Lez Cope Newman Campaign for elected mayor of Charnwood

> The Wharf project

Proposals have been submitted, view and take part in the debate.
The Wharf Action Group have also produced plans for development.

> View both proposals and vote here!*

*The results of the vote are for interest only

> The state of the market

Loughborough is A MARKET TOWN with a great university - not vice versa.The council has been too busy trying to recreate the town in the image of Leicester, Nottingham and Derby rather than emphasise our UNIQUE STRENGTHS AND APPEAL.

Now we've got to the stage where market traders are leaving and threatening to leave in their droves. It's crazy.
Let's IMPROVE the visual impact of the market by spending cash, HELP traders by providing FREE parking and CLEAN UP the market place from the Friday night revelries.
There's no way the market traders should be setting up against a background of the drunken remains of the night before.
Put simply - if we continue to ABUSE our market with its far-reaching appeal and tradition we will LOSE it.

The town centre itself needs to reflect that Loughborough IS a MARKET TOWN in its design and appearance.

> The hospital site

Questions remain to be answered over what is to go here.
But I would like to see any future medical provision to include a DRINK and DRUGS Clinic.

Recent publicity in The Echo has highlighted what amounts to a Social tragedy taking place in our midst. Lives are being lost and families are being blighted.

I know from personal experience how difficult it is to get help for people who are suffering.
We must lobby for a clinic where detox treatment and counselling is readily available. It may cost us money to set up, but it will save us thousands in the long term and offer a humanitarian approach to a dreadful problem.

There is also a need for an ALCOHOL AWARENESS campaign to highlight the dangers of today's binge drinking culture. I want people to enjoy themselves in Charnwood, but excessive drinking is WRECKING YOUNG LIVES.

Authorities can't continue to turn a blind eye to it. As Andy Reed says, we have run successful campaigns to encourage people to stop smoking - ALCOHOL IS EVEN MORE LETHAL!
Let's put public health before profits.

> Parking in the town

We need to ENCOURAGE people to shop and stop in Loughborough - not put obstacles in your way! The current system sees shoppers fretting over potential parking tickets rather than savouring their time in the town centre.

Firstly, we need to introduce a PAY ON EXIT system at all car parks. You know it makes sense and research commissioned already by the council indicates the authority would make MORE money this way.

I would also introduce CUT PRICE RATES for town centre staff, FREE parking during the late night shopping Christmas season and FREE transport to take students back to campus in the early hours from the bars and clubs.

Also, the way we have been treating OUR TAXI DRIVERS over the last few months has been little short of disgraceful. They have been made to feel like second class citizens when all they are doing is to provide a legitimate and much-needed service. MORE RANK SPACES need to be provided and quickly!

For too long parking has been viewed by the council as a way to make cash rather than as a SERVICE. But we defeat ourselves if we take away business from our retail and leisure outlets.

> Anti social behaviour

The message must be one of ZERO TOLERANCE.
Anti social behaviour orders (ASBOs) are a positive step and dispersal orders should be extended - but only in the town centre.
I'd also like to see more ALCOHOL FREE ZONES.
I would be prepared to get involved PERSONALLY to try to speak to people on both sides of anti social behaviour disputes. My door will be OPEN.
But whatever we do, we must follow our good words through. We have sent out too many half-hearted messages in the past.

> Bus station?

More details coming soon.........

> The inner relief road

More details coming soon.........

> The decline of town centre retail

More details coming soon.........

> The Wharf project Proposals have been submitted, view and take part in the debate. The Wharf Action Group have also produced plans for development. > View both proposals and vote here!* *The results of the vote are for interest only
> The state of the market Loughborough is A MARKET TOWN with a great university - not vice versa.The council has been too busy trying to recreate the town in the image of Leicester, Nottingham and Derby rather than emphasise our UNIQUE STRENGTHS AND APPEAL. Now we've got to the stage where market traders are leaving and threatening to leave in their droves. It's crazy. Let's IMPROVE the visual impact of the market by spending cash, HELP traders by providing FREE parking and CLEAN UP the market place from the Friday night revelries. There's no way the market traders should be setting up against a background of the drunken remains of the night before. Put simply - if we continue to ABUSE our market with its far-reaching appeal and tradition we will LOSE it. The town centre itself needs to reflect that Loughborough IS a MARKET TOWN in its design and appearance.
> The hospital site Questions remain to be answered over what is to go here. But I would like to see any future medical provision to include a DRINK and DRUGS Clinic. Recent publicity in The Echo has highlighted what amounts to a Social tragedy taking place in our midst. Lives are being lost and families are being blighted. I know from personal experience how difficult it is to get help for people who are suffering. We must lobby for a clinic where detox treatment and counselling is readily available. It may cost us money to set up, but it will save us thousands in the long term and offer a humanitarian approach to a dreadful problem. There is also a need for an ALCOHOL AWARENESS campaign to highlight the dangers of today's binge drinking culture. I want people to enjoy themselves in Charnwood, but excessive drinking is WRECKING YOUNG LIVES. Authorities can't continue to turn a blind eye to it. As Andy Reed says, we have run successful campaigns to encourage people to stop smoking - ALCOHOL IS EVEN MORE LETHAL! Let's put public health before profits.
> Parking in the town We need to ENCOURAGE people to shop and stop in Loughborough - not put obstacles in your way! The current system sees shoppers fretting over potential parking tickets rather than savouring their time in the town centre. Firstly, we need to introduce a PAY ON EXIT system at all car parks. You know it makes sense and research commissioned already by the council indicates the authority would make MORE money this way. I would also introduce CUT PRICE RATES for town centre staff, FREE parking during the late night shopping Christmas season and FREE transport to take students back to campus in the early hours from the bars and clubs. Also, the way we have been treating OUR TAXI DRIVERS over the last few months has been little short of disgraceful. They have been made to feel like second class citizens when all they are doing is to provide a legitimate and much-needed service. MORE RANK SPACES need to be provided and quickly! For too long parking has been viewed by the council as a way to make cash rather than as a SERVICE. But we defeat ourselves if we take away business from our retail and leisure outlets.
> Anti social behaviour The message must be one of ZERO TOLERANCE. Anti social behaviour orders (ASBOs) are a positive step and dispersal orders should be extended - but only in the town centre. I'd also like to see more ALCOHOL FREE ZONES. I would be prepared to get involved PERSONALLY to try to speak to people on both sides of anti social behaviour disputes. My door will be OPEN. But whatever we do, we must follow our good words through. We have sent out too many half-hearted messages in the past.
> Bus station? More details coming soon.........
> The inner relief road More details coming soon.........
> The decline of town centre retail More details coming soon.........