Andy Konieczko - Demanding better for Brighton Hill
Here are just a few examples of how we've been helping local residents to make Brighton Hill an even better place to live and work over the past 18 months...
26 Apr 2018
Local News
Retail park update - water works completed, progress on ALDI, look out for new website...
The Liberal Democrats are the only party to have been given a tour of the site of the new St Michael's Retail Park on the Harrow Way. The on-site project manager, from Bowmer & Kirkland, explained that all of the underground water drainage and sewage pipework has now been completed. The steelwork for the new ALDI store is also now finished, and the roof and walls will be completed early in May, making the building watertight. The plan is to hand over the building to ALDI in July, ahead of the store opening in October. Work on the remaining units is planned to be completed for opening by early December. The developers intend to launch an information website in a few weeks' time so that you can keep up to date with the development and store opening dates. Look out for more information soon...
10 Apr 2018
Lib Dem launch new app to tackle Basingstoke's 'pothole plague'
The Basingstoke and Deane Liberal Democrats have launched an app to help address the town's pothole problem. The pothole app was unveiled by Andy Konieczko - Liberal Democrat councillor candidate for Brighton Hill North in next month's Borough Council election - and Cllr Gavin James - Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. Residents are encouraged to report details of any potholes that they spot using the app, which can be found on potholes.basingstokelibdems.org.uk or via the Basingstoke Liberal Democrat website (www.basingstokelibdems.org.uk). The findings will then be compiled into a report that will be presented to Hampshire County Council. Andy Konieczko said: "Residents keep telling us that they're fed up with the appalling condition of Basingstoke's roads. If you drive or cycle along any stretch of road in Brighton Hill, you'll see why: our roads are falling apart. "The problem is made worse by the fact that the Hampshire County Council is unwilling to do anything
13 Apr 2018
LIB DEMS CALL FOR ACTION TO FIX 'POTHOLE PLAGUE'
The Basingstoke and Deane Liberal Democrats have called on Hampshire County Council to address Basingstoke's pothole problem. As the town's roads are left to deteriorate further, residents' safety is being put at risk. For example, large unrepaired potholes in Sullivan Road have the potential to distract drivers from looking out for pedestrians and cyclists - including children going to and from nearby Chalk Ridge Primary School. The defects are also a hazard to inexperienced motorists taking their tests at the nearby driving test centre. Andy Konieczko Liberal Democrat councillor candidate for Brighton Hill North in this May's Borough Council election, said: "More and more residents are telling us that the condition of our roads is getting worse, but Hampshire County Council isn't listening to their concerns. We have to put that right because residents' safety is being put at risk. "Basingstoke's roads are being left to deteriorate and we're all suffering from the resulting pothole plague. Drivers, cyclis
8 Mar 2018
How to lose £100m in two minutes
Gavin James, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, explains how the Conservatives have lost over £100m of taxpayers money on their vanity project in Basing View.
1 Mar 2018
Who loses out from Basingstoke's budget?
Liberal Democrat Group Leader Councillor Gavin James has slammed the Conservative budget for Basingstoke and Deane Council means paying more for less. Councillor Gavin James said: "The Conservative Budget puts people and services at the bottom of the priorities. "Who has done well with a Conservative-controlled council - consultants, lawyers, Conservative Councillors, a few lucky businesses on Basing View, the Government that have dodged the blame for cuts." "Who hasn't done well - people - people who want to look after the environment by recycling or taking the bus, people who have to use the pothole strewn roads, people who are struggling to pay the bills facing higher council taxes and increasing fees for using services."
2 Mar 2018
2025 Local Elections
Recent local election results should come as no surprise. Most citizens would tell you that “Britain is not working” and it certainly is not working for them as they struggle with the cost of living crisis and failing services.
Recent local election results should come as no surprise. Most citizens would tell you that “Britain is not working” and it certainly is not working for them as they struggle with the cost of living crisis and failing services. Amidst the uncertainty caused by the incompetence of our two major political parties, long the pillars of our political establishment, as citizens we have lost hope in a better tomorrow.
Whilst Conservative mismanagement of the economy and its destruction of services did us all no favours, Labour has failed to fulfil its election promises. Badly. From winter fuel payments to job taxes and destroying family farms through ill judge inheritance tax changes, we have seen it all.
Furthermore, we have recently suffered from a stitch up in the cancellation of the elections in Hampshire. This was proposed by the Conservative County Council and adopted with speed by the Labour government. All in the interests of efficiency as we move to Local Government Reorganisation. This has led to a major democratic deficit, and we have a Conservative administration which in all probability would have been voted out of office. If you run a business £200,000,000 in the red and not delivering on its contracts, then you would go to the wall. In the case of Hampshire County Council, it is clear that turkeys do not vote for Christmas.
This also raises problems for Local Government Reorganisation where the primary local driver, Hampshire, has no democratic mandate. It also appears to be driven by narrow self-interest rather than the public interest which we deserve. How do we move forward? Rather than adopting a justified “plague on all your houses”, voters should look at the values and competence of the candidates and parties. Clearly Labour and the Conservatives are not the answer.
Councillor Luigi Gregori
Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson NW Hants
