Camden New Journal - Letters: Year to forget under our new council

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Camden New Journal - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 24 May 2007

Year to forget under our new council

• CAMDEN'S LibDem/Tory administration has now been in power for just over a year, so it would seem reasonable to take a look at what they have achieved so far.
They said that they would freeze their part of the council tax – and they have done so. But they didn’t say that this would be done at the cost of huge cuts in essential services, such as the Law Centre, play schemes and other youth services, while charges for other services such as meals on wheels and home care for disabled people have been dramatically increased and many council staff face the sack.
They said that they would refurbish Kentish Town Baths – and they are doing so. But they didn’t say that they would sell part of the baths off, nor did they say that the cost would go up by £2.5million before a single brick was laid.
They said that they would make Camden the greenest borough in London, but so far all that they have actually done is to cut estate recycling.
They said that they opposed New Labour’s plans to sell off our council housing, but now they are coming up with their own plans to do just that.
However, when campaigning for votes a year ago they didn’t say that if elected they would come up with plans to sell off some of our elderly care homes, nor that they would spend £20m on a new secondary school just 300 yards away from an existing one in prosperous Swiss Cottage, while ignoring the needs of less-advantaged families south of the Euston Road.
When they opposed the sale of Jamestown Mental Health Centre they didn’t say that once they got into power they would sell it themselves.
And they didn’t mention that they would embarrass themselves with an ever-growing list of foolish and authoritarian measures, such as their proposal to fine dog owners for letting their pets off the lead except in a few dog zones, their ludicrous ban on barbecues and now their proposal to give Asbos to cyclists.
It’s been a bad year for Camden residents thanks to this hopeless council administration. Unfortunately, it’s going to be another three years before we can get rid of them, so things are likely to get even worse!
SALLY THOMPSON
Camden Green Party

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, Camden New Journal, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@camdennewjournal.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Tuesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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