http://cwglibdems.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from Chingford and Woodford Green Liberal Democrats en-GB Chingford and Woodford Green Liberal Democrats http://cwglibdems.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 Chingford and Woodford Green Liberal Democrats 2010-03-10T17:38+00:00 United Kingdom http://cwglibdems.org.uk/news/000041/how_much_power_do_you_have_as_a_voter.html As matters stand you don't have very much at all. And, if you are angry about last year's shenanigans at Westminster - as you should be - the limitations on your power should make you even angrier. 2010-01-31T12:20+00:00 http://cwglibdems.org.uk/news/000040/seeff_slams_broken_society_claim.html Following the latest research report from his "independent" think tank, Iain Duncan Smith and the Tories once again invoke the spectre of a "broken society" in an attempt to frighten law abiding citizens. Violence, child abuse, drink and drugs related crime and unwanted pregnancies are, they claim, more prevalent amongst children brought up by cohabiting parents who (they say) are less likely to provide a stable family life. They conclude from this that if marriage is encouraged through tax breaks, parents would stay together whilst bringing up their children and the problems will disappear. Geoff Seeff, LibDem prospective parliamentary candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green despairs at this reasoning. 2010-01-31T12:06+00:00 http://cwglibdems.org.uk/news/000039/libdems_issue_damning_report_on_inmans_row_traffic_management_scheme.html Following dozens of complaints about the Inmans Row traffic management scheme and the failure by Redbridge Council to review its operation, Geoff Seeff and the Monkhams Liberal Democrats team have conducted their own investigation and issued a damning report. 2010-01-31T11:48+00:00 http://cwglibdems.org.uk/news/000038/seeff_welcomes_leadership_debates.html Geoff Seeff, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green, has welcomed the recent agreement reached between the three party leaders to participate in a series of televised debates during the General Election campaign. 2010-01-13T15:02+00:00 http://cwglibdems.org.uk/news/000037/seeff_pledges_support_for_royal_british_legion_manifesto.html Dr Geoff Seeff, the Liberal Democrat's prospective parliamentary candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green has added his name to the supporters of the Royal British Legion's manifesto for the forthcoming election. Candidates were invited to pledge support for the Armed Forces beyond the next session of parliament on the following key policies:- 2009-10-20T16:15+01:00 http://cwglibdems.org.uk/news/000036/mixed_messages_from_tories_on_benefits.html Amid new found concern for the poor and proclamations that "we are all in this together" at the Tory party conference in Manchester, there appeared a divergence of thought on welfare policy that has the potential to create confusion and anxiety for the millions who are obliged to rely on benefits. 2009-10-20T15:37+01:00 http://cwglibdems.org.uk/news/000035/and_the_presidents_award_goes_to.html Geoff Seeff writes 2009-10-20T10:18+01:00 http://cwglibdems.org.uk/news/000034/are_you_being_served.html As a customer, have you ever experienced the frustration of telephoning to explain a problem with your purchase to a service department and been directed around an automated system that sends you back to where your call began? Have you ever sat in all day waiting for a service engineer or a delivery to arrive, not knowing when, or sometimes whether, the appointment will be kept? Have you ever been confused by labelling on packages, or the tariffs on your gas or electricity bill, wondered why so-called electronic transfers of funds take banks several days to clear, been pressurised into buying something you didn't really need or simply wanted to make sure that the tip that you leave at a restaurant actually goes to the staff and not the restaurant company? 2009-10-20T09:58+01:00 http://cwglibdems.org.uk/news/000033/directly_elected_mayors_a_thoroughly_bad_idea_says_seeff.html All councils are now being required to consult with residents as to whether they would like the system of directly elected executive mayors, introduced as an option for local governance in 2002, extended to their borough. Both Redbridge and Waltham Forest will be undertaking the consultation. Worryingly, councils can start the process for appointing a directly elected mayor without the need for a referendum, a requirement under the original act. 2009-09-03T10:33+01:00 http://cwglibdems.org.uk/news/000032/residents_2_funky_mojoes_0.html Residents of South Woodford are celebrating a second victory over Funky Mojoes nightclub at a hearing of the Redbridge Council's Licensing Committee on June 25th. 2009-07-23T12:45+01:00 http://cwglibdems.org.uk/news/000031/chingford_festival__swunderful.html Geoff Seeff, the Liberal Democrat's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green, reckoned that Chingford folk have had quite enough of politics in recent weeks and deserved at least one day of the year when they would not be reminded of the credit crunch, duck ponds, speakers and elections. He put on his saxophonist hat and brought his band, the Chingford Wheezards, to entertain the crowd at the Festival held on 27th June . In keeping with the glorious weather and his intention to "lighten up", they performed a suitable selection of upbeat jazz standards including favourites such as, "Swunderful", "Give Me the Simple Life", "In a Mellow Tone" and "Things are Looking Up". 2009-06-28T18:13+01:00 http://cwglibdems.org.uk/news/000030/libdems_make_a_drama_over_disputed_contribution_to_public_art.html The LibDem's campaign to get Telfords, the developer of the Queen Mary Gate site, to hand over some of the money it agreed to set aside for "public art" has finally been successful. 2009-06-23T16:22+01:00 http://cwglibdems.org.uk/news/000029/seeff_challenges_iain_duncan_smith_on_expenses.html In a letter published in the Waltham Forest Guardian (11th June) Geoff Seeff, prospective parliamentary candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green, issues a direct challenge to Iain Duncan Smith about his claims for office costs in the period 2005 to 2007. 2009-06-12T10:09+01:00 http://cwglibdems.org.uk/news/000028/redbridge_tories_in_turmoil_libdems_step_in_to_save_the_day.html In recent weeks Redbridge's Tory Group have been in complete turmoil. In April, following months of infighting, party leader Alan Weinberg was replaced by Keith Prince. The move divided the party straight down the middle with Cllr Prince just securing the position. On 21st May Cllr Prince tried to seek Council approval for a new Cabinet that was to include Cllr Weinberg but exclude most of the previous portfolio holders. Several members of the Tory Group did not attend the meeting whilst three resigned the whip and became independents. With the 11 LibDem councillors and the Labour Group not supporting the proposals Redbridge was left without an administration. 2009-05-31T21:18+01:00 http://cwglibdems.org.uk/news/000027/proposed_traffic_management_scheme_around_trinity_high_and_st_anthonys_primary_schools_speed_is_not_the_problem_says_seeff.html During the past 12 months Redbridge Council has been implementing a number of traffic management schemes in the Woodford area as part of the Schools Safety programme. Not all are considered successful by residents and road users. It has recently been told it can access further funds for these purposes from Transport for London ("TfL") and has devised a scheme for the area surrounding Trinity High and St Anthony's Primary Schools on which it is presently consulting residents of Monkhams ward in the roads immediately affected. The principal features of the proposed scheme are:- 2009-03-25T16:38+00:00