Windsor Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrats in the Royal Borough have launched a Petition to keep Windsor's St Mark's Road Fire Station open after the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Authority came up with a plan to close Windsor's Fire Station. (3)

Meanwhile the Windsor Express has revealed that in the 3 months following the transfer of Windsor's night crews to the new Wokingham Fire Station and the conversion of Windsor to a "daytime only" fire station, Windsor Fire Station has infact been manned by scratch crews drawn from across the county on all but 3 nights. (2)

Following a strong response to the Fire Authority Risk Management Plan Consultation regarding Windsor Fire Station, the Fire Authority has said it will try to come forward with new plans to keep a Full Size Fire Engine for Windsor, according to the Windsor Express.

The Express story published on their website today, Friday 13th January 2012 quotes Fire Authority chief Mr Southern as saying:

YOUR CONSULTATION MUST BE RETURNED BY THE 4TH OF DECEMBER

• Click Here to Download the Consultation

Make sure you have your say on the introduction of residents parking charges in the Springfield Road area of Windsor. Following the approval of the massive new offices on Alma Road the Borough is now consulting introducing residents parking in Springfield Road and surrounding areas.

Responding to a Freedom of Information request by Windsor Liberal Democrats , the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service has stated that it is unable to advise what capability the proposed "Local Fire Engine" for Windsor will have.

Under the consultation plan the current daytime only services operated from the Windsor Fire Station by a Full Size Fire Engine would be replaced by a 24 hour mini Fire Engine - described by the Fire Authority as a "Local Fire Engine" based in Slough, but usually forward deployed to Windsor. (2)

Last Saturday, 5th November the Liberal Democrats' Regional Conference passed Windsor Lib Dems' "Homes for Heroes" policy, which calls on the Government adopt the social housing, "Decent Homes Standard" as a minimum guarantee for the quality of armed forces married quarters.

"We're really glad that Lib Dems across the south of England have agreed with us that our forces' families deserve decent housing, " says local Lib Dem Med Boxwell, the proposer of the policy motion, forces veteran and himself a former families quarters resident.

New Plans for the future of Windsor Fire Station opened to public consultation on 3rd October 2011, closing on 3rd January. Make sure you have your say by clicking the link below to download the Fire Authority's plan.

• The plans will see Windsor Fire Station close (4) and Fire Crew redeployed to the new 24 hour Fire Station at Wokingham.
• A new mini fire engine for Windsor will be based in Slough (2), but forward deployed to Windsor most of the time where it will park up at a base area provided by the Council (1)(2).
• The new mini fire engine will be available 24 hours a day, but will have to return to Slough to change crews and fuel (2) and will be crewed by Slough Fire Fighters.
• At particular times of the year (for example when there is heavy snow or forest fire risk) the mini fire engine will be deployed away from the town. (6)
• Windsor Fire Fighters have questioned the value of the proposed mini fire engine, claiming it will not be able to undertake internal fire fighting due to its small crew. (5)
• Berkshire FBU (Fire Brigades Union) have criticised the Fire Authority's level of secretiveness. (7)

For the last 12 months local members, Pat and Geoff have been heavily involved with the King George VI (KGVI) Day Centre in Windsor. Pat is now the Day Centre Coordinator and Geoff is a volunteer driver, cook and kitchen assistant

The KGVI Day Centre in Clarence Road Windsor (http://kgvidaycentre.btck.co.uk) has applied for a £6,000 grant from Nat West Community Force as part of the monies needed to replace its aged minibus.

George Fussey, the Liberal Democrat candidate in the Eton by-election has stormed to victoriy with a 21.6% swing from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats.

George Fussey, the new councillor for Eton and Castle said, "I have lived in Eton and Castle for over 25 years and my family have grown up here. It is a wonderful place to live."

Following the local Lib Dems four year "Homes for Heroes" campaign, the Liberal Democrats Regional Conference will discuss the maintenance of armed forces accomodation. At the core of the debate will be the suggestion that armed forces accomodation should comply with the "Decent Homes Standard" applied to local authority and housing association homes.

Royal Borough plans to allow people to jump the allotment queue in the Royal Borough by placing some allotments out to auction on e-bay to the highest bidder are not fair say local Lib Dems.

Speaking on Meridian, Conservatives described the allotments as a "Premium Product" and said that bidders would get good value from the Allotments auctioned.