Newcastle upon Tyne Liberal Democrats

Here's what Cllr Colin Ferguson (pictured with Cllr Phil Hall, right, who chairs the Budget and Finance Scrutiny Committee) said in launching the Liberal Democrats' approach to Newcastle's 2019 budget which saw Labour hiking Council Tax by 3.95% and cutting services by £20 million, highlighting that the budget is based upon Labour's choices.

While speed may not be a major factor in collisions that result in slight injuries, speed is a major factor in more serious accidents.

In a SPACE for Gosforth article 20 mph - the right speed for Gosforth's children they shared some data on the increasing likelihood of a pedestrian or cyclist being killed or seriously injured (KSI) as vehicle speeds increase.

Gosforth councillors will be on Gosforth High Street on the first Saturday of every month, outside the Shopping Centre (look out for the umbrella and the sandwich board)

This is in addition to private Councillor surgeries which are advertised widely and regularly.

We look forward to seeing you to discuss issues of concern, or just to say hello!

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/new-speed-limits-great-north-15869275

The full response of Liberal Democrats councillor in Gosforth, Peter Lovatt, was : "Great North Road is already congested at times of rush hour. A reduction in speed limit is a positive step for road safety on Gt North Rd, however this scheme needs to be fully thought through with appropriate signage directing road users to alternative A routes, but not encouraging the use of B, C and D routes. Motorists are already taking the easy option to divert onto side roads, due to the congestion on Gt North Rd. We don't want to see a further increase in traffic on our side roads especially at a time when we are promoting safe routes to school and walking schemes. This scheme needs a full investigation to mitigate the shift in load onto our side streets and ensure the continued safety of our children and wider community."

This leaflet is being delivered through doors in Newcastle - but as its part of a bundle of advertising materials, you may have put it straight into the recycling....on the other side is you waste collections day so worth keeping

The Liberal Democrats in Newcastle are backing calls from consumer rights charity, Which?, for a regulator to protect access to cash following new analysis revealing a rapid decline in cashpoints.

New figures obtained by Which? show cashpoints disappeared at a rate of 488 per month between June 2018 and December 2018 with over 250 free-to-use machines also closing monthly.

Responding to statistics published by the Office for National Statistics which reveal Gross Domestic Product growth has fallen to a nine-year low, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable said:

"I am afraid the country is now fairly close to recession. These figures are in fact flattering. The reality is much worse because whatever growth there is has been caused merely by businesses accumulating stocks in fear of Brexit.

"The economy is now just bumping along the bottom. These figures show how the closer we get to Brexit, the worse the impact is getting. Far from looking forward to a Brexit bonus we can expect a Brexit tax to deal with the fallout.

"There is still time, however, to avoid this chaos. The economy can be given the boost it needs by giving the country the opportunity to exit from Brexit with a final say on the deal."