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By-election will be a verdict on alliance
• LABOUR supporter Mr Kapos mistakenly argues that the Lib Dems put the Tories into a position of influence on Camden Council (Alliance is a big issue for voters, Nov 2).
He could not be more wrong. The Labour Party itself is responsible.
The local election in May gave no party an overall majority. The Lib Dems, as the party with the most elected councillors, asked both the Labour Party and the Conservatives to join them in a partnership to serve the residents of Camden.
The Conservatives said Yes. Labour declined. Instead of blaming others, Labour should address their own failings.
The Labour Party's reaction was to be expected. Losing control of the borough after 35 years was a massive shock to them.
It was, however, predictable. Labour has become a party of control freaks, from Tony Blair downwards, who uncompromisingly demand to have their own way.
Residents in Camden know this only too well. The Labour government refused to provide the £283 million promised to Camden Council to repair council houses unless council tenants accepted ALMOs.
Council tenants, however, voted against this. Instead of accepting their wishes the Labour government declined to hand over the money.
The clear issue facing the voters of Kentish Town is that if they wish to fight against the uncaring and intolerant attitude that is all-pervasive in today's Labour Party, then they should vote for Ralph Scott, the Lib Dem candidate.
DAVID SIMMONS
Chairman, St Pancras Liberal Democrats.
• I WAS pleased to hear the news that the Liberal Democrat-Conservative partnership administration are delivering on their promise to put in place new funding for financial inclusion as part of their review of voluntary sector funding.
In Camden too many people are cut out of mainstream credit - banks often fail to meet their needs and they can be stung by high charges or forced to go to loan sharks.
I understand that a new credit union for Camden is about to be launched so I very much hope that it will be supported by Camden Council.
Everyone who lives or works in Camden will eventually be able to join the credit union. By saving money together the credit union can fund affordable lending to those who are currently excluded by the banks.
RALPH SCOTT
King Henry's Road, NW3
• MICHAEL Way's letter on how our Lib Dem council approaches anti-social behaviour hits the nail on the head (Get it straight on Asbos, Nov 2).
Since the Liberal Democrats and Conservative's took charge of Camden council in May we've had a huge problem in the Gray's Inn Road area with youth anti-social behaviour.
Our local Labour councillors have been fantastic with raising this issue and have come on a number of occasions to meet with me and my neighbours to address the issue.
Since our councillors intervened the police have been very responsive, but unfortunately the youth service has not responded to any of our letters or phone calls.
The Lib Dems have put a 24-year-old who has only apparantly lived in Camden for a year in charge of dealing with crime.
It is abundantly clear to me that he and his colleagues seem completely incapable of dealing with anti-social behaviour or making sure that young people have decent youth facilities to give young people something to do.
They seem to be floundering in the job - if they had any sense they would put someone with more experience in charge of dealing with crime as this is a key quality of life issue.
BECKY PURCELL
Frederick Street W1
• AT Monday night's council meeting, we sought a clear statement from the council that parking policy be focused on the environment - contributing to steps to combat climate change and to improve air quality, as well as on fair and just enforcement.
We also asked, supported by local campaigners from Winvisible, for the rights of disabled people to full access to central London to be recognised through extension of the Blue Badge Scheme south of the Euston Road.
In addition, we called for a parking policy that supports small shops and businesses counteracting the unfair pressures from big supermarkets.
Lib-dem and Tory Councillors are making some moves in the right direction. But their amending motion calling for reductions for low-emission cars with no mention of increases for high-emission cars, does not go far enough.
A scheme on those lines will not send a clear message to those with high-emission vehicles. It would also reduce revenue and mean more pressure to collect penalties.
However, now that Cllr Eagling states their commitment to properly differentiated charges on the Richmond model, when this matter comes to the executive later this month, I hope we will see a policy adopted of higher charges for high emission cars as well as reductions for eco-friendly cars.
I hope we will not see the executive shirk responsibility and suggest that it is for central government to raise vehicle excise taxes.
