GENERAL ELECTION 2015: Central Beds Council party leaders

Judge people not by what they say they will do but by what they do. The Conservatives have frozen Central Bedfordshire’s council tax for five years, saving an average household £184 per year, while at the same time improving services and progressing Town improvements.

We all want the best for our Children and are investing over £100m on new and expanding schools, including St Andrews in Biggleswade, Fairfield Park, and Etonbury, which will also provide much needed leisure facilities to Stotfold/Arlesey complementing the new sports hall in Biggleswade.

We are seeing substantial investment in infrastructure and look forward to the St Neots bypass, progressing East-West rail, Superfast Broad Band which will cover virtually all areas by 2019 and critically we are seeing real growth with the expansion of Stratton and over 7000 extra jobs.

Conservatives will continue to deliver better services and value for money to residents not false promises.

ROGER PEPWORTH – LABOUR

All in all, Conservative Central Bedfordshire has a pretty poor record;-

Education – Slow to provide schools for new estates – and then built them too small!

Finance – They claim to have frozen council tax - but only by scrapping school crossing patrols and then closing public toilets and asking town councils to pay for them but not passing on the rate support grant to those same town councils.

A double whammy.

Homes – Central Bedfordshire have let developers get away without providing affordable houses.

Budget management – Central Beds spent two and a half million of taxpayers’ money on a Bedfordshire ‘energy and recycling project’ only to abandon it! Then there’s the aquatic centre that sank into a gravel pit.

The list goes on. Vote Labour for a real alternative. We know the value of money but we know the value of people as well. Our consultations will be genuine.

NIGEL ALDIS - LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

Over the last four years the Liberal Democrats have sought to challenge and question the policies of the majority group to ensure that they are fair to all sections of the local community.

Whatever size of the group after the election the Liberal Democrats will continue to champion the cause of the most vulnerable members of the community getting the very best deal which is available for them.

We will seek to ensure that policies are clear and presented to residents.

In our local communities we will support and champion residents who have issues with the council to give them our support in meeting with staff and finding the best way forward for them.

We will respond to our resident’s concerns to ensure that the local environment including grass cutting, road and pavement maintenance, street cleaning and removal of fly-tipping is of a high standard along with all the other services which are provided by the council.

We will continue to inform residents and work all year round to serve the local community which elected us.