I was delighted that the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference yesterday backed plans to rebalance the economy and create thousands of new green jobs.

The plans will play a vital part in a fair recovery that locks in investment and ensures a path of low-carbon growth.I am particularly delighted that this green economic stimulus package will be a core part of the Liberal Democrat election manifesto.

It is important that Sutainable energy,Climate change and green policies remain at the heart of policy as the need for a radical green public policy agenda will become more pressing with time and we should see the current difficult times as an opportunity for green jobs and investment in our economy and a sustainable future and not an obstacle.Core policies will include: 

•  Immediate investment to expand our green energy infrastructure
• Bringing hundreds of thousands of empty homes back into use
• Insulating schools and other public buildings
• An ‘eco-cashback’ scheme to reward people who make energy efficiency improvements in their homes
•  A National Infrastructure Bank to promote long-term investment in sustainable public transport and renewable energy 

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary Simon Hughes said:

“The Liberal Democrats have set out a blueprint for a fair economy that’s fit to last. A green stimulus package will help boost investment in clean energy, reduce fuel bills and create thousands of new jobs.

“Labour and the Tories can’t be trusted to deliver the green growth we need. Only the Liberal Democrats have bold and credible plans to rebalance the economy and put Britain at the forefront of this vital transition.” 

An increasingly desperate Conservative Party are increasingly playing dangerous games with the economy by stoking up fear about hung parliaments.

They are now plying a strategy of fear, stirring up anxieties amongst their friends in the city, damaging the pound, causing share to plummet and hurting British business.

Rather than outlining detailed policies for taking the country forward they are enthusiastically highlighting their views as to what will happen if you don’t vote Tory. Its tantamount to political blackmail. Vote Tory or we will wipe out your savings and plunge the economy back into deep recession.

It’s cynical and irresponsiible, it’s negative and it’s damaging the economy before a vote has been cast.

The fact remains while Labour bury their heads in the sand, and the Tories stoke up fear and anxiety, only the Lib Dems have credible coherent plans for dealing with the budget deficit and taking the economy forward.

Commenting on Scottish and Southern Energy’s decision to cut gas bills by an average of 4%, Liberal Democrat Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Simon Hughes said:“Token price cuts in March won’t fool customers already hit by bumper bills.Wholesale prices have plummeted but customers have hardly seen any benefit. 

“The Liberal Democrats will change the rules so that fuel bills reflect fuel costs and consumers are not ripped off again and again.” 

Vic D’Albert, Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for Bury South added,“Whilst these reductions are welcome, they are overdue. It’s time the energy companies were held to account. For too long they have been profiteering on the wild fluctuations in wholesale energy markets. Meanwhile people are struggling to stay warm and live in fear of the bill.”

“Energy bills need to be tied closer to the real costs to the companies, when prices go down it should trigger immediate reductions to domestic energy tariffs. And with regard to tariffs people need greater support and advice to ensure they are on the best tariff deals with greater incentive for green energy. 

“There are too many tariffs and special offers.We need streamlining across the industry with the emphasis on the best deal for the consumer not the shareholders!”

The Bury Conservative response to their embarrassing climbdown over the proposed reconfiguration of the popular Longfield Suite is as predictable as night following day.

Bearing in mind that they planned a re-configuration that involved potentially demolishing and rebuilding the Longfield Suite, my Conservative opponent now accuses the Lib Dems and others of “scaremongering”.

She goes onto say that she gave her assurances at public meetings that it would not close. In fact what she rather vaguely assured residents at the meetings I organised was that we would have a community facility in Prestwich, which is hardly the same as a multi purpose entertainment and conference venue with a sprung dance floor! At that meeting it was pointed out that we already had a community facility - it’s called the public toilet.

You can be assured that in the coming weeks it will be made clear from the Conservatives that somehow wasting four or months of officer time on a Task and Finish group to explore options over our civic venues was a good use of officer time. That somehow the experience has been beneficial to all.

Well I can assure the leader of the Council and his colleagues that the worried civic hall staff don’t feel the same, the businesses on the precinct that thrive off the many visitors from out of town that visit the Longfield Centre, don’t feel the same and the users and business users that rely on the centre certainly don’t feel the same. Not to mention those that planned to make bookings and have since gone elsewhere as a result of the uncertainty

The whole sorry episode was a wasteful, shameful exercise in mismanagement and manipulation that thankfully backfired - at least for now.

We should not forget that the new council financial year will start soon with a £100,000 Tory cut to the Civic venues budgets and the report to executive into this whole issue may yet provide some interesting reading between the lines.

Prestwich’s popular Longfield Suite community centre has been reprieved by Bury Council.

A statement issued today by Bury Council has confirmed that:
“This be retained in its current format, but an effective business plan be put in place to improve marketing, awareness, usage and income. The group considers that it can build on and promote its reputation as a venue for dance activities, which have proved popular and which help to ensure that local residents have access to health and well being activities. Around 72% of Longfield Suite users who responded in the survey said they used the suite for dancing events.”

Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate Vic D’Albert who was at the forefront of the campaign, commented,

“This is great news for Prestwich and sends a strong signal to Bury Conservatives that people are proud of their local community faciities.The strength of feeling for the Longfield Suite was clear for all to see from the start, all except Bury’s Conservative administration who once again thought they new best.

“I now urge Bury Council to work with Prestwich councillors, Prestwich Area Partnership and local people to find a long term solution and put together a sustainable business plan for the centre.
“Furthermore I would make a plea to this Conservative administration to stop trying to sidestep the democratic process and dialogue with Councillors. Months of campaigning and wasted officer time and resources could have been saved. We told Bury Council at the start what their precious “Task and Finish Group” have admitted today.

“And I have to question the judgement of the leader of the Council. Back in November he was brave enough to attend a public meeting I had arranged. At that meeting 300 local people told him to stop this nonsense, if only he was brave enough to listen to local people and admit their mistake then.

“I must also congratulate the 1000’s of people that signed the petition, the 1300 who completed the Council survey and all those local people and Longfield centre users that fought so hard to keep the facilities as they are. Truly a great example of local people power in action.

“Finally I am dissapointed that todays announcement still leaves the future of Radcliffe Civic Hall in doubt. I would call on Bury Council to work with Radcliffe councillors and local residents and users to look at a positive way forward for this important local asset. As the end of the day, if we lose these facilities we aren’t going to get them back any time soon, so we need to make the most out of them and ensure they have sound business and marketing plans at the heart of their management.”