VOTE JOHN ROSE
N O R T H W A R D
We
want to see:
PUBLIC
VOTES ON ISSUES THAT MATTER TO US
It’s our life, we don’t want to have only what party programmes
decide for us. A petition of 20% of the electorate (1,000 voters) in
a ward should trigger a vote at any time, the result of which should
be binding on the Council as it affects that ward.
For
example, the John Radcliffe Hospital traffic only needs a short 400
yard bypass from the ring road to avoid cluttering up Marston and Headington
but the public can’t vote on it.
Similarly,
no one connected with Milham Ford School wants it destroyed by the Council
but we are not allowed to vote to stop them doing so.
PUBLIC ACCESS TO COUNCIL ACCOUNTS
It’s our money, we’ve worked for it, they take half of it
and we want to make sure it’s spent productively. The bills could
appear on the Internet for free for us all to view. Their refusal to
let us see the details suggests they think they have something to hide.
Are we paying a ridiculous amount for a road hump?
DIRECT
ELECTIONS
To the local Education, Health, Police and Traffic authorities. Then
we would know exactly with whom the responsibility lay for the decisions
taken.
A
LOCALLY ELECTED WATCHDOG
to get sensible answers out of large organisations like BT and the Council.
He would need access to all Council documents and power to call a public
vote on his own authority.
HOW TO GET IT DONE
It requires a lobby of interested people prepared for a long haul, meeting
perhaps once a month (how about supper?). And each prepared to spend
(say) a morning a week pushing the ideas at Councillors and Council
staff. Gradually, we could do it. After all, they don’t set out
to be difficult and thorny - it is just that they don’t get pruned
properly. Queries or offers to join in to 423403 or email [email protected]
A
vote for any of the present parties with their present approach is a
vote for more of the same. A good result for Local Government Reform
is a more effective way of reminding them to pay attention to your views.
No
more ‘bogus’ Consultations fixed beforehand, opposed by vast
majorities at the actual meeting and then used to suggest public support
(as in Canal Development).
PROPOSALS
FOR A PUBLIC VOTE IN NORTH WARD
1. The traffic ‘calming’ (really ‘ aggravation’)
schemes intended to make it easier for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists
to get around actually make it more difficult and dangerous by making
them compete for the reduced facilities, causing unnecessary ill-will
between the groups. We suggest no through suburban traffic in North
Ward by blocking off Walton St near Worcester College but removing all
the other recent obstructions including those proposed for Canterbury
Road.
2. No more large scale building unless we have the access and infrastructure
to go with it, we like the look of it and we deal with the increased
damp in North Oxford basements due, we suspect, to the reduction in
land available for rain to soak away (as in Frenchay Road and elsewhere).
3. Reduce the through traffic and increase access to London trains (and,
potentially, coaches) by making the Oxford-Bicester railway service
stop at Pear Tree Park and Ride, Wolvercote, Summertown, and Waterside.
And bring pressure on the railway to do it now.
Vote John Rose!
Phone 420403 Email [email protected]
John Rose
is the North Ward candidate for Local Government Reform. He has been
a student at both local Universities, taught at local schools, worked
in a local hospital and the car factory, driven cars for local hire
firms and served in local restaurants. He is married with two daughters.
He founded and still works at ‘Daily Information’.
