LIB DEM CAMPAIGNER WELCOMES EXTRA INVESTMENT

Newcastle campaigner Ron Beadle has welcomed the news of investment locally by the Lib Dem-run city council.

Almost £8 million will be spent in Newcastle's 26 wards this year and includes £5.2 million on improving roads and pavements.

Each ward - receiving more than £250,000 each - will be able to decide how to spend this money.

Ron Beadle, Parliamentary spokesman for Newcastle North, welcomed the investment.

"The Liberal Democrats are committed to devolving power away from the Civic Centre to local communities," he said.

"More than ever before, local people through their Ward Committee, will be able to decide how this money is spent.

"In Newcastle North's nine wards it means that £2,630,835 will be spent locally and whether it is extra plants and shrubs, resurfacing roads or pavements or new street signs, local people will be able to have their say."

The programme of local spending is part of the Liberal Democrat budget plans to invest an extra £21 million into energy efficiency, regeneration and boosting the economy.

For the fifth year running council tax rises are being kept below the rate of inflation - even though the amount Newcastle has been given by the Government has increased by only 1.75%, the joint lowest in the country.

Ron Beadle, who will challenge Labour's Doug Henderson at the next general election, added: "We've kept to our original election pledge when we took control of the council - bills down at or below the rate of inflation - and we're now delivering for the fifth year running.

"At the same time we've invested extra in the services people have told us are most important to them, such as our hugely popular rapid response teams, improving the environment in every ward round the city."