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News
Latest news from around the constituency

About
General information including location, ways to help and how to join

Councils
Liberal Democrats action, proposals and campaigns in our local councils

People
Party members who are representatives in public office

Local
Local members information including party officers, events, branches and fundraising

Campaigns
National and local campaigns and Council Elections 2011

 

 

 

 

News Around the Constituency

 

Planning change attacked

Lib Dem Councillor Puts Motion Against New Rules  

Friday 11 January 2013

A motion attacking plans to relax the rules so homeowners can build bigger extensions without the need for planning permission was proposed at West Devon Borough Council meeting.

more on this . . .

 

The Best Possible Candidate for Devon

Brian Blake for Police and Crime Commissioner  

Tuesday 30 October 2012

The Liberal Democrats in Devon & Cornwall have chosen the best possible candidate for the first ever election to be Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon & Cornwall.

In Brian Blake we have an absolutely outstanding candidate. Having served for 31 years in the Police force across the region in both counties, he finished his career as a Detective Chief Inspector in Cornwall.

more on Brian Blake . . .

 

David Walter has lost his battle with cancer

A much loved Parliamentary Candidate in 2005

Monday 2 April 2012

Last week, sadly, David Walter lost his battle with cancer and died in the Royal Marsden Hospital.   more on this . . .

 

Quarter of a Million Pounds in New Money

Bideford schools Benefit as Lib Dems Pupil Premium kicks in

Friday 14 October 2011

Bideford schools can expect a significant increase in expected funding this year as the Lib Dem’s Pupil Premium policy kicks in to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds.   more on this . . .

 

More Than Expected Pupil Premium

Devon Children Will Benefit

Thursday 13 October 2011

Liberal Democrat Children and Families Minister, Sarah Teather has announced the extra money each school will receive through the Pupil Premium this year will be more than originally expected.  more on this . . .

 

Liberal Democrats Achievements

Our Success in the Coalition

Thursday 23 September 2011

And if we had won the election?

“The Liberal Democrat Conference in Birmingham was serious and impressive” John Farand Rogers, Chairman of the Torridge & West Devon Liberal Democrats told a meeting in Meavy.  more on this . . .  

 

Government’s back down on weekly bin collections welcomed.

Communities Should be Free to Determine Local Services

Friday 17 June 2011

The Government’s back down on forcing Councils to collect rubbish bags weekly has been welcomed by Torridge District Councillor Adam Symons.  more on this . . .  

 

Councillor Elected as Holsworthy Advisory Chair

Helping to Protect Local Services

Thursday 16 June 2011

Torridge District Councillor Adam Symons has been elected as Chair off Holsworthy Area Advisory Group at its meeting this week.  more on this . . .  

 

Lib Dems welcome action on 20mph schemes

Government Measures to Reduce Bureaucracy

14 June 2011

West Devon Lib Dems have welcomed the recent announcement by the Coalition Government of measures to reduce the bureaucracy for councils wanting to implement 20mph schemes.   more on this . . .  

 

Lib Dems Gain a Seat

Breaking the National Trend

Friday 6 May 2011

Liberal Democrats have gained an extra seat on Torridge District Council.  See list

 

Stop the Tory Tip Tax  

Local Residents are Furious About the New Charge

Friday 15 April 2011

Local residents across the county are furious about the new charge for DIY waste imposed by Devon Conservatives.   more on this . . .  

 

Lib Dems Launch Plans for Torridge District Council

Record Number of Candidates

Saturday 9 April 2011

Torridge Liberal Democrats launched their plans for Torridge District Council yesterday (Friday 8 April), against a background of a record number of candidates standing. The Lib Dems are fielding 23 candidates for the elections - more than at any other time.  Read more . . .

 

Torridge Lib Dems Manifesto

Three key Points Form a Simple Plan

Friday 8 April 2011

The three key points in the Torridge Liberal Democrats Manifesto are: Invest in local services and jobs; Share staff with North Devon; Community focused Council.  Read the Manifesto

 

Fruit Route 

Councillor Supports Local Sustainability

Friday 8 April 2011

North Devon AONB and Biosphere Service (NDABS) have been working with the Bideford Sustainability Group to plant up a new traditional orchard besides the Tarka Trail in Bideford on a site that was previously covered in brambles.  more on this . . .  

 

Lib Dems gain a seat on West Devon Borough Council

No opposition in Buckland Monachorum

Thursday 7 April 2011

The first Lib Dem gain in the current round of local government elections has come in West Devon.  Lib Dem candidate, David Wilde, has won a seat without opposition in the usually highly contested Buckland Monachorum Ward of West Devon Borough.  more on this . . .  

 

Tip Restrictions will cause countryside disaster

Could ‘Lead to an Explosion of Fly-tipping’

Friday 25 March 2011

Devon County Council’s decision to make ‘last minute restrictions’ on their recycling centres could ‘lead to an explosion of fly-tipping’, according to Torridge’s lead councillor for waste and recycling, Adam Symons.  more on this . . .

