I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone in Rochdale a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2009. I also want to thank the people of Borough for their support over the last year, particularly given my recent ill-health.
With thousands of new houses planned for Mid Sussex it is even more important that valuable green spaces are saved from development and the "strategic gap" between towns like Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath are protected. A recent Liberal Democrat led debate in Parliament raised this very point, and MP's were shocked to hear the Labour Communities Minster Iain Wright describe the principle, that brown field (previously used) land should be built on before green belt, as "rigid and old-fashioned" which clearly puts established principles of saving protected areas from development at risk.
Henry Vann has announced that Nick Clegg and Vince Cable's plans to create jobs in a green economy could benefit Bedford and Kempston directly by creating new jobs and transport links.
Britain is facing a difficult year. Every day, 200 families are now at risk of losing their homes, and three million people could be out of a job. The government got us into this mess and haven't got the right ideas to get us out of it. The Conservatives want to do nothing - they wouldn't lift a finger to help.
Liberal Democrats in north Chelmsford will continue to fight plans for an "urban sprawl" extension that will close the gap between the northern edge of the town and Broomfield parish. Plans for up to 400 houses on the edge of north Chelmsford and up to 400 more on the edges of Broomfield are contained in Chelmsford Borough Council's final "North Chelmsford Area Action Plan". The Conservative-run Council has published its plan for consultation until 16th February.
A true friend is someone who's prepared to tell you when you're wrong or you've made a mistake - even when they know that message may not immediately help your friendship. With its current massive attack on Gaza, Israel is clearly wrong. Worse still, it's in danger of making a historic mistake.
