Candidates and Parties

TIM BICK – LIBERAL DEMOCRAT

www.marketlibdems.mycouncillor.org.uk

Some of my campaigns as the current City Councillor are:

Night Safety – I've won City Council approval for a project to light the paths across Parkers Piece – the number one target from the 'Right to Light' CUSU survey. I'd like to see this through.

Equal Access – Movement along our pavements by wheelchair users is prevented by high kerbs at many crossing points. Despite disinterest from the Conservative County Council which has legal responsibility, I've persuaded the City Council to fund six new mobility crossings.

Town and Gown –I've successfully protected City Council funding to voluntary organisations supporting the disadvantaged. Among these is Student Community Action of which the Council is a key sponsor. Some scoff at voluntary work. I see it as the glue for a caring community.

Bike Parking – I'm continuously pressing for more! Welcome progress is that new expanded racks are soon to be installed in Sidney Street.

A Tolerant City – I'm committed to liberal values in running this city. I work with the Police to ensure illegality is tackled, urging a proportionate, not a macho approach. I've initiated the Council's Restorative Justice scheme to stem early criminalisation and have expanded rehabilitation in the street homeless community.

Support me to keep these going!

BRETT MARK HUGHES - GREEN

*NO MANIFESTO SUBMITTED*

NOEL KAVANAGH - LABOUR

Noel has lived in Cambridge for over 25 years working as a teacher and later as a publishing manager for the University, including working with academics from many colleges in Market.

Noel says: "Through raising two teenage children I am very familiar with the needs, pressures and worries of students and families living in Cambridge. I am committed to fighting on behalf of everybody living in Market Ward at this time when the Tory-Lib Dem cuts to vital public services are threatening our community and fair access to university education."

Noel is campaigning for safer streets and in central Cambridge supports the 'Right to Light' Campaign for more lighting at crime hotspots and strongly opposes the Lib Dem proposal to reduce CCTV live monitoring at night in the city centre.

EDWARD TURNHAM - CONSERVATIVE

Edward Turnham is the Conservative candidate for Market ward. Ed lives in the ward on Jesus lane, having lived and trained as a doctor in Cambridge for many years. He wants to make the City Centre yet more competitive as a place for shopping and business. Ed said "This year Market is an excitingly tight four way marginal. A Conservative on the City Council would campaign to preserve the beauty of our historic centre and to make Cambridge safer for cyclists."

BILLY ALDRIDGE - GREEN

*NO MANIFESTO SUBMITTED*

ANDRE BEAUMONT - CONSERVATIVE

André Beaumont is the Conservative candidate for Newnham ward. André is an architect who trained at Trinity College. André said "As an architect I have great respect for the both the built and natural environment. With so much building going on in and around Cambridge I think my specialist training will help with planning decisions. Cambridge is a beautiful place to live and it is important we keep it that way, while at the same time providing enough homes for the hardworking families who live and work in our city."

SARAH CAIN - LABOUR

Sarah lives in Newnham and has lived in Cambridge for fifteen years. She was a student at Newnham College and is currently Director of Studies in English at Corpus Christi. In the past, she has worked as an education policy adviser for the Confederation of British Industry and with educational outreach charities running university taster courses for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Student issues have been important to her both as a student and now as a lecturer and she is passionate about defending education and the rest of the public sector from ill-considered coalition policies.

Whilst recognising the need for more affordable housing in the right places, Sarah feels strongly about preserving Newnham's distinctive character. She opposes the relaxation of planning controls proposed by the Tory/Lib Dem coalition and, if elected, she would be a strong voice in favour of sensitive local development.

SIAN REID – LIBERAL DEMOCRAT

www.newnhamlibdems.mycouncillor.org.uk

In these uncertain times Lib Dems in Cambridge have safeguarded the services important to the vulnerable. We are putting extra money into rehabilitating the homeless, and giving teenagers better sports facilities.

We have always prioritised basic services such as keeping the streets and parks safe, well lit and clean. We fought successfully to overturn the County's ban on cycling in the city centre.

If re-elected I will continue to place real emphasis on tackling climate change. The Green Alliance has rated us a leadership council on climate change, and this passion we share with many active academics and students here. Reducing energy usage makes even more sense now; helping the planet saves money.

Lib Dems have supported university growth by allowing development and taking land out of the green belt, so new research premises and more housing for students and researchers can be built.

Providing housing is a top commitment for us, but Lib Dems will continue to protect Cambridge from overdevelopment and champion quality in new building. We will continue to fight for affordable homes, open space, and community facilities -above developer profits. We will resist Labour's plans to cut down on shared housing in the city.

We will keep Cambridge a good place to live.

JOHN HIPKIN - INDEPENDENT

*City Issues Statement*

Cambridge is on the move but where is it going and will we still recognise it when it arrives? A compact city surrounded by attractive and accessible green spaces or a sprawling conurbation? We need a vision for the city that puts quality of housing above quantity and preserves the city centre as a place its citizens 'own' and can still use and enjoy. Cambridge must develop but not at the cost of those qualities which make it unique. Party politicians have neglected their role as community guardians. As an Independent my task is to ensure that we do not sleepwalk into a future that, when we arrive, nobody likes.

