www.stocktonlibdems.org.uk

Editors: Cllr Alan Lewis 784910 Cllr Maureen Rigg 785689 Lesley Lewis 787842

Eaglescliffe

Contact us any time at:Alan Lewis, 4 Broomfield Ave, Eaglescliffe Tel 784910 alan.lewis@stockton.gov.ukMaureen Rigg, 4 Monmouth Dr. Eaglescliffe Tel 785689 maureen.rigg@stockton.gov.ukLesley Lewis 4 Broomfield Ave, Eaglescliffe Tel 787842 mrs.lesley.lewis@sky.com

Or see your Liberal Democrat Councillors at Ward Surgery (no appointment needed):Tues. 21 Feb 6.30 to 7.30 p.m. Egglescliffe Parish Hall, Butts LaneFri 3 Feb & 2 Mar 6.30 to 7.30 p.m. Trinity Methodist Church, Witham AveTues 20 Mar 6 to 7pm, Egglescliffe Community Centre, Durham Lane.

No 170 January 2012

Liberal Democrats - Up Your Street

Focus

Focus - The Original & The Best. Now in its 26th YearPrinted by SLDPS, 4 Broomfield Ave, Eaglescliffe. Published and Promoted by M. Rigg on behalf of A. Lewis & M. Rigg (Liberal Democrats) all at 4 Monmouth Drive, Eaglescliffe, TS16 9HU

Keeping in Touch on the Move:

www.stocktonlibdems.org.uk

http://eaglescliffe.blogspot.com/

Thank you to everyone whodonated coats, big and small, to theDonate a Coat appeal. We neededtwo cars to take them all to theSalvation Army Citadel. The pictureshows Alan, Lesley and Maureendelivering them.

The coats went to homelessfamilies, vulnerable elderly people,women and children fleeingviolence in the home among others.Thank you for your generosity.

DONATE A COAT APPEAL

Do you like to be in the know?Alan and Maureen send outemail news between editionsof Focus to residents whogive us their email address.Planning applications,consultations, events - youcould be among the first to know. Justsend us an email and ask to be added tothe list. You can unsubscribe at any timeand we never reveal your email address toanyone else.

POSTAL VOTESIn order to keep the postal

vote register up to dateStockton Council will be

asking people who’ve had apostal vote for 2 years torenew their application in

February.

If you don’t return the form by12th March you will have to

re-apply. This is a c hange inthe law and Stockton cannotallow even one day’s grace.

HAPPY NEW YEAR?Sadly some people seemed to find it acceptable to leaveglass and plastic bottles littering the grass nearSycamore Rd after their celebrations. Maureen andLesley collected several and put them in the Preston Parkrecycling bins. Maureen asked Care for Your Area toclean up the broken glass as they have the rightequipment to do that.

GOING GREENYour Liberal Democrat councillors are cutting theircarbon footprints by using bikes whereverpossible.

It’s also easy to stop them if you want to talk aboutsomething.

Alan says “We wanted to cut down on car use asmuch as possible and cycling is quicker thanwalking so we can get more done. We hope thatpeople will feel able to stop us and talk about

SNIPPETSNumerous street lighting problems havebeen reported, along with damaged streetname plates, potholes and footpath defects.

The Grange, Urlay Nook Rd. Alancontinues to keep an eye on the site andreport problems. He had the historicDurham CC sign removed safely from thegrounds and problems with the fences in thehigh winds sorted out.Durham Lane: The experimental weightrestriction between the Kingsmead andTesco roundabouts came into force onJanuary 9th so the only HGVs going alongthat stretch of Durham Lane should bethose requiring access to properties within it.Combined with the permanent restrictionbetween the Tesco and Hunter’s Greenroundabouts this should reduce the numberof HGVs travelling through the Western sideof Eaglescliffe.

LEGAL OMBUDSMAN

If you have a complaint about your lawyer whichyou can’t resolve through discussion with themthen don’t forget you can contact the LegalOmbudsman on 0300 555 0333.

HONOURSWe are pleased to see that George Davies, whowas chair of governors at Egglescliffe School formany years, has been recognised in the NewYear Honours by the award of an MBE. Wealso have in the ward an Evening GazetteCommunity Champion, Phyllis Robinson,recognised for the years she has spent fosteringchildren in need of a temporary home.

Funded by local Lib Dems

Printed Locally

Delivered by Volunteers

DOG FOULINGSorry to start the New Year on such a topic,but unfortunately we still have a handful ofpeople who think that pavements andfootpaths in parks are provided as dog toilets.It is an offence to allow your dog to foul suchplaces, but perhaps more importantly it’s anti-social and it’s dangerous to the health ofchildren particularly, who don’t alwaysdistinguish between good andbad things tohandle and putin their mouths.There arespecial binsprovidedthroughout theward so please, when you pick up the dog’slead pick up a plastic bag as well and thenuse it when necessary.

