Thursday, March 31, 2005
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
A HEALTH ISSUE – AT THE BUS TERMINUS
John Beanse, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green, has been in contact with London Buses over recent months about the practice of some drivers of letting their buses stand idly at the terminus with engines running. This is against official policy – in fact at North Chingford Bus station, there is a sign specifically asking drivers not to do this.
John Beanse said: “It’s not just a question of noise, waste of fuel and pollution, it is also a health issue, particularly given the increasing numbers of cases of asthma nowadays.”
When he first contacted London Buses about this, he received a curt and totally dismissive reply from their Customer Services department:
“No First Capital drivers run their engines and cause noise and fumes while at the Bus station.” !!
Soon after this letter, John Beanse happened to be in the vicinity of the bus station where THREE buses were standing (2 First, 1 Arriva) – all with their engines running and going nowhere. John Beanse noted the details and sent them off to London Buses. Since then he has encountered the same practice at Albert Crescent, Chingford Mount. He commented: “Here there are not only passengers waiting, but also many shoppers going by.
I have made it clear to London Buses that the purpose of providing the information is definitely not to get individual drivers “into trouble”, but to try to get the management of the bus companies to ensure that the policy is adhered to – and also to prove to London Buses that the original complaint was accurate and their dismissive reply was wrong!”
Since then, London Buses have followed up the matter with the bus companies and John Beanse has received letters of apology from First and Arriva.
He said: “I just hope now that the sensible procedure of not having engines running will indeed happen in future.”
John Beanse said: “It’s not just a question of noise, waste of fuel and pollution, it is also a health issue, particularly given the increasing numbers of cases of asthma nowadays.”
When he first contacted London Buses about this, he received a curt and totally dismissive reply from their Customer Services department:
“No First Capital drivers run their engines and cause noise and fumes while at the Bus station.” !!
Soon after this letter, John Beanse happened to be in the vicinity of the bus station where THREE buses were standing (2 First, 1 Arriva) – all with their engines running and going nowhere. John Beanse noted the details and sent them off to London Buses. Since then he has encountered the same practice at Albert Crescent, Chingford Mount. He commented: “Here there are not only passengers waiting, but also many shoppers going by.
I have made it clear to London Buses that the purpose of providing the information is definitely not to get individual drivers “into trouble”, but to try to get the management of the bus companies to ensure that the policy is adhered to – and also to prove to London Buses that the original complaint was accurate and their dismissive reply was wrong!”
Since then, London Buses have followed up the matter with the bus companies and John Beanse has received letters of apology from First and Arriva.
He said: “I just hope now that the sensible procedure of not having engines running will indeed happen in future.”
John Beanse is campaigning on a health and environmental issue at Chingford bus station.
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Tuesday, March 29, 2005
FOR THE YOUNGER VOTER !
Monday, March 28, 2005
"REMEMBER THOSE WHO FORGET"
On Wednesday, 16th March, John Beanse, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green, joined other members of the Alzheimers Society in Westminster for a mass lobby of Parliament.
There were speeches in St.John’s, Smith Square, followed by a march to College Green (opposite the Houses of Parliament), with placards, and later a gathering in Westminster Hall with speeches from some MPs.
Members carried artificial giant forget-me-nots as a poignant symbol and there was a giant blown-up model of a life-size elephant (who never forgets) as another pointer to the tragic issue of memory loss.
A key theme which featured on many of the placards, was “Remember Those Who Forget”.
The central demands were for free personal care for people who suffer from Alzheimers and other mental illnesses, and no cutting of funding for key drugs.
As it turned out, the day of the protest coincided with Budget Day. John Beanse commented:
“Although this is a key health and spending issue, the protest sadly received little media coverage and was often squeezed out by the Budget news. Yet this is a vital matter. While sufferers of other diseases – e.g. cancer – will receive all their care free, this is not the case with people who suffer from mental illness.
Free personal care is an important plank of Liberal Democrat policy and I hope people will give this important issue serious thought in the General Election campaign.”
There were speeches in St.John’s, Smith Square, followed by a march to College Green (opposite the Houses of Parliament), with placards, and later a gathering in Westminster Hall with speeches from some MPs.
Members carried artificial giant forget-me-nots as a poignant symbol and there was a giant blown-up model of a life-size elephant (who never forgets) as another pointer to the tragic issue of memory loss.
A key theme which featured on many of the placards, was “Remember Those Who Forget”.
The central demands were for free personal care for people who suffer from Alzheimers and other mental illnesses, and no cutting of funding for key drugs.
As it turned out, the day of the protest coincided with Budget Day. John Beanse commented:
“Although this is a key health and spending issue, the protest sadly received little media coverage and was often squeezed out by the Budget news. Yet this is a vital matter. While sufferers of other diseases – e.g. cancer – will receive all their care free, this is not the case with people who suffer from mental illness.
