Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats

Local Lib Dems express dismay at spring/summer bridge closure As the visitor season gets underway, local Liberal Democrats have voiced concern about the effects of the Aberbechan Bridge closure planned by Powys County Council. The Grade II-listed Aberbechan Bridge will be shut from April 16th for six months and there are concerns that additional congestion could be seen as the tourist season gets underway. Gemma Bowker, a Newtown Town Councillor and local campaigner, said: "Although we are aware that the work on the bridge needs to be completed, this could have been carried out earlier in the year. With mid Wales facing a rise in tourist traffic during the spring and summer, the closure could lead to further delays. "With no satisfactory solution yet put forward to solve the many transport problems already facing Newtown, this will further exacerbate the congestion. We want to work with officers from Powys County Council to ensure alternative routes work and the flow of traffic is not disrupted." Joy Jones, former mayor of Newtown and local champion, added: "The bridge should have been repaired before now and will put more pressure on the traffic coming into Newtown." Rob Harper, a local small businessman who runs a successful driving school in the area, commented: "I'm concerned Newtown traders could be losing money, with even longer delays as holiday traffic comes through. The fuel prices are crippling transport business and this will only add to the problems and pressure transport we are all under." Aberbechan Bridge, which is 150 year old, was closed in January 2011 after it showed signs of damage after the bitter winter weather, with cracks appearing in the structure. It was temporarily reopened on a limited basis last October, but is now closing to traffic again for final repair work from April 16th for six months.

Montgomeryshire Lib Dems worked hard to re-elect popular Welshpool Councillor Francesca Jump (centre). She increased her majority with a decisive win against the Tories. Joy Jones( left) worked hard to mobilise her electorate to oust the Lib Dem defector who joined the Tories to make sure she won!!! The former campaigning, Newtown mayor proved far too popular for him and she beat him by more than 160 votes. And last but not least Gemma Bowker started to work her Newtown ward a year out and convincingly beat her Tory opponent by 335 votes. The sadness was that two other target seats were lost. A total of 3 votes in Welshpool-despite knocking up until 10pm. Whilst in Churchstoke a slim margin of 60 votes prevented us from gaining the seat. We will have those areas next time. This is proof that the Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats are fighting back.

Over 20 million working people will be better off next year after Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government delivered the biggest ever increase in the income tax personal allowance in the Budget.

The massive £3.5bn tax cut for working people delivers:

• The biggest ever single uplift in the tax threshold
• A personal allowance of £9,205 in April 2013
• 21 million working people getting an extra £220 tax cut
• Brings the total tax cut for basic rate tax payers to £550
• Brings the total number of people lifted out of tax to 2 million.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member, William Powell, welcomes figures which show that 6,928 homes in Pembrokeshire have benefited from free loft or cavity wall insulation since 2008. The Energy Savings Trust has published figures of the work which has been carried out under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) scheme. Under the scheme energy companies are obliged to help households in Wales reduce their use of electricity and gas to lower their carbon emissions. Suppliers are required to concentrate at least 40% of their activity on vulnerable and low-income households, such as people over 70. Publication of figures by the Energy Savings Trust show that in Pembrokeshire 2,769 people have received free cavity wall insulation and 4,159 have received free loft insulation. Liberal Democrats have ensured that when CERT comes to an end this autumn the work it has done will be continued by the Green Deal. This will mean that more and more homes and businesses in Pembrokeshire are properly insulated over the coming years. The Green Deal means lower energy bills for everyone and because it is paid for through savings to energy bills there will be no upfront costs to anyone receiving insulation. Notes to editors: The full figures, including for other areas, are available here: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Professional-resources/Existing-Housing/Homes-Energy-Efficiency-Database/CERT-reports-from-HEED

William Powell, Welsh Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs Spokesperson, has called on the Welsh Government to use the opportunity presented by the 'Working Smarter' report to reform fundamentally the Glastir Scheme.

William Powell, Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales, said:

"Despite there being around 14,000 expressions of interest, fewer than 2,000 farmers have so far signed up to Glastir. By any measure, this is far below the levels expected and the numbers required to make the scheme a success.

William Powell, Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, Environment and Sustainable Development, will today be speaking in the National Assembly for Wales to ask the Welsh Government to detail and explain what preparations have been made to prevent and treat the Schmallenberg virus.

William Powell, Welsh Liberal Democrat Spokesman on Rural Affairs, has today reiterated his support for Bronglais District General Hospital following the highly successful demonstration at the Senedd this week.

William Powell, Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales, said:

"Wednesday's demonstration on the Senedd steps was a huge success and one of the largest in the history of the National Assembly for Wales. The estimated 800 plus who travelled to Cardiff have done Mid Wales very proud indeed and it was an honour to address the crowd and continue my longstanding support.

William Powell, Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, has called on the Welsh Government to deliver on years of un-fulfilled commitments to provide a long-term sustainable future for Wales, following the First Minister's 'Energy Wales: A Low Carbon Transition' document.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg used his speech to the Party's Spring conference in NewcastleGateshead to call for the forthcoming budget to be a "budget for fairness" and pledged that it would help working familes.

The Deputy Prime Minister pledged that by 2015 Britain would have seen an end to control orders, the first gay marriages and the first elections to the House of Lords.

Fairer taxes, promoting green jobs, protecting your civil liberties - these are just some of the achievements of the Liberal Democrats in government.

We're building a freer, greener and more liberal country - and stopping some of the worst excesses of the Conservatives. Find out more in this infographic.