I asked the Labour Party and the Conservative Party identical questions over a week ago. Despite reminders, the Labour Party has not bothered to respond!!Hereunder extract extracts from the Conservative response."The current Labour administration, has been failing us, from year-on-year council tax rises being used to fund huge increases in councillor allowances, to making unilateral decisions on traffic schemes in our borough without properly consulting with residents. In contrast, when the council was run by the Conservatives between 2006 and 2010, we froze council tax every single year. We doubled recycling rates, invested millions into modernising our libraries and leisure centres and built safer communities by working with residents and the police to tackle crime across the borough.I note from your email below you are concerned about road closures and changes to road systems without proper consultation. We want to put residents at the heart of local decision making by increasing the number of public forums, this will ensure residents are actively involved in decision making and actively consulted. On the issue of cycle lanes, we will work with local residents and community groups to review current and proposed extensions to ensure we build safer cycling infrastructure that works for the community. On the two points below, we are happy to review and work with local residents and community if elected on May 5th. I note your concern and frustrations with the low traffic neighbourhood schemes (LTN), frustrations that are also shared by myself and my colleagues. We will review Hounslow Labour’s divisive and poorly implemented LTN schemes to ensure residents are properly consulted about the changes to roads in their area, with schemes reformed in areas in which they are not working.Similarly, we pledge to commission a boroughwide survey of the backlog in maintenance works – We will ensure residents have clear and up to date data on works being carried out by Hounslow Council and how long it takes for road repairs to be complete. On the issue of fly-tipping. There is no doubt there has been a significant increase in fly-tipping since the councils introduction of fortnightly waste collection. Fly-tipping is not only limited to large household items, but we are seeing greater instances of normal household waste being disposed in public areas. To address this, we will reinstate weekly rubbish collections in addition to the already weekly recycling collections, and work to improve our borough’s stagnant recycling rate by introducing recycling for residents of flats above shops. But to further tackle the issue, we will work with the police to encourage the recruitment of more local special constables to increase the number of police on the streets to tackle antisocial behaviour and crime, including stronger action against those that fly-tip."
Steve Taylor ● 1618d