It is time that we recognise that until disabled people have full use of public transport, we must make proper allowances even if this means some impact on others. Our parking policy should be green, but also fair and just.
Cllr MAYA DE SOUZA
(Green Party)
Highgate Ward
• I WRITE as a Kentish Town resident, after receiving a very strange leaflet from the Green Party candidate in the forthcoming by-election.
She seems to be suggesting that the solution to congestion problems in Kentish Town Road is more facilities for drivers - "more short-term parking".
How very odd that the Greens should be advocating more facilities for cars, when much of the rest of the country has woken up to the need to get out of cars and onto cycles, feet or buses.
It seems the Greens are caught in last month's attitude to the environment, and have not realised the sea-change that is taking place in public opinion.
If you want to help local shops, the answer is not more cars, but better public transport and an improved street environment.
Just for the record, the Labour, Lib Dem and Conservative groups on the council voted unanimously on Monday night to take forward a parking policy which includes "recognising the environmental impact of vehicles in the borough and making a commitment to reduce the cost of parking permits for environmentally friendly vehicles".
The Greens voted against this. Are they confused? I think so.
Cllr PENNY ABRAHAM
Lady Somerset Road, NW5
• YOUR leader, (Sam makes a stand, Nov 2) speaks of the Reverend McBratney being a coming together of "basic humanity and political ideology, the ideology, in its 19th-century Methodist roots, which helped to shape the Old Labour Party.
Then what on earth is he doing in Camden? Labour's 36 years of rule created a stale and dull administration which will take years to reform.
It was neither new Labour nor old Labour. It was rank, insipid and totally lacking in any quality of life, inspiration or creativity. I do not envy the new leader his job - even Hercules would have turned it down.
To provide an example, we have heard much of the loss to the borough of £283 million of central government funding for the refurbishment of the council's housing stock.
Government says that the money may not be spent by Camden, only by a housing association or an ersatz housing authority, an Arms Length Management Organisation. Did the Labour group bother to discover that there is not one jot of documentary evidence to support this idiotic view?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing at all could be produced by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, then in charge.
By the way, I parked one street out of my residents parking area. I'm sorry, but a fine of £200 is disgusting. The Reverend says: "We didn't get everything right" and I agree.
PETER RUTHERFORD
Pandora Road, NW6
• COUNCILLOR Andrew Mennear really should be ashamed of his comments at Monday's full council meeting about the Labour candidate in the Kentish Town by-election, Sam McBratney. What makes Camden a special place is the way all faiths, and none, live side by side appreciating and valuing their diversity.
To publicly question a candidate's ability to hold public office on the basis of their faith undermines the democratic process, and shows the Tories' true colours.
Sam is standing as the Labour candidate, representing Labour values. He also happens to be a Minister, working as a University Chaplin.
We are not asking the electorate to vote for him because of his faith or vocation, far from it - just as it would be irrelevant if he were an Imam, Rabbi or vocal atheist - it is his qualities as a candidate that count.
Luckily for us Sam is a truly excellent candidate, he has already demonstrated that he listens to people, wants to stand up for local services and has an independent mind.
I have no doubt that if he is elected on December 7 he will be a strong local voice standing up for all residents of Kentish Town.
Cllr ANNA STEWART
Leader of the Labour Group
• OVER recent weeks I have been trying to contact my local councillor to ask for some advice on my housing situation. I have tried phoning, emailing and have even written to Jane Schopflin, but have had no response whatsoever.
I eventually gave up trying to speak to her and was given some helpful advice by a councillor that doesn't even represent the area I live in.
I am very grateful to Councillor Dawn Somper for her assistance and accessibility.
I feel compelled to write to ask why political parties seem to select councillors that do not appear interested in representing residents in their area?
If a councillor cannot even be bothered to return calls to offer what turned out to be basic support, I have to ask why they are bothering to put themselves up for election?
I've supported the Liberal Democrats at elections in the past but on the basis that they only seem interested in helping people at elections - they have lost my vote.
Name and address supplied
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