York Liberal Democrats

York's Liberal Democrat Group have said they cannot support Labour's plans to close Burnholme Community College while so many questions remain unanswered ahead of Tuesday's key Cabinet decision on the issue.

Cllr Keith Aspden, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Education, Children & Young People, has today commented:

"After meeting parent representatives last week to study Labour's proposals we cannot support the plans for closure when there are still legitimate questions for the Cabinet to answer. These include the potential £2 million cost for closing the school and a lack of detail as to where the invaluable on-site Special Educational Needs provision will be moved. We also need to see a long-term strategic plan to deal with an increased demand for school places after closure and the rising pupil numbers across York in the next ten years.

At its Annual General Meeting last night, City of York Council's Liberal Democrat Group reselected its leadership team unopposed. Huntington & New Earswick Councillor Carol Runciman will continue as Leader, with Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Councillor Ann Reid continuing as Deputy Leader.

Cllr Runciman commented:

In a letter to The Press Councillor Nigel Ayre, Liberal Democrat Member in Heworth Without, corrects Labour's misleading claims over the Beckfield Lane decision.

Dear Editor,

Coun Neil Barnes' claim that Labour listened carefully to public opinion over the closure of the Beckfield Lane site (Letters 30^th April) does not stack-up to proper scrutiny.

Liberal Democrat Councillors have highlighted fears that Labour's budget cuts worsened the disruption caused by heavy rainfall in York last month. The rain caused flooding and brought parts of the City to a standstill and Labour's 40% cut to the road gullies maintenance budget has been blamed for making the situation worse.

Concerns have been raised over planned bus changes affecting residents in Heworth and Heworth Without.

From the beginning of June, the changes will see the Yorkshire Coastliner's 844 route no longer run to Heworth but instead come through York and out to Heslington Hall. All of the through services running east of York will continue to run via East Parade, Heworth Road and Stockton Lane but it will mean that there will be no services operated by Coastliner on Ashley Park Road, Hempland Lane and Heworth Village and no bus services at all on Algarth Road.

At last night's Extraordinary Council the ruling Labour Group ignored public opinion again and decided to press ahead with their plans to close the Beckfield Lane Household Waste and Recycling Centre.

A petition against the closure, signed by over 3,000 local residents, was debated at the meeting alongside a Liberal Democrat motion that proposed keeping the site open. The motion was defeated 25-18.

York's Liberal Democrat Councillors have criticized the Labour Cabinet's refusal to answer questions relating to last year's disastrous Christmas Grotto in Exhibition Square.

Councillor Nigel Ayre, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion had asked at a meeting of the full council whether any rent had yet been collected from the event organisers.

Councillor Keith Aspden, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Education, Children & Young People, has written to the local press outlining his support for extra government funding to address a shortfall in school places.

Dear Editor,

I am delighted that primary schools in York have been given an extra £1.9 million by the coalition government in order to address an increase in pupil numbers (The Press 13^th April). York has a projected shortfall of 355 primary school places through to 2014/15. This targeted money will help address the issue and recognises that there is a real need for more school places as the population continues to grow. Just last week the Office for National Statistics (ONS) predicted that in 2020 there will be around 21 per cent more primary age children than in 2010.

An extraordinary meeting has been arranged for the 24^th April to debate the proposed closure of the Beckfield Lane Household Waste and Recycling Centre. The site was due to close on the 15^th but this has been delayed until a final decision is taken at the meeting.

The site was scheduled to close as part of a cost-saving measure by Labour-led City of York Council. However, the plans have sparked protests among those who use the amenity with over 2,800 residents signing a Liberal Democrat organised petition calling for it to be kept open.

Last week the Personal Allowance was raised for the second year in a row, meaning 85,400 people in York will get a £130 Income Tax cut and the number of the lowest paid people who have been lifted out of paying any Income Tax will reach 3,900.

Commenting, Carol Runciman Leader of the Liberal Democrats on City of York Council said: