Chris Lucas

Liberal Democrat Campaigner, living and working in Weston Ward in the beautiful city of Bath. Learn more

Archive for the ‘Local Issues’ Category

Let’s Hear It For The StAHDs!

by chrislucas on 9 April, 2014

There was a time when the term “Stay At Home Dad” (or “StAHD”) would elicit strange looks, derision or even pity. “A real man goes out to work and puts bread on the table” and “a woman’s place is in the home” are two stereotypes that are still prevalent within society today. Indeed, I used […]

Read more    Leave a comment

Lib Dems to Create 100,000 Apprenticeships

by chrislucas on 24 March, 2014

Another Lib Dem win in last week’s budget was a huge boost to apprenticeships, with at least 100,000 new apprentices being created over the next two years. £85m has been allocated for both 2014-15 and 2015-16 to extend the Apprenticeship Grants for Employers scheme, giving businesses incentive payments to take on apprentices and £20m to support apprenticeships up […]

Read more    Leave a comment

Listening Budget 2014

by chrislucas on 20 March, 2014

The Bath and NES Liberal Democrat administration has passed a listening budget that will invest in the future of our area and protect our most vulnerable. Key highlights are: – £2 million extra for road surfaces – Keeping all the children centres open – £1 million extra for renewing play areas – £89 million for […]

Read more    Leave a comment

Housing in Weston

by chrislucas on 19 March, 2014

Last year myself and the Weston Lib Dems organised a public meeting around the issue of housing. It was extremely well attended, with around 150 people who came to Weston All Saints Primary School to hear local Liberal Democrat MP and Housing Minister, The Rt. Honourable Don Foster, Leader of B&NES (Bath and North East […]

Read more    Leave a comment

Hullabaloo about HS2…

by chrislucas on 29 January, 2013

Regular readers of my blog will remember that a couple of years ago I blogged about the then HS2 consultation and broadly came out in favour of the proposals (http://chrislucas.mycouncillor.org.uk/2011/03/02/what-shall-we-do-about-hs2). Since then, there has been a lot of discussion about the plans – in particular the proposed routes – and in that time the ‘No’s […]

Read more    Leave a comment

Pre-election Reflection

by chrislucas on 22 April, 2012

On May 3rd 2012, in very many cities, towns and villages, there will be a number of elections up and down the land. Over the next few weeks, candidates representing themselves, different groups or political parties will either knock on your door or push a leaflet through asking you for your support (if they have […]

Read more    Leave a comment

Hospital Parking Charges Makes Residents Sick

by chrislucas on 26 February, 2012

A few months ago I was chatting to an elderly resident in my ward who explained that she was supposed to go to our local hospital, Watford General (part of West Herts Hospital NHS Trust) a couple of times a week for treatment but had refused to go. When I enquired as to why not, […]

Read more    Leave a comment

Slower than a locomotive…

by chrislucas on 29 December, 2011

As of 11 December 2011, the new Metropolitan Line timetable has come in to effect. London Underground Limited (LUL) took it upon themselves to withdraw all off-peak fast services to and from Moor Park and as a result, all off-peak trains now stop at every stop in and out of London. This is not only an […]

Read more    Leave a comment

So What Exactly Is ‘The Big Society’…?

by chrislucas on 28 February, 2011

When I stood for Ealing North in the General Election back in May, my Conservative opponent kept talking about “The Big Society” (henceforth called TBS), echoing his leader’s attempt to sound a rallying cry around a cause to unite the British people. Myself and Stephen Pound (the victor) both took great pleasure in rounding on […]

Read more    Leave a comment

Council Meeting – Next Year’s Budget

by chrislucas on 23 February, 2011

Well, I’m back from the Council meeting after just short of two and half hours. Unlike in previous years, the Tories, to their credit, did actually produce a budget of their own. Unfortunately it was grounded in the Conservative’s ideological zeal to privatise anything that isn’t bolted down! Their budget was essentially based on allowing […]

Read more    Leave a comment