 

‘Yes to Fairer Votes’ campaign

Members keen to get involved

Saturday 19 February 2011

Local Lib Dems members are keen to get involved in the ‘Yes to Fairer Votes’ campaign.  Adam Symons said “There are many ways which you can help in the campaign.  This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to change the voting system so that it is fairer.”  See Adam’s list of some of the ways you can help the ‘Yes’ Campaign.

 

Litter is a Real Problem

Councillor Takes Action

Saturday 19 February 2011

“Litter can be a real problem and a danger to walkers and dogs, especially when the litter includes broken bottles”, says Cllr Alison Clish-Green.  more on this . . .

 

Nick Clegg Speaks on Alternative Vote

Britain Should Vote to Ditch the "first-past-the-post" System

Friday 18 February 2011

Today the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg gave a speech on why Britain should vote to end the current "first-past-the-post" voting system for Westminster elections and replace it with the Alternative Vote.  See the full text of the speech at Nick Clegg Speaks on Alternative Vote

 

Lib Dems Leader meets Prime Minister

Alison’s Meeting at Number 10

Thursday 17 February 2011

West Devon’s Lib Dems Leader Cllr. Alison Clish-Green met Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy PM Nick Clegg at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday.  more on this . . .

 

AV : Another Step Towards Electoral Reform

Essential Part of Renewing Our Democracy

Tuesday 15 February 2011

“It is very encouraging to see that the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill has gone through both Houses of Parliament and has now received the Royal Assent. This means that the way is clear for the referendum on changing the voting system on the 5th May,” said John Farrand-Rogers, Chairman of Torridge & West Devon Liberal Democrats, in a statement.  more on this . . .

 

Bid to Keep Pool Open

Keeping Torrington’s residents in the Swim

Monday 14 February 2011

Councillor Geoff Lee is championing the bid to keep Torrington Pool open.  There have been serious problems with the roof over the pool, so much so that many people think it may have to close permanently.  more on this . . .

 

Teach Children and Teenagers to Avoid UV Exposure

Marking World Cancer Day

Thursday 3 February 2011

Lead Member for Health at Torridge District Council Adam Symons is marking World Cancer Day on 4th February this year by asking residents to teach their children and teenagers to avoid UV exposure by being ‘sun smart’.  more on this . . .

 

Housing Crisis for Local Young People

Worst in UK

Wednesday 2 February 2011

Figures recently released by Shelter show that the area is the worst in the country for young people being able to buy a home.  more on this . . .

 

Coalition Government Faces an Enormous Challenge

One of the great liberal and reforming governments of our times

Thursday 7 October 2010

Nick Harvey, Lib Dems MP for North Devon and Minister of State for the Armed Forces joined a meeting of Lib Dems supporters at Lifton yesterday and spoke about the enormous challenge faced by the Coalition Government.  see Nick Harvey at Lifton

 

Adam Symons appointed as Parliamentary Spokesman

A Full-time Voice to Defend the Interests of the People

Friday 1 October 2010

Adam Symons has been appointed as the Parliamentary Spokesman for the Lib Dems in Torridge and West Devon.  The Lib Dem Local Party agreed that Adam should take on the mantle to ensure that the voice of Liberal Democracy is heard across the constituency.   more on this . . .

 

Government Minister to visit Lifton

Making contact with local party members 

Saturday 25 September 2010

No less than the Minister of State for the Armed Forces – otherwise known as our friend, Nick Harvey, Lib Dems MP for North Devon, will be visiting our constituency, so do come along!   more on this . . .

 

Conference Report

Local Reps Experience at Liverpool

Friday 24 September 2010

The Lib Dems Conference in Liverpool has just finished. As ever, the media decided what the story was to be, and then went looking for stories about splits etc… To counterbalance that, we asked some of our local conference reps about their experience. Read what they had to say in Conference Report from Liverpool or Conference Report - Local Reps Experience at Liverpool pdf.

 

Support for an Olympics Team in West Devon

Need to Attract Funding

Thursday 23 September 2010

Even the Olympics..... At the Party’s conference Cllr Alison Clish-Green chatted with Olympic athlete Jonathan Edwards about ways to attract a team to West Devon, which has been approved as a training camp area.    more on this . . .

 

This Coalition is going to last and last

The pessimists have got it wrong

Monday 20 September 2010

Yes, the party's poll ratings have fallen since the election. But they always do. It routinely scores in the teens between elections and rises to the early twenties during the campaign.

Read the full article in The Independent (external link)

 

Not Happy With Core Strategy Proposals

Local People’s Views Must Be Heard

Thursday 16 September 2010

Tavistock Lib Dems councillors joined protesters to ensure that local people’s views are heard. Cllr Alison Clish-Green said, ”We know we need a Core Strategy but we are not happy with the proposal for 750 houses in one place creating a suburb on the edge of Tavistock. We think the location and distribution should be looked at again.”   more on this . . .