Free personal care is an important plank of Liberal Democrat policy and I hope people will give this important issue serious thought in the General Election campaign.”
WEBSITE !!
John Beanse at the March Open Day at the Tom Oakman Centre, hearing about the yoga group!
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John Beanse (right of picture) at the re-opening of the TOM OAKMAN Centre (late 2004) in Weale Rd., E4.
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John Beanse (left of picture) taking part in Lib.Dems.' candle-lit vigil outside American Embassy, London, before IRAQ war.
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Sunday, March 27, 2005
10 GOOD REASONS TO VOTE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT
KEY POLICIES FROM THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
We oppose: Putting Targets First
We propose: Putting Patients First
We oppose: Tuition Fees & Top-Up Fees
We propose: Scrapping Student Fees
We oppose: Compulsory I.D. Cards
We propose: Spending The Money On 10,000 More Police
We oppose: Selling Your Home To Pay For Care
We propose: Free Personal Care For Elderly People
We oppose: Ignoring Climate Change
We propose: Cleaner Transport & Cleaner Energy
We oppose: £1.5 Billion On the Child Trust Fund
We propose: £1.5 Billion Towards Reducing Class Sizes
We oppose: Means-Testing Pensioners
We propose: £100 Extra Per Month Starting With The Over 75s
We oppose: Hidden Tax Increases
We propose: Only One Tax Increase – On Income Above £100,000 Per Year
We oppose: Unfair Council Tax
We propose: Local Income Tax, Saving Typical Households £450 Per Year
We oppose: Bush & Blair on IRAQ
We propose: NEVER AGAIN
We oppose: Putting Targets First
We propose: Putting Patients First
We oppose: Tuition Fees & Top-Up Fees
We propose: Scrapping Student Fees
We oppose: Compulsory I.D. Cards
We propose: Spending The Money On 10,000 More Police
We oppose: Selling Your Home To Pay For Care
We propose: Free Personal Care For Elderly People
We oppose: Ignoring Climate Change
We propose: Cleaner Transport & Cleaner Energy
We oppose: £1.5 Billion On the Child Trust Fund
We propose: £1.5 Billion Towards Reducing Class Sizes
We oppose: Means-Testing Pensioners
We propose: £100 Extra Per Month Starting With The Over 75s
We oppose: Hidden Tax Increases
We propose: Only One Tax Increase – On Income Above £100,000 Per Year
We oppose: Unfair Council Tax
We propose: Local Income Tax, Saving Typical Households £450 Per Year
We oppose: Bush & Blair on IRAQ
We propose: NEVER AGAIN
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Chingford & Woodford Green LOCAL Liberal Democrat Challenger John Beanse, pictured at Highams Park
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COUNCIL TAX - A TICKING TIME-BOMB ??
Speaking of the planned Council Tax revaluation, John Beanse, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green, has warned:
“There is a ticking time-bomb here which could be set to explode after the General Election if it is only then that people become aware of the possible consequences.”
In areas where house prices have risen the most, homes could be moved up two, three or even more bands, (which could mean tax rises of 50% or more). There are certainly parts of the constituency where steep rises in Council Tax could occur because of the revaluation.
* The whole situation should give people cause to consider even more seriously the Liberal Democrats’ pledge to axe the Council Tax, with all its unfairness, and replace it with a Local Income Tax based on people’s ability to pay.
“There is a ticking time-bomb here which could be set to explode after the General Election if it is only then that people become aware of the possible consequences.”
In areas where house prices have risen the most, homes could be moved up two, three or even more bands, (which could mean tax rises of 50% or more). There are certainly parts of the constituency where steep rises in Council Tax could occur because of the revaluation.
* The whole situation should give people cause to consider even more seriously the Liberal Democrats’ pledge to axe the Council Tax, with all its unfairness, and replace it with a Local Income Tax based on people’s ability to pay.
Friday, March 25, 2005
General Election Focus
Local Liberal Democrats have re-selected JOHN BEANSE as the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate [PPC] for Chingford & Woodford Green.
John was also the candidate at the last General Election.
Speaking about his selection by Lib.Dem. members, JOHN BEANSE said:
" Many people have lost trust and are very disappointed in Labour for failure to deliver in several areas AND BECAUSE OF THE IRAQ WAR.
Yet there is no sign of any great appetite for a return to Tory government either.
The Liberal Democrats have a constructive and distinctive message and a great opportunity.
We stand for FAIRNESSS, FREEDOM and TRUST and are THE REAL ALTERNATIVE in the General Election.
The lesson of recent by-elections is that we can produce surprising results.
The Liberal Democrats are themselves an issue for this election.
BRITAIN desperately needs a fairer, greener and safer society.
