National News

Liberal Democrat Success in Watford Central By-Election

The Watford Central Ward By-Electionwas caused by the standing down of one of the sitting Lib Dem councillors having obtained a job in the Midlands - meaning he had to resign his seat and move home. The resulting by-election campaign was remarkable for the barrage of Labour personal attacks against the Lib Dem candidate, deliberate misrepresentation and a curious attempt to use spurious legal measures to block Lib Dem participation in the election at all.

Liberal Democrat Success in Watford Central By-Election

The Watford Central Ward By-Electionwas caused by the standing down of one of the sitting Lib Dem councillors having obtained a job in the Midlands - meaning he had to resign his seat and move home. The resulting by-election campaign was remarkable for the barrage of Labour personal attacks against the Lib Dem candidate, deliberate misrepresentation and a curious attempt to use spurious legal measures to block Lib Dem participation in the election at all.

Campaign group fights for Westbury trains

A consultation about our train services earlier this year allowed for the possibility of significantly reduced services to Westbury under the terms of the new franchise. The bids for the Great Western region franchise were supposed to be completed at the end of the month. However the recent debacle over the west coast franchise has caused the government to halt all similar projects.

Warnings ignored on Hanningfield's huge expense claims from Essex County Council

Essex County Council has published the huge expense claims from disgraced former leader Lord Hanningfield with an internal report. As they are hidden away inside its website, we publish the links below.

An application for a gypsy site at West Ashton...

... went to the planning committee on 14th November, and again on 5th December after a site visit. The site is accessed from the A350 just south of the village, and will be for a single pitch with siting for a mobile home and touring caravan. Planning officers recommended permission, though neighbours and West Ashton Parish Council objected, saying the access onto the main road at that point is dangerous. Wiltshire Council highways department didn't object to the application, though WAPC said this position was inconsistent given their objections to other planning applications for sites in similar positions.

What Nick told Harriet