*Castle Ward Statement*

In the next few years Castle will be home to massive developments with 10,000 new residents coming to live on the University Farm site and NIAB.

As a local councillor I will do all that I can to ensure that these urban extensions are of good quallity and bring real benefits to existing communities. I have been a Castle councillor for nearly twenty years and devoted myself to issues of planning, community engagement and the conservation of precious buildings and places. I hope Castle voters will rate experience and expertise above party affiliations and re-elect me on May 3rd.

ALAN LEVY - LIBERAL DEMOCRAT

www.castlelibdems.mycouncillor.org.uk

The Liberal Democrats are best able to represent all of the citizens of Cambridge because we do not only identify with certain sections of society – however numerous, influential, or wealthy – or focus on single issues. Cambridge is a successful city under the Liberal Democrats and I want to help keep it that way. We must nurture our prosperity, which I want to help all parts of the community to share, while fostering diversity, tolerance and respect for our unique environment.

As a city councillor for four years, I have a solid track record of service to the community which I intend to continue. In particular:

• I will campaign to repair, improve and replace faulty, inadequate and unsafe facilities including cycle lanes, pedestrian crossings and street lighting.

• I will campaign to maintain and improve our parks and open spaces.

• I will oppose Labour's foolhardy plan to limit the number of shared houses. Rents would inevitably rise, making it even more difficult for lower paid workers and young people in particular to live and work here.

• I am an active member of several local organisations that provide community facilities and work to break down barriers between different groups in society.

NIKESH PANDIT - CONSERVATIVE

Nikesh Pandit is the Conservative candidate for Castl.e he is qualified as a barrister and is currently studying for a Masters' in Criminology at Fitzwilliam College, he lives in the ward. Nikesh said "In Cambridge I have set up a schools programme which raises awareness about university education amongst local sixth form students. I've also established a social action programme which enables Cambridge students and residents volunteer for local charities, such as the Cambridge City Food Bank."

JACK TOYE - GREEN

*NO MANIFESTO SUBMITTED*

ASHLEY WALSH - LABOUR

Ashley is a committed environmentalist. Ashley says that 'I admire the pride that our community has in the city and residents' enthusiasm for protecting our green spaces and for preserving the history and culture of Cambridge."

Recently, he has campaigned to ensure residents' voices were heard on the redevelopment of the former Texaco site. He was also very active collecting signatures for the petition to save the Lion Yard toilets.

He has surveyed people on nearly every street in Castle, and hopes to prioritise safety on Histon Road Rec. and parking in streets off Huntingdon Road. He aims to ensure that residents have a say in sustainable development in north-west Cambridge.

SUE BIRTLES - LABOUR & CO-OPERATIVE

Sue lives in Queen Edith's at 54 Hartington Grove. A lone parent, she brought up three children who attended local schools. Her daughter is a nurse at Addenbrookes in Queen Edith's and Sue is fighting the Coalition's ill-conceived NHS reforms.

Sue is a Welfare Benefits Adviser and currently works with users of social care services to ensure that they get the support they need in these tough times.

She says: "The welfare reforms are hitting private tenants with a double-whammy from the proposed cap changes to housing benefits and local housing allowance. Childcare help for working families is being cut and they also face higher travel, fuel and housing costs. Rent Increases for social housing tenants in Cambridge will force more people to claim benefits and the net cost to the country will rise which is being ignored by the Tory-Lib Dem Coalition."

RICHARD JEFFS - CONSERVATIVE

The Conservative candidate for Queen Ediths is Richard Jeffs. I have always loved living in Cambridge, but I want to see our beautiful city managed better. Whereas local people find it impossible to get planning quickly, big developers get away with cramped buildings that don't provide affordable housing or decent open areas for our children.

I want to defend community based public services and took part in our successful campaign to keep Rock Road library.

I am proud to have been part of the incredible team at Addenbrooke's. Do you know they have reported just three instances of MRSA so far this year compared to 112 cases in 2005/06?

MARTIN LAWSON - GREEN

*NO MANIFESTO SUBMITTED*

AMANDA TAYLOR – LIBERAL DEMOCRAT

www.amandataylor.mycouncillor.org

I am delighted to have this chance to meet students.

I live off Hills Road with my family, and work at Cambridge University Press.

Special interests are transport and housing.

I travel by bike, and am a Cycling Campaign member. I'm backing the Busway-Hills Road Bridge link and Long Road Cycle Lanes campaign and running a petition to light the Guided Bus cycleway. I persuaded the Council to route the Nightbus down Hills Road and fought to keep the Uni4.

I led the campaign to replace substandard sheltered housing in my ward – a long but satisfying struggle. I help private tenants access council housing advice. Decent and affordable housing is vital and I vehemently oppose the Labour crusade against HMOs.

Recycling has rocketed since the Lib Dems have run the Council. I have had recycling installed in schools, and our local park was one of the first to have recycling bins.

I helped set up the Friends of Rock Road Library; we campaigned to stop the Conservatives closing it down.

I have championed fair trade and am proud to have helped make Cambridge a fairtrade city.

I look forward to meeting you on the 30th, and hearing your priorities.