There's a good piece on the campaign to protect One Tree Lane in the Buckinghamshire Advertiser. You can read it online here.

Labels: environment, One Tree Lane

I was appalled to hear that the Tory-Controlled Beaconsfield Town Council is planning to sell off part of One Tree Meadow and three gardens on One Tree Lane for development.

As a lifelong believer in protecting local green spaces I am fully supporting the campaign to save One Tree Lane from development. The Town Council's decision not only puts wildlife at risk (including bats - a protected species) but also deprives local residents of a much valued green space. This decision has also been rushed through on the quiet in an attempt to stifle local opposition to the plans. I believe that this is anti-democratic.

The decision by the Town Council to sell off this beautiful green space not only contradicts the Council's own policy of not disposing of any publicly owned freehold land but also contradicts the Tory's own national campaign against Labour's so-called "garden grab". The national Conservative Party website states that "local residents and their local councils are increasingly powerless to prevent the over-development of their neighbourhoods, and infill of green spaces" allegedly due to Labour Government policy. Yet here a Conservative controlled Town Council is willingly selling off a green space for development. Let's be clear: it's not Labour who are threatening local green spaces - it's the Tories.

I have written an open letter to the Town Council asking them to justify their decision and to square their action with Tory policy nationally.

I also urge as many people as possible to sign the petition protesting the Council's decision at www.saveonetreelane.com.

My letter to the Town Council is published below:

I am writing with regard to Beaconsfield Town Council's plan to put three gardens on One Tree Lane and 1/2 acre of the One Tree Meadow public space on the market for development.

As a lifelong believer in protecting green spaces I am appalled that the Town Council has even considered selling these beautiful areas for development. I’m particularly concerned that local wildlife will be disturbed and that the local community will lose a valued public space. With regard to local wildlife, I am informed that the site is home to bats – which you will know are a protected species. The decision to sell this space also appears to contradict the Town Council’s own policy of not disposing of any publicly owned freehold land.

This decision appears to have been rushed through in order to stifle any kind of local opposition. I am deeply concerned that no public meetings have taken place to allow local residents to express their views.

I also wonder how the Conservative-controlled Town Council squares this decision with the national Conservative campaign against Labour's so-called "garden grab". The national Conservative Party website states that "local residents and their local councils are increasingly powerless to prevent the over-development of their neighbourhoods, and infill of green spaces" allegedly due to Labour Government policy. Yet here a Conservative controlled Town Council is willingly selling off a green space for development. The site also claims that "Britain's gardens are under increased threat of being grabbed and covered in concrete". Yet this is precisely what the Conservatives are planning to do in Beaconsfield. Surely this is a contradiction.

To me, and to many residents in Beaconsfield, your decision smacks of hypocrisy.

I would therefore like to ask the following questions:

1. How will the development of One Tree Lane and One Tree Meadow benefit local residents in Beaconsfield?

2. Will you hold a public meeting to allow local residents to express their views on the sale of this land?

3. How do you square this local sell-off of a beautiful green space with Conservative campaigns and policy nationally?

I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,



Tom Copley
Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Beaconsfield

Labels: environment, One Tree Lane

Although the London Mayoral elections will not directly affect people in Beaconsfield, many of those commuters who work in London will be affected by the outcome.

Projects directly linked to the Mayor - such as Crossrail - will make a big difference to the lives of those many people in Beaconsfield who commute to the capital.

Today I attended the launch of Ken Livingstone's campaign, and as usual he didn't disappoint.

Ken is one of a dwindling number of politicians that genuinely inspire me. Amongst the bland managerial types that dominate the high echelons of politics, Ken is a true radical and revolutionary - whilst retaining an all important sense of pragmatism.

Ken's quality - almost unique in today's cautious political climate - is that he takes risks. He has never been afraid to challenge vested interests, assumptions and opinion polls. His line is always "if Londoners don’t like it, they can get themselves another Mayor". Such bravery in politics in commendable, and the fact that he has won two election victories is testament to the fact that he usually gets it right.

When he has been overruled by those who think they know better - most notably in the case of the Public Private Partnership for the London Underground - he has been proved right. Had Ken got his way originally and funded the Tube through public bonds Londoners would have saved millions of pounds and received far better service for their money.

Commuters to London have benefited from Ken's policies over the last eight years. We've seen an increase in police numbers and reduction in crime that benefits all who live and work in the capital, and massive investment in public transport. Then there's Crossrail - a £16bn project that wouldn't be going ahead without Ken's enthusiastic support.

London needs a serious Mayor. Boris Johnson has already demonstrated that he is not up to the job - his sums don't add up and the Underground didn't event get a mention in his transport manifesto.

Beaconsfield residents have no say over who wins on May 1st, but when talking to friends and colleagues who live in London I hope you'll encourage them to vote for Ken.

My agent, Paul Mansell, polled 209 votes in last Thursday's Marlow North & West by-election. Paul ran an excellent campaign and worked hard to speak to voters across the ward. This hard work paid off as he increased the Labour share of the vote by almost 5% on the previous election in 2007. I was out supporting Paul on the doorstep on polling day and saw how voters were impressed with his common sense approach to tackling local problems.

The full election results can be found here.

Labels: by-election, Marlow

The resignation of a Tory Councillor on Wycombe Council has prompted a by-election in Marlow North & West ward. I am delighted that my agent, local businessman Paul Mansell, has been selected as the Labour candidate to fight this election. Paul is married to Hayley and has lived in Marlow for over twenty years. He runs a graphic design business from home and is an active member of his local community. His twin daughters attend Holy Trinity primary school, where Paul is a Foundation Governor. Paul is the ideal person to represent the people of Marlow North & West on Wycombe District Council. His commitment to his local community will make him a strong and active councillor. Paul won't just vanish between elections but will fight hard for the best interests local residents, and keep and eagle-eye on the activities of the Tory-run council.

Your local Labour team and myself will be working hard to get Paul's message across to Marlow residents. The Tories make cuts and then blame them on the Labour Government, and the Lib Dems will say anything to get elected and then do nothing. Only Labour can deliver real improvements for local people. As a Labour councillor, Paul will be able to work with our Labour Government to deliver real improvements for people in Marlow. Paul's priorities include:

• a permanent, centrally located Post Office
• a Community Radio Station for Marlow
• more police 'on the beat'
• more public consultation on new developments in Marlow
• adequate parking provision at a reasonable cost

The by-election will be held on Thursday 7th February. Your local Labour team in Marlow are campaigning hard - but we need your help! If you can offer any assistance leafletting, canvassing or helping out on polling day then please email tom@tomcopley.com.

Labels: by-election, Marlow