Sue's Soapbox

A chance to reflect on some of the issues we are facing today

The Green Belt and other open spaces

Now lets get practical on this issue. The South East Plan demands that Guildford increases in size by a staggering 25% with development running from Burpham to Clandon, possible building between Woking and Guildford and an unacceptable level of town cramming. We all oppose this. It is based on numbers far greater than local need and includes incomers from London and other areas. I continue to oppose the numbers in the plan.

But this surely does not mean that no new houses should be built in the area. What about our growing families, the people who work here and who are important to our community. Perhaps not high earners but just as important whether they are medical staff or shelf fillers.

So why have the Conservatives devoted letters week after week to attacking me. Why did they spend so much time on telephones to key voters claiming that I could not be relied on to continue to oppose building on the green belt?

Is it because I took the trouble to support a proposed development on an airfield at Dunsfold. A piece of flat land described as Surrey's hidden airfield. A development which has a transport plan which is even supported by Friends of the Earth which I hope will be eventually delivering less, not more road traffic on the A281.

This decision wasn't taken lightly but because the developers have come up with something which the environmentalists say will be way ahead of anything in Europe. The supporters are not tree huggers, but are as sceptical as any of us about green wash projects.

Its unfortunate that the Tories chose to campaign on this issue and to purvey the notion that I don't or won't support the South East plan.

Meanwhile, having got themselves back in at Surrey CC, the outgoing interim chief executive has written such a critical report of the leadership of that body that it was suppressed until after the County Council elections. A council has one star, but the party in office prefers to peddle rubbish on the doorsteps, while failing to clean up its own back yard.

No wonder democracy needs cleaning up

The Shuttle Bus - an illogical decision

The shuttle bus saga continues with proposals to have a new service - the Town Rider. Amongst the facilities offered will the the opportunity to book a ride on it at the tourist office - which involves walking half way up the hill. Strangely illogical when the people the council now believe should be on the bus are more likely to have mobility problems going up the same hill, which of course is why they are on the bus.

Illogical point 2 is the way in which you will organise your return trip, involving talking to the driver and hoping that he makes a note of your request, while dropping you off.

Money has been found to subsidise the town rider bus, from dial-a-ride but we don't know what services will be cut to make these savings, indeed it turns out that the council don't seem to know how much money the new service will cost but we do know that people will now have to pay, even if they have a free bus pass.

When the Shuttle bus was first set up, there was an intention that it would take shoppers from the bus and train stations. This has now gone out of the window completely and so there will be a negative environmental impact too.

Is this whole decision just another illogical response to the deep financial problems that the council have in paying for the ever more expensive civic? What we do know about Guildford Borough Council is that when in a hole, they just keep digging.

Victims of Crime need more support

Fear of Crime has never been higher despite record numbers of people being packed off to jail Only too often after a crime is committed the offender is packed off to prison only to come out and reoffend while the victim is left feeling a mixture of fear, anger and resentment. Our prison population is growing at an unacceptable rate and in this country we seem to think that it is enough to just lock people up to keep them out of the way for a short time. Meanwhile victims continue to suffer from stress and anxiety.

But an alternative approach, Restorative Justice could help do much more to reduce crime, and to help the victims of crime move forward. Restorative justice, which brings together victim and offender with the support of a mediator is certainly far from being a soft option for criminals. Prison insulates criminals from the impact of their crimes, but facing up to what they have done can be much harder. The process gives offenders chance to tell their story and why the crime occurred. They can also have the chance to make things right, by financial compensation and community work and of course a letter of apology.

Many young criminals will have first been a victim of crime themselves and this approach works well them them. They want to know that their voice is being heard and that they are suffering from crime. If we can help them at the right time it may help give them confidence in the justice system rather than an excuse to reject it.

The use of restorative justice substantially reduces reoffending and the need for so many people in prison.

Lets keep our prison for the real no hopers, and in the case of the worst, such as Ian Huntley, life must mean life, but no change is not an option.

We Need a Fairer Council Tax

Councils are funded through central government grant, business rates and council taxes.

My postbag lately has contained a number of letters from people who know that they cannot afford the rise in council tax this year. On a fixed income it is not fair that you pay council tax based on a property you live in rather than your ability to pay.

The Lib Dems want to change to a local income tax system which would be much fairer for everyone. Councils would additionally benefit from cost saving as tax would be collected by the Inland Revenue.

Visit the Liberal Democrats 'Axe the Tax' campaign website.

The Green Belt and other open spaces

The Green Belt and other open spaces