MANIFESTO FOR GLOUCESTERSHIRE ELECTIONS 2009

1.13.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 2nd Apr 2009

Deryck Nash, Jeremy Hilton and Charmian Sheppard launch election manifesto

Today Liberal Democrat councillors and candidates gathered at Shire Hall in Gloucester to launch the manifesto for the county council elections on June 4th.

Cllr Jeremy Hilton, Liberal Democrat leader, said: "Liberal Democrat councillors having been working hard for people in the county all-year round. Now we are fighting a strong campaign to change the way the council is run. Critical public services have suffered under the current Tory cabinet. Care services for elderly people are failing, finances are being mismanaged and large sums of taxpayers' money are being spent on private consultants and conferences. The Tories have broken their key manifesto promise and have given the go-ahead for a massive waste incinerator. Roads are not being repaired and house building on flood plains is being encouraged. Over the next two months our councillors and candidates will be knocking on doors across Gloucestershire to tell people how we will change the council and improve your public services."

Gloucestershire Liberal Democrats have a programme of improvements for 2009 and beyond. Six key pledges are:

A Liberal Democrat run council will

1. end the poor one-star service and deliver first-class personal care for the elderly and disabled

2. tax people less, and stop wasting money on private consultants, conferences and spin

3. tackle the £130m repairs backlog of county roads

4. halt the building of the massive waste incinerator

5. protect the green belt and oppose house building on the flood plains

6. keep adult social care charge increases below state pension inflation

The full manifesto was published today.

Cllr Deryck Nash, Liberal Democrat deputy leader said: "We must put some energy and efficiency back into running the council at Shire Hall. A drip, drip record of poor inspection reports, failing services and financial mismanagement is the record people are left with after the end of four years of Conservative rule. Our new ideas will give the council a fresh start. We'll commit to a plan of road repairs around the county, deliver first-class services to people for social care of elderly and vulnerable people. We will end the waste of taxpayers money on private consultants currently employed to cover-up the Tory cabinet failures."