Archive for July 15th, 2010
C4 got Zac bang to rights
Exclusive: Questions over Zac Goldsmith’s election expenses
By Channel 4 News
Updated on 15 July 2010
Exclusive: A Channel 4 News investigation has raised questions over the election expenses of Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith. It comes after David Cameron pledged to clean up politics following the MPs’ expenses scandal.
Zac Goldsmith is the new MP for Richmond Park and one of the best known faces of the modern Conservative Party. The former non-dom is worth an estimated £200m. He was the richest candidate at the election, but insisted that his money gave him no advantage at the ballot box. His constituency in south west London is a leafy and affluent area. It had been held by the Liberal Democrats since 1997, but Zac Goldsmith (see his Who Knows Who profile) won a closely fought contest with sitting MP Susan Kramer (see her Who Knows Who profile).
Kingsland Bridge car toll could double
The toll on Shrewsbury’s historic Kingsland Bridge, which has remained unchanged for more than 25 years, could double to help fund a major redecoration of the site.
The Shrewsbury Kingsland Bridge Company has applied to the Secretary of State for Transport to increase the toll charge for motorists to 20p.
A director of the company, said the increase was needed to generate cash for maintenance and redecoration of the bridge. The toll hasn’t been increased since 1985 and we need to build up funds for major redecoration of the bridge which has cost considerable amount.
We use this bridge at least 5 times a week – bang goes another £25pa – it all mounts up!
Town Council Planning Committee bonkers
Decisions made by council planners in Shrewsbury are encouraging anti social behaviour and creating a ‘concrete ghost town’ in the evening, it is claimed.
The attack on councillors came as they refused an application for a Mediterranean-style cafe underneath the Old Market Hall during the summer.
The cafe would have seen ten small bistro tables served by mobile caterers as part of plans to generate a European-style evening economy in the town and reduce ongoing trouble.
Planning officers recommended approval but the scheme was refused last week amid fears it would have a detrimental impact on the area.
Tory Councillor Dr Maxwell Winchester, for the Quarry and Coton Hill ward, said he was very angry at the decision after working on the scheme with Old Market Hall bosses, especially because the idea came from a community PACT meeting to reduce anti-social behaviour.