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Last week Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Economic Development issued a command to stop “talking down” Wokingham. The only people talking our towns down are the Liberal Democrat administration who refuse to acknowledge the potential they have stifled. They have no ambition, no plans and no vision for our area.
Cllr Mark Ashwell used Wokingham Today to try to defend the damage his party is inflicting on Wokingham Borough with its anti-car policies, including sky-rocketing parking charges which affect towns like Woodley, and poorly co-ordinated, lengthy roadworks. Describing footfall as ‘robust’ is meaningless against the actual experiences of businesses. And the very article in which his ridiculous claims are made admits that car parking has declined.
The only tangible positive he mentions is the Conservatives’ regeneration of Wokingham town centre which his Liberal Democrat colleagues were against. They said shoppers in Wokingham would be better off with a “dark store” serviced by delivery vehicles. They described the plans for Elms Field as “massive, overbearing and out of keeping with Wokingham”. The town centre regeneration, including Elms Field, Peach Place and Carnival Hub, has been nothing short of transformational for Wokingham, when they were opened Lib Dems were front of centre of photographs claiming credit.
In 2022 Liberal Democrats said, ‘officers had commenced working on options for further regeneration projects, commencing with Woodley.’ Four years later it appears nothing has happened.
Businesses are closing. Owners in Woodley and Wokingham tell us takings are down and they’re struggling. The Liberal Democrats’ response? Ignore the problem and blame everyone else, taking no responsibility and no action.
Last October, Conservative councillors attempted to get the Liberal Democrat administration to introduce temporary 1-hour free parking while large-scale roadworks are ongoing. We argued that this would encourage people into the town to support our fantastic local businesses.
The Liberal Democrats rejected this proposal, saying it would cost too much. The Conservatives argue that it’s costing the Council much more money in lost business rates income as businesses are closed.
They also scrapped Conservative free parking at Christmas and instead offered free bus fares to take people out of the area.
In his opinion piece Cllr Ashwell says, “Ultimately, our success will be measured not just in economic statistics, but in how people feel about where they live and work.” Lovely as that sounds, I have news for the Liberal Democrats; you can’t feel away rent, or the wage bill, or keeping the lights on.
Residents can see the borough has gone backwards under the Liberal Democrats. It’s time for change.
P.S. I was disappointed to hear that Jimmy Lai, the 78-year-old, Hong Kong democracy campaigner and businessman, was sentenced to 20 years in prison last week. Human Rights Watch described it as a “death sentence”. His family have repeatedly raised concerns for his health.
This was particularly disappointing as the sentencing took place only a couple of weeks after the Prime Minister visited China, describing the UK’s relationship with China as in a “good, strong place” and discussions as having made “real progress”. Jimmy Lai is a dual British citizen. The fact he received the harshest possible sentence so soon after Starmer met President Xi is a total failure of diplomacy by a Prime Minister who prides himself on being a significant player on the world stage.
By Cllr Pauline Jorgensen
