young children on this site.
• Traffic movements are also a concern here
• It will increase traffic through Chase Road and into Kings Road and turn-arounds in Rollason Way and Wharf Road.

Feel free to get in touch with any concerns on this matter.

Last year, the Tories kicked off their campaign to take my seat (which, as you know, they did do with their Labour chums) with a very dishonest campaign to save the Honeypot Lane allotments.

Thing is, as had been formally confirmed since, they were never ever under threat.

During a little debate on twitter this morning, there seems to have been an admission of this:

I tweeted, direct to a senior Tory councillor:

“…Unlike the “threat” to Honeypot Lane allotments that you dreamt up”

and his response was:

“I dreamt up? You give me too much credit”

Hardly a denial…..!