THANK YOU!

SAVE MONEY, STAY WARM, GO GREENFiona Hall, MEP, joined Stockton Lib Dems at the start of their campaign to help people

The Lib Dems have launched this campaignbecause big rises in the worldwide prices ofgas and oil are hitting local people hard.Eaglescliffe residents are being urged to takeadvantage of energy saving tips from theEnergy Saving Trust and to get advice ongrants which might be available bycontacting the free Home Heat Helpline on0800 33 66 99 or by visiting the CAB’s

next to the Swallow Hotel inStockton.

Local campaigner Lesley Lewis said, “Theseprice rises are worse here thanks todecades of Labour and Conservative rule.We have some of the coldest, draughtiesthouses in Europe meaning that many people have to spend too much on keeping warm.”

Fiona Hall said, “I’m delighted that Stockton Liberal Democrats are campaigning on this. Improvinginsulation and producing more renewableenergy will save money in the long run aswell as helping to cut carbon emissions.”

Campaigners intend to visit as manyhouses as possible over the coming weekswith helpful information leaflets on savingmoney whilst staying warm. If we miss you& you’d like the information please let usknow.

Liberal Democrats - Helping You to Stay Warm, Save Money, Go Green

MEMBER OF EUROPEANPARLIAMENT

Fiona Hall MEP can be contacted:

Fiona@fionahallmep.co.uk www.fionahall.org.uk

0191 383 0119

ABUSE OF DISABLED PARKING BAYSOn October 19th last year Alan tabled a motion at a Full CouncilMeeting, deploring the way that some able bodied drivers abuseparking bays designated for disabled drivers in privately ownedcar parks such as Teesside Park and smaller shopping centresaround the borough, especially those in front of catering outlets.We are pleased to say that the motion was unanimously agreedand Stockton Council would be asking the owners of such carparks to do all in their power to ensure that such parking spacesare available for the people who really need them - the holders ofblue parking badges.

This will include the owners of theshopping parades in Eaglescliffe sowe wait to see what will happenthere.

STREET NAMEPLATES

Alan and Maureen reportdamaged name plateswhenever they see them, andsome can be mendedquickly. Others are damagedbeyond repair and we’vebeen told it can take monthsto get them replaced.

Please keep on reportingthem to us but be patient ifit’s not repaired immediately.

EAGLESCLIFFE STATION IMPROVEMENTSSuccessive Lib Dem Councillors have tried to getimprovements to the station for years and are delightedthat things are moving at last. This year sees a ticketoffice being installed. Next year should bring anenlarged car park, improved ramps and a waiting room.

We’ve also asked that if the Allen’s West development is approved thedevelopers should put a footbridge over the railway to make for easy accessto Eaglescliffe Station.

YARM PARKINGMuch has been written and said about the pros and cons of charging for parking in Yarm and somevery dubious “facts” have been circulating. Your Liberal Democrat councillors are convinced that:

� Yarm needs more parking spaces to accommodate both workers and visitors

� Stockton Council does not own or lease enough land in central Yarm to provide a car park andthe necessary access

� If charging for parking is introduced the funds MUST be used to acquire the necessary land

� If charging is introduced it should allow for varying times of visits, easy ways to pay using thebest modern technology and take into account the needs of those residents who have no otherplace to park than the High St.

We have passed these views on to Stockton Council’s officers and also concerns about the possibleeffect on Egglescliffe Village. We have also met many residents who tell us that they have noobjection to paying for parking as long as they can stay for the time they need rather than just 2 hrs.

We now wait to see what Stockton Council will decide.

ALLEN’S WEST STATION UPDATEIn December British Transport Police visited Durham Lane andJunction Farm Primary Schools to talk about safety on therailway. Network Rail will continue to promote the safetymessages by holding awareness days this year where theywill visit the crossing and be available to talk to local residentsand give out leaflets. They also confirmed their intention toprovide a red man signal on both sides of the crossing in duecourse, as well as reducing the height of the fence on thesouth east side.  Unfortunately conversion to a full barrier crossing is not likely to take place untilnext year.

This month Stockton Council Officers agreed the location of the staggered barrier on the southeast side of the crossing with a “reservoir area” large enough to accommodate south boundpedestrians to clear the crossing in the event of the level crossing being called. Funding for thescheme was allocated by Western Area Transport Strategy group chaired by Maureen lastNovember and an estimate has been sought from Stockton Council’s Direct Services division to