Wheathampstead & Redbourn Liberal Democrats

Our Area

The branch has recently been extended and now covers the villages of Redbourn, Sandridge and Wheathampstead. Each have their own very distinct character, but share many features lying as they do on the outskirts of St Albans.

Wheathampstead and Redbourn comprise the county division known as "St Albans Rural". Sandridge county division is made up of Sandridge District ward plus Marshallswick North, which lies within the St Albans constituency.

Redbourn

Redbourn village is a much sought after location and has won numerous awards for its floral displays.

The parish council is very active and there are two Liberal Democrat members of the council - although the parish is run without much call for party politics! Pat Schofield, who is Chairman of the Parish Council, and Colin O'Donovan have both served as Liberal Democrat district councillors, although currently the three district councillors for Redbourn ward comprise Tony Swendell (Independent) and two conservative members.

We have high hopes though that Redbourn will return a Liberal Democrat councillor once again - and the sooner the better!

Sandridge

Wheathampstead

Wheathampstead is a village with around 6,000 electors and 2,500 homes. It has 3 District Councillors 2 of which are Liberal Democrats. Voting over the last 10 years has shown that there is a relatively small margin between the Liberal Democrats and the Tories. Labour comes a poor third with around 300 votes. Turnout at elections is around 50%. For decades the Tories were in control of the District Council but in 1995 Liberal Democrats took overall control. However this was lost in 1999 when due to boundary changes there was an all out election. In May 2001 the Council adopted the new Leader and Cabinet model of local government on a shadow basis until 2002 when the system came into full operation. The District Council returned to the Liberal Democrats being the largest and running the Cabinet in June 2004.

At the 2006 election in Wheathampstead, after three recounts, the Lib Dems and the Tories both had 1132 votes. The result was decided by whoever picked the longest pencil - and the Lib Dems picked a longer one, taking it from the Tories.

Just a pencil margin - your vote can make the difference.

Key Issues

Current issues include:

• District Council Cabinet has agreed Zero Council Tax increase. Parish has proposed 26% rise on top of large rise last year.

• Lib Dems are seeing a major increase in recycling (now 50%) following the issue of new Black and Green Wheelie bins. This results in benefits for the environment, less landfill and therefore lower costs and council tax.

• We are continuing to put pressure on the Tory controlled County Council over the poor state of our roads and pavements, the problems with home carers, the shortage of spaces at our junior schools and the problems with secondary school transfers.

• Our Petition has persuaded the Highways Dept to install better safety barriers by St Helens school. Road safety measures have also been put in place on The Hill to make the walking bus to Beech Hyde school safer thanks to pressure from Chris Oxley.

• Work will commence in April to upgrade One Stop Shop to a new Tesco Express. Planning permission has been given to merge to existing shop with next door Railway video shop - to double the size.

• Thanks to Judy Shardlow the police have taken strong action to enforce speed limits in and around the village. We are also working with the authorities to set up a new and effective lorry ban.

• County flatly refuses to take action to protect residents of Brewhouse Hill from traffic problems. They await more accidents or even a death or so!! They will not progress the pedestrian crossing by the Memorial Hall until the Parish completes their Village Plan.

• Riverside Travellers Site. Enforcement action has had to be stopped. They have put in a new application which is being processed.

• Farmers Market continues to be a great success. It is every 3rd Sunday 10am to 1pm. Judy Shardlow and Paul Edelston are working closely with the district council Economic Development Officer to help local businesses.

• For past campaigns and further information, please see our main website:

Wheathampstead Liberal Democrats (Main Site).

Your Local Contacts

Our area is represented by Chris Oxley and Judy Shardlow on St Albans District Council, and by John Burgess and Lisa Hobden on Wheathampstead Parish Council.

Cllr Chris Oxley, Cllr Judy Shardlow and local campaigner Paul Edelston. They are pointing to the pencil because Judy was elected in 2006 on the draw of a pencil, the result having been tied after several recounts.

District Council

• Cllr Chris Oxley: Pilgrim Cottage, Coleman Green, Wheathampstead AL4 8ES, Tel: 01582 834238, E-Mail: cllr.c.oxley@stalbans.gov.uk

• Cllr Judy Shardlow, 32 Tudor Road, Wheathampstead, AL4 8NW. Phone: 01582 629886, E-mail: cllr.j.shardlow@stalbans.gov.uk

Parish Council

• Cllr. John Burgess, 1 Mount Road, Wheathampstead Tel:01582 620316

Local Party

• Harriet Sherlock (Chair), 163 Lower Luton Road, Wheathampstead. Tel: 01582 831722

• Lisa Hobden (Secretary), 14 Necton Road, Wheathampstead. Tel: 01582 629599

• Marion Oxley (Treasurer), 33 Tudor Road, Wheathampstead, AL4 8NW. Tel: 01582 833892.

• Paul Edelston (Focus Editor), 33 Tudor Road, Wheathampstead AL4 8NW, Tel: 01582 833892, e-mail paul.edelston@ntlworld.com.